Chapter 163: Legacy of the Akh Nara
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Chapter 163: Legacy of the Akh Nara
The first thing you did right was to attack the enemies you knew you could defeat, Cirayus spoke slowly, stroking his beard. Your first mistake was assuming the other beasts would let you.
Vir grimaced. The giant had a point.
I had a time limit.
No, lad, you succumbed to artificial pressure. Tell me, would you have died, had you taken longer than ten minutes?
N-no.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m
Would you have been crippled, or otherwise severely injured?
No, Vir said, understanding where Cirayus was going with this.
Would I have been in danger?
Vir scoffed. I doubt theres anything that can threaten you.
That is a bet I would not take, lad. Though, in this situation, it is true that I was in no danger. You allowed your ambition to override your good sense.
Vir hung his head. Hed done exactly that. Hed been so blinded by the time limit, he didnt even bother to understand what he was getting himself into.
Knowledge is power and information keeps you safe. There are times that force one to act without knowledge of their enemies, true, but this was not one of them.
The beasts never attacked when I was close to you. I shouldve used that to learn more about my prey, learning their behavior, Vir admitted. I know. Thats exactly what I normally do, but
Discipline. Tis simple to navigate a calm sea, but our mettle is tested only when the storms arrive. Remember this going forward.
So this is what a proper instructor looks like, Vir thought. He didnt mind the criticism. In fact, he welcomed it. Every bit helped him improve. Wasnt that all that mattered?
Youll learn these lessons in time. I can advise you to hasten the process, but there truly is no substitute for experience. Fight, fight some more, and then keep fighting. The more battles you accrue during your time here, the strongerand wiseryou will be for it.
I will. And Ill get strong enough to do it without your assistance.
Good! There are plenty of enemies in this realm. Now if you like, you can listen to me ramble about what I know of the Akh Nara while we travel.
Are you kidding? Tell me everything! Vir rose and together, they resumed their bounding gait, jumping dozens of steps at a time.
Lightning cracked in the distance and a stiff breeze blew past, as if to accompany the opening of Cirayus tale.
I know as much about the Akh Nara as anyone, and yet, Im afraid Ive uncovered only bits and pieces, Cirayus began. My findings have shown that they share only a single unifying trait.
Which is?
All were supremely powerful beings. Some stronger than others. The first Akh Nara is rumored to have lived around three millennia ago, just after the fall of the Gods.
Parai the Ancient, Vir said, half-guessing based on his ancestors name.
Aye. I take it youve met?
We have. The prana channeling technique I use came from Parai, actually. I also modified it slightly to deal with the prana poisoning, though thats more of a crutch for now. Cirayus, what exactly are the primordials? Why do they exist?
Wish I could tell you, lad. All I can say for sure is all the Akh Nara have had that same eight-pronged tattoo you bear on your chest, and that there have been five of them since the fall of the gods.
Five? Not six? Vir asked. Are you sure?
Quite certain, lad, or else Id have read about it. Why do you ask?
At Daha, I stumbled upon the lost ruins of an ancient Prime Imperium outpost, Valaka Amara.
Cirayus eyes went wide.
It was intact, too. Lit up when I entered it.
Not just a single building, but an entire outpost? And an active one? Astounding. Im not sure you grasp the full weight of this experience. Apart from the Vimana in the Human Realm, that may be the only place of its kind! Oh, what our thaumaturges would do to get their hands on something like that, Cirayus said with a wry smile. What was it like? Tell me everything.
Despite his terrifying appearance, Cirayus reminded Vir of an eager child at that moment, desperate to hear more.
Magnificent, Vir replied honestly. The way they baked prana into their architecture was It was beautiful on a level I cant even begin to describe. Thats not all. I met an avatar of Lord Janak.
Cirayus had been enthusiastic before, but now he regarded Vir with religious fervor.
A living god?How?
Im surprised he didnt send it with you, to be honest.
Far safer to keep it in the Demon Realm. Losing you would be a tragedy. A terrible tragedy. But if the worst were to happen, the Akh Nara would eventually reincarnate. Perhaps not soon, but one day. The same cannot be said for the inscription.
Vir wondered why they didnt simply make copies of the thing, though doing so came with its own risks. Especially if the master inscription was a closely guarded secret.
Theres more, Cirayus continued. Jalendra accumulated more tattoos than any other primordial. Least, that we know of. He was also the most well-informed of them all. Trust me, Ive spent more than my fair share of time studying this topic over the centuries. Its one of the great demon mysteries, after all.
And? What did his writings say? Vir asked, urging the giant not to take any more tangents.
In his writings, we find mentions of a power. Seemed he spent the last years of his life searching desperately for it, but never managed it. Called it the Supreme Arbiter. Apparently, it was a power that put even the Ultimate abilities to shame, if such a thing can be believed.
The Supreme Arbiter? The name felt familiar to Vir, though he couldnt place where hed heard it. Or even if he ever had. To motivate someone like Jalendra, who already possessed so much strength, it truly had to be in a league of its own.
Vir turned to face the giant. I can't do it, he said with a look of frustration. I just don't have enough information on the Phantomblade to know I can safely fight it. I'll have to pass this time.
Expecting a look of disappointment, Vir braced himself for a lecture.
An excellent decision, lad, Cirayus said, clapping his shoulders. I agree. Phantomblades can launch a hundred of their scales as fast as you can Leap. As you stand, you have no way of taking the beast down in a single blow. If you had tried to attack, I would have stopped you.
A hundred!? Vir blanched. The Phantomblade he'd fought could only fire one at a time. I'd seriously have died.
Cirayus rose from his spot across from Vir, offering his hand. Wed best not linger long. Especially not with so many corpses lying about. Even the scavengers in the Ash are more than capable of biting your head off.
Where do we go from here? Vir asked.
First, I need to get my bearings. The Ashs landscape shifts continuously, but certain features remain. Before we venture deeper, we need to visit a cache I buried before leaving for the Human Realm.
Whats in it?
A weapon and a guide. Sikandar, my trusty blade of several centuries, and an Artifact that will point the way to the Demon Realm.
Virs eyes narrowed. That exists? It seemed awfully convenient.
Aye, a handful do, in the Demon Realm. I wouldnt call them commonArtifacts are never commonbut theyre numerous enough to be bartered between clans for exorbitant sums. We dont understand their true purpose, but the devices are bonded with their paired partner. So long as its sister in the Demon Realm is active, the Artifact will point the way to the nearest gate.
Vir could hardly believe what he was hearing. You buried such an important Artifact? In the Ash?
Would you risk allowing such a device to fall into the hands of humans? We didnt know what to expect from the Human Realm. None of us had ever traveled there and returned safely. If the device fell into their hands
Prana poisoning keeps them out. But you couldnt have known that at the time. If they were strong enough, they could march right into the Demon Realm.
Aye. Better to hide it in a safe spot. One that we can easily find, yet one unlikely to ever be stolen by some errant beast.
Er, such as? Vir asked, beginning to fear the response.
The lair of an Alpha Shrike.
Shrike Shrike. Ah, yes. The avian creatures with a Balar Rank of Four Hundred to Eight Hundred. Wait, Alpha?
Is that a stronger variety?
Oh yes. Stronger, and far, far larger.
The power ranking in this realm simply defied common sense. That went both for their enemies and for the giant himself. Vir had to remind himself Cirayus was the strongest Talent Wielder alive in the Human Realm. Here, he wasn't even close to the strongest, but his Balar Rank was likely easily over a thousand. Perhaps even two thousand with his chakras.
Vir hadnt fully grasped the true magnitude of their power. Besides, he suspected there was more to the chakras. More that Cirayus hadn't yet divulged. Based on how much it relied upon meditation and learning insights into one's own self and the world around them, Vir had to wonder. Was there some other meaning to unlocking chakras? Some other purpose?
Vir had faith the demon would divulge all in time. Right now, he was more curious about something else.
By the way, Vir asked, falling into step next to the demon. What is my clans Ultimate Bloodline tattoo?
You mean I never told you? Cirayus asked with a look that said he was just waiting for Vir to ask. Aspect of the Demon God.
Uh, that sounds impressive? Does it give you horns and let you breathe fire or something?
Maiya would get a kick out of that, he thought.
Nothing so flashy, Im afraid.
Figures. Nothing could ever live up to such an overly pompous name. Vir wondered whether the Garga clan was trying to make it sound cool, or if it was just bravado.
It simply makes you invincible.
Virs jaw hit the floor. Right before he stumbled and fell into a pile of ash.
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Chapter 163: Legacy of the Akh Nara
The first thing you did right was to attack the enemies you knew you could defeat, Cirayus spoke slowly, stroking his beard. Your first mistake was assuming the other beasts would let you.
Vir grimaced. The giant had a point.
I had a time limit.
No, lad, you succumbed to artificial pressure. Tell me, would you have died, had you taken longer than ten minutes?
N-no.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m
Would you have been crippled, or otherwise severely injured?
No, Vir said, understanding where Cirayus was going with this.
Would I have been in danger?
Vir scoffed. I doubt theres anything that can threaten you.
That is a bet I would not take, lad. Though, in this situation, it is true that I was in no danger. You allowed your ambition to override your good sense.
Vir hung his head. Hed done exactly that. Hed been so blinded by the time limit, he didnt even bother to understand what he was getting himself into.
Knowledge is power and information keeps you safe. There are times that force one to act without knowledge of their enemies, true, but this was not one of them.
The beasts never attacked when I was close to you. I shouldve used that to learn more about my prey, learning their behavior, Vir admitted. I know. Thats exactly what I normally do, but
Discipline. Tis simple to navigate a calm sea, but our mettle is tested only when the storms arrive. Remember this going forward.
So this is what a proper instructor looks like, Vir thought. He didnt mind the criticism. In fact, he welcomed it. Every bit helped him improve. Wasnt that all that mattered?
Youll learn these lessons in time. I can advise you to hasten the process, but there truly is no substitute for experience. Fight, fight some more, and then keep fighting. The more battles you accrue during your time here, the strongerand wiseryou will be for it.
I will. And Ill get strong enough to do it without your assistance.
Good! There are plenty of enemies in this realm. Now if you like, you can listen to me ramble about what I know of the Akh Nara while we travel.
Are you kidding? Tell me everything! Vir rose and together, they resumed their bounding gait, jumping dozens of steps at a time.
Lightning cracked in the distance and a stiff breeze blew past, as if to accompany the opening of Cirayus tale.
I know as much about the Akh Nara as anyone, and yet, Im afraid Ive uncovered only bits and pieces, Cirayus began. My findings have shown that they share only a single unifying trait.
Which is?
All were supremely powerful beings. Some stronger than others. The first Akh Nara is rumored to have lived around three millennia ago, just after the fall of the Gods.
Parai the Ancient, Vir said, half-guessing based on his ancestors name.
Aye. I take it youve met?
We have. The prana channeling technique I use came from Parai, actually. I also modified it slightly to deal with the prana poisoning, though thats more of a crutch for now. Cirayus, what exactly are the primordials? Why do they exist?
Wish I could tell you, lad. All I can say for sure is all the Akh Nara have had that same eight-pronged tattoo you bear on your chest, and that there have been five of them since the fall of the gods.
Five? Not six? Vir asked. Are you sure?
Quite certain, lad, or else Id have read about it. Why do you ask?
At Daha, I stumbled upon the lost ruins of an ancient Prime Imperium outpost, Valaka Amara.
Cirayus eyes went wide.
It was intact, too. Lit up when I entered it.
Not just a single building, but an entire outpost? And an active one? Astounding. Im not sure you grasp the full weight of this experience. Apart from the Vimana in the Human Realm, that may be the only place of its kind! Oh, what our thaumaturges would do to get their hands on something like that, Cirayus said with a wry smile. What was it like? Tell me everything.
Despite his terrifying appearance, Cirayus reminded Vir of an eager child at that moment, desperate to hear more.
Magnificent, Vir replied honestly. The way they baked prana into their architecture was It was beautiful on a level I cant even begin to describe. Thats not all. I met an avatar of Lord Janak.
Cirayus had been enthusiastic before, but now he regarded Vir with religious fervor.
A living god?How?
Im surprised he didnt send it with you, to be honest.
Far safer to keep it in the Demon Realm. Losing you would be a tragedy. A terrible tragedy. But if the worst were to happen, the Akh Nara would eventually reincarnate. Perhaps not soon, but one day. The same cannot be said for the inscription.
Vir wondered why they didnt simply make copies of the thing, though doing so came with its own risks. Especially if the master inscription was a closely guarded secret.
Theres more, Cirayus continued. Jalendra accumulated more tattoos than any other primordial. Least, that we know of. He was also the most well-informed of them all. Trust me, Ive spent more than my fair share of time studying this topic over the centuries. Its one of the great demon mysteries, after all.
And? What did his writings say? Vir asked, urging the giant not to take any more tangents.
In his writings, we find mentions of a power. Seemed he spent the last years of his life searching desperately for it, but never managed it. Called it the Supreme Arbiter. Apparently, it was a power that put even the Ultimate abilities to shame, if such a thing can be believed.
The Supreme Arbiter? The name felt familiar to Vir, though he couldnt place where hed heard it. Or even if he ever had. To motivate someone like Jalendra, who already possessed so much strength, it truly had to be in a league of its own.
Vir turned to face the giant. I can't do it, he said with a look of frustration. I just don't have enough information on the Phantomblade to know I can safely fight it. I'll have to pass this time.
Expecting a look of disappointment, Vir braced himself for a lecture.
An excellent decision, lad, Cirayus said, clapping his shoulders. I agree. Phantomblades can launch a hundred of their scales as fast as you can Leap. As you stand, you have no way of taking the beast down in a single blow. If you had tried to attack, I would have stopped you.
A hundred!? Vir blanched. The Phantomblade he'd fought could only fire one at a time. I'd seriously have died.
Cirayus rose from his spot across from Vir, offering his hand. Wed best not linger long. Especially not with so many corpses lying about. Even the scavengers in the Ash are more than capable of biting your head off.
Where do we go from here? Vir asked.
First, I need to get my bearings. The Ashs landscape shifts continuously, but certain features remain. Before we venture deeper, we need to visit a cache I buried before leaving for the Human Realm.
Whats in it?
A weapon and a guide. Sikandar, my trusty blade of several centuries, and an Artifact that will point the way to the Demon Realm.
Virs eyes narrowed. That exists? It seemed awfully convenient.
Aye, a handful do, in the Demon Realm. I wouldnt call them commonArtifacts are never commonbut theyre numerous enough to be bartered between clans for exorbitant sums. We dont understand their true purpose, but the devices are bonded with their paired partner. So long as its sister in the Demon Realm is active, the Artifact will point the way to the nearest gate.
Vir could hardly believe what he was hearing. You buried such an important Artifact? In the Ash?
Would you risk allowing such a device to fall into the hands of humans? We didnt know what to expect from the Human Realm. None of us had ever traveled there and returned safely. If the device fell into their hands
Prana poisoning keeps them out. But you couldnt have known that at the time. If they were strong enough, they could march right into the Demon Realm.
Aye. Better to hide it in a safe spot. One that we can easily find, yet one unlikely to ever be stolen by some errant beast.
Er, such as? Vir asked, beginning to fear the response.
The lair of an Alpha Shrike.
Shrike Shrike. Ah, yes. The avian creatures with a Balar Rank of Four Hundred to Eight Hundred. Wait, Alpha?
Is that a stronger variety?
Oh yes. Stronger, and far, far larger.
The power ranking in this realm simply defied common sense. That went both for their enemies and for the giant himself. Vir had to remind himself Cirayus was the strongest Talent Wielder alive in the Human Realm. Here, he wasn't even close to the strongest, but his Balar Rank was likely easily over a thousand. Perhaps even two thousand with his chakras.
Vir hadnt fully grasped the true magnitude of their power. Besides, he suspected there was more to the chakras. More that Cirayus hadn't yet divulged. Based on how much it relied upon meditation and learning insights into one's own self and the world around them, Vir had to wonder. Was there some other meaning to unlocking chakras? Some other purpose?
Vir had faith the demon would divulge all in time. Right now, he was more curious about something else.
By the way, Vir asked, falling into step next to the demon. What is my clans Ultimate Bloodline tattoo?
You mean I never told you? Cirayus asked with a look that said he was just waiting for Vir to ask. Aspect of the Demon God.
Uh, that sounds impressive? Does it give you horns and let you breathe fire or something?
Maiya would get a kick out of that, he thought.
Nothing so flashy, Im afraid.
Figures. Nothing could ever live up to such an overly pompous name. Vir wondered whether the Garga clan was trying to make it sound cool, or if it was just bravado.
It simply makes you invincible.
Virs jaw hit the floor. Right before he stumbled and fell into a pile of ash.
Chapter 163: Legacy of the Akh NaraThe first thing you did right was to attack the enemies you knew you could defeat, Cirayus spoke slowly, stroking his beard. Your first mistake was assuming the other beasts would let you.Vir grimaced. The giant had a point.I had a time limit.No, lad, you succumbed to artificial pressure. Tell me, would you have died, had you taken longer than ten minutes?N-no.Updated from novelbin.comWould you have been crippled, or otherwise severely injured?No, Vir said, understanding where Cirayus was going with this.Would I have been in danger?Vir scoffed. I doubt theres anything that can threaten you.That is a bet I would not take, lad. Though, in this situation, it is true that I was in no danger. You allowed your ambition to override your good sense.Vir hung his head. Hed done exactly that. Hed been so blinded by the time limit, he didnt even bother to understand what he was getting himself into.Knowledge is power and information keeps you safe. There are times that force one to act without knowledge of their enemies, true, but this was not one of them.The beasts never attacked when I was close to you. I shouldve used that to learn more about my prey, learning their behavior, Vir admitted. I know. Thats exactly what I normally do, butDiscipline. Tis simple to navigate a calm sea, but our mettle is tested only when the storms arrive. Remember this going forward.So this is what a proper instructor looks like, Vir thought. He didnt mind the criticism. In fact, he welcomed it. Every bit helped him improve. Wasnt that all that mattered?Youll learn these lessons in time. I can advise you to hasten the process, but there truly is no substitute for experience. Fight, fight some more, and then keep fighting. The more battles you accrue during your time here, the strongerand wiseryou will be for it.I will. And Ill get strong enough to do it without your assistance.Good! There are plenty of enemies in this realm. Now if you like, you can listen to me ramble about what I know of the Akh Nara while we travel.Are you kidding? Tell me everything! Vir rose and together, they resumed their bounding gait, jumping dozens of steps at a time.Lightning cracked in the distance and a stiff breeze blew past, as if to accompany the opening of Cirayus tale.I know as much about the Akh Nara as anyone, and yet, Im afraid Ive uncovered only bits and pieces, Cirayus began. My findings have shown that they share only a single unifying trait.Which is?All were supremely powerful beings. Some stronger than others. The first Akh Nara is rumored to have lived around three millennia ago, just after the fall of the Gods.Parai the Ancient, Vir said, half-guessing based on his ancestors name.Aye. I take it youve met?We have. The prana channeling technique I use came from Parai, actually. I also modified it slightly to deal with the prana poisoning, though thats more of a crutch for now. Cirayus, what exactly are the primordials? Why do they exist?Wish I could tell you, lad. All I can say for sure is all the Akh Nara have had that same eight-pronged tattoo you bear on your chest, and that there have been five of them since the fall of the gods.Five? Not six? Vir asked. Are you sure?Quite certain, lad, or else Id have read about it. Why do you ask?At Daha, I stumbled upon the lost ruins of an ancient Prime Imperium outpost, Valaka Amara.Cirayus eyes went wide.It was intact, too. Lit up when I entered it.Not just a single building, but an entire outpost? And an active one? Astounding. Im not sure you grasp the full weight of this experience. Apart from the Vimana in the Human Realm, that may be the only place of its kind! Oh, what our thaumaturges would do to get their hands on something like that, Cirayus said with a wry smile. What was it like? Tell me everything.Despite his terrifying appearance, Cirayus reminded Vir of an eager child at that moment, desperate to hear more.Magnificent, Vir replied honestly. The way they baked prana into their architecture was It was beautiful on a level I cant even begin to describe. Thats not all. I met an avatar of Lord Janak.Cirayus had been enthusiastic before, but now he regarded Vir with religious fervor.A living god?How?Im surprised he didnt send it with you, to be honest.Far safer to keep it in the Demon Realm. Losing you would be a tragedy. A terrible tragedy. But if the worst were to happen, the Akh Nara would eventually reincarnate. Perhaps not soon, but one day. The same cannot be said for the inscription.Vir wondered why they didnt simply make copies of the thing, though doing so came with its own risks. Especially if the master inscription was a closely guarded secret.Theres more, Cirayus continued. Jalendra accumulated more tattoos than any other primordial. Least, that we know of. He was also the most well-informed of them all. Trust me, Ive spent more than my fair share of time studying this topic over the centuries. Its one of the great demon mysteries, after all.And? What did his writings say? Vir asked, urging the giant not to take any more tangents.In his writings, we find mentions of a power. Seemed he spent the last years of his life searching desperately for it, but never managed it. Called it the Supreme Arbiter. Apparently, it was a power that put even the Ultimate abilities to shame, if such a thing can be believed.The Supreme Arbiter? The name felt familiar to Vir, though he couldnt place where hed heard it. Or even if he ever had. To motivate someone like Jalendra, who already possessed so much strength, it truly had to be in a league of its own.Vir turned to face the giant. I can't do it, he said with a look of frustration. I just don't have enough information on the Phantomblade to know I can safely fight it. I'll have to pass this time.Expecting a look of disappointment, Vir braced himself for a lecture.An excellent decision, lad, Cirayus said, clapping his shoulders. I agree. Phantomblades can launch a hundred of their scales as fast as you can Leap. As you stand, you have no way of taking the beast down in a single blow. If you had tried to attack, I would have stopped you.A hundred!? Vir blanched. The Phantomblade he'd fought could only fire one at a time. I'd seriously have died.Cirayus rose from his spot across from Vir, offering his hand. Wed best not linger long. Especially not with so many corpses lying about. Even the scavengers in the Ash are more than capable of biting your head off.Where do we go from here? Vir asked.First, I need to get my bearings. The Ashs landscape shifts continuously, but certain features remain. Before we venture deeper, we need to visit a cache I buried before leaving for the Human Realm.Whats in it?A weapon and a guide. Sikandar, my trusty blade of several centuries, and an Artifact that will point the way to the Demon Realm.Virs eyes narrowed. That exists? It seemed awfully convenient.Aye, a handful do, in the Demon Realm. I wouldnt call them commonArtifacts are never commonbut theyre numerous enough to be bartered between clans for exorbitant sums. We dont understand their true purpose, but the devices are bonded with their paired partner. So long as its sister in the Demon Realm is active, the Artifact will point the way to the nearest gate.Vir could hardly believe what he was hearing. You buried such an important Artifact? In the Ash?Would you risk allowing such a device to fall into the hands of humans? We didnt know what to expect from the Human Realm. None of us had ever traveled there and returned safely. If the device fell into their handsPrana poisoning keeps them out. But you couldnt have known that at the time. If they were strong enough, they could march right into the Demon Realm.Aye. Better to hide it in a safe spot. One that we can easily find, yet one unlikely to ever be stolen by some errant beast.Er, such as? Vir asked, beginning to fear the response.The lair of an Alpha Shrike.Shrike Shrike. Ah, yes. The avian creatures with a Balar Rank of Four Hundred to Eight Hundred. Wait, Alpha?Is that a stronger variety?Oh yes. Stronger, and far, far larger.The power ranking in this realm simply defied common sense. That went both for their enemies and for the giant himself. Vir had to remind himself Cirayus was the strongest Talent Wielder alive in the Human Realm. Here, he wasn't even close to the strongest, but his Balar Rank was likely easily over a thousand. Perhaps even two thousand with his chakras.Vir hadnt fully grasped the true magnitude of their power. Besides, he suspected there was more to the chakras. More that Cirayus hadn't yet divulged. Based on how much it relied upon meditation and learning insights into one's own self and the world around them, Vir had to wonder. Was there some other meaning to unlocking chakras? Some other purpose?Vir had faith the demon would divulge all in time. Right now, he was more curious about something else.By the way, Vir asked, falling into step next to the demon. What is my clans Ultimate Bloodline tattoo?You mean I never told you? Cirayus asked with a look that said he was just waiting for Vir to ask. Aspect of the Demon God.Uh, that sounds impressive? Does it give you horns and let you breathe fire or something?Maiya would get a kick out of that, he thought.Nothing so flashy, Im afraid.Figures. Nothing could ever live up to such an overly pompous name. Vir wondered whether the Garga clan was trying to make it sound cool, or if it was just bravado.It simply makes you invincible.Virs jaw hit the floor. Right before he stumbled and fell into a pile of ash.
