[Hayame doesn't take much offense at the other woman's reaction. If she knew what she was thinking, she'd have arguments to defend herself. The way the first group of the new shardbearers was birthed into the world was different than all those who had come after, and her experience with that woman had bee far more hands-on. Yima had held her, and spoken to her... and made her calm when she had not been, like the arms of a comforting mother. A familiar mother.

But her own mother had been an Armless. That sensation should not be familiar.

The idea that Meridian is lying to her just as much as Zenith lies however...]

Do not mistake me for a fool.

[Her voice is harsh, but fair (by her standards).]

I do not know if Meridian is truly capable of returning us to our worlds, any more than I know if Yima truly can make whole new ones. I only know which sounds more practical, more possible... and I know which one I want.

[She'd made a promise to sacrifice her life, and if she did not...]

When there are two main paths to choose from, I am not going to sit around not working towards a proper goal just because something might not work.