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It certainly wasn’t the first time that such a window occurred within the long history of his kin--nor was it the longest--but it did set a comparatively odd cultural tone for Zeff to be born into.

With the benefit of Ax’s memories, it was possible to contrast his own childhood with a few of the others. Whenever there was already an active Water Dragon, the emergence of a new one was a decidedly less significant event. Still important, of course. Celebrated among all their kin.

But there was never such a prevailing sense of desperation mixed with relief--and even fear--like there was whenever a divine inheritor was found after a long absence. Looking back on it all now, Zeff could see how much that had affected his childhood.

The weight of those expectations. The emotional turmoil and uncertainty of his elders. The hope for a new day. The fear of a new night.

The more he thought about it like that, the more unlikely it seemed that Asad Najir could have been so coincidentally born into such strikingly similar circumstances among the Sandlords.

Was that not also a quirk of fate?

Asad. Where were you in all of this new madness? Not at the heart of it, surely? Still under Morgunov’s thumb?

That was just another reason why Zeff wanted to set out. Perhaps in the search for Cisco and Emiliana, he might also discover something more concrete about Asad’s whereabouts, too.

Zeff exhaled a slow, steady breath, feeling just about ready now. He opened his eyes and looked around the empty hall one more time.

Ax was right there behind him, as always.

The reaper’s position in all of this was a particularly strange one. Just like everyone else, Ax was forgetting plenty of things, too. And yet, the reaper didn’t seem especially fazed or upset about it, somehow--or if he was, then he was good at hiding it.

‘I will be following your lead on this one,’ the reaper had told him privately the other day.

And when Zeff expressed his surprise and disbelief, Ax said something that had been sticking with him ever since.

‘I know something is amiss. I may not know what it is, but I can feel it in my soul. And above all, my friend, I have faith in you. Ever since Dunehall--no, before that, even. Ever since Rheinhal, actually. Yes. Ever since our clash with Lawrence, discovering the depth of betrayal upon us, I’ve felt it. A change in myself. And in you, too. I’m sure you know of what I speak. And I know of the deep worry you carry about it, too. The concern over losing yourself to some madness. Having your spirit broken, perhaps.

‘But I also know that you carry the Supreme Will. And that your spirit does not break so easily. In fact, a part of me is beginning to think it cannot be broken at all, no matter what foul horrors might arise against us and our people. And you may not understand it--lakefire, I’m not even sure I do--but my faith in you, Zeff, is stronger than it has ever been. I will always be on your side, no matter what happens.’