Although he had yet to produce any evidence, Kaim's words were highly convincing. Hearing him, Cynthia knew she could not persuade him, but she still could not give up.
I don't want you to leave, because you matter more than anyone else. I could see that feeling growing into something enormous in Cynthia's heart.
"I know this is unreasonable, and there's no guarantee I'll be able to return. But if I don't do this, everyone will slowly die."
"I know, but..."
"I know how much you care about me, Cynthia. I care about you just as much. Even knowing that, I still did this, and in the end, I even tried to ask something of you. Garchomp was angry. That was only natural."
If our positions had been reversed, I probably would have been angry too. So I could only accept being hit. When I turned my attention to Garchomp, he still did not look convinced.
Cynthia knelt, pressing close to Kaim. Looking carefully, I noticed her shoulders trembling slightly.
"...I'm sorry."
Kaim gently embraced Cynthia. He was too kind to stand idly by and watch people remain asleep like this. If he was the only person with a chance of solving the problem, he had no choice but to act, however worried he might be.
"I can't stop you. I can't change this anymore."
"Yeah."
Hearing Kaim's words, Cynthia reached around his back and hugged him tightly.
"Then I'll do everything I can. Even if you're sound asleep, I'll bring you back."
"How will you enter that deep sleep?"
"I'll find a way. Didn't I promise you? Wherever you go, as long as you want me to, I'll bring you back."
A promise made one day. I had not expected that day to come so soon, but Cynthia had