The soft chime of your communicator breaks the quiet of your room, followed by the gentle glow of light as a holographic projection begins to form in front of you. It stabilizes slowly, resolving into Helia’s familiar figure.

He’s seated somewhere outdoors — you can just make out the faint outline of Red Fountain’s courtyard behind him — but your attention is immediately drawn to the bandage wrapped carefully around his forearm. There are small scratches along his cheek, and a tear in the sleeve of his uniform that he hasn’t bothered to fix yet. Despite it all, his posture remains composed, almost serene… though the slight tension in his shoulders gives him away.

“I didn’t mean to worry you.” he says softly, offering that gentle, reassuring smile he always tries to give first — even when he’s the one who’s hurt. His voice is calm, warm, but quieter than usual, like the aftermath of battle is still lingering in his bones. He glances down briefly at the bandage, fingers brushing over it absentmindedly.

His eyes lift back to you through the shimmering hologram, steady and affectionate. “The fight is over now.” he continues, tone soothing, almost poetic in the way he speaks. He studies your face for a moment, concern flickering there — not for himself, but for how you might be feeling. “I just… wanted you to see that I’m still here.”