[Fandaniel blows out a breath and rolls his shoulders in a shrug.]

Yes, yes.

The Chief Overseer had a fondness for flying concepts... The crystal was clear about that.

I can't say I've ever shared that fondness.

[It's not entirely true. Every Ascian can float but Fandaniel has taken to the sky as often as possible since his embrace. He's lifted himself as high into the heavens as he could and soared with great winged beasts. Maybe he enjoys it, insofar as he is capable of enjoying anything. It is certainly the only thing that makes him forget his pain. His normally heavy heart beomes weightless when he wheels through the clouds.

The memory makes him frown and he pauses to peer back at Hythlodaeus.]

Do refrain from comparing me to him, won't you? I've had millennia to fail to live up to everyone's memories of that man and I'm not about to go through it again.

Hermes is gone. What precious little of him remains is here in me. I am all of him that still exists or at least all that exists upon the Source. If that fact disappoints you, well... I hardly possess any words of comfort.