[ She appreciates hearing those words, even if they are from him.... But to her it doesn't seem like he quite understands. Someone who thinks of protecting others as much as he does, someone who is responsible for the welfare of others and leads them, who surely keeps them in mind whenever facing a threat-- it seems disingenuous, that he says he can't fear a weapon like that. Or at least be wary of it, distrust it.

She had learned of fear when she had first awakened for the one who awakened her had already seen the destruction her "brother" had already done to the world and inadvertently imprinted that wariness to her. That had translated to her trying to limit her own power, to regulate, but in the end... ]

Then how about a weapon... that can lose control? [ She presses, softly. ] How about a weapon that, at its core, has... the privilege to destroy the world? [ For it is indeed a privilege, what her Father had given her. She cannot describe it as anything but, for her other sibling did not have that same power.

She raises her eyes to meet his, new tears forming at their corners. ] Wouldn't anyone be afraid. Wouldn't he, wouldn't you, wouldn't everyone be afraid of... upsetting something like that, if it could lose control? [ Her voice sounds weak, as if this is but a rhetorical question. ] It would be safer to run and avoid anything to do with it.

[ Her free hand clamps over her mouth, stifling a sob. ]

[ His fingers upon her cheek, his hand squeezing hers tightly upon the counter, the earnestness in his voice, it does get through to her. She's not someone who has an impenetrable mental wall that blocks everyone's words out. And among the few she's told what she is already, they've said similar things, they've noticed her sadness... except she doesn't think they understand.

Her hand falls form her lips, and somehow she's able to control her voice. Quietly, ]

It's the right sort of ending... Because I love everyone here. [ She doesn't abhor herself, she doesn't feel sorry for herself. She just wants to ensure that everyone else lives. ]

That sword I told you about, that one that has foresight, the one that has destroyed so much, the one created by the god of my world, my Father. There, I must beg him to let me die, but... [ She confesses. ] You would destroy it yourself, if you could, if it meant saving those you love. You would destroy it, wouldn't you. [ She's trying to have him understand, at least, that that is what she's trying to do. That in order to protect others, she has to do what's necessary. He's familiar with such difficult choices, she knows he is, and she's using that against him to try to convince him to see it her way. ] Wouldn't you?

[ So it seems that she still hasn't pushed him away, even after confessing all this, and he still insists that he wouldn't want her to be destroyed.

It's not just him, either. It's others, others who Mythra would easily call idiots, fools-- but that's not entirely true. Those that know, all of those that happen to know any of part of this secret of hers that she believes she must be destroyed are smart. They're scholars, they're strategists, they're leaders, they're fighters; they are people who are the furthest thing from fools. They're strong. Why can't she listen to them as well, listen to what they're saying?

Because the fear she carries, the fear that she can hurt them... makes her numb. And it's only with their persistence that she's gotten this far to chip away from that fear.

She closes her eyes, her tears running over the ridges of his fingers as his hand remains pressed against her cheek. His touch feels both like silk and needles, like something soft that she wants, yet something that hurts because she cannot have. Tender moments like these, bonds-- if she had never been stolen from Elysium, if she had never been awakened and posed as a Blade, if everything had remained the same-- she never would have had those experiences. She would never have had to be reminded that at the end of the day, ultimately she must return to her Father, whether to beg to be erased or to function in her original capacity once more.

But his hand is there, and he is there, and he's doing a good job of comforting her. Bonds are dangerous because he's right. She does want to stay, and she does want that future. He's figured it out already, he's calling her out. ] Ah...

[ It takes a long moment, but her eyes slowly open up to look at him again, distraught but quieted. ] Am I that easy to read? My selfishness.

But you would still be alive. You... and others. Or even if not here, then those in my world-- they would still be alive.

[ Isn't it's better to be alive than being dead? Even if she's not there. That's what she's trying to say.

...She lifts her hand up to place it over his that is on her cheek, leaning into his touch. Her eyes are bright, ruby-like with the shine of her tears. She even tries to smile for him. ] I want to ensure... that someone like you has a future.

I don't-- I don't understand how wanting to stay here, even when I'm dangerous, even when others fear what I might do without control... isn't selfish.

[ She can't help but think of what Kaoru had said to her during the even, and even while Pyra's emotions hadn't been completely there, her words had stuck with her. That even if someone did not believe in a future or in others, they could believe in Kaoru who believes in them.

It could be the same with being kind to oneself, and loving oneself, she thinks. ] If that is the case, that you have forgotten to love yourself... then I will gladly love you, in your stead.

[ Her cheeks are still damp, but she's smiling softly at him, at least. ] That's part of looking out for one another, isn't it?