I have so many thoughts about Kavri and the fear waves (mostly the Tomix one)
(this could all get Absolutely Ruined by the rest of the war but I Don't Care I Do What I Want)
Kavri is fighting through the dream monsters and as they go the background starts fading out until it's nothing but a void of stars. The next point of light they see is the void core, with Dream Tomix. Kavri slows down, they've dealt with Dream Tomix a few times in this war already. They fought him quickly, upset that Remthalas would try to use their memories of Tomix to manipulate them. This time, however, they walk up next to the Dream Tomix, looking out at the memory of the void core he fell into. Kavri sits down on the edge of the platform. They know this is one of Remthalas' attempts to talk them into joining him, so Dream Tomix won't attack first. They take their time and rest. After a minute or so, Dream Tomix sits with them.
They take a few minutes, resting in the quiet of the dream void. Kavri gets back up, looks at Dream Tomix standing up with them. "This was nice. I have to keep going though" They fight, as they have every time before. Kavri starts making this, coming over, sitting with Dream Tomix, a regular thing. Once it becomes routine, Kavri enters their memory of the void core to find Dream Tomix sitting, rather than standing, waiting for them.
A few more meetings later, Kavri starts talking, technically to Dream Tomix, mostly to Remthalas, but ultimately to both of them. At first it's just talking about this war, something fun Azazel did while they were resting, something Uaanta told them about, stuff Remthalas would technically know if he's watching, but it's more to fill the silence than to actually convey information. Eventually, though, over the course of more meetings, once they know Remthalas is listening, Kavri starts telling them about Tomix. Small stuff, something else in this war reminded them of something he said one time, some minor trick he taught them that they still use. Slowly, they start to tell them about the adventures they had with him.
When Kavri gets to the end of the Greed Arc, Remthalas has a realization. He’s coming at this all wrong. Using Kavri’s losses against them clearly isn’t working. If he wants any chance at having the heroes help him with Aequilibria, he can’t force them. He has to listen, and understand. So Dream Tomix and the other manifestations of Kavri’s losses stop trying to convince them. They don’t stop fighting, but they’re quiet fights, and they're always after a short rest. Sometimes they’re in silence, sometimes they chat, but it’s always a moment of respite.
Kavri reaches the end of their retelling of their adventures with Tomix, not ending with his death, or the funeral, but with talking to Danyel about all of it. How they tried to save him, but sometimes things just don’t work out.
The point they forgave themself.
Kavri gets up, ready to fight Dream Tomix and keep going. Dream Tomix doesn't stand up with them. "Well, aren't we doing this?" With a voice that's not quite Tomix's but not quite Remthalas' either, they say, "No. You were right, this has been nice. I'd like to keep enjoying it." So Kavri leaves Dream Tomix.
There's still more to go.
The war isn't over.
But this is.
