Knowledge shall lead the...

[Anastasia]

And thus, Emily and Xera are gone. Before you the book rises, the pages turning. This time, on the balcony. Antenora carries a bundle with her, Emily asleep in her arms. "Emily!" Amaryl cries, hugging both of them tight.

The story goes on and on and on another time. Each time the legend goes another way. Each life is a different struggle to be overcome. But you must continue to the next life rather than tarry in an old one, or hoard parts of the new to the old.

[Corwin]

By all means, let's continue, then, Seira says, wishing her girls luck.

[Anastasia]

All around you is gone, back to the waters. But only for a moment, for a portal appears before you, another invitation.

[Corwin]

Because the Guardian had messed with her before, Seira makes sure to make a sweep of the portal first.

Perception 114, any sign of traps, other portals and so on? Also Analyze Portal.

[Anastasia]

No sign of traps and Analyze Portal does nothing.

[Corwin]

"This one seems legitimate, let's go," Seira says, swimming into it.

[Anastasia]

Againt he Cauldron.

This time a king sits at your main balcony. He is young, with black hair kept short and wearing royal finery. No emblems however, though he does wear a crown. He sips tea, "I have to say, you beings find all sorts of interesting things within your limits," he greets. "Rebirth, renewal and eternity - what an interesting way to pacify minds that can't grapple with eternity."

[Corwin]

"Yes, I suppose eternity's one way to deal with eternity," Seira says wryly, taking a seat opposite him. "How would you like me address you?"

[Anastasia]

"Guardian," Is the answer as Donald and Ranbar join you, "You try very hard to be called Dragon, while your friend there is closer to calling himself Warrior or Fool, but neither fits fully anymore. Change is ever the province of lesser creatures. And of course the last one is Terrified."

Donald sits with a rattle of metal before, "I must have told Seira one too many good jokes, she promoted me."

Ranbar's quiet before, "I should be terrified." she agrees. "How many I'll re responsible for if I ascend."

"Do yourself a favor and fail. Fail a lot. Mortals can revel in feelings of failure that mean something, rather than what lasts until a whim decides otherwise," Guardian says. "Mortals do it all again and again, forever, ever and every. Except Morwel, for she is every dream and no dream at once, and in turn is all of her children, because all of her children are Arborea."

[Corwin]

"We view failure as a chance to learn and improve, Guardian," she responds. "There's no shame in it, although ideally we would prefer to learn from observing the failures of others. And Seira is fine, you don't need to bother with any titles, earned or made up on a whim."

[Anastasia]

"You did well. If you'd taken those copies with you, you'd have failed. If you'd tried to deny the future without changing it, you'd have failed," He says, "But this failure would do you more harm than good."

[Corwin]

"In the end, I had to have faith. They felt real, and so did their reality, but that just meant it needed to be helped and that the girls had a loving family to go back to. In the end, however, it was a team effort. I was the driving force forward and the decision maker, but Donald had invaluable advice on the challenge, and Ranbar smoothly anticipated my needs and prevented the children from suffering through all the scenes we learned from."

Seira inclines her head to the Guardian, saying, "On our behalf, thank you for your compliment."

[Anastasia]

"I want to know one thing," Donald says, "If we left with them, then what?"

The Guardian raises a cup of tea - something he didn't have a moment ago - and sips before, "Your prize would be Xera and Emily, but never what I guard."

Ranbar says, "Seira teaches us that everyone's important, and that every role matters."

[Corwin]

"Creating souls is one thing, but you can fully copy people in Creation? Not just their souls, but down to their memories and sense of self? And their world... you might've shown us illusions, but it felt like my realm or a very good copy of it. Can you actually copy a divine realm and populate it with its inhabitants, deities included?"

[Anastasia]

"I suppose if I had reason to and I wasn't restricted by the Incarnation of Balance," Guardian says at last, "You think in limits because you have many, I think in limitations because I have few."