A ripple tore through space—not with a sound, but with a feeling. Like gravity sighing in reverse. Like the world itself didn't want him there, but didn't dare stop him either.
The sky above the distorted realm bled inwards. Color bent. Reality cracked like a mirror underwater. Trees twisted into themselves, roots sprouting from their own branches. The ground pulsed. Time slowed down, then sped up again, skipping seconds like a broken reel of film.
And then…
He stepped through.
A man.
Or something that wore the shape of one.
His figure didn't move like it should've. Every step folded space around him. Limbs lagged a split-second behind, like the universe had to catch up to his presence. His long coat dragged behind him, threads floating upward as if gravity was too confused to decide which way was down.
And on his face—
A spiral.
