Xavier clutched Guest’s now lifeless body in his arms, curled up together under the starry sky. He doesn’t cry but he does leave either. In his hand, the silver haired boy still clutches tightly, the protocore. Xavier stared at it bitterly. If he had found it sooner, gotten the right people to use it in order to heal Guest’s heart—perhaps she would not be limp in his arms now.

Xavier stayed. He stayed by her side till dawn, waited until the meteor shower was over to close her dead eyes. The grave was dug. His friend was buried.

Xavier grips the little star shaped tassel Guest had gifted him what seemed like a lifetime ago. He holds out his hand, gathering up the light around him, holding it to his heart as he whispers,