Faculty of Design

Illustration

Caden Zhang

Murmurs of the Lost

This illustration marks the beginning of the story, as Alvi, one of the main characters, follows rumors to the Buzhou Mountain in search of Tian-ren’s corpse.

“Legends tell of Buzhou Mountain, once towering, collapsed with the fall of Tianren, leaving behind ominous ruins and sprawling caves. Drawn by drifting spores, Alvi descends into one such cavern using a rope, where she finally encounters the body of a Tian-ren—vastly different from their idealized depictions. Their skin is no longer the color of porcelain, but dull and wrinkled. Their swollen bellies are overtaken by strange fungi. And their ancient garments, untouched by time, drift like mist in the cavernous air, as whispers of wind pass through. Alvi marveled at the bizarre sight, while the hollow cavern is like a skull, watching in silent menace.”