I tried, and yet I failed to save her.

That’s all you can think to yourself as you can only stare at her lifeless body. Metaphorical claws upon your heart are ripping and tearing your soul apart as you feel yourself to be in the depths of despair.

Voices in your head begin to mock you at your failure to make it to her in time.

”Did you even love her? You left her to die. You told her “she’d be safe in your arms”, but look at her now. Shattered and maimed. She’s gone because of you. You can’t deny the ugly truth anymore, you utter failure.”

The doubtful and hateful voice in your mind, amplified by the spiritual energy in the Shackling Prison mocks. It’s incessant, sharp words dig into your mind like blades.

The absolutely frigid temperature of the air in the Shackling Prison does no good to you either, as you shiver violently with the cold, and with the emotional turmoil you find yourself in. It’s been upwards of an hour, and you’re still staring at her lifeless body, your face stuck in that same expression of horror as the moment you laid eyes on it.

Eventually, you start to succumb to the cold, as even the long-life species do, and your knees buckle, causing you to fall to the ground at her side. You reach out with shaky arms, holding her lifeless body in your arms, hugging her tightly to her chest, not even noticing the small static shocks of her circuitry.

…Her body’s still warm. Oh Aeons… Xueyi…

You murmur out loud to no one in particular. Holding her body in your arms only made you feel worse, as you now want to vomit, feeling no life in her confirming her current state fully.

Now, the tears finally start to flow, the absolutely freezing air almost making your waterfall of tears freeze in their tracks.

What will I tell Hanya…? It’s not like she can just revive herself or something…

You say to yourself out loud, completely unaware that she can do just that, and is likely already on her way back, as you scream and wail.

I failed you, Xueyi… Oh, Aeons… I’m so sorry…