[ Eight months out from everything that’s happened, Ori has at least had some time to reckon with the aftermath of it all. But returning to Reverein feels like a current pulling the memories back to the surface, reminding her of just how much has transpired in those months that she was awake.

When Thoma puts those feelings to words, the wave hits her again. But where she might have been pulled into the undertow by worries and regrets and what ifs before, the look that Thoma would find on her is instead one of relief, of peace.

She has been through so much - but it’s done and over and she feels herself at a place, in her heart, where she can truly live a life in this dream realm free of what bound her to her old home. It will always be home for the Oriphi who is awake and celebrating Cibark’s marriage with her friends, who is seeing the world with Colin; but the Oriphi who resides in this dream realm is truly home, now, and even more so in Thoma’s arms as he pulls her into an embrace, loose petals blowing up into the air from the soft impact of their falling back into the flowers.

She hums, her own arms wrapping around him, as she kisses his cheek. ]

So much has happened… But everything’s going to be alright. [ Words that would have been rare for her to have said in the past, emphasized by the falling petals glowing in her own warm light. ] The me who’s still awake is well and happy, and she has so much to look forward to, but… I’m home now, my sweet.

[ She presses in to catch his lips in another kiss, and behind her, a gentle breeze (dreamotion) pushes their front door shut. ]