"It will," Caleb agrees, even if he can't quite say the same. For him, many things do fade eventually, just not as quickly as for most people. But the things he remembers regularly, the things his mind can't help but cycle back to--those moments are still far too clear.

He remembers the red eyes dotting his body, and is grateful yet again he'd never been fully ensnared in Cognouza's net. The kind of primal fear and helplessness and emptiness and depersonalization that Yussa must have experienced while linked to that twisted collective consciousness--it is quite literally incomprehensible.

"I cannot imagine what it was like," he says, brow furrowing. "You are strong, my friend, to have survived and made your mind your own again. I am so glad that you are here with me."