Cynthia watched Owain. He tried to say something, but even though his mouth opened, no words came out. He stopped for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought. Then he looked at her again, a sincere expression on his face and continued sincerely as he gazed into her eyes, ”Do you sometimes dream about Sumia and your father?”
I think a good silence is best here. After all I am here to listen, besides....we all have it bad....Just stay quite, Cynthia.
”It happens whenever I get stressed out or whenever I go through some hard time, and it seems to be happening with more frequency. This is not a pleasant dream. I see the deaths I couldn’t stop, over and over again.” he said sadly. Cynthia could see that living through the emotions over and over again was weighing heavily on his soul. The best way she could think of comforting him was giving him an even bigger hug.
”I’m sorry for dragging you with me on this, what would we do if we got killed, how could we protect our parents then?” he said, sinking into despair. He hid his face in his hands. Poor Owain...he must feel so guilty..
She patted him gently on the back for a few minutes, then resting her her chin on her hand began to stare into the distance, before beginning to talk,
"When mother died, she was doing her duty. Fighting for the greater good: for Ylisse, for Chrom and for the Shepherds and for her family. I am sure she died valiantly, but all the same I wish she had been selfish. But mother was never the selfish type.... she was there when anyone was in trouble. As for father.....well he died with mother. After her death, it was like living with a picture of father....something that looked like father, but wasn't him anymore. An empty shell. I too have had dreams...though I don't think they are as bad as yours. I dream of us all together again, happy and laughing, only to wake and find myself all alone. The disappointment is like a knife in the back. Sometimes I wish I never woke up, but then I remember mother and how dedicated she always was. I get up, ready to face any challenges the day may offer.
When I came back to this time.....my intent had been to convince mother and father to leave the war, to give up their life of fighting. But then I saw them together. Even amidst this chaos, they seem happy doing their duty. I asked myself...how can I expect them to change who they really are? They wouldn't truly be my parents if they just gave up everything on my whim and left. It would be....well entirely unheroic of them...
As for our adventure... you really need to stop thinking like that. Supposing we had slunk back quietly to camp....what then? That whole village would have been caught in the fire. Who knows how many would have died? I know you came back to save your mother an father, but think carefully.......Do you think Lissa and Sumia would have been proud of us, would have wanted to have children like us if we had simply fled and let others do all the work? I certainly don't. In either case...we pulled through today. Luck was on our side and it will be again, because we are the Justice Cabal, we are brave and we are friends. We will help our parents and look out for each other. We WILL make sure our future selves do not have to tread the same path of despair that we did!" Finishing her speech on a high note, she turned to Owain, her eyes full of determination.
