"And you think my life will be spared if we are separated?" Anest cut her off in disbelief. "Is that what this is about?"
"It is because I love you that I wish for this to be so-!"
"Lily!" Anest cried in exasperation. "If it is fated that I should die, then I will die, regardless any precautions either of us may take! But this premonition of yours . . . are you certain that it is not some doubt placed in your mind to cloud your judgement?"
Not looking at him, she said, "I am not certain. But when I experienced it, there was no doubt in my mind, nor any shadow of evil; just the vision itself."
"Are you certain that I am dead in your vision?"
She sighed. "It was a feeling I had; that you were dead, and I was overcome with grief."
Anest, too, sighed, and something between them, some crisis, seemed to pass. At the same instant, their eyes locked.
"It's this place!" Anest exclaimed, suddenly furious. "I've not your harmony with nature itself, but I felt that!" Moving away from Lily somewhat, he raised his staff, attuned himself with it, and brought it to life. It at once became transparent to the eye like fine-carved crystal, emitting a low thrum of power that increased in volume as Anest held it vertically before himself. Turning slowly about, the thrumming suddenly became a sickening throb, almost too low for the ear to detect.