EXCOLO

"I was...put back together. No." I still don't know how to explain it. "I was made again. Out of what I was. Am." I rub my face a bit. He used to do that, didn't he. I feel quite confused. "I do remember. But it's - far away. Mostly." Will I remember better with her - am I remembering better - like with Iblis? "Something brought me back here." I look at her seriously. "I'm not like I was. I think that's why you're - alright. I did die. He did."

"How? Who made you? Who can do that?" His body was all gone. Syl told me! It was burned and blood and then I painted with it, and I'm glad I don't 'member that bit 'cause it would've been awful if I knew. When a god's body is all gone, who can bring him back?

"I'm glad you're better," I say instead. I know that much. "If me coming back had broken you again," I say, deciding it, "I would have found a way to do it again."

He sounds like Tez and he don't sound like Tez, and I can feel him, can feel the drumbeats and stars and baby jaguar leaping playing…

"Th-thanks?" I want to let go - I want to just play like I did before, runnin' under stars and makin' colors real and true. I want to go back! But I can't…

"Can I touch you?"

"What??" I back away, staring at him. That ain't Tez!