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Too late. Yet again.

Why was he always too late?

And worse still, what was he doing now? What had all these sacrifices been for?

The Rainlords were coming to mind. Everything he'd put them through, recently.

Ultimately, yes, it had put them back on the path of independence and growing strength, but looking back on it now, in the context of this new continental war--in the context of these ancient machinations with Ettol that he'd never even known about...

He was a fool to think that he could manipulate the world in such a way.

Whether the objective was achieved or not, there were always going to be unforeseen players on the board. And as much as he thought he could take advantage of a situation, there would always be others trying to do the same.

He wasn't a player. He was just another piece on the board.

His mind went to Sermung. He certainly hadn't expected to see the High Commander in that vision. Working directly with Jonah, no less.

And he'd even mentioned Parson by name.

Some forty years ago.

What must he think of him, now?

The more he thought about it, the more Parson could only feel shame.

Damian's voice cut through the silence like a knife. "You gonna start cryin' over there?"

Parson didn't know whether to laugh or yell at him. If he didn't feel so much pity for the other man, it probably would have been the latter.

He pushed himself into a seated position and just stared at the empty space in the middle of the room where the vision had been.

Damian came over to stand next to him. "Told you to give some respect to Germal, didn't I?"

"Jonah," Parson corrected. "Not Germal."

"Right."

Parson sighed. "I don't even know what I'm doing, anymore."

Damian made no response.

Parson looked to Overra now. "Why did we even form our little trio? Hatch our little plan? It's been too long. I can't remember."

Overra had an answer for him, though, of course. 'To break the stalemate.'

He snorted. "In Sermung's favor, right?"

'Of course,' she said. 'To give him and Tenebrach some manner of relief after all they've done for the world.'

"Then why, when I look back on all we've accomplished, do I only see misery? Why, when I look inside myself, do I only feel misery?"