Глава 14

Logos can feel the blood in his body stirring.

The Sanguinarch of Vampires... Duq'arael.

You're not like the others. I know this.

You are not one of the Damazti's avatars.

Lord Damazti, this portion of you decided to assist Qui'sartuštaj.

No... We have no interest in helping anyone in particular. We are simply... searching for answers.

Kal'tsit, we have met you before. When the Sarkaz were not yet Sarkaz.

You walked across us.

I have no recollection of any such meeting.

At that time, we were unable to speak.

And then...

The first King of Teekaz came in contact with Originium.

That was our first 'awakening'.

The first individual rose up from among us.

We felt one another.

We had existed for an unknown amount of time before that. But, it was only at that moment when we became aware of our existence.

Because we began to 'think'.

Originium will assimilate all lifeforms it comes into contact with.

Not just you. But also the original Vampires, Banshees, and Wendigos... All Teekaz have changed. You are approaching the form of another entity that once existed on this land.

Then, what are you?

(Howls agitatedly)

It seems extremely averse to seeing another self.

Kal'tsit... the Immortal.

Do you still remember what you looked like at first?

The 'Immortal' is a figment of certain people's imaginations, and a misrepresentation of my self.

Time leaves its marks upon me all the same. The original entity by the name of 'Kal'tsit' has long been lost beneath the golden sands.

But, you are still yourself.

We were watching as you were reborn at Theresa's side.

You are different from your previous self, from your appearance to your personality.

We are used to constant change for the sake of survival.

Among the Sarkaz, the Damazti Cluster is unique. We once thought that you were like us.

We know many 'Kal'tsit', just as Kal'tsit knows many of us.

However, we will always be a whole. Each Damazti is a receptor for us to feel this land.

But, 'Kal'tsit' is different. Each Kal'tsit is still <i>you.</i>

I do believe that to be true.

Why?

Is it the inheritance of memory that makes you so persistent? Memory can be easily tampered with and implanted. This, we know, for many long-lived beings have tried such methods.

Such 'immortality' is nothing but an empty lie.

Then, is it some kind of duty...

I won't deny that my life has been duty-bound from the moment I was born.

Looking back, I don't think... I've ever truly been 'alive'.

The substances that make up your body have all been replaced. The memories inherited from your previous self are unreliable. The mission imposed upon you may not even be your own.

Kal'tsit, what is it that has kept the continuity of <i>you</i> across these thousands of years?

A name.

A unique name, or a title? It is a question that so many emotionally deprived Sarkaz would be keenly interested in.

This name, has many meanings.

The person who gave me this name, and the people I care about, are now in danger. This isn't the time for us to be having this chat.

We did not expect you to be this sentimental.

Mon3tr.

(Excited howl)