My new companion was not as arrogant as I had first assumed. It had turned out that his care for his coat and hat was entirely out of respect for an old friend of his. He told me his name was Vanier Rajzel. I had never heard a last name like his but I chose to keep my questions on it to myself for now. Listening carefully for my part, I heard him continue, "I mean, I understand that there are some scary dudes out there but not everyone is a psychopath. Can't we let children believe in the impossible every now and again?" I couldn't help but laugh a little. He wasn't wrong. In the last days of my illness, that belief that I would recover was what made my smile so bright and my heart less heavy than it was now. He eventually asked, "I'm sorry. I got so caught up in my own stuff that I never asked your name. Is it too late to ask?"

I shook my head slowly, "Not at all. Cathrine Baroque." Feeling some social pressure to share my story given how he had gone on, I tried with what little practice I had to explain, "I... came to this state... because my father had promised that he would cure my illness. When conventional medicine failed, he found another way to keep his word. I am not sure how thankful I am for it, but I was told by someone to make the most of the life he has given me." I tried to explain the paradox to that. I didn't feel alive. Sensation was limited to what could be told by stone. I couldn't taste food and I didn't crave it. Even the need for water and hydration was limited to maintaining proper mineral balance in my body and not really about the water itself. Between this odd nature and the Paladins always on the hunt, I couldn't even have companionship.

As I tried to find my words, he summarized it as best he could, "And without someone to help you make sense of it, it can be hard You have to pull your own definition of it from nothing" I looked at him with mild surprise and nodded sheepishly, He sighed, "Yeah. I can understand that. But that's also why I don't regret my life. I know it sounds cliché but I really do think that it is my relationship with the people I've met along the way that I feel I've made the most of my life. I hope you can feel the same way some day. Despite your condition." He raised his glass and said, "So, hail to us renegades, finding our own way through the chaos."

It was moments later that his face went cold as an armored hand forced Vanier's drink back to the table. The markings on the gauntlet were unmistakable to me and yet when I scanned the faces of the group of Paladins that had assembled, none of them were looking at me. Not even a second glance. Either my thin illusion was holding up well or they knew what I was and didn't care. Either way, silence was going to be my friend in this situation. The older commander spoke firmly with Vanier but from his tone, I could tell they knew each other. "That's enough of that, Magician." Vanier smiled at the comment but the glimmer in his eyes told me that it was so he didn't lash out at the man. "You have any new tricks to show us today? Or do I have to sear your flesh once more to find out?"

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The crimson clad runer sneered, "You have done it so often, I can't even feel it anymore, so you won't get your usual enjoyment from the process." I had suspected this was true until the outraged and furious expression of the commander. Whoever this man was, he must clearly respect his job and what it represents. Either that or being openly called out on his own brutality was too much for his sense of decorum. Vanier pulled his drink hand free with annoyance and said, "I thought I had until tomorrow to rest up before you were going to waste my time with pointless posturing. Any jobs for me, Commander Rajzel?"

It was here that I saw what was going on here. Vanier was the son of a Paladin and had used this knowledge to become a magician. Newly curious about my first friend in a decade, I hoped to get a better idea of how this divide came about. Perhaps even this coat was connected in some way. My mind reeled with the possibilities, and Vanier seemed to notice. The knight commander continued to ignore me, which I was thankful for. "I do, Vanier. There is rumors of a cult forming in the ruins outside of town calling themselves Eternity. We spoke with the Grand Library for any potential historical significance and it appears to have been a settlement once managed by the Kaiwa in ancient times. We don't know what their numbers are but they are claiming to have discovered 'The Road Between;. The Grand Library didn't know but the Lightning Sage insists that we leave it alone and that they will destroy themselves. I personally can't go against the orders of the Sage but I do not want innocent people getting tied in with something that will only kill them."

Vanier sighed, stating firmly, "It is an old runic theory, but I will look into it. The Lightning Sage might be right, but they live too long to remember the people effected." He took a deep swig of his drink and stated, "This is my friend, Cathrine. She will be joining me for this job. I feel like she could use a break from bounty hunting." I froze, unsure of what Vanier seemed to be up to. The commander looked me over with a blank expression. I felt like he was peering into my very soul but found nothing of note. It was almost hurtful. Either he didn't know what I was and saw me as just some woman, or he did know what I was and simply not care. In either case, his gaze moved on from me swiftly and he nodded in confirmation that it was fine. Vanier tipped his hat a little and finished his drink, "Sorry for dragging you into this Cath, but I think you can make a small prize off this and I get the feeling you don't have anything better to do today." I wanted to shoot him down. To make an excuse of some kind, simply for volunteering me for no reason, but to have an excuse to spend more time with someone who I could be honest with and share stories without concern was a nice change of pace. Not to mention that I truly didn't have anything going on in that moment aside from my originally intended supply run.

Vanier and I were not ready for what came next. If I had told my previous self what we were about to discover, I would have encouraged them to listen to the third hand advice of the Lightning Sage. They would destroy themselves. They would all die, all chasing that eternal lie we tell ourselves. The myth of immortality.