[xichen is thankful for the honesty, despite the fact it is not a pleasant answer. honesty he can work with.

he nods at that assessment.] I hope for the same. It does not feel like any good can come of our remaining time here.

[hopefully they leave with the orb, so they do not need to return, but sooner rather than later. the emptiness he feels when he attempts to reach out to the other side is strange, unsettling. it is too rare.] Is there anything I can do to ease the strain?

[he is not sure there is, given that even if their energies were compatible, he does not have much of his reserves left to share.]