Lightning struck the ceiling and the ground shook once more. Again, I felt my ribs crack and even my knee got crushed by one of the light hedgehog’s needles.

But what was a knee compared to what was to come?

I looked up and saw something move and heard my name echo through the hall. But not the squealing or my involuntary screaming. Only the name echoed and a fire ignited on the middle throne. I smiled, because I finally felt seen and watched.

A groan went through the halls and the souls of the dead and the shadows of the living circled around me. The light hedgehog jumped, panicked, from my pocket and ran towards the darkness. I was left alone. There went my experiment, but what was it compared to what was now coming? Glowing and light devouring, the shadows and souls circled ever closer and some brushed my coat. It was made from the leather of a deceased dragon god and sewn together with the down of a newborn phoenix, and yet, it disintegrated into its materials as if it were only foam on a lake.

I sighed, but what was a coat compared to what was to come?

The ghosts and shadows, first silent, raised their voices and pain went through my body, so I was stunned and didn’t know which way was up and which down. As a shadow opened its maimed mouth and flew towards mine, a flame shot down from the throne and destroyed the shade. The fire was hot, so very hot that even the floor, which the flame had touched only briefly, liquefied. I would have lost my arm, had I not put it up to protect me. But what was an arm compared to what was to come?

Another light ignited on the right throne and suddenly I heard the scream of a newborn phoenix. It plunged down from the throne and flew over my head. It was surely a magnificent sight, but what was a phoenix compared to what was to come?

However, the phoenix was not alone. No, dragons, fish, dragon gulls and snake clams, as well as Asvala cats, leaf lizards and - I coughed - a common cold accompanied it. It was probably even more, but I didn’t pay them any attention, because what were the animals compared to what was to come?

Suddenly, another dragon swooped down with a roar and dug its claws deep into the back of an Asvala cat. The animals and magical beings that had been friends just before and peaceful, were now attacking and killing each other. Some allied themselves with others and others fled. That seemed to be connected to the light, which appeared on the left throne. When I looked straight ahead again, a mountain wolf breathed directly into my face. It looked hungry and I, weak. So, I took my knife, swung it through the air and severed my left hand completely. The mountain wolf ate it with relish and went on its way. I smiled. After all, what was a hand compared to what was now to come?

The hall went quiet again. The animals disappeared and the magic I had used on the light hedgehog’s needles faded. It got colder, much colder. Was it because of the blood I was losing or because of how the mana around me became thinner and flowed towards the thrones? I shivered and pulled off my coat. With my last strength, I activated a secret mechanism through which the downs of the phoenix ignited and a fire grew. It didn’t get warmer, so it must be because of the blood loss.

My life was apparently ending, which I didn’t like. After all, this way I wouldn’t see what was to come. Shortly before I lost consciousness, time already froze. I hung in the air, didn’t breathe, my heart didn’t beat and I saw nothing. But I could think. And what were the other senses compared to what was now to come?