All's well that ends well

[oncedriven]

Ryne is filled with new name and new confidence, and you see the weight has not only lifted from her shoulders. Luke, too, is newly settled, his footsteps easy, his back straight. For the first time in a long time (five years, ten years), your name is no longer a burden to him.

And because you see how much more relaxed he is, you see the exact moment it shatters, the moment when the weight comes crashing back down to him.

It's the moment when you crest the hill into view of Malikah's Well, and you see Akzeriuth. You feel the weight, but it weighs as it should - an old failure from an old world, nothing you can do or change except to do better next time, and isn't that what you're here to do?

But for Luke, the continent collapses around him again as he stands frozen on the crest of the hill, not even responding when Alisaie bumps into him. All attention goes to him for his sudden stop, which can't make anything better.

"On second thought," you say, quick as you can, feeling yourself splitting at the seams, shadows creeping up at your ankles, "let's go back to town and rest for the night."

Not that the abandoned town will be much better for Luke, but it will be a little better than descending immediately into the Well. A night to prepare himself might not even be enough, but he doesn't strictly have to come. You managed the last three Lightwardens without everyone at your back - Titania alone except for Feo Ul - you can manage this one.

Alisaie looks about to protest, but Alphinaud nudges her in the side, and she glances back at the Well. "...Agreed," she says at length. "Much as I'd like to bring the night as soon as possible..."

"Aye," Urianger says. "Thancred hath bought us a respite from Eulmore's attentions, and though 'twould be foolish to waste it..."

Ryne glances between all of you, confused, and then her eyes fall on Luke, who hasn't moved or reacted except that his shoulders have fallen into a slump. "...Right," she says. "It can wait one night. That might give me a chance to better pinpoint the Lightwarden's location - Urianger, will you come with me?"

"I should be so honored," he says, with a bow.

"Then the rest of us will take Thancred back and force him to have a proper rest," Y'shtola says. "Luke?"

No response.

"I'll handle it," you say. "Ryne, you should rest with the others."

Her eyes widen. "But..."

You shake your head, take a look at Luke, and then back at her. You've never been particularly outspoken about Auldrant, and in that you're sure you and Luke are the same, keeping everything bottled up until you can't anymore.

"Come on," you say. "There's some things you should know, and you know how much I hate repeating myself."

And you herd them back down the hill, leaving your shadow behind, to try and set the wrong things right, in a way that only you can.

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[oncedriven]

Maybe I'm not the right person to fix this. But I'm the one that's here.

You said those words to Hien, over Yotsuyu, and you meant them. You mean them again, that night, as everyone settles into abandoned mining lodges for the night.

You're the only one that's here, the only one who knows the name that is ashes and miasma on Luke's tongue. You might be the worst possible choice.

But you're the one who's here; the only one who might ever get the chance to be here. So it's your responsibility, your obligation to bear it with as much grace as you can muster. No one else can carry that weight for you.

Luke is sitting at the back of one of the houses, on the edge of an expansive porch. Alisaie is keeping an eye on him, her expression concerned, but when she sees you, she nods and slips away. It's rare that she grants you privacy so easily.

You step into place, your body feeling more ill-fitting than it has in years. You should be a matched set, for this; you should be Asch, for this. Instead, you are just too-aware of everything that has been lost, every bit of the home you can never return to that you don't even have. A whole world lost, and in this world that could easily follow suit, you cannot even do its memory justice.

There's just him, and your memories.

You say, "It was never your fault."

Without looking at you, Luke says, "You're the last person I ever thought I'd hear that from."

Your own voice is wrong in your ears. "Yeah, well... I grew up enough to say it. Van is the one at fault for the destruction of Akzeriuth. Not you."

You knew that even back then. But the person you were would never have been able to bear saying it.