The innocence with which Erichthonios replies almost hurts more than anything else, yet Elidibus is also glad for it. The magicks of this place are strong indeed if they could not only pull beings from beyond life but also from different streams of time. That had to be the only explanation, he decides. Erichthonios is from a time before even Themis was sacrificed to save them from the Final Days.

His thoughts of whether ruining such innocence with the truth are interrupted when he’s taken into a strong embrace, tears being forced out of the way as he blinks in shock as he’s dragged so close against Erichthonios’ chest. Who in the past would have either dared or bothered to hold him like this uninvited? Perhaps memories of his remain unrecovered, because he cannot recall a single soul. Not even Azem. This simple but pure and meaningful gesture only seems to make his tears fall stronger. He presses his forehead into Erichthonios’ shoulder.

“Stranger than you could ever know,” he answers, after a time. Whether he explains it or not, this Erichthonios could not possibly grasp how impossible it feels that they could ever meet like this again. He puts his arms around Erichthonios, returning the embrace with his own tight grip. “There is so much I could say…” He continues, muffled into the blessedly familiar fabric of that black robe. “But I am glad to see you.”