Even when I understood Sun Therose, that desert almost claimed my life. It began as an insubstantial shield that I brandished more on instinct than any controlled effort.

  I sometimes wonder what would have happened if the Queriad never found me, if Zakros never found me. Would they have vanquished the Eidolon alone? Would Zakros have figured out the means to becoming an Asc'thera?

  Would he have learned to anchor Life Therose to the Kyrose of the recently deceased, stealing it and corrupting his essence, starting down the path to becoming the monster he is today?

  But, those things did happen. They did save me in that ocean of sand and sun.

  Zakros always hummed as he worked, always hummed as he healed my body. That was the first of many times listening to his melody.

  He didn't just mend my blistered and scorched skin. It was far more. A healing from an Asc'ren of his skill was like being born anew. Pains and aches I was never aware of were simply gone.

  And then he took me in, sheltered me in his city. I owe that man my life. I suppose that's why I couldn't kill him when need arose, couldn't stop him while he was but one man. One soul.

  I halted writing here. There are some wounds that no Life Therose nor the eons can heal.

  My first experience of the city of Querion will be forever etched in my mind. Those massive shield panels made of smooth sand, jutting up from the ramparts. I can still hear that low whistle of wind passing through the circular cutouts in the panels like an instrument carved for the gods.

  It gave the impression of sanctitude. Of sanctuary. Somewhere I could rest. Hide from the Eidolon.

  So na?ve.

  Entering Querion was a jarring experience, like stepping into a new world. The forever oppressive dry heat of the Solward wastes was gone in mere moments, like the sun had disappeared from the sky midday. The air was cool, humid and the streets were lined with more green than I'd ever seen.

  It wasn’t yet apparent that this place belonged to the Eidolon. They owned Querion, like they owned the rest Unathros. But this was worse. This was their home, their headquarters in the Solward wastes. They created Querion.

  I still don't understand it. How could monsters like those create something so—human?