“If anything happened to you— I couldn’t...” Kalpas' anger, barely contained as he tries to express genuine concern in this moment between just the two of them. The restraints he wears he would more than test the limits of for Elysia. He'd fight til his dying breath for her, yet saying that out loud he struggles more than he ever has in his life.
He has always been one to hold onto promises. He has always been a misunderstood one. He has always been the most loyal one if a bond has been established.
How much she cares for him as she does for those around her. Her genuine care, her genuine love, her genuine wish to protect them. All of them. No matter what. Yet there is a moment of hesitation as she knows that despite how close they are, her secret remains with her and she does not know when she will be able to share it with others. If she will even be able to share it with them at the end. These words of loyalty that touch her very core also make her feel guilty for lying, it makes her almost tear up but she lets herself fall silent instead as she lets the moment of soundlessness pass before she begins to speak.
Ah, Kalpas, she could always trust him. Despite what others told her, she always trusted him without a second of hesitation. She promised him battles and he promised her to fight. However, she truly cared and wished for him to live a better life. It still hurt her to remember that her wish to bring the Thirteen Flamechasers as an official title, as icons before humanity, was rejected. She wished for him, too, to be seen as a hero he rightfully is. In her eyes, he deserves to be remembered and to leave a legacy behind that others will also follow. His heart and his soul burned brightly as the fire, as the Sun, and she didn’t want for it to extinguish. This flame was warm, he was warm to her and she wished for others to understand it. How could no one see what she saw? It pained her greatly.
Elysia’s way of saying his name was always one with warmth and tenderness to it, but right now there was a tingle of worry but also gratitude. He cared and it was all she could ever ask for, the sensation of gratitude was filling her very soul. A Herrscher like her? As much as she loved humanity unconditionally, witnessed their beauty, she was afraid of what will these words turn into if she were to confess her origin. She didn’t want to lie, but it was scary. What if her truth will harm them? Thus, Elysia would smile at Kalpas then, extend her hands to grasp his even if it would be considered a taboo. She did not care if she will be burned or not, but she wished for him to know that right now she was here and he did not have to worry. Was she not one of the strongest? Was she and Kevin not the ones who would lead them until there will be a day when she, too, will have to depart? Her end... it will come.
“ It’s alright. I am here, am I not? All of us are friends and we will protect each other. I trust you to protect my back, always, ” the softness in her gaze does not go away, but multiplies instead as she looks at him. His mask may hide away his face, but she hopes that he knows that no matter what - she is here for him, no matter what. Even if the whole world will refer to him as a beast and will fear him, the pinkette will always reach out her hand to him and will always embrace him without any fear of being burned by the flames. This hurt young man who had lost so much and who had suffered so much. It was her true wish to protect him as well. “ Thank you, Kalpas. For always thinking of me and of everyone. Thank you for being here. I understand, you don’t need to push yourself to say it. ”