Masque follows silently, but with the air of someone who has just had the rug pulled out from under them.

Zveran is not unsympathetic to that. He feels it keenly, Masque's confusion, their uncertainty. 

He just doesn't know what to do. He was really never going to stop his Pilgrimage. Living up to Bambi...that meant the world to him. 

"I just don't-" Masque starts eventually. "I don't understand. I don't-"

"I know you don't. You don't have to. I'm very glad to have met you, Masque. I hope the world treats you kindly when I'm gone." 

He sounds resigned. 

"But why are you gone? That's what I don't understand?!" Masque voice is strained, like they're trying very hard not to shout it.

"The Final Summoning. No summoner has ever returned. It is said to be so powerful that you must give your life for it."

-Dead silence.

"...Masque?"

"I didn't-- You never- I don't-"

Zveran stops, and turns to face them. "I told you that it would end this way."

"You think I know anything about this? I know summoners exist. I know Yevon exists. But that's it. No-one bothered to tell me anything else."

"At the end of this, I will die, and I don't know if killing Sin will kill you too. I hate this not knowing, but I- God, Masque, I've fought against their wants my whole life, but then Bambi died and this was all I had!"

Masque goes silent again, stops, bows their head to stare at the ground.

"I-" Zveran hugs his arms to himself. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to leave you on the Highroad, and...I don't regret telling you how I feel. But I'm...I'm selfish. I have been for some time."

"What if I don't let you. You have m- You have Aten."

Zveran looks sadly at Aten. "I promised to protect you. I'm afraid I cannot keep it. I'm sorry."

Aten flickers, almost shrugs. "I knew."

"I suppose you're used to your summoners disappointing you." 

"This isn't--this is different."

"It is?"

"You...try. You care. Not...not many do."

“Maybe...maybe after I’m...well. Maybe Masque can check in on you sometime?”

He offers both of them a rueful smile. 

"-Ah. I- suppose."

Masque doesn't say anything.

Zveran tries a few times to say something, but words died in his throat. He couldn’t think of anything to say that was either comforting or wasn’t a promise he was going to break.

So instead, he went back to following the path.