❛ why are you talking like we’ll never see each other again? ❜ for jiyan! 🥹
Things weren't looking good for them. Even with the antidote, the rangers couldn't continue fighting under the retroact rain for a prolonged period of time. Eventually, their minds would succumb to the hallucinations, and they would become unable to differentiate friend from foe. But the TD attacks were relentless. An outbreak after the other, giving them no breaks and making them step back. Things haven't looked so bleak since the Battle Beneath the Crescent, but retreat was off the table now. But General Jiyan had a plan, one he had been discussing with the Madam Magistrate and have been developing with the Huaxu Academy, one he would've liked to work on for longer, but action needed to be taken now. Once the barrier was broken, he would face the Threnodian alone.
If he was unable to return or failed to fulfill his mission, then Director Taoqi and the captains stationed at Desorock Highland were prepared to take over and handle the crisis until the retroact rain ceased. He trusted City Hall's judgment regarding the-
'Why are you talking like we’ll never see each other again?'
General Jiyan paused, lips pressing into a thin line. Briefly, for less than a second, Jiyan wasn't the resolute general that leads men and women in the war against the Lament, but a young man who has seen too many battles and doesn't know if he'll make it back this time. To be seen, to feel this exposed, it wasn't something he was used to nor prepared for. He wasn't prepared for many things, but he had to be. But, the one thing he couldn't do was lie to large and pale eyes that wore a genuine worry for his wellbeing.
"I apologize, Madam Magistrate. That wasn't my intention." But he couldn't deny the implication behind his words either. He didn't plan on dying, he didn't want to die, but he couldn't make a promise he didn't know if he would be able to keep. Despite being appointed by Jué, Jiyan knew he didn't have the raw power of General Geshu Lin, so facing a Threnodian alone could have a... really high cost. But that wasn't relevant right now. Were the citizens safe? How long would Jinzhou's walls hold on if the fortresses at Desorock Highland and Central Plains fell? No, the rangers would ensure the people's safety and-
He met her eyes again and, this time, he had to close his own. Then, Jiyan took a deep breath and offered a genuine and gentle smile, one that held a silent pain but no regrets. "Jinhsi, thank you for placing your trust in me until now. I'm aware that the circumstances are far from ideal but, as your ally- friend, I hope that-" A bleeding ranger slammed the door open to inform him the current situation. The Overwatch base was under attack. There were many things he still wanted to say, many topics he would've liked to touch, but that will (hopefully) have to wait for another time. Again, he offered a genuine and apologetic gentle smile, and said: "Your trust, please place it on me one more time."
The connection was cut after that.
