Despair rose from the purple earth like smoke made solid, its form shifting between states of matter as if reality could not quite contain it. Where it touched, the singing trees fell silent, their harmony replaced by discordant whispers.

"You are Love Incarnate," it said, each word carrying the weight of eons. "I am Despair Eternal. We were always going to meet."

"Were we?" I kept my voice steady despite the chill spreading through my cosmic form. "I was not aware we had an ...