I’ve just started with book 3, so please avoid spoilers. The thing I don’t understand is: the Wheel keeps turning and Ages repeat themselves over and over. I assume each Age the Dragon Reborn fights the Dark One, right? Does the DR defeat the Dark One each time or vice versa? And why is the current Age special? I keep reading that if Rand fails defeating the Dark One, the Dark One will have won for good and all eternity will be cast in darkness. Is that so? Why? Also, Rand is the reincarnation of Lews Therin. But in Book 2 when crossing through the portal stone to Falme, Rand learnt that he has lived thousands of lives. Or did he not live those lives and these were mere infinite possible ways his life could have gone? If Rand has lived again and again, then how is he also the reincarnation of Lews Therin?