He could see now the things that the world would keep unseen.
In the time between his capture by the Granite Compact and the present moment, Ashar had learned to open a third eye through his final ability, the Eye of Sophia. When he abandoned his body and his senses, it was as though he left the material world, and entered a different dimension altogether.
Here, he could study his previous battles and losses of the last few days. He could also train as he once had in the cave, only now in a reality where he could control all the circumstances to enhance his training. Through the duration of his captivity, Ashar had surpassed himself, and he had practiced every fundamental technique at least one million times. He had replayed every mistake he had ever made, and now rewinded them and refined them through visualisations of combat.
He was a different kind of warrior now. There was also anxiety when it came to an opponent, but something told Ashar that if he were to face any of his former foe again, he would defeat them with ease.
He was becoming something else from he had once been.
More importantly, as his sight deepened, his mind now started to change. He began to perceive the reality of his own existence in a way he never had before. The chaos of the first few days now faded, and his thoughts now passed before him while his own cold eyes watched them, detached.
"I wonder what you're looking at right now, with such ferocity."
Ashar opened his eyes to leave behind the visions. In the material world, he saw the one-eyed Kareth who knelt down before him.
"You're not going to get anything out of me." Ashar said.
"You need to realise that there's no point in hiding anything," Kareth replied. "Surely you can see that I'm not your enemy."
Ashar took a glance, and confirmed. By now, he had learned to trust what the Eye revealed to him.
"When the Eyes takes hold, I can see all of them," Ashar said. "The people I killed. The ones from the battle. And the ones I have yet to meet."
"You can see beyond the present, into the future?"
"I realise now that there are some things that travel outside of time. A woman might pass her feelings to her great-granddaughter without ever meeting her. The child will grow up with the same feelings, call it fate, instinct, genetics, or whatever. But she'll never know what it truly is, will she? And this is what I see with the Eye. I see the energy that passes beyond time."
Kareth did not fully understand, but his curiosity, and his sincerity, kept Ashar speaking.
"It would be easy for me to escape from this place and from all of it," Ashar continued. "I could run off into the fields and do nothing but catch fish until the end of my life. If I became bored, then maybe I could fill up my days with a mad quest, trying to chase immortality. But when I use the Eye I can see that all these people are watching me. Those faces of the past and the future are my curse. So I have no choice but walk on the path they created for me."
"The Shadow Clan also uses the Eye of Sophia," Kareth said carefully. "But I've never heard of them using it like this. They would be eager to meet you. Think of what we could accomplish together. We could change the world in its entirety."
"Is that what you tell them?" Ashar asked. "To keep their hopes alive?"
Kareth stopped. Ashar stared into him.
"I'll be honest, I'm tired of old men," Ashar said. "They all try to pass their truths onto me, but which one of them knows what the truth really is?"
Kareth smiled weakly. "I only want someone to understand me. I know my time is ending. But I've travelled farther than most realize. I've spoken to the Sages. I know how this ends."
"Oh?" Ashar asked. "How?"
"No matter how hard we try, the bandit groups will fail. The Shadow Clan will fail. This world always wins. Is that what you see too?"
"You are burdened by knowledge," Ashar replied. "Trapped by your own wisdom. A fool of comprehension."
Kareth laughed. "Perhaps. But I've realized something else."
"And that is?"
"A final act. Something beyond the logic of this world. That is the only way. To act outside desire, outside love, glory, or greed. I wanted to be that person." He gestured around them. "Instead, I'm a bandit rotting in a forest."
Ashar remained silent.
"I accept my failure," Kareth continued. "But sometimes I feel an urge, to give everything I have away. Even my own limbs, if it would help others. It's foolish. And lonely."
Ashar studied him, unseen.
"I once tried to join the Shadow Clan," Kareth said quietly. "They rejected me. Even they obey the world's logic. That is why they cannot win."
"That's right," Ashar said.
"All I ever wanted was to protect people from the monstrosities of this world. I failed so many of them. You were once a Faceless Leader. Perhaps we share something."
Ashar stared at him.
"Let me ask you something," he said. "How do you think a Faceless Leader is made? Promotion? Merit?"
"Perhaps."
"No. A Leader is born. I was the Eastern Leader for over five hundred years. But I never lived. And I do not live now."
"But you were made human—"
"That was a lie. I was never reborn. I was made aware. A consciousness born from shadow. I emerged from hell for one reason alone, to purify the world of the Lords that birthed me. I will kill all of them. There is no love, no gold, no fulfillment that can stop me."
Kareth looked away.
"What a miserable existence," he murmured.
"Yes."
They both understood what would come.
"You know I must take you to the Shadow Clan," Kareth said.
"I'm going to the Golden City."
"The Hawk of the Shadows wants you."
"Then let him come. I'm going to cleanse the Lords from existence."
Kareth's curiosity faded.
"I won't let you escape."
"We'll see."
"I'll have them move you tonight."
"Those men?" Ashar gestured toward Rovik's group. "They are not your allies."
Kareth's expression flickered.
"You're running out of time," Ashar said.
"Yes," Kareth replied. "I know."
He left. Ashar closed his eyes and sank once more into vision.
Later, Kareth found Issen and Maereth by the stream.
"How many people do you trust?" he asked.
"What's going on?" asked Maereth.
"Vaelor is moving sooner than I expected."
"That idiot?" said Issen. "Then it's simple. We just kill him."
"It's too late. He controls most of the group. He knows the two of you are close to me. You only have one option."
"What are you saying?" asked Maereth.
"Take Ashar and leave for the Shadow Clan. I'll distract them."
"No." said Issen. "No! After everything you did for us? We're not going abandon you!"
"Listen to what I'm saying. There's only one thing I can do now. If there is one thing I can do with my life then it is to give you another one. Leave this place, and get away from Vaelor."
"Goddman it." Issen cried. "That's not an option! We're not going to-"
"Okay, Kareth." Maereth said and placed her hand on Issen's shoulder. "Okay, we'll do it."
"Absolutely not! said Issen "I refuse this! I refuse-"
"Issen..." said Maereth.
They stood together in silence.
"You were always my hero." said Maereth. "I'm grateful for the life you gave us. Thank you."
They parted, Issen with tears in his eyes. None of them noticed Telyn nearby, listening through their minds.
Elsewhere, Vaelor felt a presence.
"Any closer and you're in danger," he warned.
"Please don't hurt me," a girl said.
"Who are you?"
"I fled my home. They took my father."
"What's your name?"
"Bethryl. Of the Shen Clan."