A/N

I lay no claim to anything associated with the Inheritance Cycle. However, Lavel, Vasem, and anything associated with the world known as Dosjorya are my own creations, born from another project of mine currently known as Dosjoryan Tales. You do not need to read Dosjoryan Tales to understand my original characters or their pasts (I hope- that's my goal at least).

(Lavel)

A weary spirit, Lavel Sucoret opened his eyes to a realm he had seen once before, though not in its full beauty. A realm of spirits, a realm for the dead of his world, a realm linked to his own in a way he could never understand.

He remembered the words of an old acquaintance. All denizens of both realms moved to the other upon their passing, spending a brief time before fading away completely. But select individuals from either could spend a longer time in the other world. With the power cursed to him by a god, he became one of those individuals.

Simple as it once was, Lavel's mind seemed to have transformed a little by becoming a spirit and began to wonder about new, complex things. Things he never had the desire or ability to think about. Why do humans and Gendirlo, intelligent beasts of various species, even cross over from Dosjorya to this world after death? Likewise, why do spirits cross over to his home? Spirits never played a role in any happenings in Dosjorya; in his life, he did not remember even finding a spirit save for that time he was on the brink of death. He doubted he could do much here except look around, and few would ever know he was here.

Did Vasem wonder about the same things when he died?

Lavel tried to reign in his focus, though it still continued down a dark path. Almost three decades ago, his soul stood on the cusp of the spirit realm, while in Dosjorya his body barely clung to life. All of the pain, the sorrow, the loss had finally caught up to him, all because of the war and Vasem's death. Vasem gave up what was left of his spirit to ensure Lavel could continue to live during that last meeting. Not just live, Vasem hoped, but thrive. To continue without the pain of losing half his soul. And in many regards, it worked.

Where the power to manipulate water was cursed, in Lavel's mind, to him by a god, fate gifted him with the uncommon ability many Dosjoryans had, to form a telepathic bond to a Gendirl, the Innen bond. A bond that could vary in strength, and he had the strongest ability of anyone. Then Vasem came into his life, an Oundat Gendirl, a blue quadruped with a long neck and black stripes. Nothing was ever the same again, for Vasem meant more to him than life itself. Even here in the spirit realm, after decades of becoming numb, after Vasem's spiritual sacrifice, Lavel found it hard to look ahead to the future, to a life without his partner. Especially now without friends and family.

His eyes looked around and spotted a bright point of light, infinitely lighter than his mood. That light was his entrance to this realm, he instinctively knew. His window to his old life, to his wife and three children. To the friends he made in his nearly five decades of life, acquaintances he had worked alongside in various capacities, even to his enemies, the Dargonian people who had invaded his land, killed friends and family, and whom he fought against so that Dosjorya would not die as Vasem did.

The very war that killed Vasem also profoundly changed his being.

"Why do my thoughts always turn to the war?" Lavel thought out loud.

"Because war, violence, and struggle shaped who you are. It has made you into a warrior, and there are many different types of war to fight," said an unfamiliar voice. Lavel looked around to find its source.

Behind him stood a wisp of a humanoid, completely black except for the tiny flecks of blue that glimmered as it moved, with a tail instead of legs. Wings sprouted out from its back. It wore no clothes, yet stood as if completely comfortable. Lavel turned his entire body around to face it, still human-like in comparison to the spirit.

"Who are you?" Lavel asked.

"A spirit of power. A deity. A god, if you will, though we do not use that term often. It is reserved more for your own deities."

Lavel backed up a step. The gods of his world, immortal beings locked in an eternal struggle, cared little about the affairs of mortals. No, that was not true, he thought. They cared enough to use mortals against enemy gods. He had become one of those weapons. The Dargonians became one of those weapons. Vasem was killed as a result.

He did not trust gods or deities. He did not trust this spirit.

"You distrust me," said the spirit kindly. "Rightfully so, given your history. However, I have followed your soul in Dosjorya after the god Maker interfered with your life. I follow every mortal in your world affected deeply by your gods."

The spirit spoke with a genuinely sympathetic voice, but it did not sway Lavel. Mortals and immortals were too different to understand each other, let alone feel sorry for each other. Assuming this spirit deity meant well. He did not know.

"Why?" Lavel asked, taking another step back.

"Why? Because what those gods do to mortals is wrong."

That he agreed with. "It is."

The spirit nodded. "In no other realm or world do deities use mortals as pawns as your gods do."

"They don't?" Lavel asked before realization of what the spirit said came to him. Other realms? The only ones he knew about were his own and this one. Just what is existence? How many things did he not know?

"They don't," said the spirit. "Countless worlds exist, many linked to others, such as ours. Others stand alone. Yet all are linked in some small way. Deities can see these worlds, and sometimes we can touch them. I have that ability and I use that ability to watch over your realm, and also to gaze over others that might offer a better life. To those in our realm influenced negatively by your gods, I can take them and reincarnate them in a world not governed so harshly by deities."

The spirit cupped its hands and a globe appeared, hovering. Lavel could see many visions within it. A city built into and around ancient trees. Tall citadels looking over walled cities akin to Dosjorya's greatest cities. Humans walking alongside other human-like creatures peacefully. And one more creature, one that Lavel did not recognize, one that had different colors per individual and to him looked a bit like a winged version of Vasem.

"Is that another realm there?" Lavel asked.

"It is," said the spirit. "A realm a lot like yours, except a little tougher and more governed by magic than by gods. Near immortality is achievable by those you would otherwise call mortals. You can be reborn there. Alongside Vasem."

"Alongside... Vasem?" Lavel gasped. Most of his being wanted it to be true. To see Vasem again, to share with him the life he lived after the war. To be together for as long as fate decided. To feel whole again.

Yet he knew how cruel the world could be. To have hope just within your grasp, only to have it snatched away when reaching for it. Such could crush stronger men than him. It had shattered him already. Fear made him hesitate to believe in this hope.

This offer is coming from a god, albeit one for a different world. A god who appears to care. But a god nonetheless. Why should an immortal offer him a new life? What motive does it have in sending spirits to other realms? To influence affairs indirectly? To play a more subtle game with mortals than he was used to? To remove the most threatening spirits that came from his world?

Or maybe, just because it wishes to give a better life to those who suffer. Could an immortal care for a mortal?

"It is not far-fetched. I can reincarnate both of you in this realm or any other I find. As Vasem is a part of you now, there is enough of him for me to rebuild. I can do the same of any spirit who resides in this realm, even to those nearly faded, so long as a piece exists. My abilities are limited, otherwise, I would bring back many of your friends and family alongside you."

"Why though?"

"Why?" The spirit paced a little, its tail pushing it around. "Why? Because mortals should not have to suffer at the hands of deities. You and Vasem suffered. Azen suffered with both Resdie and Sonota. Andreiah suffered with Dinshalow. It is wrong in my mind."

"Why do you care, though? All of us mortals, we live and suffer, but we all go away. We don't last. You do. There is nothing in common between us."

The deity shuffled its wings. "Not all immortals are as detached from mortals as you believe."

The images of the globe shifted to a new scene. The god standing in a house, lifting into the air a smaller spirit who lacked the flecks of light. Both laughed and the smaller spirit begged to be lifted again. Another spirit entered the scene, almost as large as the god but also lacking the speckles, and both of the larger spirits hugged.

"You see, Lavel, that sometimes deities long for the love and affection mortals give freely to each other. Sometimes we want to prove to ourselves that immortality does not equal loneliness and indifference. Much like you, I have felt love and lust, loss and sorrow. I am a spirit's version of a husband and father. I find joy in bringing peace to others and feel hurt when others suffer. My heart felt for you after Vasem's death. It felt for so many others killed or wounded in the name of a god war."

The globe disappeared. Lavel held no doubts the scene he just witnessed was the family of this deity, and from their appearances, they did not look like an immortal. He could see the love between father and child, between husband and wife. Both loves he knew well.

"I have this power to reincarnate. Just as the Maker has the power to create. We both can twist our elements to make use of our representations and abilities. But unlike Maker, I find it a shame to let such potential be used to harm."

Lavel glanced back at the bright light. From this distance, he could not make out any detail.

With that image of this spirit's family burned into his memory, he trusted this deity more than he trusted any of his gods. The offer to live again with Vasem tempted him like nothing else. His last words in Dosjorya were addressed not to his wife or his children, all of which were by his side. No, they were addressed to Vasem. "I'm on my way," he had whispered, fully knowing that he would still never see Vasem again.

But then he could not watch over his friends and family for however long he had in this realm. He wanted to watch his three children make their mark on the world, much like his nephew did. Perhaps he could have touched Senyda's dreams, to show that her husband was not yet gone forever. And he wanted to see prosperity continue to return to Dosjorya, prosperity that he had shed blood for decades ago, as the memories of that brutal war continued to fade.

"I would be giving up on watching everyone if I accepted," he said out loud.

The spirit nodded, a sad expression on his face. "You would. It is terrible to have to choose between loved ones."

Lavel shook his head. "I am grateful for the opportunity."

"How so?"

"As much as I want to watch my family, there is little I can do for them or anyone in Dosjorya. My time there is done. Watching them does much more for me than for them. But living again with Vasem helps him much more."

Smiling, the deity formed the globe again. More images appeared within. A vast desert. Mountains that dwarfed Xazdos Volcano, a several-mile-high monolith in its own right. Endless fertile plains crossed with roads and streams and dotted with villages and lakes. "It seems even I have something to learn," he said.

Lavel pointed at the globe. "That is the world Vasem and I will be reborn in?"

"If you agree, yes. I would tell you about it, but I know little enough about it and you would forget our conversation anyway. Know that this too is a world that can struggle to find peace. True peace is a rare thing indeed. However, after what you have endured, it is the best place for you and Vasem. Your time together in Dosjorya was far too short and here, unless war and fate see differently, you two shall endure alongside each other for much, much longer."

Slowly Lavel nodded. "I do not want to fight in a war again. But if I must, I will. You said I will forget our conversation. Will I forget more?"

The deity shook his head. "Meeting Vasem again will be more meaningful if you remember everything from Dosjorya. Each of you will remember everything about your past once you are old enough to understand. I think you two will have much to catch up on."

He wanted this. His soul screamed to accept the offer. Vasem would live again. More good will come of accepting than from not.

But Lavel glanced at the bright light again. He would remember his family but would never know how they moved on after his death and reincarnation.

He could not have both.

But he could not make choices just for himself.

"I accept your offer," Lavel said with certainty.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. For Vasem."

"Then it shall be done. Good bye, Lavel Sucoret."