Favuxo had been to many Inabilins in his lifetime. The first was still the most vivid in his memory. Thinking about the first Inabilin had always made Favuxo feel ashamed both of and for the subject. Now, however, the memory brought about a different and more complicated reaction which he could best describe as a combination of compassion and dread. Favuxo looked back into his memory, and saw his future.
Every favuxian (excepting the Elder, of course) had known from creation that he would have only ten billion years to live. Most chose to ignore this, since the universe itself was not even close to that age. When the prescribed date of the first Inabilin finally approached, the Elder saw to it that the preparations went smoothly. It was as though the Elder was the only one who truly believed that the day would arrive. Even the subject himself, Fedold, seemed disinterested all throughout the process.
A few hours before the Inabilin, Fedold sent out thoughts that caused the Elder to block them and hold a long conversation with him. Favuxo could tell by that point that he was no longer at ease. As the Inabilin was about to begin, Fedold challenged the Elder in front of the entire favuxian species. Favuxo had perfectly preserved the confrontation within his mind:
"I have come to a decision," Fedold declared for all to hear. "I do not choose to die right now, Elder. I want to live."
The Elder appeared taken aback by this protest, as though he had not expected it. "You are simply experiencing momentary nervousness, it is natural. You will feel better when the Inabilin is done."
"No, Elder. I am being rational."
"If you had considered the Inabilin to be such a terrible thing," the Elder reasoned, "you would have protested against it long ago."
"I... couldn't," Fedold stammered. "It was too distant. I didn't truly understand that everything inside of time, no matter how distant it may be, eventually arrives in the present. Perhaps no one can really understand until it's too late."
The Elder appeared to have become very uncomfortable, and yet his determination did not waver. "Child, it was I who decided when to create you, and so it is I who will decide when your time as a favuxian is finished. Would you truly prefer the alternative? Would you like a random, chaotic, uncertain death dictated by the longevity of the universe? What meaning does such a death contain? Is it not better to have certainty, and time to prepare for the end?"
"I simply need more time, Elder! I must live the full potential of my life -- I have so many things left to do!"
The Elder's face was grim. For a brief moment there was a look of uncertainty in his eyes; however, it vanished as quickly as it had come. "You have had ten billion years to prepare for this moment. Your wishes must be sacrificed in order to prevent a web of uncertainty in which we might all be entangled. Now you will enter the body that we have provided for you. Since you will not enter it willingly, I will force you into it. Soon you will be thankful."
Fedold did his best to escape, but the much stronger will of the Elder forced him into the mortal body that was to be his for as long as it would endure. He was but the first of many on the same path.