Nivienne returns tired but alive. Cylva resents the relief that washes over her. What has she done to be allowed to feel that way about Nivienne, who deserves someone who is as good as she is.
Nivienne’s smile looks strained, but the moment she catches Cylva’s eye her face relaxes. Nivienen says something to her companions before breaking away and moving towards her.
And Cylva-
Cylva is thrilled. She is so happy that Nivienne wants to speak with her. That she isn’t disgusted with her, or angry with her.
Cylva realizes that she didn’t know she felt that way about Nivienne. That her worry was born of… something else. That she agreed to her favour not for her own reasons, and not as a punishment, but to spare Nivienne the disappointment.
But of course this is what she’s feeling for Nivienne. How could it not be? How could she feel any other way about her? The Warrior of Darkness, here to offer her heart to even the lowliest of shadows. The failed hero of another world.
How could Cylva not want to love her?
Nivienne arrives and hesitates for a moment. Seeming unsure what to say.
Cylva wordlessly brings her close and Nivienne leans towards her.
Cylva kisses her.
Nivienne’s brain short circuits for a minute, and she has to check to make sure this is actually happening, and not just a fantasy she slipped into at some point when she was fighting Elidibus, having come up with this to pass the time while she is dying by his hand.
Nivienne realizes that Cylva is staring at her, faces now inches from her.
Cylva takes a step back.
They both try to apologize at the same time.
Cylva apologies for being so forward, and overstepping. She offers to leave here and pretend this never happened, and to let Nivienne pretend she never existed.
Nivienne apologizes for her selfishness weeks ago, telling Cylva to live just for Nivienne’s own sake, and not having a better reason for Cylva to keep living other than her own desires.
They both hesitate on hearing the other’s words.
Cylva tells her that it is enough. That if Nivienne wants her to be alive, that is enough of a reason for her to try.
Nivienne tells her she wants to be worthy of that trust. She thanks her for being willing to try it for her.
Nivienne holds her gaze for a moment. She promises she will be back soon, but that she does have very urgent business to attend to on the Source and she will return as soon as her companions are safe.
She hesitates for a moment, and gives Cylva a quick peck to her cheek. She pulls back and Cylva can see the blush creeping down her face.
Wicked White how did Cylva think this could have ended up any other way?
Absurd as it was, maybe she could try it. Living for Nivienne’s sake. Just for now.
Cylva finds herself hoping Nivienne’s return will be sooner rather than later. She’s gotten quite sick of being patient with these sorts of things.
Waiting for Nivienne to return is harder than she thought it would be. Cylva is used to waiting, biding her time to confront the Warriors of Light and waiting patiently for the Warrior of Darkness to appear in the First, but somehow this is different. It's grim but it's exciting, knowing her work is almost over - that her friend's bodies have been put to rest, that she will be dealt with, and that everything will be as it should be.
When Nivienne returns her smile is strained, but the moment she catches sight of Cylva in the Wandering Stairs she relaxes. Cylva knows if she wants the hero to follow through, now is the best chance she has to break her heart.
Cylva begins to spin her the tale of the last foe that needs to fall.
Nivienne says nothing. She just follows and listens to Cylva speak of the Shadowkeeper’s sins.
Good. Cylva thinks. All you need is the ending, and you can do what must be done.
She reveals herself in Lakeland, dressed in armour she can hardly stand to wear, with a sword she can hardly manage to lift.
Was it always this heavy?
Nivienne's eyes widen a fraction as Hydaelyn's gift shows her what she needs to see.
Cylva waits patiently. She is so close to being done.
She asks Nivienne to give this story the ending it deserves.
Cylva finds that it hurts more than she imagined it would. She doesn't think she had ever imagined that Nivienne would cry.
Then Nivienne does the worst thing she could do.
She says no. Just like he did nearly a century ago.
Cylva reminds her of the people she has killed, the people she has lied to, the world she almost ended. She asks if she should be forgiven for all she has done, and everyone she has hurt.
Nivienne doesn’t have an answer for her. Instead she asks a favour.
She asks Cylva to live anyway, even if she shouldn’t be forgiven. Even if she shouldn’t get another chance. Even if it would be right for her to die here. She asks Cylva to live just because Nivienne can’t stand to see her die. Because she can’t stand for this ending to come to pass again.
Cylva hesitates. For a century she has been waiting. She is nothing if not patient. But asking her to throw this all away? To live? She wants to laugh. She wants to cry.
She really does sound just like Ardbert.
So this is to be her punishment.
She grants Nivienne’s request. She walks away and leaves Nivienne standing silently in Lakeland.
---
They don’t speak again until Arbert walks into the Crystarium.
So long has she been resigned to her friend’s fates, that she had forgotten how furious they had made her. She sees Ardbert and she feels an anger she had forgotten she still possessed. She makes eye contact with Nivienne across the plaza and she looks surprised, but nods back. Elidibus parades around in her dear friend’s body, and she holds her tongue until she can speak freely.
She arrives in Nivienne's chambers and enters with only a curt knock. She tells Nivienne not to underestimate him. That he is capable and powerful, and that he needs to be defeated.
She watches Nivienne leave to go be the Warrior of Darkness and save the world once again.
She hopes someone has told her to be careful. To be safe. To come back unharmed.
