Kevin's Watch

Dear Dad,

I'm sorry to say Goodbye this way. I'm so sorry. But time is extremely short. Delays would cost untold lives. And when you're done reading, you'll know that I couldn't have told you in person. You'd try to stop me, and I won't be stopped.

I have to go, Dad. You've always told me that even gods don't get to live forever. I'm now proof of that. You also taught me that gods have responsibilities to their followers; we don't just take. Well, my followers have been good, and true. And now they need everything I can give them. Nothing less than everything will do.

I have dreamed a dream, and now that dream has gone from me.

Glory turned to horror.

I told you about Shakari when I originally got there, and started turning it into a fortress for my followers to live safely. Shakari was beautiful beyond words!! Oh, man, you and Mom should have seen it!! So many Trees of every kind. So many species of plants. So many species of animals. All working together in the perfect harmony of Nature, forming the most wonderful Forest the world had ever seen.

But that's Mom's end of things. For you... Love like you wouldn't believe!! It was inhabited by people, dragons, satyrs, and so many others! You should have seen the Love elemental I made! All Loving to their utmost. A veritable beacon for the rest of Eiran; a shining example of what life could be like for all, if they only so choose.

And Shakari was powerful beyond all my dreams! It has long been impervious to magical flame, wood-eating insects, and rot. (That happened after that business with the Abomination I told you about.) It has long had an instinctive ability to fight for itself, keeping intruders out.

Then, after years of building and setbacks, it was finally achieving the kind of strength to be able to resist what the evil members of the Pantheon would likely be throwing at it again and again and again. I merged the soul of my first Prophet with the Forest. Dad, he was a good man. He Loved like no other! He was raising this adorable little six-armed girl, who had a spiffy little power of her own! Nobody in the world ever would have guessed they weren't biologically father and daughter. I mean, they Loved each other as much as you or I could have hoped for our followers. But he died in an accident. His soul joined with Shakari gave it awareness... abilities... a new level of Love for the Forest itself!!

And now it's gone. All gone. It's damaged beyond description. And the Allfather's Interdict prevents me from repairing and regrowing. Ah, Shakari! My beautiful Shakari! My followers are dead or maddened. Which would the maddened have chosen if they knew what was coming?

I have no choice. Though I cannot stay, neither can I leave. I will not go on about my merry way, wandering through the cosmos, starting over elsewhere, knowing that they are possibly dying every moment. Possibly killing each other in their insanity! So I'm... well... I guess I'm going to die, Dad. I'm going to speak the Word of Unbinding. I'm going to release all that I am into Shakari. The Forest and my followers will get every bit of divine Love and Forest Health I can give them. Simply spending power on it wouldn't be sufficient in the face of what the World Breaker has done. I won't do that, watch it fall short, then watch through the Interdict as things get worse. I'd rather give everything I can, giving them the best chance possible.

Jove feels the same way. I'm sorry you two couldn't have gotten to know each other better. That one visit we made isn't nearly enough, eh? But then, I guess no amount of visiting is ever enough...

It's odd. This is the last time you and I will communicate in any way. You'd think I would have so much to say... But I can't think of anything. Maybe there's nothing left to say, eh? What haven't we said in the centuries I've been alive? You and I have been more than father and son; more than friends. You taught me the Way of Love, and I can't imagine a better way of living life. We've had our adventures; our laughs; our tragedies; our tears. We've talked about everything in creation. You know all I am and all I feel. Maybe that's why I'm out of words already.

And I know you, too. You might wish it was otherwise, but I know you'd do the same if you were in my position.

Well, I have to get going now. I wish I could write more. Or visit gain. Or... something. But I'm just rambling now. I know I'm doing the right thing, but it's still a bit unsettling, eh? But things are getting worse every moment. I need to act as soon as possible.

Please check back when you can to see if the Interdict is down. Your grandchildren might need your help from time to time.

Goodbye, Dad. I Love You.

-B-