[ There is a soul-deep exhaustion in him, now. As if his young, young life has seen too much strife and turmoil for him to bear at times — companions who have died, homes that he has lost and been taken from, even his own life forfeited to the natural end all warriors come to have: a bloody, lonely one. He fights and fights, still. He has to.

Gently, he finds the impression of her warmth and holds it to himself. As if cupping a mote of sunlight against the dark bridge of his nose, closing eyes that would be burned and pained to look upon even the sweet rays of dusk. ]

I, too, wish that our choices were not so opposed, Alice. Meridian's dream is a wonderful one, one that I would have once embraced — if not for Oblivion. I want to move forward together... and that means saving you from returning your soul to it. Saving these people, too.

[ It's clear he truly, vibrantly believes that, too. That he is coming from a place of impossible kindness, and hates himself for voicing such an "evil" thought to the world. ]

Please keep my intentions, not my shameful inarticulateness of them, in your mind. I would cherish your help and understanding.