Skarpi slowly exhaled, as Chronicler finished his reading. Bast had stopped eating. He reconsidered then started eating again, this time a little faster. Chronicler stuffed his papers away. Skarpi looked like an old person that had finally received a message that was unwelcome but no surprise.

"So," asked Chronicler hesitantly. "I have a question."

Skarpi raised an eyebrow at him. Chronicler blushed and spoke rapidly:

"I mean, when we burned down the Waystone Inn, did we free Death or is everything just fine? Will the Aleu blood Kvothe used on the building be sufficient or will we all die soon?"

"As a matter of fact," said Skarpi tiredly, "I think its the latter."

"I think I'll return to twilight," said Bast.

"That will hardly help," said Skarpi sadly, "The fae is inseparably connected to the mortal world. The humans will die. The animals will die. Fae will die. Everyone, without exception. The end has begun."

"Well, since the end has begun," said Chronicler to Skarpi, "Do you mind if I call you Selitos?"


Far away in the fae, Kvothe opened his eyes. He was naked and lying under a full moon. He tilted his head to the side.

"So I was able to keep my promise, after all," he said hesitantly to her that lay next to him, waiting, "I wasn't so sure if I would make it."

Felurian traced her fingers over some freshly healed wounds. "the sleeper awakens at last," she said, "did you think I would let you die, when you fell across the threshold close to death? No, you are mine and mine alone."

Kvothe looked into her eyes and wanted to believe.

"until death separates us," whispered Felurian.


In the end, there was only Death and Death reigned the world alone. There were a few things that existed in this late landscape, like wind, fire and remnants of what had once been, but there was no life. No animal, no mushrooms, no bacteria, no fae, demon or Amyr. There was no moon, no Aleu and no tides. There was only Death and Death sat on his throne and laughed.

He did so a long time. He grew bored. He yawned and started to pace around. Still nothing happened.

"why do I have to do this job?" he asked himself, kicking at a stone "who put me in charge? why do I exist at all? oh how I wish I were not Omega," Death said, "Any other name would do. Like for example Greatness, um, or Super-Stone-Kicker. Or maybe just the Start."