Four images. In the first, Andromeda, a dark haired human woman with dark skin and silver eyes, is holding Hythlodaeus as he leans against her. They appear to be sitting on a beach under an awning of some kind. Behind them, Hades naps on an outdoor sofa.
In the second image, there are two dialogue bubbles. Andromeda asks, "Hythlodaeus... can I ask you a question, my love?" and he responds, "Mm. Of course. Anything.
In the third, he is starting to sit up as she asks, "Why... did you give yourself to Zodiark. You didn't..."
In the fourth, they have separated, sitting up to look at each other as she places a hand on her heart and says, "I just don't understand. I thought we were going to stay together. The - the plan - they had plenty of volunteers."
Four more images. The conversation continues. Andromeda is still speaking, but the first image shows Hythlodaeus's face as she says, "You didn't need to go. We could have stayed together and I would've - I would have protected you! Protected all of us."
The second image shows Hythlodaeus answering her, half shrugging as he says, "It... was a simple decisions, really. I was never strong like you, like Hades. You could do so much more for the Star than I could. I knew so long as I was alive, you would stay with me, protect me. I thought... that I was weighing you down. I thought my life and my Aether would be better spent offering it to Zodiark."
In the third image, he looks up at her and smiles. "It was the only way that I could protect you. So that you might have the chance to live on, to see the home we loved heal and flourish. I just --"
The fourth image is a close-up of Hades on the couch, only visible from the nose down. He says, "A fine sentiment -- except she didn't live."
Four more images. In the first, Hythlodeaus is looking at Andromeda with a surprised, sad expression on his face as Hades says, "After she was done screaming and sobbing and pleading for me to let her go -- to bring you back -- she went to fight the creature terrorizing Amaurot. To buy us time."
The second image shows Andromeda's face slightly blurred, with Hades in focus behind her as he continues, "I found her a few hours later..."
The third image is the same as the previous, but with the focus shifted to Andromeda's face. Hades continues, "...a mangled husk bearing the garments of Azem, dead in front of the corpse of the beast she'd slain. It's likely she died around the same time your Aether was absorbed by Zodiark."
The fourth image shows Andromeda smiling sadly as she says, "I... I loved you, Hythlodaeus. I don't want to say that I lost the will to live without you, but... well, it's likely the truth. Especially since we now know the creatures fed on despair, and the way my heart broke when I saw the summoning begin... I can't even begin to describe it."
Four more images. The first shows Hythlodaeus as his face crumbles into a heartbroken expression. He says, "Andromeda, I... I had no idea, I... I'm..."
In the second, he throws himself at Andromeda, hugging her and crying into her shoulder, "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean -- how could you ever -- I -- *sobbing*"
The third image shows Andromeda's face as she hugs him, smiling sweetly if a little sadly. She says, "You are my heart, Hythlodaeus. I always meant that."
The fourth image is at a slightly different angle to show Hades smiling softly at the two of them. Andromeda finishes, "You are so much more important than you give yourself credit for. We love you - please never, ever doubt that again."
💜 HythWol Week 2025 - Day 5 - Sacrifice 💜
I didn't want to go into the Amaurot dungeon, so I thought I would explore the post-return conversation they likely had about the sacrifice, seeing as Andromeda gave up her Seat to stay with him. 🥲
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