Chapter 11 Chapter 10 The Apprentice

"The old friend is here again." Gaines, who was standing in the outpost on the city wall, pointed to the huge black shadow outside the city. "On time," Warren said, coming over to stand beside him. "What do you think it's looking for?" "Bet all the money in my pocket," Gaines said, "you can't give an exact answer." Two guards supported the magic seal guardrail of the sentry tower, watching the one-armed stone demon condense and form outside the city gate.Even in the eyes of the guards of Miln who watched the Demon of Habitat, it was still huge.

Before the other demons recognized their direction, the one-armed demon had launched a purposeful attack, searching around the city wall, looking for something.After a while, it stood up straight, attacked the city gate, and tested the magic seal field.The magic light flickered, forcing the demon back, but it didn't give up.The demon slowly moved along the wall, trying to find the weak point of the wall, and finally out of the sight of the guards. A few hours later, a magic light flashed, and the one-armed demon circled back from the other side of the city wall.Guards at other outposts have rumored that the demon walks around the walls every night, testing all the sigils.After returning to the city gate again, it settled down and stared patiently at the city wall of Miln.

Gaines and Warren have become accustomed to seeing something like this every night for the past year.They even began to expect him to appear, and they would bet each time they were on duty, predicting how long it would take the one-armed demon to go around, or whether it would choose to go east or west. "I really want to let it in and see what it's looking for?" Warren said, staring at the demon. "Don't be kidding," Gaines warned. "If the Chief of the Guard hears, he'll put us both in chains and send us to work in the quarry." His partner grunted. "Even so, it's still very curious..."

During his first year at Milne, Aaron's twelve years passed in the blink of an eye in his apprenticeship.Karber's first task was to teach him to read.Aaron knew some sigils that would never appear in Miln, and Karber wanted to get them into the book as soon as possible. Aaron has a strong desire to read - he can't look back on his illiterate years.He often gnawed on the book for several hours as soon as he picked it up, and at first he would recite the content in the book, but after a while, he read ten lines at a glance, and turned faster and faster. Aaron worked harder than all the apprentices in the past, and would study magic seals until late at night.Karber was pleased with him, because he would often fall asleep thinking about the next day's chores, only to wake up the next day with all the work done.

After learning to read, Aaron began to classify his private magic seals into categories, and added detailed descriptions, all of which were written in a notebook bought by the master.There are few trees in Miln, and paper is very expensive. It is rare for ordinary people to own a booklet, but Kappa doesn't care about the cost at all. He used to say, "Even the worst Runebook is worth a hundred times more than the book it was written in." "The Grimoire?" Aaron asked. "The book that records all kinds of magic seals." Karber said, "Every magic sealer has one, and they all guard their secrets carefully." Aaron cherished this precious gift very much, and slowly filled it up. every page.

When Aaron copied all the magic seals in his memory, Karber studied these pictures in amazement and inexplicable. "Creator, child, do you know how valuable this book is?" he asked in surprise. Aaron looked away from the stone stake on which he was carving the sigil, and shrugged. "Any old man in Tibexi Town can draw these magic seals." "Perhaps," Kappa replied. "Things that are commonplace in Tibe Creek Town may become rare treasures in Miln. This magic seal," he said, pointing to a page, "can really dissipate the flame saliva into nothing?"

Aaron laughed. "My mother used to like this sigil the most," he said. "She hoped that the fire demon would come directly to the window and blow the air into the house on a hot summer night." "It's amazing." Karber shook his head. "I want you to copy a few more copies of this magic seal book, Aaron. This magic seal book will make you rich immediately." "What do you mean?" Aaron asked. "People will pay a lot of money to buy a copy of your grimoire," Karber said. "Maybe we shouldn't be selling it. As long as we keep these secrets, we may become the most sought-after grimoires in town."

Aaron frowned. "It's wrong to keep secrets," he said. "My father always said the sigil belonged to everyone." "Each sigilist has his secrets, Aaron," Karber said. "We have to live by them." "We make a living by engraving magic seal posts and depicting magic seals on door frames." Aaron disagreed, "We don't make a living by hiding magic seal technology that can save other people's lives. Are we going to refuse asylum and pay for it?" People?" "Of course not," Karber said, "but it's different."

"Different?" Aaron asked, "There are no runes in Tibe Creek. We all draw our own runes to protect our homes, and those with good skills will help those with poor skills for free. Why not free? What we are fighting against is not Each other, we are fighting against the devil!" "Milneburg is different from Tibe Creek, boy." Kappa said in a displeased tone, "Everything costs money here. If you don't have money, you'll be a beggar. I have a skill, like doing Pastry or carving stone, why can't I use my skills to make more money?" Aaron was silent for a moment. "Master Karber, why do you have no money?" he finally asked.

"what?" "Like Regan." Aaron explained, "You said you were the Duke's messenger. Why didn't you live in a mansion compound and hire a lot of servants to do things for you? Why did you do this?" Kappa took a deep breath. "Money is a fickle thing, Aaron," he said. "One moment you have more money than you can spend, and the next moment... you could be on the streets begging for a living." Aaron thought of the beggars he saw the first day he entered the city, and he saw more beggars later, seeing them steal dung and burn it for warmth, sleep in public shelters guarded by sigils, and beg for food from passers-by.

"Where did your money go, Master Kappa?" he asked. "I met a man who claimed to have the ability to lay roads." Karber said, "He wanted to lay a magic seal road from here all the way to Angels." Aaron walked over to sit on the stone bench and listened attentively to his story . "Paved roads have been attempted before," read Carber, "to Duke's Mine in the mountains, or to Halden Park in the south. Short distances, less than a day's journey, but long enough to bring a handsome profit to the roadmaker ;no one has ever succeeded. As long as there are any loopholes in the magic seal network, no matter how trivial, sooner or later the geocentric monsters will find them. And once they enter the path..." He shook his head. "I explained it to him, but he was very firm. He had it all planned out, he thought it was going to work, he just needed the money." Karber looked at Aaron. "Every city has a shortage," he said, "and a surplus. Miln has metal and stone, but wood. Angels is the exact opposite. Both cities are short of grain and livestock, and come to Sombre is plentiful, but has no fine wood, or metal for tools. Renekton has plenty of fish, but little else." "I know you're going to think I'm stupid," Aaron said. "That's why I'm withholding your salary," Karber chuckled. "You'll give it away, just like me." "What happened to that road?" Aaron continued. "The Goblins appeared," Karber said. "They slaughtered the man, and all the workers I hired for him, burned the sigil posts and blueprints...the whole road was destroyed by them. I put All of my possessions are invested in that road, Aaron. I let go of all the servants, not enough to pay the debts. I sold the mansion, raised a little money to pay off the loan and bought this little shop, and I've been here ever since. gone." They sat for a while, both of them were immersed in the scene of the story, and both of them saw the scene of the earth core monster slaughtering passers-by in the fire and dancing in front of their eyes. "You still think your dream is worth the risk?" Aaron asked. "Connecting all the cities?" "I still believe it," Karber replied, "even when I carved stakes until my back hurt and I couldn't stand the dishes I cooked." "There's no difference between the two things," said Aaron, patting his Runebook. "How much better would people gain if all runegraphers shared with each other what they knew? Wouldn't a safer city be worth it?" Shall we sacrifice a little profit?" Kappa stared at him for a moment, then walked over and patted him on the shoulder. "You're right, Aaron. I'm sorry, but we transcribe runebooks and sell them to other runegraphers." Aaron smiled pointedly. "What's wrong?" Carber asked suspiciously. "Why not trade secrets with them?" Aaron asked. The doorbell rang, and Elisa walked into the magic seal shop with a happy smile.She smiled at Kappa, handed Aaron a large basket, and kissed him on the cheek.Aaron made an embarrassed face and wiped his cheek, but she didn't take it seriously. "I'll bring you some fruit, and fresh bread and cheese," she said, taking it from the basket. "I don't think you've had anything nice to eat since I last came." "Jerky and hard bread are the messenger's staple food, ma'am," Kappa said with a smile, his eyes fixed on the keystone being carved. "Nonsense." Eliza scolded, "You're retired, Master Kappa, but Aaron hasn't become a messenger yet, don't make excuses just because you're too lazy to go to the market to buy vegetables. Aaron is growing up and needs to eat Better," she said, stroking Aaron's hair, smiling even as he tried to avoid it. "Go home for dinner tonight, Aaron." Eliza said, "Regan isn't here, and the house is very deserted without him. I'll help you get some vegetables that will make you grow meat, and you can sleep in your room. " "I...maybe I'm not free." Aaron said avoiding her gaze, "Master Karber needs my help to finish carving the magic seal post for the Duke's vegetable garden..." "Nonsense." Karber said, "There is no rush for the magic seal, Aaron, the delivery will be in a week." He smiled and looked up at Elisa, completely ignoring Aaron's embarrassment. "I'll let him pass as soon as the evening bell rings, madam." Eliza smiled slightly. "Then it's settled," she said. "See you tonight, Aaron." She kissed the boy and walked out of the store. Kappa glanced at Aaron, who frowned and buried himself in his work. "I don't understand why you'd want to spend the night on a straw mattress in the back of the shop with a warm duvet and a woman like Eliza," he said, still keeping his eyes on his work. "She keeps thinking of herself as my mother," Aaron complained, "but she's not my mother." "Yeah, she's not," Carber agreed, "but she obviously wants to shoulder the responsibilities of being a mother, so what's wrong with letting her do that?" Aaron didn't answer, and Karber decided not to continue the subject after seeing the sadness in the boy's eyes. "You spend too much time in the room reading." Carber said, pulling away the book Aaron was holding. "When was the last time you basked in the sun?" Aaron stared at Kappa with wide eyes.At Tibe Creek he never stayed in the house whenever he could.But after living in Milne for a year, he could hardly remember when he had last been out. "Go out and play pranks!" Karber ordered. "It won't kill you to make friends of your own age!" For the first time in a year, Aaron stepped out of the city gate of Miln, and Sunshine accompanied him warmly like an old friend.Far from dung trucks, rotting garbage, and sweaty crowds, the air was filled with the scent of birdsong and flowers that he had long forgotten.He climbed a small hill, took a book out of his bag, and sat down to read, admiring the children playing in the grass. "Hey, nerd!" someone yelled. Aaron looked up and saw a group of boys approaching with the ball. "Come on!" cried one of them, "we're one man away from splitting into two teams for a match!" "I can't play," Aaron said.Although Kappa advised him to play with other boys, he decided that reading was much more interesting. "What's the problem?" another boy asked. "You help your teammates get the ball into the end zone and try to stop the other team from scoring." Aaron frowned. "Okay." He said and walked over to the boy who had just spoken. "My name is Jack," the boy said.He was thin, with messy black hair and a spindly nose, and his dirty clothes were covered in patches.He looks about the same as Aaron. "What's your name?" "Aaron." "You're apprenticed to Kabana the Rubik, aren't you?" Jack asked. "The kid Regan picked up on the road?" Aaron nodded.Jack's eyes lit up, as if confirming something.He took Aaron out to the field and pointed out the scoring stones painted white to mark the end zone. Aaron quickly figured out the rules of the game and focused on his teammates on the opposing team.He fancied that he was the messenger and that they were the demons trying to prevent him from entering the sigil.A few hours passed, and before I knew it, the evening bell had already rung.Everyone quickly packed up their belongings, watching the gradually darkening sky with worried faces. Aaron walked slowly over to pick up the book.Jack ran to him and said. "You'd better move fast." Aaron shrugged back, "We still have a lot of time." Jack looked at the dark sky, trembling slightly. "You played very well. Come back tomorrow. We usually play ball in the afternoon, and go to the square to watch the minstrel performance on the sixth day." Aaron nodded noncommittally.Jack smiled and walked away quickly. Aaron walked back and passed through the city gate, and the familiar stench in the city immediately hit his face.He headed for the hill leading to Regan's mansion.The messenger was out of town again, this time to distant Renekton, and Aaron was going to live with Elisa for the month.She would bug him with questions and find fault with his clothes, but he promised Regan that he would "get her young lover out." Margaret assures Aaron that Eliza has no lover.In fact, whenever Regan went on a long trip, she would wander the corridors of her home like a ghost or cry for hours in her bedroom. But the servant said that when Aaron lived in the house, her whole being changed.More than once Marguerite begged him to move back to the mansion.He declined, but he admitted that he had grown to like letting Ms. Eliza do the talking. "Here he comes," Gaines said that night, watching the gigantic stone demon emerge from the ground.Warren walked up to him, and the two watched from the watchtower as the demon sniffed the ground near the city gate.Howling loudly, it backed away from the city gate and jumped onto a hill.There was a fire demon squatting there, but it was thrown aside by it.The stone demon lowered its body, searching for something. "The one-armed demon is very excited tonight," Gaines said, watching the demon howl again, jump down the hill, and rush to a meadow, bowing and running around. "What do you think makes it so exciting?" Warren asked.His partner shrugged. The demon left the grass and jumped back to the hill.Its howl was almost painful, and when it returned to the city gate, it roared wildly at the magic seal, and when its claws were bounced off by the protective force field, a large number of shining sparks spurted out. "Tonight is unusual," Warren commented. "Reporting?" "Report what?" Gaines said. "No one cares about the stupidity of a mad demon, and if they do, what can they?" "Facing this demon?" Warren asked. "Probably just scared the shit out of it." Aaron stepped away from the workbench, stood up, and stretched.The sun had already set, and his stomach was growling. He hoped that Karber would save some food in the pot for him.Though only the Maker knows how long it has been since any demon has set foot in the streets of Miln.But the baker paid double the price and asked him to rush to repair the magic seal overnight. Aaron pushed open the back door of the magic seal shop, looked around, and his body happened to be within the semicircular magic seal circle in front of the door.He looked left and right to make sure there were no demons, and then stepped on the path, being careful not to step on the magic seal on the ground. The path leading from the back door of the Rubik Shop to Kappa's residence is composed of many independent square magic slabs, which is safer than most houses in Miln.This kind of stone slab called Crete by Karber is a technological heritage left over from the old world. It has never been heard of in Tibe Creek Town, but it is a very common spectacle in Miln.Water and gravel are mixed with silicate powder and lime to form a viscous mass that can be molded and hardened into any desired shape. It is made by infusing Crete, and then carefully engraving the sigil on the soft surface as she begins to harden, forming a near-permanent defensive force field when hardened.In this way, Karber made slabs of stone, and finally paved a path connecting his house to the magic seal shop.Even if one of the stone slabs is destroyed, pedestrians can still easily move to the front and rear slabs without being harassed by the earth core monsters. If we could build such a highway, thought Aaron, we could take over the world. Entering the cabin, he found Karber hunched over a desk examining a stack of chalk-marked slates. "The food is still warm." The master muttered without looking up.Aaron went to the fire in the only room on the lane and served a bowl of Kappa's porridge and stew. "O Creator, boy, your proposal really messed up the situation." Kappa growled in a low voice, straightened up, and pointed to the stone slab. "Half of the sigilists in Miln just want to keep their secrets, and it doesn't matter if they don't get our secrets, and half of the rest just want to buy them with money, but the last quarter is still in our hands. My desk is piled with sigils they would trade for. But sorting them out would take weeks!" "It's better this way." Aaron said as he sat on the ground, took a piece of hard bread as a spoon, and began to chew hungrily.The corn and beans were hard and the potatoes were mushy from being overcooked, but he didn't complain.He was used to Milne's raw, tough vegetables, and Kappa never bothered to separate them and cook them. "I think you're right," Carber admitted, "but the night! Who would have thought that there are so many different sigils in our city alone! I've carefully examined every sigil stake in Miln! And I I can assure you that I've never seen half of them." He held up a chalk slate. "This man is willing to trade a sigil that can make a demon forget what it's doing and turn away for your mother's sigil that can make glass hard as steel." He shook his head. "They all want the secret of your mysterious sigils, boy. Sigils that can be easily drawn without straight sticks and protractors." "People who can't draw straight lines need aids," Aaron scoffed. "Not everyone is as gifted as you," Karber muttered. "Genius?" Aaron asked. "Don't get too complacent, boy," said Carber, "but I've never seen anyone learn to draw a sigil as quickly as you. Eighteen months as an apprentice, your skill is as good as that of a five-year apprentice." Magician." "I've been thinking about our previous agreement," Aaron said. Kappa looked up at him curiously. "You promised that if I worked hard," Aaron said, "you would teach me how to survive in the wild." They looked at each other for a long time. "I always keep my promises," reminds Aaron. Kappa sighed. "I suppose you do," he said. "Have you ever practiced riding?" he asked. Aaron nodded. "Regan's groom asked me to help train the horses." "Strengthen the practice." Karber said, "The messenger's horse is his life. Whenever your mount takes you to a castle, it means that you have saved yourself from a crisis at night." The old magician moved his feet, Open a cupboard and pull out a large bundle of cloth. "In six days, when we close," he said, "I'll teach you how to ride and how to use these things." He spread the cloth on the floor, and inside were several well-maintained spears... Aaron eyed them longingly. Karber followed the bell and saw a little boy walking into the store.The other party was about thirteen years old, with disheveled hair and a thin goatee that looked like dirt at the corner of his mouth. "Are you Jack?" the sigilist asked. "Your family works at a mill near the East City, right? We made an offer to you once, but the owner of the mill decided to ask someone else to renovate the sigil." "That's right." The boy nodded. "Is there anything I can do for you?" Kappa asked. "Does your master want me to quote the price again?" Jack shook his head. "I'm just here to see if Aaron wants to go to the bard show today." Carber could hardly believe his ears.He had never seen Aaron talking to children his age, and Aaron had been spending his time working and reading, or harassing the messengers and sigilists who came to the store with questions.That's really unexpected, and something to be encouraged. "Aaron!" he called. Aaron walked out of the back room with a book in his hand and didn't notice Jack until he was about to bump into him and stopped. "Jack came to see you to see the bard show." Kappa warned him. "I'd love to go," Aaron said to Jack apologetically, "but I'll also..." "There's nothing to wait," Kappa interrupted. "Go and play." He tossed Aaron a small bag of coins and pushed the two boys out the door. Before long, the two boys were walking through the crowded marketplace that circled Milne's main square.Aaron spent a silver coin to buy a meat pie from the peddler. After his face was greasy from smoke, he paid a few more copper coins to the peddler and bought a bag of candy. "I'm going to be a bard someday," Jack said as he ate his candy, walking towards where the other children gathered. "Really?" Aaron asked. Jack nodded. "Look at it." He said, took out three wooden balls from his pocket, and threw them into the air.Not long after, one of the balls hit Jack on the head, and the other two landed in chaos, and Aaron laughed. "Because I have very oily fingers," Jack said while chasing the ball with Aaron. "It should be." Aaron agreed, "When my apprenticeship with Karber is over, I will immediately register with the Messenger Guild." "I can be your bard!" cried Jack, "and we can hit the road together!" Aaron stared at him and asked, "Have you ever seen a demon?" "What? Do you think I don't have the guts?" Jack said and pushed him. "You don't have the guts." Aaron said and pushed back.Moments later, they huddled on the ground.Aaron was thin because of his age, and Jack quickly put him down. "Okay, okay!" Aaron laughed, "I'll let you be my bard!" "Your bard?" Jack asked, not letting go. "I asked you to be my messenger!" "Good partner?" Aaron suggested.Jack smiled and reached out to support Aaron.Before long, they were sitting on the big stones in the square, watching the apprentices of the bard guild somersaulting and performing mimes, creating an atmosphere for the morning home court. Aaron's jaw almost dropped when he saw Qilin step into the square.The man in front of him was tall and thin, like a red-topped lamppost, and he was undoubtedly the bard that Jack thought.The audience burst into cheers. "It's Kirin!" Jack said, shaking Aaron's shoulders excitedly. "He's my favorite!" "Really?" Aaron asked in great surprise. "Well, who do you like?" Jack asked. "Mari? Coy? They're not as heroic as Kirin!" "He wasn't heroic at all when I knew him," Aaron said skeptically. "You know Qilin?" Jack asked with wide eyes. "Qilin saved you?" "Regan saved me," Aaron corrected, "Kirin shudders at the slightest sign." "He doesn't," Jack said. "Do you think he still knows you? Can you introduce me after the show?" "Maybe." Aaron shrugged. Kirin's show started off much like it did in Tibbey Creek.He juggled and danced first to warm up the scene, and then began to tell the story of the big comeback to the children, interspersed with some tricks, forward rolls and backflips from time to time. "Sing that song!" Jack cried.The audience immediately applauded, begging Qilin to sing.He didn't seem to notice the commotion until the audience was deafeningly shouting and stamping their feet.Finally, he laughed, bowed, and took out his lute to thunderous applause. He gestured, and Aaron saw the apprentices take out their hats and go to the audience to collect money.People were generous and couldn't wait to hear Qilin sing.Finally, he finally sang. He ended with a dramatic move that left Aaron speechless as the audience applauded enthusiastically.Qilin bowed to the audience, and the apprentice accepted a large pile of coins. "Isn't it great?" Jack asked. "That wasn't the case!" Aaron exclaimed. "My dad says the guards told him there's a one-armed demon that comes every night to attack the sigil on the wall," Jack said. "It's looking for Kirin." "Kirin wasn't even there!" Aaron yelled. "I chopped off the demon's arm!" Jack snorted. "Night, Aaron! You don't think anyone believes that?" Aaron's face changed, he stood up and shouted: "Lie! Liar!" Everyone turned to look at the speaker, and saw Aaron jumping off the big rock and walking towards Qilin.The bard raised his head, and after recognizing the other party, his eyes widened and he asked, "Aaron?" His face turned pale with fright. Jack came after Aaron and stopped immediately. "You really know him," he whispered. Qilin looked at the audience nervously. "Aaron, boy," he said, spreading his arms, "come on, let's talk in private." Aaron ignored it. "You didn't cut off the devil's hand!" He let everyone hear him, "You weren't there when the incident happened!" There was an angry clamor from the audience.Kirin looked around in horror until someone said, "Get that boy out!" and the others cheered. Kirin smiled. "No one will believe you and not me." He sneered. "I'm here!" Aaron yelled, "I have scars to prove it!" He reached out to pull off his shirt, but Qilin snapped his fingers, and Aaron and Jack were surrounded by apprentices. Trapped and helpless, they could only watch as Qilin left, picked up the lute, played another song, and quickly caught the audience's attention. "Why don't you shut up, hey?" shouted a burly apprentice.The other party was twice as tall as Aaron, and all the apprentices were older than him and Jack. "Killin is a liar," Aaron said. "Still a kid," agreed the apprentice, raising his coin hat. "Do you think I care?" Jack jumped out to smooth things over. "Don't be mad," he said, "he didn't mean anything..." But before he finished speaking, Aaron rushed forward and punched the opponent in the stomach.The opponent collapsed to the ground, and Aaron then turned to face the other apprentices. One or two apprentices were beaten by Aaron until their noses were bleeding, but he was quickly pressed to the ground and kicked.He was vaguely aware that Jack was also being beaten beside him, until two guards came forward to stop him. "You know," said Jack, as they limped home bruised and bruised, "you're pretty bad at a fight for a painting bug, if you just pick your opponent..." "I will face more terrifying enemies." Aaron said thinking of the one-armed demon who still entangles him endlessly. "That's not even a good song," Aaron said. "How could he draw a sigil in the dark?" "Good enough for you to jump out and claim credit," Karber commented, dabbing the blood off Aaron's face. "He lied," Aaron replied, frowning in pain. Karber shrugged. "He's just doing what bards do, making up stories to entertain the masses." "In Tibe Creek, the whole town goes out to enjoy bard performances," Aaron said. "Selia said they keep the legends of the old world and pass them down from generation to generation." "That's true." Karber said, "But even the best bards will deliberately exaggerate the facts, Aaron, do you really believe that the first generation of liberators can kill a hundred stone demons with one punch?" "I used to believe it," sighed Aaron, "now I don't know what to believe." "Welcome to the world of grown-ups," Karber said. "Every kid suddenly discovers one day that grown-ups, like everyone else, have weaknesses and make mistakes. After that day, you're a grown-up, whether you like it or not. .” "I never thought about it," Aaron said, finding himself long gone, thinking of Jeff hiding behind the Sigil on the front porch, watching his mother get ravaged by demons . "Is Kirin's lie really so sinful?" Karber asked. "His story makes people happy and gives them hope. These days, hope and happiness are rare, and people need both things desperately." "He could have done it without lying," Aaron said, "but he stole my glory to make more money." "Are you after the truth, or the glory?" Karber asked, "Is the glory really important? Shouldn't the important thing be the message you send?" "People wanted more than just songs," Aaron said. "They wanted evidence that genies can hurt, too." "You sound like a Krasian warrior," Karber said, "to lay down your life to find the Creator's paradise on another world." "The painting says their afterlife is full of naked women and rivers of wine," laughed Aaron. "And if you want to get there, you just need to drag the demon to be buried with you before you die." Karber agreed, "But I still plan to stay in this world to be safer. No matter where you hide, the next life will find you; we There's no reason to actively chase it."