No. The point is that you are here. And that this is reality, not ideal.

[ it is an old argument, but not one had by them. the scholars in their towers would argue this in times of peace. poets and writers and thinkers would come together beneath the trellis of aquamarine lotuses to cajole and debate and remake the thoughts of this world. but not, as it were, in times of war, and vissudha has been at war ever since alhaitham could remember.

kaveh's fingers loose their grip. his nails are stained with red. alhaitham flips another page of his book. ]

But if it pleases you to think so, you may do so. Expend your rage. You will sleep better tonight for it.