She takes the seat next to him. As she does so, she looks up at the top of the Spire. Like most Chaos structures, it is nearly impossible to tell how tall it actually is. But she can clearly make out the pure warp energy pouring out of it’s apex. Her eyes glow involuntarily as she stares into the vortex.
His gaze, too, was drawn to the spire. In some very twisted way, the structure reminded him of some of the upper summit towers of Sacntuary. The only real difference was... well... they weren't monoliths of collective chaos energies. Though the spire was quite possibly horrid to behold in the physical sense, through Danyael's eyes, it was almost hypnotizing to behold. Almost. It seemed, much to his own gratitude, that all energies around him gravitated toward one figure. Mary. And so he averted his gaze from the Spire to the woman he cared for most.
Mary shudders as she rips her eyes away from the sight. In this moment, she feels very vulnerable. She has completely let her guard down for the first time in as long as she can remember. Her responsibilities and the fear of failing at them well up within her. In response, she sighs heavily and leans sideways, resting her full weight on Danyael.
He cradled her at the exact moment she rested into him, completing the motion with a relaxing exhale. In the midst of everything around them, they could still find a semblance of solace between them.
“This is it, I guess. Everything we’ve worked for has come down to this. Saving everyone from this threat. Getting final retribution on the powers that brought an end to my people. Stopping Chaos from claiming any more lives. It’s all riding on us. And even though I know the end result… I don’t feel like I’m strong enough to do this. The responsibility of this is just too heavy for me. I’m not a leader, like him.”
He didn't want to ask and he knew that she knew that he didn't want to ask. He asked anyway... "Are we..." he stopped and changed his mind. He shouldn't ask. And so, instead, he didn't. But the mention of her people, or rather the calamity that brought an end to them. That caught his attention even more. Just what did she see? What happened? How could it have happened? And more importantly, could it have been avoided? Could they have been defended? If Danyael had known Mary long before this happened, then the answer would have damn well been clear as crystal.
“He’s just lost the one thing that he cares about more than anything else in existence, and yet he keeps fighting. I don’t know if I could do that. I don’t know if I could keep fighting if I lost…”
If she lost... what? If she lost...
who? He didn't have to guess. She knew that she was held dearest in his heart. He nestled her closer, his head lightly pressed to hers. He didn't say anything at first, as he felt it appropriate to wait in case she'd more to say. And more she did, indeed. And that was perfectly fine with him.
“I’m not a leader. I am a warrior. I fight to protect the people I love. And I think… that as long as you’re here fighting with us, that I can keep fighting forever. If that’s what it takes.”
"I didn't originally know how to come back, you know. Not at first. I was so full of rage, jealousy, foolishness. Not the best qualities to the sovereign of an empire, I'll admit. And all three resulted in a great many consequences I've yet to fully map. To name a few: I'd lost my sight. I feel pain and bliss all at once. I'm taunted and tormented by visions I cannot fully understand, even now. And the specters in said visions remind me that I am the only one of my kind. A mutant hybrid with no bloodline to speak for. That I am, unequivocally, alone." but he wasn't finished. "And yet, in my exile, I didn't think of the end of my torment. I didn't think of returning to the Imperium Sanctus. All I could do was think only of you. You are, and ever will be, my beacon. You, and you alone, are the one being in all existence that I seek to be better for. To be greater for."
"I don't think causes need leaders." he said, mentally laughing at the fact that he was the leader of a nation that held dominion over entire multiverses, "Not so much as that I believe causes need the conviction of those who take it upon themselves to see it through. You don't have to be a leader. You only have to possess the school of thought to focus on what matters most and why it's worth fighting for. You are my focus, my aim, my light. It is solely because of
you that I'm here. Every time death came close, all I had to do was close my eyes and see you - and that was all I needed. That was enough.
You are enough. One day, when I've been deemed worthy of you, perhaps I'll be, too."
By way of his will or something beyond, the everworld cloak expanded to where it wrapped around them both. It was moments like these that he cherished most. The moments of respite, no matter how fleeting, were worth every second that lasted. He didn't say anything else, as speaking was no longer his trademark. But he knew that she knew what he was thinking. That this was what kept him going. She made him better. Few people did. But she made him better.
With the spire in the distance, Danyael mused to himself and reached deep within the fabrics of the Everworld cloak, grabbing hold of and bringing out what appeared to be a gourd flask of mulled wine. "Knew I had that hidden away." he offered her first sip. "Now it's an ideal romantic outing." cherishing any moments left before the final push.
