Not a Smile (Part 1)

"Okay, I'm done. Thanks for your hospitality." Lith said when he was too sick to keep looking at the monster.

"Slow down, child, because I'm not." Mogar approached him until she could put her hand on his cheek, another familiar gesture typical of Elina. "Now look me in the eyes."

Lith obeyed, suddenly feeling dizzy and confused like someone waking up from anesthesia.

"Now look around you." She let go of his face and moved away.

Lith didn't even need to turn his head to see how dramatic the changes in the Mindscape were. Yet he took a step back out of shock to both assume a defensive stance and make sure that the hellish world he was seeing wasn't just an unfortunate patch of land.