Wisdom at the rivers' crossing

This is a very sudden transition from my own bedside to a patch of sand on the other side of the island. Perhaps anyone has any notion as to what to giant ants might have thought to do with a man-sized glass cocoon?

A thousand pardons for my absence these past few days, Amurui-qiánbeì, and to any other that I may have unwittingly caused concern to. I have not been entirely well, but am recovered, and shall promptly return to my work.

[Just not going to mention the whole overwork thing. Enough people are getting on his case on that already.]

As for the hourglasses, I will say only this: it is doubtful that a force able to generate such a mark, may be confused or diverted from its purpose by the mere removal of that same mark. And I suspect that you shall be very disappointed if, come the end to the waiting, all others marked will receive some heavenly boon while you will have died of self-inflicted neck wounds.

Patience is a virtue.

-- 火