No. I survived this — we all did. Because it didn't end with just me. Every time the group sought to advance, one of them had to give themselves up to make the path for the rest. One by one, the lot of us, until all that remained was the redheaded girl with the staff.

Before we'd embarked for Ultima Thule, our patron goddess had given her power sufficient to call us all back to her side, if she'd so desired it. And yet she couldn't, because to call us back — me back — would be to unmake everything we'd formed of our hopes and dreams. An unwinnable situation.

[He shrugs, like he's trying to turn the conversation lighthearted and doesn't quite succeed at it.]

But leave it to her to find a way regardless. She's rather a knack for it.