"How are you holding up?" Nick asked.
In front of Nick was an old woman.
She had white hair, and there were several wrinkles covering her face.
The most pronounced were the ones above her eyes, which formed when one often had an expression of worry or bother.
However, there were also many wrinkles beside her mouth, which formed when they smiled a lot.
Every body told a story, and her body told a story of many highs and many lows.
"I did what I could do," she said. "I made my peace with life."
"When I was young, I was only interested in becoming stronger, but I don't think I was happy."
"That's when you arrived. You opened my eyes and gave me a new purpose."
"I finally felt fulfilled. I felt like I was doing something that mattered."
"I did all I could do."
Naturally, the old woman in front of Nick was Aria.
Nick was around 800 years old now, and he would soon become a Mid Adversary.
He knew that he would continue living for much longer.
He would get through the era reset and create a new underground civilization over thousands of years.
If Nick were to die during the final battle, at this moment, probably less than 25% of his expected life would have passed.
Compared to the life he was going to live, he was still young.
But the same thing wasn't true for Aria.
Protectors could only live for around 1,000 years, and Aria had already been a Hero when Nick was born.
She was old.
Her Zephyx Synchronizer had trouble keeping up with her Zephyx expenditure.
If she even used one of her abilities, she would need days to recover her Zephyx.
A normal Protector could recover that in less than a second.
The moment her Zephyx expenditure overtook her Zephyx generation would be the moment they would know when she would die.
As Nick looked at her, he felt a stinging pain deep inside.
Aria had been his first and only love.
He still loved her.
But it didn't work out.
In Nick's eyes, Aria was so bright, hopeful, competent, determined, selfless, and strong.
For centuries, she had led the Extractors in the underground city.
Everyone respected her, and nobody questioned her authority.
She had been as good of a military leader as anyone could be.
"I feel sorry for you," Aria said with a warm smile.
Nick didn't answer.
"I'm not sure if I could do what you're doing," she said. "I don't know how you will be able to get past the era reset as a human, but I'm sure you have a way."
"Sadly, you can't take anyone with you."
"You will be isolated and alone."
"You will witness everyone you know die."
"To defend against the pain, you isolate your feelings."
"You're living in a world of grey and black."
Aria looked bitterly at the ground. "I can't do that."
"I need people."
"I might have nobody that truly loves me, but my life is filled with companionship."
Nick didn't say anything.
Aria also remained silent for a while.
"I've done many terrible things," Aria said after a while. "I caused so much suffering and death to protect the city's secrets."
"Every time I have to make a tough choice, I feel the pain."
"And while it weakens over time, it never goes away."
"I don't know what happens after I die, but I will accept whatever awaits me."
Nick didn't answer.
He wanted to give Aria the opportunity to unburden her mind.
After a while, Aria looked at Nick as if in a trance.
Nick could see the love, pain, regret, and acceptance in her eyes.
For half a minute, the two of them only looked at each other.
"You still look the same," Aria said.
"When I see you, I see the Liaison who changed Crimson City."
"When I see you, I am reminded of the light you have given me."
She smiled sadly.
"Meanwhile, I have become old. I am no longer who I used to be," she said.
"And yet," Nick said, "you have become more beautiful than you have ever been."
Aria looked at Nick in shock.
She could hear actual emotions coming out of Nick's voice.
"You are wrong," Nick said. "You said there's nobody who truly loves you."
Nick took a deep breath.
"I never stopped loving you."
"I still love you to this day."
Aria looked with shock at Nick.
Then, tears came out of her eyes.
"Why?" she asked. "Why are you saying that now?"
"Because you deserve to know the truth," Nick said.
"I never stopped loving you."
"You are the person I'm thinking of the most."
Aria sobbed.
"Look at you," she said with a sad smile. "You made an old woman cry."
Nick's insides were shaking.
There was so much pain and regret.
The next moment, Nick slowly approached Aria…
And hugged her.
Aria's eyes opened wide as Nick held her tight.
Then, more tears came out of her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Aria," Nick said. "I'm sorry that I wasn't good enough."
"Don't say that," she answered. "You are humanity's hope. I would never be able to forgive myself if you wasted your time on me."
Nick didn't answer.
Sadly, despite the pain he felt, he knew that he could never give Aria what she deserved.
His mission was more important than either of them.
"I'm still sorry," Nick said as he held her.
Aria released a weak chuckle. "Then, be sorry."
Nick just nodded.
The two of them held each other for several minutes.
"Nick," Aria spoke. "This is the happiest moment of my life."
"Thank you."
Nick held her close.
"If I could die in your arms right now, it would be the best ending I could ever wish for."
"Sadly, we can't choose the time of our deaths."
Nick remained silent.
"I can make it so if you wish," he said.
Aria slowly moved back and pushed Nick away.
"No," she said. "I wouldn't want you to go through that. I chose not to become a Shield so that you don't have to do that."
"You have more important things to do than spending time with me."
Nick didn't answer.
Sadly, she was right.
The Champion could summon the Maw any moment now.
He didn't have time, and Aria's time of death was not certain.
She could live for up to ten years more, and Nick couldn't spend his time here.
"I'm sorry," Nick said.
"Go, it's fine," Aria said, all her tears gone. "Save humanity."
Nick took a deep breath and nodded.
"Goodbye, Aria," he said.
"Goodbye, Nick," she answered.
"I love you," Nick said.
Some tears appeared in Aria's eyes again.
"I love you, too."
Nick took another deep breath.
Then, he vanished.
Some seconds later, Aria collapsed to her knees and started to sob uncontrollably.
Nick didn't watch.
This was the last time they saw each other.
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