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Searching, was it? Again, Asad didn’t understand. What purpose was there in searching? Everything was fine. Or soon would be. Or didn’t matter.

“Those are not your thoughts, Young Lion. Disregard them. Rest now, but do not forget yourself. Remember your own life, at least.”

Mm. His own life.

Hah.

He hadn’t forgotten that. Not one bit.

That was precisely why this place was great.

By comparison.

He remembered the stress. The worry. The constant fear and disappointment. In himself. In his accomplishments. In his wife. And yes, in his children, too.

Perhaps that was wrong to think. As a father, he should have been more understanding. More accepting. Of their faults. And their failures.

He’d tried to be. Had he ever succeeded?

He couldn’t recall. He could only remember the anxiety it caused him.

It was never enough. Nothing ever was.

“Stop,” said voice. “That is not resting. That is killing yourself. Do not do that. Especially not here. This is not a place to chastise oneself. And moreover, you have done nothing to deserve it. You have always been too hard on yourself.”

Had he? How would this voice know?

“Because I am Rasalased. And I have been observing you since the day you were born.”

Oh.

Huh.

Kinda creepy.

“I can only agree. This is not the afterlife that I had envisioned for myself. But here I am. And being able to stay connected to all our kin throughout the ages has been wonderful, in its own regard.”

Ah. So it wasn’t just Asad that he’d been spying on.

“Indeed. That is how I know that the Sunsmith will have need of your help.”

His help? Still, Asad didn’t understand. What help could he be?

“Ah. That is indeed the question, isn’t it? But that is alright. For now. I fear it may yet be quite some time before you offer it to him. He will have to manage on his own for a while longer. Unless, perhaps, you are able to surprise me and get your act together more quickly.”

Huh?

Huh...

Mm...

So tired...

“Yes, I thought as much. Let us move on.”

The world sped by again.

Asad just watched.

It was beautiful.

So bright and colorful. So much life and wonder. A moving painting. A living stream, filled with more than mere images. He could feel them as they passed. Touch them, almost. The temptation to reach out came over him, but he resisted.

Just observing was good enough.