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"A would-be hero with enough determination to travel back to the past if required?" He grins at Emet. "She reminds me of Azem, you know... not just in soul, but mannerisms. And Azem would find a way to travel through time, wouldn't she?"

He sighs, fond. "If I only knew how I had managed such a feat." He shakes his head.

"From what I gathered from her story, she hails from a time in the future. You and Elidibus had been defeated, after all." His smile fades a little at the idea. He doesn't like to think of his new friend pitted against his old friend. "In that time, the Final Days began its descent upon her world, too."

Defeated? Anger, sadness, and desperation bubble up inside him, and the look in his eyes betrays every single painful emotion. He couldn't fail after so long, not when the whole of the world as it used to be was depending on him.

Failure and disappointment are nothing new, but when the news of that potential failure is delivered by someone he thought of so dearly... When they, too, depended on his success.

"From last I saw her condition, she will not make it to the next sunrise, let alone The Final Days." Emet explains. The light had already begun to consume her. The transformation into a monster can only be thwarted for so long. "She may have some determination, but that pale imitation wants for the skill and ability that Azem possessed."

Hythlodaeus touches a hand to Emet's arm, unhappy that he had to be the one to deliver the news. "And yet with her, I feel anything is possible."

It seems Emet-Selch made the cardinal sin of underestimating his foe. And Hythlodaeus can't tell if he's happy that she lived, or if he's upset that Emet-Selch didn't. Perhaps both- but his expression is pained all the same.

"Ah... but it isn't my place to meddle in such affairs, hm? I am but a visitor here." He squeezes Emet-Selch's arm before dropping his hand again. Would that he could take Emet back to Elpis with him, back to where his home and friends were waiting for him. If only he could ease the turmoil in his friend's heart. He wonders if there's naught either side could do to reconcile their differences and come to an agreement.

"'Not my place'? Spare me your mummery, Hythlodaeus." It's an utterance half full of fatigue. He pauses by a staircase leading up to the rookery which is, mercifully, out of the overwhelming light.

Be it a shade or construction of his own design, Emet can't bring himself to dismiss his dear friend's words like that no matter how unfavorable they may be. His counsel always had value not because they were designed with pretty words. "Your opinion bears more weight to it than anyone on this star, or any other."

"More weight...?" Hythlodaeus seems almost surprised at that- pleased, in a sense, but he doesn't quite believe the words. His opinion isn't any more important than anyone else's. Still, he pauses before continuing.

"Then... I would simply say that I would very much like for both of you to live. I realise that isn't perhaps what you have in mind for her- your disdain is writ plain on your face for all to see. But I think you'd find her perhaps open to something more agreeable than a fight to the death." His smile returns, barely-concealed admiration and affection for his friend in his eyes.

"I know that you're still in there. The Emet-Selch I know. Why, I can see him now. And I'd like for nobody but him to recall our adventures together. His and mine."

He lowers his gaze, only briefly- when he looks back up again, that mischievous look is back. "That said, I hope you don't think I won't be waiting for your return to the star. If I must wait ten thousand more years, I will do so gladly."

Shade as this possibly may be, Emet lets himself indulge in a muted look of admiration. "How fortuitous for me. That will save me all the trouble of having to find you when the time comes."

With a brief pause having been enough, he heads up the stairs. The Rookery is non too far from where they are, just a little further and then back out into the sunlight.

"As for the present, I am right here as you can clearly see," See with his eyes and see with sight beyond sight, as he knows the capability well. "and I recall our adventures perfectly well." Except for the few details he's just been given, anyway.

Giggling a little at Emet-Selch's admiration, he follows him to the rookery with a wide smile.

"I can see all too well, aye. Quite a comforting hue in a place so foreign, I'll admit."

Seeing the amaro milling behind the fence, Hythlodaeus' eyes light up. "These are... I've never seen this concept before. What are they?"

One plods over to the fence and Hythlodaeus moves to pat it on the neck, marvelling over it. The presence of souls in the animals mark them as one with nature, no mere arcane entities.

"These are called Amaro." Though he approaches the enclosure, he doesn't make a move to pet the lumbering black creature. He observes it instead.

"They're beasts which are used to get from one place to the next, be it by land or by air." He holds a hand out to the gated area. "Some of them are even capable of speech. Who knows. Perhaps these might be yearning for some intriguing conversation?" Emet knows full well that these particular Amaro don't speak, but there is nothing wrong with larking around a little.

"Amaro. Fascinating. And you say this fellow might be inclined to speak? Truly?" He continues to pat the amaro and tries to think of a subject.

"Greetings, friend! I am Hythlodaeus. Do you have a name?" When the amaro just stares at him before snorting, Hythlodaeus shakes his head. "Ah, alas. No enlightening conversations will be happening today."

He's still smiling, though, as he gestures for Emet-Selch to join him. "Come, he seems to enjoy this."

A smile tugs at his mouth without completely manifesting. Those words about the Amaro had partially meant to tease but the sincerity by which Hythlodaeus believed him and tried to communicate with it is much too endearing to make light of.

Emet shrugs wide with both arms and sighs in defeat.

"If you insist..." He moves over to the railing and reaches over to pat the beast on the head. Carefully. "This doesn't mean I intend to do this with every beast you come across."

The amaro closes its eyes and leans into their touches. Hythlodaeus seems genuinely enamoured by the beast, but soon moves his hand away. "We could stand here all day petting him, but I fear we have other tasks to tend to. Eating, for example. I wish to sample the cuisine here."

That seems like a good idea up until he realises something. "Ah. I have nothing to offer for the services here." He peers up at Emet-Selch. "...I'd be in your debt?" Surely Emet can't expect him to starve.

That causes Emet to arch an eyebrow.

He lifts his hand from the Amaro and folds both arms over his chest. "The cuisine here is hardly worth being indebted to anyone for." The food is actually quite good, especially after a long day spent out in the heavy sunlight, but downplaying it in order to make this not seem like a big deal is the ultimate goal.

"But if you insist on giving me remittance, perhaps you can tell me more about this memory I do not recall."

Well, he can do that. "Let us start with what you do recall, then. You remember Elpis, but is aught missing? Nothing feels out of place?"

He can't think of any reason why Emet-Selch wouldn't remember anything, but surely in this case if he did, there would be a gap in his memories. A quite noticeable one, at that. The 'familiar' was with them for at least a day.

Out of place?

He looks up while considering the events those few days. "The first few days are certainly amiss. The preparations for Hermes' creation went askew and as such, I scarcely recall anything of our arrival." Suppose that qualifies as 'out of place'.

His eyes narrow, "Are you saying that you remember what happened then?"

"His creation?" It doesn't occur to Hythlodaeus that he means Kairos until he recalls the conversation about what it can do. Then he snaps his fingers suddenly and points to Emet-Selch.

"Kairos. A means to erase and modify memories as the user sees fit... something must have gone awry. As it happens, the time from whence I came must be before such an incident, and therefore I still remember."

Suppose being from before that incident is possible in the realm of 'time travel'.

Emet puts a hand to his chin as he tries to recall what had taken place that day. It was so long ago, but the details are just odd enough to stick out in memory.

"When we came out of the facility after the demonstration, others asked where our 'companions' had gone. Venat being one, but the other one has always remained unaccounted for." A look of realization washes over his face as he considers it, and he looks to Hythlodaeus with a silent question.

Hythlodaeus shrugs. "Then we have a plausible solution. A demonstration, you say? And I suppose something went wrong, wiping the memories of all present." Remind him to deny a demonstration, in that case...

"And so we went about our days none the wiser." And in that case, they wouldn't have known to prevent the Final Days- if that's even possible. Things would have been as if their friend had never shown up, which may be why she supposedly never revealed herself after the fact. Not that Hythlodaeus can honestly blame her.

"The details seem to fit."

More importantly, if that is, indeed, what happened then it's probable that all the other information would match up just the same. Emet's look softens as he mentally fits the pieces into place.

"Which would mean you're really..." His tone shifts. "Here. Not a shade, but the 'you' that I remember."

Nodding, Hythlodaeus smiles up at his friend. "Yes, I'm here- for better or for worse."

He pauses, to take in the softening of the harsh lines on Emet's face. He's glad that it's sinking in that he's really here, but at the same time... what will Emet-Selch do when Hythlodaeus has to leave again?

It doesn't bear thinking about now, so he doesn't bring it up. "On that note, as a living being, I'm still rather hungry."

Important as though eating maybe, The words are left to sit unaddressed. Emet, instead, looks on in contemplative silence while considering how best to acknowledge this situation.

"Long have I considered what I would say when given the chance to meet you again, Hythlodaeus." His tone seems to bear an edge of sadness. There were countless days in Amaurot would he sit and think about what had happened, what could have been handled differently, and what he would say when the city reached its former glory again. Often, those thoughts were the sole driving force to continue onward.

"Now that I finally have the opportunity, I find myself wanting for words." There doesn't seem to be any adjectives that could properly articulate the amalgamation of emotions that he feels. As such, he leans forward and gives his dear friend a tight hug. Perhaps this could express it well enough.

Hythlodaeus pauses, surprised by the hug but not finding it to be unpleasant. He pauses for a second before hugging back, burying his face in Emet-Selch's shoulder with a smile. Small gestures like this that show how Emet really feels are few and far between, but he cherishes them when they present themselves.

"You needn't worry about words, friend." He lifts his head to smile fondly up at Emet, the admiration clear in his eyes, before resting his cheek back on Emet's shoulder. "I understand, as I always have done."

A small squeeze is his unspoken response. Perhaps actions can show what he means in the absence of well-crafted words. Over time, surely, the proper words will present themselves.

"Much to my concurrent delight and displeasure," Emet utters as he lets Hythlodaeus free from his grasp. Teasing as the words may be, they are said with a clear expression of fondness.

Emet motions in the direction of the market. "Come, It's remiss of me to keep a 'living being' from their desire for sustenance for long."

He lets go at the same time as Emet, though he admittedly would have liked the hug to go on longer. He giggles at Emet's teasing, but there's still that same affection in his gaze, and he holds his eyes with his own affectionately.

"Is the cuisine here very different?" Hythlodaeus can't imagine it would be exactly the same as he's used to after so long, but other than that he doesn't know what to expect. "I'll have whatever you're having."

With that, he starts towards the marketplace. Surely they would find some street fair that would be of interest to them both.

"If I told you, then it would diminish the experience, wouldn't it?" Emet says, coy to answer. "Better to let it speak for itself." And be able to see the genuine experience besides.

"If you insist." Following after Emet-Selch, he looks around curiously as they make their way there. He still thinks this place is amazing, quite frankly. He still sees no way home, though. And if he disappears... well, he may be with Emet here, but what of the one left behind in Elpis? How would he feel if Hythlodaeus went missing without a trace? Hythlodaeus has no doubt in his mind that Emet-Selch would search high and low for him, and never give up the hunt.

And yet... he still feels warm from the hug. He felt the love there, and to leave this Emet behind hurts his heart too. All in all, it's a situation that he can't rightly say he has a solution for yet.

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