It took thousands and thousands of years since the new cycle began. All this time, he spent waiting, thinking of his home, his friends. He thought of you, knowing he’d see you eventually.

But it felt so far away.

He knew what it felt like to long for someone in that time, how it felt to desire their warmth and presence. It felt the same when he watched your life fade in the initial crash on Amphoreus, the event at the start of this journey.

The moment he heard that familiar voice, his head turned, eyes gentle and his warm. His hair had grown out, once short hair now a long ponytail and overgrown bangs. He looked different, yet all the same in your eyes. And it seemed that you did as well in his, based off of that gentleness in his gaze.