Cenauru Dotharl

Cenauru Dotharl

Of Unbreakable Principle

Cenauru is a Xaela Au Ra who hailed from the Azim Steppes, originally of the Dotharl tribe. She traveled to Eorzea in her early years of adulthood, the many tales of heroes she looked up to inspiring her to seek out her true purpose in the world. Through her time in Eorzea discovering she was chosen as the Warrior of Light, she realized her ambitions had finally been met, but by a much bigger degree than she had ever anticipated. Some restless nights she may even call it a curse, that she made a mistake ever leaving her life in the Azim Steppes to become such a symbol and bear the weight of the world on her shoulders, but in the end, she feels like a greater person for her experience taking on the role of her realm's hero, and inspiring many more just like she was inspired so long ago.

Character Stories

• Acceptance
• Esteem
• In From the Cold
• Reminiscence and Reunion

Stories are published when I feel like writing them, no matter where in the timeline they are. I try to keep them roughly in order for her personal timeline, but it is not a hard rule for myself.

Acceptance

"I'm way over my head now, aren't I..."
I wake up in the familiar black void of my mind that I recede to in times of need. I'm probably unconscious now, knocked out in a fight after pushing myself too hard from an emotional outburst. It's been happening more often lately...and this might be my last.This place in my mind, in my heart, it appeared after I decided to become a Dark Knight, when Fray become my mentor, before revealing that she was my Esteem all along. However, I knew it the whole time, she was just a dark part of myself I couldn't ignore, that was itching for a way to reach me. But, I just can't accept it. I can't let these emotions sway me from my duty.I know I'm hurting. My heart aches, the title of Warrior of Light is just a curse as I'm forced to kill, forced to watch allies and friends be slain and sacrifice themselves for me before my very eyes. My emotions just get the better of me, my rage, my sadness, even hatred for others, they only slow me down and keep me from saving more people that could have been saved. Even so, if I have the strength to continue to save at least one more person, I have to use it. I'll never forgive myself if I let this strength go to waste.But...I guess I wasn't strong enough in the end. Barely able to stand anymore, I fall to my knees. I can barely understand who I am, the other one that resides in me only existing to scold me as I keep trying to push on.She just doesn't understand. I thought I got her to understand me when I showed her back in Whitebrim that she was wrong, and she even accepted it then, that I'm not alone and miserable in this world, that there are people that don't care if I'm not flawless, they'll still be there for me to lift me up no matter what. That I'm not simply ignoring my emotions to continue my duty at the detriment to my happiness.But, I've had to bottle those emotions up lately for a reason now. Too many have suffered because of my emotions now, they'll just get in the way of my duty and I have to keep that to a minimum. So why? Why does she keep trying to hurt me by bringing them back to me? I fall further to my hands and knees, beginning to feel tears welling up in my eyes. I...I just don't get it...I don't want more people to die...I'm so scared of who I'm becoming, of what I'm becoming...I hear Esteem's footsteps ring out, across the silent, black void. "'Hurt you?' You know very well I'm not trying to hurt you. The only one hurting you is yourself. You refuse my help, refuse to listen to me, refuse to see reason in my words, and you refuse to care for your broken heart. You refuse to acknowledge that I'm even still here, pretending the one residing within you can just be ignored like a mild stomachache. I thought you had proven me wrong back in Whitebrim too, but I already told you, if you stray from your path and start to ignore yourself, I will be forced to save you. I cannot stand to see you hurting like this, losing your way and letting all your emotions collapse in on you. So why have you gone back on your word? You promised me that you weren't sacrificing your own happiness! So why do you reject me? WHY? What makes you think you can save the world, WHEN YOU CAN'T EVEN FUCKING SAVE YOURSELF? YOU NEED ME!"I scream out, my voice shaky, as more tears begin welling up. "I KNOW! I KNOW I NEED YOU RIGHT NOW! It's just too much! I'm just so scared of letting my emotions out and get the better of me, I'm scared of more people dying because of my mistakes. I...I need you. I'm so scared, I don't want to leave anyone else behind. I...I don't want to die..." I can't hold it back anymore, and the tears begin to stream down my face as I start to cry."Listen. I know you're unstable right now. Your psyche is split in two, it's barely hanging on by a thread and you're about to explode without anything to stabilize yourself. But that's what I'm here for. You need someone to be that other side of you that can process your rage, your ferocity, your hunger to right what's wrong and dole out the punishment that the unforgivable deserve. Why do you think that Soul Crystal you touched created me? Because deep down, you wanted this, you needed this. So listen to me. Let me be that part of you. We can exist together, we can help eachother, and we can be happy together. Let me help carry your burden. Please."She holds out a hand, and I hesitate...but I know she's right. I've known it all along. Since she first showed up, I knew it was going to end up like this. I've been refusing to help myself, I've been refusing to address my emotions and my fear of myself, thinking I can set it to the side and come back to it later, letting my duty consume me whole.I let her take my hand to pick me up to my feet again, and I immediately dive into her arms. She's shocked for a second, but immediately holds me closer to herself as I sob into her shoulder while she lovingly strokes my hair. She just wants me to feel happy, to love me, for me to be myself, not to lose myself trying to be what the world needs me to be. She wants to be the one who can take on the burden of my emotions, so I can keep pushing on and moving forward.I finally pick my head up so she can wipe the tears from my eyes, and I finally see it. That smile of hers, that smile that shows how much she loves me, how much love I've had for myself, hidden deep within those emotions I keep locking away, that I kept locking her away with for so long."We can get through this together. I love you more than you'll ever know...for who else can I love but you? I just want to see you happy. You only need to let me save you."I take a deep breath as the sobs subside, and finally let myself drop my guard, to allow her to take the reigns. "Alright. So I guess my first order of business is to get you out of this mess, huh? It'll be a piece of cake, they won't know what hit them". She begins to walk away, but I quickly grab her hand once more. "Esteem...thank you. I've treated you...myself, so horribly, and caused so much more pain and grief for you. You could have tried to take me over again by force, but you truly believed that I'd finally see what I needed, what we needed. You didn't want to lock me away like I locked you away. So...I know this is weird, but...I love you too. You may be me, but you'll be the part of me I can love unconditionally." She just nods and smiles back at me, before heading into the light, ready to finally save myself.I breathe a heavy sigh of relief, my eyes still stinging and my face a mess, stained with my dried tears. I can also feel a smile on my face too now. Acceptance...it's all she really wanted. Well, I accept her. This is no longer just my journey, but our journey.

Esteem

A voice rings out. “...She’s getting back up again, I thought we had her this time!”Ugh… Cen sure took a beating while I was dormant. Those voices must be those that brought her down. I rub the side of my head to quell some of the pain. There’s a bit of blood, but it doesn’t seem lethal. She should be lucky she was merely knocked out; these bandits could have done much worse while she was out.I’m Esteem, a manifestation of Cen’s emotions. A second self that resided in her mind, now given form and a way to communicate with her. Who’s been given the reins to save her while she rests and heals. And my first order of business…”...is to get us out of this mess, huh?”I speak the last of my thoughts out loud; the bandits picking up on it.“H-hey, she sounds different now, captain. Should we just try and kill her this time?”“NO. We need her alive! Subdue her again. She can’t have that much fight left in her. Don’t let her intimidate you!”There seems to be several dozen bandits in total surrounding me. A whole camp. They must have gotten the drop on Cen and dragged her back. For mere bandits to best her, she must have been hurting pretty badly.I unsheathe my greatsword as I rise, putting it over my shoulder with one hand as I slide my right foot out to the side and drop to a low stance. Cen would usually take a higher stance, giving her more control over her defenses. But defense won’t be needed here.“She’s about to strike! Men, get in position! TAKE HER DOWN! CHARGE!”The bandit leader cries out as they begin their assault. Oh, they’re so eager to die. I almost feel sorry for them. But the only forgiveness I shall give them is death.I drop low, and push off the ground. I rocket through the air, and meet the first charging bandit in a split second. I pull my sword from over my shoulder and aim straight for his heart, piercing all the way through as his body immediately goes limp. Everyone charging with him skids to a halt, horrified by what they've just witnessed.“W-what is this? She was just knocked out, so how…? No, no, no, this isn’t human! That’s a monster!““Yes, that’s right! I’m a monster! You’ve awakened what’s been laying dormant inside of her. Watching over her. Demanding to take the reins when she needs it most. But I’m no longer watching from the sidelines! I will be enacting her revenge. None of you will leave here alive.“I kick the fresh corpse off my sword, slumping to the ground as the bandits realize what they’ve awakened.“No, no, no! I don’t wanna die, I DON’T WANNA DIE!” The bandits scream and flail, falling out of order and attempting to wildly swing their swords and axes at me, giving me the opportunity to effortlessly cut them all down. Cen’s usual finesse replaced by my speed and ferocity.I jump from bandit to bandit, dropping them left and right, painting every surface with crimson like a whirlwind of death. How many bandits have I slain now? I’ve lost count, their forces seemingly endless and still coming at me. All I care is to make these bandits pay for nearly taking Cen away from me. The one I love most. The mere thought of it drives my rage even deeper, the emotions in our head pounding with further and further intensity.As her emotions near their bursting point, I reach deep into the abyss of her heart, ready to finish this. I can feel her emotions burning bright. She wanted this all along. She wanted to have the power to right the wrongs in the world. To punish the unforgivable with all of her scorn. But she was gifted with such power so she could be a symbol of peace. An unfaltering warrior who fought with dignity and everlasting willpower against the evils of the world.She held back so much trying to be the Warrior of Light everyone wanted her to be, that she lost herself. No one wants to look up at their Warrior of Light and see something as frightening as she can be. But now that she’s finally accepting this part of herself that she locked up from the rest of the world, I can feel the depth of her emotions. So many bottled emotions manifesting as pure power, burning so bright that even I have to be careful to not burn myself from it. To be granted the right to fulfill her most selfish desires, brings me nothing but joy.I find what I'm looking for, and grab hold of the flame of her soul. So much emotion, so much pain built up with no outlet. All of her pain, I'll release it right here. I'll burn through all this power, and finally set her free.Darkness erupts through my body, flowing through my veins as my sword bursts into black flames, completely enveloping myself in an aura that radiates pure power. Not a single bandit dares come near, witnessing our willpower taken form. I hold my sword straight above my head, seemingly distorting reality itself as the air around it begins to wobble and shake.My voice booms throughout the camp, amplified by my aura. “This is for everything that has ever wronged her. All of her rage, all of her love, all of her sorrow. Every ounce of emotion that she's been forced to lock up. Witness what the Warrior of Light is really capable of."I can feel Cen hurting, the pain ready to split her open. So much that's been bottled up, finally being set free. Hang in there Cen, it'll all be over in just a few more seconds. I promise.I take a deep breath, and then scream at the top of my lungs."NOW BURN IN HELL!”I swing my sword with all of my strength against the sky. My sword tears through, cutting open a rift revealing darkness itself that begins pouring down all around me, enveloping the camp and muffling the bandits’ screams perishing from the flames of darkness itself.After several seconds, the rift in the sky begins to close, mending itself as every single bandit around me drenched by the flames of darkness are burned to nothingness. The aura and black flames dissipate, leaving nothing but weapons and armor scattered amongst the crimson-soaked wasteland that was once their camp. I drop to a knee, sticking my sword into the ground to hold myself up with my arm, to keep myself conscious.Cen... I-I did it. We did it. Using the power you’d locked away, wanting to use for so long. The agonizing pain, finally replaced with tranquility. She’s incredible, harboring this much inside of her. And I’ve finally set it free. She can be happy again, she can be herself, and we can finally enjoy life together. Tears burst forth from my eyes, running down my face and onto the ground below. Thank you, Cen... I’m so happy you’ve given me this chance to save you. To fulfill the purpose that your heart created me for.

In From the Cold

TW: Trans pain, dysphoriaIs it over? Is it gone? Can I feel safe again?I’m scared to look down, I’m scared to move, I’m scared to find my worst nightmare again. I’m scared to reach my arms out, and still see something other than myself. A body that isn’t my own. I wrench together the last of the strength I have and open my eyes.It’s mine…it’s…mine. The body I was forced to inhabit is now slumped a few meters away from me, entirely devoid of life as I used the last of its strength to thwart Zenos from hurting my friends with my body. Yet, it felt familiar, in an awful way that I wished I would never have to experience again. Especially now, of all times.I collapse to the snow-covered ground, holding myself up by my hands and knees. My breaths are deep, my body is shaking, and my horns are ringing. I hate showing this weak side of me, but…I’m not doing well. I feel the tears already flowing, more than they have in a long time. I need my friends right now, more than I ever have before.Alisaie and G’raha are visibly shocked at my collapse, and come to try and help pick me up alongside panicked shouts, to pull me back up to my feet and bring me back to camp as the adrenaline wears off and the mental shock starts to take over. I hear them yell something to Y’shtola, who’s already running over, and Urianger closely behind.“Is she wounded, does she need care?”, I hear Y’shtola’s voice through panicked breaths. “She’s not wounded, no, but she’s in pain. Alot of pain. I think it’s about her past that she’s told us about…” Alisaie trails off, not wanting to reopen old wounds even further. I lift my head up to meet Y’shtola’s gaze as she comes close, and her eyes widen with a quiet gasp at the sight of my broken expression still pouring with tears. “Thank you, I’ll see to it that she’s safe”. I feel Alisaie and Graha’s grip leave my arms, and Y’shtola’s arm reach around my shoulder as she keeps me moving.We finally shuffle back to camp, and Y’shtola sets me down under some shelter against a camp building’s wall. Both Alisaie and G’raha sit with me, trying to help keep me stable. Alisaie lightly stroking my hair, and G’raha giving me his shoulder to lay on so I could collect myself. I know they needed details, so I just started to blurt it out, in between my tears and my pained breaths.“That body I inhabited…it hurt. Everything about my past that hurt, came back to me. I thought I was over it, I thought I was strong…and now all I can do is cry as I look at my body, and feel…horrible. I was finally able to become someone that felt right to call ’me’, and he…and he took it from me. He took my body before my very eyes, leaving me with a corpse…no different to how I felt back then, before I was able to change…”I hang my head low to cover the sobs, and hold my tail close to me. I grab ahold of Alisaie and G’raha’s hands and bring them close to me, both shocked but don’t pull away, knowing that I needed everything from them right now.“I look at my hands, and I feel violated. It was so easy for him to take it from me, to just rip it away and shove me back into a body that wasn’t my own again, one that I hated with all of my being. He moved my arms, my legs, my entire body, as his own. What was sacred to me, what was uniquely me, it feels defiled. The feelings of inhabiting that body are still fresh within me, and his defilement of my body was nothing short of a nightmare. If I stop holding myself, I don’t feel myself. If I’m not held, I just feel the body I was forced to use. I can’t handle it, it hurts so much.”G’raha immediately takes the initiative and drops my hand to pull me in and hug me tight, smothering me to dull the feelings of that wretched body still gripping my soul. “I’m so sorry. We left you out of sight, and now you’ve been forced through an unimaginable pain. If this is too much I’ll let go, but…this is the least I can do for you.” Alisaie follows suit, and leans up against my back. “If this is what our friend needs, then it’s imperative that we give it.”Y’shtola smiles at the appearance of Alisaie and G’raha doing their best to comfort me and keep me collected, to keep me from losing myself. “You can stay there for now, Urianger and I have heard enough and can clear it all up with Lucia. Right now you need rest. Just let it all out.”Her words hit my horns, and like a signal, the gates holding the flood breaks. I return the hug to G’raha, gripping him tight and sobbing uncontrollably into his shoulder. The pain of my existence shared between close friends, who are more than happy to shoulder it for me no matter how little they may personally understand how it feels, still right beside me to support me every single step of the way. I recall their apologies and kind words from the Crystarium, when I was harboring enough light to turn into a Sin Eater, and how much they’ve kept it since then. They’ve seen what I’ve been put through to fulfill my role, and they still care, they see me as more than just a weapon now, they see me as a close and cherished friend. The sobbing slowly subsides and my grip weakens, before I finally cry myself to sleep in G’raha’s lap while Alisaie strokes my hair.I eventually awaken a few hours later. It’s still daytime, but time has clearly passed. The tears on my face are long gone, and while my sleep remained dreamless, I recalled a faint touch on my cheeks, wiping them away to keep them from staining my face.My cheeks. My body.G’raha and Alisaie both notice I’m up at this moment, and watch as I lift my arm up in the air. It’s…mine again. This body finally remains my own. Thanks to my friends, who did everything they could to keep me in, and are still right there as I awaken.“Are you well, my friend?”I look up and see him looking down at me, my head still in his lap. I give him a smile and answer. “Yes, I am now. Thank you.” I raise myself off of him to sit back up, and shoot a stern glance at Alisaie beside me, who quickly shuffled when she noticed I was awake. “And don’t think I couldn’t tell that you were holding my tail while I was out”. She immediately starts to stammer, and sighs in defeat as I laugh in response to her embarrassment. I respond again in softer words. “It’s fine if it’s you though.”I see Y’shtola approach from the corner of my eye with Lucia beside her. “Thank heavens you’re alright. Urianger and I spoke to Lucia and briefed the camp on what happened. No one objects to our decision to give you time.” Lucia bows to me next. “I was horrified to hear Y’shtola’s account, everyone has been informed and is in full support of you. Some want to talk to you, so you may want to chat with them while you can, we’ll get everything ready in the meantime. Everyone understands you’ve done more than enough for us, you don’t have to worry about anything.” I tell her thank you and return her bow, before going off to meet with those that wanted to talk with me. I thought my reaction was pathetic, but maybe more people understand than I thought.I give one last thought to Zenos…and this time I feel a fire inside. I’ve always detested him, but now, I’m going to enjoy every moment of killing him for good. But only once this is over. For now, Eorzea is all that awaits us.

Reminiscence and Reunion

“That’ll be 12 gil, ma’am!”I shift my weight to the rucksack hanging over my shoulder, fish my hand inside for a bit, before grabbing a handful of gil coins and depositing them in the familiar farmer’s outstretched hand.As he hands me a flower, he finally calls my visits to attention. “Y’know, lass, you always come once in a blue moon to purchase the same single, specific flower I gave you once long ago, and nothin else. You always head in the same direction afterwards, as the first time, with a weird expression on your face…is something the matter? Is it for a loved one?”Ah…he noticed.“It’s…nothing. You could say it’s for a loved one of sorts. Though, you’ll think I’m crazy if I tried to explain it, hah…”I raise a hand to the back of my head, with a slightly embarrassed expression showing on my face. How would I even explain this to anyone else…But it gives me peace with who I am. And that other self, who has vowed to protect me even through death. No matter where my soul ends up, she’ll always be there. Or so I tell myself...“Well, if ya say so lass. It’s not me to pry in people’s business. I just worry for ya sometimes. Ain’t never thought I’d see you return, probably forgot the man who once asked the bleedin Warrior of Light to do his dirty work, an then bitched ‘em out when they did their job. And yet, here you are once again”.I just give him a smile, before exchanging our goodbyes and heading off by dragon-back, in the same direction I always go.~~~An hour later, I’m back to the familiar spot. Where I bring these flowers to, anytime after an eventful adventure and I have some free time to reminisce on my time here. It’s always the exact same spot, just southwest of Whitebrim. But this time is a little different.A place now near and dear to me, despite having no other real significance anymore. Fray revealed herself as my Esteem here, and since then, nothing has been the same. Some of the soldiers training see me atop the ridge, and extend a few friendly waves before resuming their training. People who believe in me, no matter what, huh…“With such a wonderful Warrior of Light guarding the world for them, you can’t say you don’t understand why they still believe in you. Even through our little outburst ages ago, that showed the real you. People like that make it all worth it.”A familiar voice. The very same voice I come to lay these flowers down for.“Esteem I…I really don’t know what I’d do without you.”“I can tell you’re sad, and you can’t keep that from me. We share the same space, remember? I hear you. I’ve always heard you. Even through the ends that you went through to save our universe, that I so selfishly longed to be a part of, and was willed into being able to fight alongside you that fateful day. I heard it, over and over again. You put up a real strong front, and I’m proud of you. I really am. But I can still hear it. You’re scared. Of losing me.”She…she said it. Took the thoughts right out of my head. I try to keep myself composed, trying to keep the tears from bursting forth, but I’m not given any time before I feel a hand on my shoulder instead. The shock breaks me out of my daze, I look behind me and…it’s her. By the miracle of the faint residual power left from our encounter at the edge of the universe, she’s able to stand right here in front of me. More than just a simulacrum, more than a mindscape, but the real deal. The incorporeal given form, but only for a moment. And I want this moment to last forever.I take hold of her hand in both of mine. Her touch is so gentle and warm. I can hardly believe this is the ferocious beast that's saved my life over and over again. I raise her hand to my cheek and close my eyes. We need no words, for she already knows what I long for. It’s been the same since I accepted her, and let her save me. I want her to be by my side forever. I never want to be alone again. I thought I could do this alone…but she showed me how much I was breaking. She came forth when I was screaming for someone to save me. She answered my call, and even when I rejected that I’d long for such a thing, she still fought for me. With her, I don’t feel alone anymore. I feel at peace, my mind calm once she became part of it. I can’t imagine a world without her.“And you’re scared that you don’t need me anymore.”I wince at her words.“But you’ve grown stronger. You’ve not only reinforced your strength, but your mind too. You can do incredible things now, without even needing my help. You’ve lived up to your title, and even gained a new one. No longer are you just the Warrior of Light, you’re the Champion of Etheirys. You’ve healed, and my purpose has been fulfilled."“No…” I squeak out a pathetic response. “I haven’t. I haven’t healed. Not if you go. I’ve always been alone. Even when I first met the Scions, I was nothing but a tool. I wasn’t someone to have around because my presence was enjoyed, I was only around because I got things done for them. I was such a fool to think that was friendship! I suffered so much, but then you came along. Even once you arrived, I kept trying. I earned their friendship at last. They finally looked past my power and saw who I am as a person. They’ve even seen you, they’ve seen how much you’ve done for me, how you were the one who cared for me when they wouldn’t. I’m so grateful for them now, but nothing matches up to you. You’re the first real friend I’ve ever had, and you let me become who I am today. Without you, there would be nothing. I can only be healed if you’re here. So, please…”It’s too painful to continue. I dive into her arms and bury my head onto her shoulder, choking back tears.She speaks. “You don’t realize it, do you? I said you’ve grown powerful, and you’ve healed.”I’m shaking now. I squeeze her tighter, and I feel her arms wrap around my back. “Stop. Stop it. I can’t do this.”“Because you’ve willed me to stay with you forever.”In an instant, everything dissipated. Everything stopped and I couldn’t think anymore. My shaking subsided, my tears froze up, and my sobbing now an expression of shock. I pick my face up out of her shoulder, and look her in the eye. I look into her deep smile, looking right back at me, just inches away from eachother.Her eyes sparkle as her next words grace my horns. “The soulstone’s aether is no longer needed for me to exist. My purpose has been fulfilled. You’re healed, and I’m forever with you now. This is your power now, you made it this way. You sought out a way to heal yourself, and this is the fruit of your efforts. Like I said, I’m proud of you.”I’ve never known happier words till this day. I just stared at her, starstruck. No words would be able to express the flurry of emotions flying through my head.I finally croak something out. “Esteem…” but she puts a finger to my lips. “Shh. I understand. I knew what you longed for most. It’s alright.”I loosen my grip and allow her to place her arm around my head to bring it closer to hers, meeting my horns with hers, slowly nuzzling eachother as we enjoy this moment in time together. I've dreamt of being able to bond with her in such a way for years, and finally, finally…She finally speaks once more, ever so softly. "You once said this isn't just your journey anymore, it's our journey now. I've never forgotten those words. I strove to find a solution for me to stay indefinitely, to untie our aether from your soulstone, to truly live alongside you. I was so distraught that we couldn't find anything. I told myself this was for the best, that your health matters more than my existence. I was given part of your life for this one sole purpose. But you grew strong, stronger than I could ever imagine, and you took the power to finally bring us together for good. I'm so glad you could fulfill this promise to me. Thank you."I can feel her grip tighten, and…she's crying. She never cries, she's the no-bullshit pragmatic side who supports me through anything, she always has some way to help me through any tight situation. She's the stronger one between us two, she's the one who I owe my life to, who continues to be the one that saves me when the only person I can't save is myself. I've never once seen her cry in all the time we've been together. But she deserves it. I can feel it too, she wanted this just as much as I did. She held herself together, but she was feeling the same way I was feeling. Maybe worse, knowing that she was going to "die" and become one with me again. And yet she fought and held on. She did this all for me. But finally, she can relax. We can just exist together now. We've both fought so hard so we can be together, so that she'd be more than just a tool to repair my broken mind. Without eachother, we’re nothing. We were meant to exist together.She finally untangles her horns from mine, and we pull back a bit, to look in eachother's faces. Her deep smile, now strewn with tears. My face, still wide-eyed and my mouth slightly agape, overwhelmed by all the emotions buzzing through my head, my tears long frozen in a thin layer on my cheeks. I reach out to wipe away her tears with my finger, so hers don't freeze like mine did. She doesn't resist, letting me be the one to take care of her this time.I swear, this moment could be my last, and I would be at peace."Thank you."I don't know how much longer I have until her corporeal form dissipates, and she returns to living inside the same body as me. We can always meet in our thoughts and our mindscape, but there's nothing better than to be able to finally touch the one who you cherish most. This universe wouldn't be the same without her, and I'd save the universe again just to keep her by my side.