Lorenzo's mind recalled those Faceless People, kneeling at the edge of the Well of Ascension. Who knows how long they've been there, like sculptures, stepping into eternity.
"Whether the Secret Keepers are humans or monsters, under this cycle of iteration, they cannot avoid such a fate, can they?"
Lorenzo felt he had found the answer, speaking rapidly, recalling how the once glorious era had descended into darkness. How long could these sanctuaries last?
"Flesh decays and ages, and even in Ascension, one may lose oneself over the long passage of time."
Then he stood at a loss.
"The Secret Keepers are all dead... The Victoria family was the last to see them...
Yes, because they all died, that's why Merlin returned in vain, and that's why we found nothing..."
They watched as Lorenzo's momentum gradually waned. He wavered, then walked to the edge of the monument and sat down against it.
