The Wooden Doll

Sei's eyes were fixed on the statue in awe and shock when, through the corner of his eyes, he noticed something moving beneath the statue.

The veins that had withered and fallen off from the statue began to move and collide, taking form. Sei watched, breathless, as the remnants of the veins began to combine unnaturally, weaving together as if guided by an unseen hand.

The figure started to take form. At first, it was like a humanoid doll made up of burnt branches and veins. It was hollow, nothing more than a sculptured puppet of bark.

Sei looked at it without blinking in horror. Then suddenly, he felt the air around him move; the moss patches beneath his legs and all over the platform started glowing in the same greenish color.