[ Being a ghost is a facet of immortality, he supposes. He also wants to be cautious in how he speaks of Miang-Si. She's young and she has her own motivations, but he'll see her safe if he can, if he has any power in this at all. ]

I like to think of myself as a man of reason, yes, and I know the ache in one's bones when all we loved is gone. But I'm asking you as a man of reason in turn, is this really the only way? What life are you giving back to the villagers?

There's a kind of living that's...not, because it isn't real, because you don't get to have all of it. And don't they deserve all of it, don't they all deserve more?

Between us and the secrets of the universe, we can find another way.