[Before, in responding to John’s assertions, Liem had only grown more stubborn. The argument of whether their worlds could be brought back was one he actually wanted to have — because he believed fully in the possibility of that promise, and entertaining that question was one of the ways in which he continued to affirm his own belief in Meridian, despite the weight of Zenith bearing down on him. No matter what anyone said, he was certain that with power capable of birthing an entire new existence, those that came before could also be returned to life.

But the question the other man poses stops Liem in his tracks. His stubbornness shifts to uncertainty, and he regards John with a frown, caught off-guard.]

Why raise a question like that?

[He always knew, in the back of his mind, that in order to bring back the places he and the others in Meridian loved, they would need to bring back the places and things that were terrible and senseless and cruel as well. He knew that returning existence to the way it was would mean the suffering of countless souls — but that was just the way existence was. The fates of those people were not really his responsibility, one could argue.

But would he kill entire islands’ worth of people, of innocents, just to bring his world back? Really, realistically, just to bring his country back?]

The people of Kenos will be able to return to their worlds, just like we will. Or someone else’s world, if they prefer. No one has to die.