"You are the chosen one."

Casimir sucked on the cigarette in his mouth. His expression was perfectly blank as he stared past his interlocutor.

"The covenant has been upheld. Ten thousand generations weep in happiness. The Age of Gods returns."

Casimir's face remained tranquil like the surface of a lake. In this instant he was Buddha reincarnated. Not a single twitch of his facial muscles would reveal he was in any way aware of the talking chinchilla sitting on his desk.