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It turned out to be two days in the end that I remained in Berthon. While I appreciated that they all wanted to speak with me, it was more than I could handle. I lost track of the number of people that I saw in those days.

Some wanted advice, which all I could do was just make guesses. Really, what could someone like me that’s only been alive for two decades really have to give on advice. But I answered with the best sincerity that I could. That seemed to be all that I could offer in such a situation. It appeared to help or at least be enough for those.

Others just wanted to apologize, even though I wasn’t even here. I wasn’t affected by what happened. But I was presented with tears and endless words seeking forgiveness. From what little I put together most of them weren’t even involved. They had guilty consciousness or felt responsible in some way for what happened.

It was far more than I was expecting. Everyone wanted something. And in the end, they all just wanted some security and certainty. They were scared like so many were. Like I had been. I think that was something that we could all share and understand. It was the easiest thing for me to speak to. Though I did feel like I had repeated myself in the end.

Head Priest Herska thanked me for my work. It was truly a strange thing to see her so differently. I guess this was how she normally was outside of the extremes. She wouldn’t have been bad to work under for a while had the time existed for it.

But I had to leave and gave my final goodbyes to the Capital. It was good to see guards at the gate and a lively street with people that smiled and greeted you as you passed. There was still apprehension, but people seemed healthier. I hope that it lasts.

The journey back was less eventful, but I didn’t expect much out of it. The capital turned out to be a bigger thing that I planned. It did leave me with a small smile and warmth. Out of all the lies and doom, it felt like something positive came out of my quest. I could be content with that.

As I walked the road away from the capital, I remembered the family I met on the road. I wondered where they went after the waterfalls. Hopefully, they kept their spirits up and showed their girls more of what the land had to offer. It sounded like an enjoyable way to spend the final year seeing the beauty of nature.

After another two weeks, Rastron the port town finally came into view. The place where it all started in a way. I guess It depended on how I viewed it. Cathlin started it all, but it was Gerth that put me on this mad course in the end. It was only Cathlin’s goal to get me out of the village. Though thinking about it, it wasn’t something that would last. I’d only be gone for a week or so. What did he really have planned if I had come back after? Was he just counting on that being enough time to make anything I might want to ruin pointless?

I don’t really know what he was thinking in that aspect in the end. Gerth I had to face first though.

When I left, Rastron wasn’t in the best shape, thought neither was I. I had witnessed a lot of frightening things. But it looked like it was still standing. I didn’t think it would have been different, but it was still a relief from the outside. It looked the same.

Stepping inside, the people looked to be fine. I wonder if time healed things or if they had to take measures. But I’m just relieved to see that the violence was over. So I made my way straight to the temple.

“Announcement! I’m Speaker Eshikra, looking for Priest Gerth,” I announced upon entering the chambers. That got a few eyes on me, but it wasn’t long before someone broke from the ranks.

It was the older man and master manipulator. “Speaker! I was starting to wonder if I’d ever see you again.”

“The time we have is certainly running out.” He looked genuinely surprised to see me, but all there was an eagerness. Gerth motioned me over to the hall. I guess he wanted to speak in more private spaces.

Following him to the meeting room, he stood at the door as I took the opposite side of the table. There was a little bit of nervousness in his hands. I guess he could tell that I knew something just like Herska had. “You found it, didn’t you?”

“Yes. It was real.” I had considered for a while what I would say to him. At my worst, I seriously considered just telling him the truth and watching with sadistic glee whatever reaction he had. But that wouldn’t make me happy anymore. It was an unnecessary pain to give. It wasn’t the purpose that he had me seek.

I saw a bit of bowing in his stature almost like the weight that he carried overcame him with his body given out. He didn’t quite collapse, but he looked a little weaker. “Judging from what I see, it wasn’t all good.”

“No. What I can say is that I did speak with her. And she confirmed the message, but it’s not something that any of us can comprehend.”

“But you know how we’ll die?”

“Sterilization. We will all die as a result of some event beyond our control. But I don’t know what it’ll be. It won’t provide the comfort that you seek.”

“No, it won’t. This will only add more questions.” Gerth folded, taking the nearby chair to brace himself. He looked like he had pinned his hopes on an answer. I wonder if it was more for him than the people that he sought this knowledge. Is this how he thought he would make peace with the determined fate? It seemed logical that people would find some comfort in knowing how things would end. But this was the worst outcome. Something beyond our understanding.

He sat there for minutes in silence. All the confidence that the man carried drained away with his color. He looked ten years older. “We will have to take comfort in just knowing the day that it will happen. There is peace in that. Find someone that you can share that time with.”

Gerth looked up at me, almost pleading. Damn, this wasn’t what I expected. It broke him more than I expected. “Yes. You’re not the same Speaker that didn’t want to vote.”

“I’ve been told that. You used me to force a decision that day. But I also learned a lot thanks to what happened. Thank you. Sorry there wasn’t a perfect answer, but sometimes an imperfect flawed one is all that we can muster.”

“You’re right. I’ll have to accept that. Thank you, Speaker. Return home with honor.”

I smiled to him and departed the temple. It was still early in the afternoon, so I had hoped that I could make Linoth by nightfall. I’d like to sleep in my bed once more. I gave partings to the temple acolytes and started the final leg of my journey.

The road looked no less familiar to me than any other part of the lands that I walked, but it still made me smile with nostalgia. It felt like years since I had seen my home. I witnessed violence, love, fear, war, rejection and so much more out there. It was so much more than I thought.

It was supposed to just be a simple quest for a near mythical object. My mind thought about everyone that I met on the path to Origin. So many memories. So many things that I didn’t want to see. But now that I look at it, I wouldn’t change any of it. I can accept it. I can accept the world.

We aren’t perfect, but we keep going because of the connections that we make.

As Kather slowly rose up on me, I saw the welcoming sight of Linoth in my view. Mother, father, I’m finally home.