“Just as I thought,” Cyprus said. “Oh, Seven, I don’t know how you’ll ever reach Oversoul Eight stage.”

“You’re leading up to something,” Seven said. “And you tricked me into making my last statement—”

“You tricked yourself into that,” she said. “But the fact is that you don’t relate well to Proteus and Ma-ah at all. And worse, you’re playing favorites. As a result, both of them are missing something important that only you can give them. They’re each missing a part of their soul—”

Seven was so upset that his image blurred around the edges.

“Watch your form,” Cyprus corrected. “There you go again. Details are important, too. I don’t mean to be overly severe, but suppose something like that happened to Ma-ah? Or Josef?”

“Josef would get out of it somehow,” Seven said.

“But Ma-ah wouldn’t?”

“You’re just trying to confuse me,” Seven wailed.

“This must be your low point,” Cyprus said dryly. “Oversouls don’t cry—”

“I’m not crying. I’m wailing. There’s a difference,” Seven said. “Anyway, why not?” he added defiantly.

“Because when they’re using all their abilities, then they see more clearly; and they know that there are no obstacles, only those you believe in. But never mind, here’s Part Two of your examination. It’s an in-depth Life Composition.”

Oversoul Seven regained his composure.

“You have a choice between Ma-ah and Proteus,” Cyprus said. “But you must focus your attention on one of them and identify as best you can with whichever one you choose.”

“It sounds easy enough,” Oversoul Seven said. “But I have a feeling that there’s something you aren’t telling me.”

“That you’ll have to find out for yourself,” she said. “Which one do you choose?”

“Well, I suppose I should do Ma-ah because I related to her poorest of all,” Seven said. “All right, I choose Ma-ah.”

“Remember, you must try to identify with her as well as you can,” Cyprus said, “And with that portion of you from which she came. Good luck, dear Seven.”

“Cyprus, wait. I’ve a lot of questions!”

“Oh, it’s you again, old man,” Ma-ah said.

Oversoul Seven just frowned. Cyprus was gone. Lydia’s study was gone, and instead Ma-ah stood in her spirit body outside of her everlasting cave.

“Why do you always see me as an old man?” he asked.

“If you’re not one, why do you look like one?” she retorted.

“I don’t look like one, that’s the point,” he said.

She shrugged. “I don’t care if you do or don’t, but at least you could be pleasant.”

“I’m trying to be,” he said, irritably. “And I’m apt to be around for some time, so I wish … oh, never mind.” This is a great start, he said to himself.