Fendros' expression did not change from concerned sympathy as he listened on. He had to make an effort to keep his composure, for every fear Ahnasha had was one he fully understood. Even if Ahnasha was acting out of character, he knew she had limits. He did not feel shocked. He only felt empathy.

As much to comfort himself as his wife, Fendros lifted his arms and drew Ahnasha into hug, holding her head gently to his shoulder. "If I knew how to make that happen now, I would do so in a heartbeat," Fendros murmured.

He stayed holding Ahnasha for at least another half a minute. It was only after taking some time to calm down that Fendros realised how much the pair of them had grown and changed. It was curious to reflect on who they used to be, but Fendros accepted it. Reflecting on particular episodes of their life gave Fendros an idea for something to say.

"You know...back after the Xanmeer. With the nightmares and Rhazii's fresh burns," he barely voiced. "I had similar thoughts. I thought everything was falling apart. That we wouldn't recover. I kept...ruminating, over and over. Life was getting too hard to bear because I thought there would be something that [i]did[/i] suddenly take one of our lives, or Rhazii's." Fendros' face was limp. "But once we reached the Bruma clan and got help, once things started to turn around, I think I must have convinced myself to keep going without realising it. Now I look back and wonder how we got through it at all. But...I would put it down to more than just luck."

Fendros breathed in deeply. "If I had lost you, I do not think my being would recover. I would have a void beside me for the rest of my life. But I would have to keep going; I owe it to Rhazii, and I owe it to everyone now that we're apparently saving the world. If it was you that survived..." Fendros lifted his chin and held Ahnasha closer. A smile cracked his blank face, as did his eyes welling. "Well, you have always been more stubborn than me."