You are running but you are not running fast enough.
You are running through the monastery, running from room to room. You cannot see for tears. You cannot breathe for panic.
Where are they?
Where have they gone?
They have gone.
The building is empty. No one is here. Yesterday they were here. Yesterday the place was full. The monks were everywhere, they were watching you. They were always watching you.
And today they are gone. Everything is gone. No one is here. How can that be?
Have they left you?
They cannot leave you.
You are the Cowl-Rai, chosen of Zorir. You are the one who will tip the world. You are the one who will lead the forces of Zorir.
But they are gone.
There is no one here.
Escape.
You cannot escape. You have a destiny. There is a prophecy. You are a thing of power. They will come back. They must come back. You run up to the tall tower. From the tall tower you can see everything, you can see the edges of the world and the slowlands where people die for forever and a day.
You can see smoke.
You can see fire.
You can see soldiers. Soldiers making their way up the front path to the monastery. They hold flags of blue. They hold banners that name a god you have never heard of, “Tarl-an-Gig”, and in that moment, you knew something terrible had happened. That despite all you had been told, you were not what they said you were. They lied to you. You are not the one to tip the world. Zorir will not lead the world in fire.
The Cowl-Rai has risen. That is why the monks have gone. How often did you hear them say that those who worshipped other gods, who would not bow would die. And Zorir would never bow.
The monks have run.
The soldiers are coming.
They are coming for you.
Run.
You run.