"If there is one force that neither the best of healing magic nor medicine can fight against, it is the passage of time. Neither my granddaughter's ministrations, nor the best efforts of the Bone Lord's butler - who was also the strongest Life Affinity mage I have ever met - did much against my ailments of late, and we all came to a sad conclusion from that.

I am old, and my time approaches.

At least we had made preparations for this eventuality ever since my health had started to decline last year. The council and I had already confirmed my successor, and between her on the civil front and my son in command of the military, I felt assured that they would carry the nation on their shoulders well without me.

That said, feeling your age catch up with you was no pleasant feeling at all. Feeling as if your every joint were rusty and your limbs made of rickety old wood gets old really fast, and I would have probably suffered more, if not for the diligent magical ministrations from my granddaughter.

It is somewhat frustrating, to be forced to depend on others after standing on your own two feet for so long, but who am I to defy the laws of mortality?" - Diary of Theodin Fiachna, Pope of the Theocracy of Vitalica, Circa 46 VA

Fiachna Mansion, La Fiachna, Theocracy of Vitalica, fourth day of the second week of the twelfth month, year 46 VA.

"It's shaping up to be another good year, is it not, child?" Said Theodin as he sat in a rocking chair, his eyes looking out the open window that gave him a clear view of the winter cityscape of La Fiachna. The city he had built up from the ground for half his life, ever since the rebellion.

The old pope was covered with a couple layers of warm blankets, and his hands nursed a cup of still-hot tea, that had visible white steam rise from its surface in the cold. Curled up as she slept soundly on her great grandfather's lap was Éirynn, who slept all the more soundly with the gentle swaying of the chair.

Aideen stood behind the chair and helped rock it gently while she channeled magic to help ease the pains in her grandfather's joints and muscles. She was well aware by now that her grandfather likely had not much time to be with them, but she still resolved to at least make his remaining time as enjoyable as possible.

"Yes, grandfather," she replied carefully as she pondered what her grandfather meant exactly with his words. "Good harvests all around this autumn, and the new lands we had meant we'll have plenty of food stocks for the coming year. Everyone has been happier…Thanks to you."

"I did not do much child, I just stood there and be the figurehead for people to put faith in," replied the old man with a sigh. "When I'm gone, Amaryllis will be a fine successor. People will also put their faith in her."

Just a month ago, Theodin and the councillors had confirmed Amaryllis - Orwen's daughter and a priestess in the church - as the successor to his position. With the succession secured, they all felt that they could breathe easier, yet at the same time, it brought home the finality of the matter at hand, that the pope was in his final years, and would soon depart.

"Aunt Amaryllis is nice, but she's not you, grandfather," replied Aideen gently from where she stood. As Orwen was one of her grandfather's oldest friend, their families had always been close since before she was even born. She had quite naturally considered Orwen's children her "aunts" and "uncles" since long ago. "Nobody, would ever truly replace you for many of us."

She gently hugged her grandfather as she said so, with tears brimming in her eyes. As she hugged him, she felt how her grandfather's fit body had shrunk of late - a development she also knew well whenever she administered magical healing on him -, and how his usually energetic face now often just looked tired. That face was also full of wrinkles now, the face of an old man nearing the end of his days.

"You shouldn't grieve too much for me, my dear child," said Theodin as he gently rubbed Aideen's head with one wrinkled hand. He had long since come to terms with his own mortality, and no longer dreaded the end that would arrive without doubt.

In fact, despite having erected churches and temples devoted to Vitalis throughout the country, and even having named the country after the Deity of Life, Theodin himself had to wonder, whether all the beliefs held by the people, actually had any truth in them.

Would there be an afterlife of joy and plenty awaiting him? Eternal punishment in hell for the blood that had stained his hands? An endless void, absent of meaning where his existence would just float in limbo for all time? A new life ahead, without all the memories and baggage of the old life? He was uncertain.

Talks with the Bone Lord on the subject, had only elicited an admittance of ignorance on the ancient being's part. He supposed it made sense. In a way, the Bone Lord had never died, and naturally wouldn't know about what awaited them after death.

He did appreciate the Bone Lord's assurance that a "good" man like him should have a good afterlife to match though, even if it might just be wishful thinking on their parts. The gesture of kindness, was still an appreciated one.

"Speaking of which, child, do you know… how much time you have in this world?" He asked Aideen with some trepidation.

"No, grandfather," Aideen admitted with a shake of her head. It has already been over a decade since her rise into unlife, and she keenly felt how she had not changed even the slightest bit over that time. It was as if her body was stuck frozen in the river of time itself. "Grandpa Aarin also had no idea, but he theorized that if this state carried on… it might well be forever."

"I wish you live long and prosper, my child," said the old man with a nod of understanding. "If it came true that you outlive everyone else, please do look after our descendants. Do not let them stray into the wrong path, if possible."

"I will do so, grandfather. I promise you this," she said with a firmer tone to her voice.

"That is good, child. Now, if you would be so kind, could you take Éirynn to her parents for me? I'm afraid I have need to use the bathroom."

"But certainly," replied Aideen as she gently lifted the sleeping child from her grandfather's lap. She watched her grandfather walk slowly to the bathroom and close the door, before she left and headed downstairs to hand Éirynn over to her brother.