He didn't make it to the festival like he promised. He always broke his promises, so you weren't surprised. He didn't care enough to keep them.

You were falling asleep in the Regalia.

There was an explosion. Fire.

A giant serpent loomed with the torso of a woman bearing six arms with six blades.

Your father fought it, then rushed to you. He held you as the darkness crept in. Everything hurt... So badly, it hurt. But you couldn't feel your legs, then you felt nothing else.

[ She cannot detach herself from the retelling just yet, having lived through it just a short while ago. Her voice is thready with emotion, catching on certain moments. ]

Then there was Carbuncle, and a fanciful dream. A journey to your safe place and then the waking world, where your father waited.

He made a promise to you then, and you knew this would be the rare one that he kept. You felt safe, and cared for, and like everything would be okay because Dad was there with you...

...And that was all.

[ Her temporary immobility is a blessing in disguise, rendering it too much effort to force a hug on the boy. ]