Eric could only stare at the man whose face was a reflection of his own, the nest box beard was trimmed down to a more manageable level, his eyes seemed incredibly focused and stared right back at him with an intensity that pierced his very soul. The figure stood tall and confident with his shoulders back and a stance that convinced Eric he was ready to take on anything. When the man spoke his voice carried the same steady confidence his body displayed.

  "You know who I am, I am a reflection of what you could be, I am Zenith."

  At that pronouncement Eric fell to his knees, it wasn't intended as a show of respect exactly, it was more that, he could do nothing else. His head turned to the ground and a single tear fell from his eye as he responded in a quiet shaky voice.

  "I don't see that in myself."

  He quivered as Zenith continued to stare at him with the intensity of a blazing sun that pierced every wall he attempted to shelter himself with.

  "And why would you? Since coming to this world you have done nothing to earn it."

  The comment struck Eric like a hammer causing something deep to stir within him, a hint of anger that demanded to know "what the hell would he know? Sitting in his lofty perch looking down from the clouds." He bit down that anger before speaking through gritted teeth his eyes still looking at the ground.

  "I'm doing the best I can with what I have."

  "ARE YOU?!"

  The question burst out of Zenith's mouth echoing all around him like thunder.

  "You have lied to your companions, almost got one killed, while also turning a blind eye to what you know to be evil."

  "I had no choice."

  The words sounded hollow, empty as he spoke them, yet even as he looked back he really didn't see that there had been another option. Being frozen in time forever? The control his contract gives Diversity and Inclusion over his actions and the potential consequences of he tried to break it? He really didn't have a choice, yet those words despite their justification, made him feel weak.

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  "There is always a choice, you can continue down this path and maybe you will get the free ride home you want. But will you still be someone worthy of your wife? Will you be the example you wish your kids to follow? Or you can walk the path of Zenith and become something more than you thought you could be. The choice is yours, keep reading what the old lady gave you, learn from it....or not.

  There was a flash of light and the overwhelming presence disappeared as quickly as it came. Eric looked up seeing only the village outskirts, a sudden weight appeared on his back as a pair of slender arms wrapped him in a hug and Inclusion whispered in his ear.

  "It's alright honey, the mean man is gone now."

  This time he did not hold back the anger that came to him, he turned round pushing her away as he stood up.

  "You get the hell away from me, it's your fault I'm in this situation."

  She stumbled back, a mixture of shock and hurt on her face.

  "What? Do you mean the contract? But dearest you never had to sign it."

  "You made it sound like a good thing."

  "It is a good thing, more Diversity brings more ideas and better ways of doing things. While Inclusion means everyone who wants to be involved can be."

  "YOU'RE TURNING PEOPLE INTO ZOMBIES!"

  "They're happier like that."

  "What?"

  Eric stuttered out his response, then stood there dumbfounded by her answer, she sighed before continuing, pacing back and forth as she spoke.

  "Have you never noticed how stressed and unhappy people are? Constantly weighed down by the responsibility of making big life decisions, of owning things that you end up being beholden to?. The high elven council wishes to free every one of that burden, Diversity and myself have been brought forward to create the unity required for such an undertaking."

  "What has zombiefying half the population got to do with anything of that?."

  She let out a sigh then turned to him with a kind smile on her face.

  "Undeath creates a unity between life and death, the zombie state in particular frees them of higher order thinking, which in turn frees them from the inherent stress of having to think. They can just continue out their existence without having to worry about anything."

  "You're sick."

  "I understand it can seem like that, but you'll see, it will all turn out for the better when we are done. Zombies are very low maintenance, which leaves more food and resources for everyone who isn't a zombie."

  "So who decides who becomes a zombie and who doesn't?"

  "The council of course, with the peoples consent."

  "They will never agree to this."

  She grinned at him.

  "Tell you what, continue to stay out of our way and in time you will see, they want this, as soon as you realise that you may even decide to start helping."

  "I doubt that."

  She faded away without saying anything else, he hadn't realised time had once again been frozen while he spoke to the aspects, but shortly after she left he could hear trees rustling in the wind and the occasional bird singing in the background. He stood in place for a short while, trying to get his anger in check before moving on to see how Uruk was doing.