totter

A fin leaps out of the water, but the ripples it creates do not disappear.

Immediately, everyone realizes that the river and the waterfall are frozen in place. In fact, they stopped flowing some time ago.

The sage slowly makes his way out from behind the curtain of water, clad in plain clothing.

Fellow travelers. I am sorry to keep you waiting.

As soon as he starts speaking, the river starts flowing again.

The sage!!!

Hey! Hey! Stop shoving your way to the front!

I have to get closer to him, so he can see how much I support him!

Sage, the sun has only just risen. What do you wish to tell us?

Last night, while exploring the jungle, I saw starlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves, falling onto the surface of the lake, and I...

*sigh*... Fellow travelers...

It was there I saw that my days are nearing their end. I called you all here today, to bid you farewell.

Surely you're joking, dear sage?

Nonsense. The sage never tells jokes!

Sage, does this mean you can see your own future?

The past and the future are just two segments of the same river. As long as we are in the river, we can decipher the messages from the future that come with those ripples.

But glimpsing into one's own destiny comes at a price. I can feel this place rejecting me; my journey in this world is nearing its end.

Sage, how can you be so indifferent in the face of death?

I accepted my fate long ago. I have found my inner peace.

Fellow travelers, do not weep for me. For me, death is but the start of a new journey.

Wow. I see the tranquility in your face. It's clear as day...

I have long come to terms with everything I've experienced, just as the river embraces everything that flows into it and continues its journey toward the distant horizon.

Sage, before you leave us, can you tell us how to interpret all of this?

It is not my place to reveal those hidden secrets.

Farewell, fellow travelers...

A fowlbeast lands on the sage's shoulder. He closes his eyes and lowers his chin, as if in some kind of trance.

The current surges beneath his feet, creating a whirlpool.

The water splashes violently. In the blink of an eye, the sage disappears into the vortex.

Only a small whirlpool is left, quietly spinning on the surface of the water.

In Columbia, I was a failure. I was dead broke, and my family was on the verge of breaking up. But this trip has given me the courage to face life again.

The sage's calm acceptance of his own fate has convinced me that there will always be a river to carry away the pain I've endured.

Odd... this isn't where we agreed on.

Can't trust the guy to dig a proper escape ditch.

Sage?

The river flows.... as the sands of time...

Enough. I already know what's going on here.

You won't tell anyone, will you?

Did you know? I happen to be a Sarkaz mercenary.

Uhh... Relax, If I wanted to tell anyone, I would've done so a long time ago.

From the very first day I arrived, I sensed something was off—simplistic platitudes like that rarely resonate with anyone.

But I never saw anyone complain.

Why would we?

The scenery is beautiful, the food is excellent, and to be honest, you looked quite striking in your 'Sage' getup.

Most important of all, the cost of living here is pretty reasonable. For us, it was the perfect place to spend a vacation.

But every time I spoke, you guys all seemed so invested in what I was saying. Like, true believers.

Meh. I treated it as cosplay, or maybe dinner theater. I saw a similar performance in Lungmen once. Only that time, the guy was dressed up as a gangster.

I've never been to Lungmen.

You should go some time. It's nice.

I don't think I'll get the chance.

Don't worry. No one's going to call you out.

Everyone comes here for a brief respite, a temporary escape from the troubles of real life. Who cares about the truth?

In the end, we will all return to our own rivers.

Just as the sage says.

Yeah, just as the sage says. Our thoughts and troubles remain in our respective rivers.

Totter, you know... if you want to stay at the office, you can. Rhodes Island has a great hospice program.

Thanks, but I'd rather live out my days back in my hometown.

But didn't you say you couldn't contact your family?

Yeah, because they're all dead.

Then you want to return home to live alone?

Yup. Great, isn't it?

Great how?

It's peaceful alone.

Having other people around pitying me would only be a pain.

Here, some dry clothes. Put them on.

What took you so long?

...It's quite a ways from the waterfall to here. You couldn't find me a shortcut?

Our other plan was to have you disappear in a flock of fowlbeasts. The problem with that one was you'd end up covered in poop.

Okay, you made the right choice.

I just hope that once I'm gone, my 'grand finale' will be enough to keep drawing a steady stream of tourists.

To be honest, the rainforest is huge. There must be somewhere you can stay and rest. You don't need to leave.

I promise that future visitors will not disturb your peace. We'll also pay for your food and clothing. If you need anything, just say the word.

No. I still plan on leaving.

Maybe everyone else sees me as a slick talker, but we grew up together—you know I wouldn't lie to you.

I know. I'm not stupid.

...Then why?

The sage is right. I should find my own river, the tranquil river that will embrace me and carry me onward.

Aren't you the sage?

No. I was just pretending to be him.

Everything he said, I made it all up, Totter. It's all beastshit.

Doesn't matter. I've always gone with the flow anyway.

It doesn't matter whether the sage is 'real' or not.

What matters is that we all have our trials and tribulations. The day we accept that is the day we shall find true peace.

I think I'm ready to face my future again.

It's been over six months since Totter returned to his hometown. In another six months, let's find some time to visit him together.

Hey... that's...

Totter?!

...Some stuff happened. Change of plans.

Huh?

Anyway, I'm back now.

So now you're planning to... uhh... I don't know what to think.

Oh good, now that you're back, I won't need to hunt you down in the rainforest. I've got a letter for you.

Huh? ...For me?

From where?

The snowfields.

That's strange...

Who sent it?

Uhh... probably some old friends.