I’m stunned.

I first traveled to Monsoo in 13 ASU and stayed for years. I learned the language, I tried their food and drink, I learned their culture, and my guide throughout was Sundarak Chutimant, a human of 31 ‘years’.

One year is just one third of a cycle, so he was barely 10 cy old when we met – the age when an elf would start speaking for the first time. He died at just 74 years, so he was only 24 cy old. Elves aren’t really considered young adults until they’re 25 cy, and I wouldn’t trust one with anything important until another 5.

I hadn’t seen him in 10 years. When I last did it was only a short visit, I had business on Monsoo and wanted to say hello. He was so different. His face wrinkled, his undyed hair turned grey, I thought he had some illness and asked if he needed anything, but Sundarak said he was fine. Now just 10 years later I’m told he’s dead.

It wasn’t a terminal illness, he was just ‘getting older’. It’s apparently natural for non-elf humans, like animals on Peldor.

But only 24 cy…

Once, my son left Pelda for a pathfinding adventure and I didn’t see him for 24 cy. He walked through the door one day and we hugged and that was that.

I’ve had Star News offices with workers I’d only see once in a dozen cy.

I just figured I’d see Sundarak whenever fate crossed our paths. We’d reunite, share some stories, then part again. But he’s gone already, I didn’t have time for that at all.

I last saw him a 7th of his life ago. Did he maybe want to see me again before he died, or had he forgotten about me?