It was time.

So many things had happened and I felt old, tired, drained and useless. The promise of immortality had led me astray. The book of names led me to believe in my own apotheosis, and now that the end was near I knew it must be a lie. So close to finishing and so close to ending. What was done is done and there could be no means in achieving the final steps.

I finished writing the scroll and and made a total in the bottom right hard corner. It was just 5 short. 5 short of divinity. And so I had to make a decision. To complete and move on or to cheat death and linger.

But over the course of the weeks and months a new alternative had been conjured. I walked over to the crystal orb, much as I had imagined the avatar once had, prior to his defeat of Mondain. But this orb was different. The power of rebirth, the power of biogenesis. It just needed a scroll. To transform and renew. To change forever and whenever.

I close my eyes and decided again, for the twentienth time, for the hundreth time. I decided again. I spoke the words of invocation.

"Kal Behar Reuocatite Manuere". As darkness faded I could see light up ahead.

I opened my eyes. The statue loomed large and as I focussed I saw a familiar but altered face. Was this really my former self? I possessed memories but they seemed distant like a half noticed distraction.

I purposefully left the room and closed the door behind me, locking it with a steel key. There was no escape for her now. Or me.