Just like now.
The Great Elder pulled out a small knife and without hesitation, stabbed into his own abdomen, gruesomely pulling out his innards to display before the Funeral Director.
This was a ritual akin to a sacrifice but primarily aimed to express respect for the Funeral Director.
The Funeral Director didn't simply revel in the gore; on the contrary, what He appreciated was the "cost"—a trade with a price was His established rule.
What He favored even more was the metaphorical power of the "cost," each transaction bringing Him joy.
However, it was just joy, nothing more. Original Strange Talk seemed like something standing at the edge of the world, needing neither sustenance nor strength, merely existing quietly in some place.
As the bloody offering hit the ground, some eyes on the Funeral Director's body slowly opened, settling their gaze on the Great Elder.
