The sound of metal clattering against the crystalline floor kept ringing in his ears.

He could barely pay attention to what the Crystal Exarch was doing, as he fell to his knees next to Ardbert. He'd done it. Elidibus could not continue his gruesome charade any longer and the promise he'd made to Cyella in the dead of night was fulfilled, but the sight of the slack expression on Ardbert's face and the stillness only the dead were capable of, made the grief that he'd pushed aside to get through this fight flood right back in.

The possibility that perhaps there could still be a future for the two of them had felt so tantalisingly close. Of course, he'd known from the moment he laid eyes on the other man, that it was not Ardbert miraculously returned to life and that he should not allow himself the hope that there could be anything more to it than another Ascian plot, but his foolish, foolish heart had not listened - far stranger things had happened, after all. And of course, Ardbert was with him, would always be with him, he could feel those parts of his soul that were not his own, like something warm, cradling him. But clutching at the hand that could not hold his in turn, the spark of hope that had taken root in his heart against his better judgement vanished and all he was left with was the sorrow of what he could not and could never have now.

The Exarch's steps were agonisingly slow and heavy behind him and a part of him knew he should get up and lend a steadying arm, but he could not bear the thought of letting go of Ardbert just yet or letting the Exarch see the tears running down his face unchecked, dripping on the hand he was still holding on to like a lifeline. He couldn't bring himself to look up, even as the Exarch made to kneel down, with Ardbert lying between them. From the corner of his eye, he saw the Exarch raise his hand and hesitate for the briefest moment, before gently placing it on his own.

"I do not know what's in your heart," the Exarch's tone was a little wistful, coloured by something left unspoken between them over this past year, "if this something you - both of you - wanted, nor can I promise you that it will work, however much I may wish to, but…"

At that, he finally managed to tear his gaze away from where all three of their hands were joined together, eyes wide and his heart picking up the pace, the hope he had felt wash out, sparking back to life, now with a warmth that was not his own joined to it.

"With you serving much like the vessels we crafted to hold our friends' souls for Ardbert's and Elidibus restoring his body to a living state with with use of creation magick, we might be able to return Ardbert's soul to it once more," the Exarch smiled at him, tired but still determined, and he could recognise the same mischievous spark he had seen years ago in G'raha Tia, "I did say I still had some tricks left up my sleeve, didn't I? We have spent many nights with Beq Lugg, going over the possibilities and methods to guarantee a successful transfer, but while much of it remains guesswork, we could not conclusively point to it being impossible either. There is nothing to do but try, if… if you're willing."

He nodded fervently, not trusting his voice in that moment and listened to the Exarch's explanation of the process. He had never had a particular talent for magic, something Alisaie took great delight in, for besting him in some area of combat whenever he'd asked her to show him the basics. But this seemed more akin to the kind of aetheric manipulation he had learned many years ago in the freezing cold of Coerthas. He had tucked away the job crystal humming with the power of darkness once more after his fight against Emet-Selch, with a strange sense of finality, like it had fulfilled its purpose when he'd needed it, but in this moment it seemed fitting to draw on what it had taught him one last time.

With nothing to do but try echoing in his mind, he took a deep breath and felt for the edges of Ardbert's soul that was tied to his, as he had done on so many sleepless nights to reassure himself that even if he could no longer see or hear Ardbert, he was not alone. He hoped and prayed that Ardbert could feel through their connection how much he wanted this, wanted Ardbert next to him in the flesh, wanted to show him all the places in the Source they had talked about on those late nights spent together at the Pendants, wanted to share whatever joy or grief might come their way. But more than anything, hoped that Ardbert felt the same in turn.

And before the connection between them severed, he felt something almost like a caress.

Ardbert woke with a gasp that jolted him right back to himself. The surprise of it was so great, for a heartbeat, all he could do was stare in stunned silence, before frantically pulling Ardbert close into his arms, pressing his face against Ardbert's chest, feeling the wonderful, miraculous rise and fall of his chest, not caring the slightest about the heaviness of his armour or the way his pauldron was digging into his arm.

He looked back up when he felt Ardbert's fingers thread into his hair and seeing that small lopsided smile he'd adored and missed so dearly on Ardbert's lips, brought fresh burning hot tears in his eyes, but this time from the sheer, overwhelming joy.

Ardbert was really there, right in his arms, running a thumb across his cheek to wipe away the tears. Smiling, breathing and alive. He desperately wished he was the type of person, who could always find the right words, so he could tell Ardbert just how much he had missed him or how much he had dreamed of this very moment.

Instead, he leaned his forehead against Ardbert's and whispered, his voice sounding rough from crying, "I love you."

And again, a little louder, a little more desperate, "I love you."

His tears were mingling with Ardbert's, as he thought back to the final moment they had shared before their souls became one, "I love you. I didn't… I didn't get to say it back before."

"Hero..." Ardbert's voice was fond and hearing the nickname from his lips once again made his heart flutter wildly, "I knew it all the same."

This startled a small laugh out of him, despite the tears, from the relief of it all. He had not doubted it for a moment, the love he had felt flowing through the connection between them over the past months had been what kept him going, but the words left unsaid in the moment he thought was their last had weighed heavily on him.

It was the thought that he wants to kiss Ardbert that reminded him that they were not alone. He sat up, to look over where the Exarch had been sat before, guiding the process of extricating Ardbert's soul from his and healing the wounds left by the battle against Elidibus controlling his body, only to find him stood a little ways off, gazing up at the sky. He struggled for a moment between wanting to sweep the Exarch off his feet in a hug to show his gratitude and not wanting to let go of Ardbert, perhaps ever, before Ardbert himself nudged his side, "Go to him, I'm not going anywhere."

He loosened his grasp, if only with a small touch of reluctance, so Ardbert could shift out of his arms.

Getting a closer look at the Exarch gave him pause, however. The crystals that had been spreading further after the fight against Emet-Selch covered almost all the skin that was visible now and glowed with an unsettling brightness. Clearly fighting Elidibus and healing Ardbert had taken further toll on the Exarch and he felt a pang of guilt and the realisation. But the Exarch shook his head, slowly, as if the movement itself was becoming restricted from the crystals on his skin.

"Do not look at me so, my friend. It was the least I could do after everything you have done for this world. You've given the people of Norvrandt back their future. We won. And remember, this is far from the end," after handing him the soul vessel, the Exarch turned to look at Ardbert and smiled apologetically, "Knowing my younger self, I have no doubts that he will pester you for tales of all your past adventures, pray forgive him for his youthful impertinence. Promise me, that I will get to see you both again soon."

"I promise. And we will go on another adventure yet," he tried for a smile, despite the lump in his throat and with one last bright flash of light within the soul vessel, the Exarch returned his smile and let out a final exhale, before surrendering completely to the crystal.

He made his way back to where Ardbert was still sat on the floor.

"Help me up?," Ardbert held out a hand for him.

It was then that Lyna, Ryne and the Scions arrived. Though momentarily stumped by the scene laid out before her, when the reality of it hit, Lyna ran past the two of them, to the Exarch's side, collapsing to her knees with a sob. Giving Ardbert an apologetic look, he walked over to Lyna and pulled her into a tight hug. As the rest of his friends crowded around them, he tried his best to explain what had transpired and reassure Lyna that would reunite the Exarch's soul with his younger self, still asleep in the Source's Crystal Tower.

As her sobs started to subside and he tried to stand up, however, the whole world suddenly took a funny turn. Heart racing from the rush of nausea, he frantically shoved the soul vessel into Alphinaud's hands, opened his mouth to speak, "I-"

Then, everything went dark.

It was the nausea that woke him up again and it took him a few moments to recognise the Spagyrics through the haze of it. He moved to brush hair out of his eyes only to find his arm pinned by a weight - a weight which turned out to be Alisaie, asleep and slumped over the side of his cot.

"She has scarcely left your side since we were brought in," a familiar voice to his left said.

Hearing the sound of it again, made his heart swell. The memory of what had happened atop the Crystal Tower had felt too good to not have been a dream. But there Ardbert was, so close, almost within reach.

He held out his hand over the gap between their beds and Ardbert took it readily. The touch was so solid and warm and real against his skin and for the first time in a long time, he did not flinch away from thinking of the future. Their future.