Beside the serene waters of a crystal-clear river, an elderly man sat, his gnarled hand firmly gripping a walking cane. His companion, a younger man, cast a long shadow over him as he carefully inserted a piece of paper inside a vibrant, orange autumn leaf. The younger man stood restlessly, his demeanor resembling that of one bracing for reprimand. His hands alternated between clasping his chest and hanging limply at his sides, all the while balancing precariously on one leg. After enduring an uncomfortable silence broken only by the gentle gurgling of the water, he could bear it no longer and, his voice tinged with trepidation, he finally spoke:

"I know you've discovered my secret. It's not too difficult to deduce. You may have even been aware for quite some time."

The elderly man, being careful not to crumple the delicate paper, remained stoic in response to the younger man's words.

"You've uncovered my affliction, but I hope you understand it was not merely self-interest that led me into their service. My motivations were rooted in the greater good of this land. I believed it to be the righteous path."

"Do you believe in what I am doing?" asked the elder man.

"What you're..."

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The young man, relieved that the elder man had finally responded, fell silent and focused on the paper in the leaf for a while.

"If it's what I suspect, I can't say for certain. I've never witnessed..."

"Well, if you witness its efficacy for yourself, if you see that we receive a response... will you consider re-joining us on this path?"

"I know it's hard to believe, but it just so happens that before you arrived, I was already contemplating that you might be right. I can no longer collaborate with them."

"But do you believe in what I'm doing now?"

"Frankly... I can't say for certain."

"Your honesty is appreciated. This is where the uncertainty lies. Please, come sit next to me and observe."

"But out there..."

"There's always news unfolding out there: crashes, explosions, wars... Come now, sit beside me. This won't take long."

The younger man, who, despite his being about fifty years of age, was the "younger" of the two, walked hesitantly to the old man's side. He watched with fascination as the elder man took the orange leaf containing the paper and held it close to his lips, as though whispering a secret to it before releasing it into the stream. The leaf twirled along the water course and disappeared beneath the low gap beneath the neighboring wall. The old man shifted his gaze to the right, where the river emerged from the wall, and looked at it with unwavering confidence, akin to one who believed the sun would rise anew each morning.

"Let me tell you... Should the answer elude us, I will place my faith in the solution you have devised."

The intensity in the elder man's eyes prompted the younger man to blink, his brow furrowing ever so slightly. He absently toyed with the loose gem in his ring as he stared at the precise spot that had captivated the elder man's unwavering gaze. There was no news – yet.