(xiao's indictment of himself is a pity, though it's not the first time he's met someone with a low opinion of themselves. rano, too, considered himself a tool to be used, even bartered his own soul—but that's neither here nor there. he cannot afford becoming distracted by the past when the future is at stake.)

If that is what you understand, then I will put it this way: Perhaps it is our worlds' penance. (the sins that they have all committed could have piled too high—what would happen then? lessa, new in his role of keeping the status quo, does not know. the fact that he is here at all tells him that it was not his call to make.) It could be the universe's judgement taking effect.

(his hand goes to xiao's shoulder. with no boundary laid down for him yet, touching him is simply a matter of course, especially after their pleasant handshake. there is a soft pat, and then lessa walks forward to open his arms to quetzalcoatl's temple.

this one is his favourite. it resembles a pyramid.)

Let us simply hope that it is one worthy of our beloved dead! (can't seem to stop being vaguely ominous when he's trying to be sweet. it's becoming clear that this is just the way that he is.) I myself have no expectations for Yima's final creation. I should like to see what everyone else thinks up... or what the Matron will construct for them.

If there was something that you could eliminate from your world, something that would not show up on Zenith's foetal planet, what would that be?