He rubbed at his face, trying to process all of that. If Shadow could manipulate his mind that easily... did that mean Shadow had the key to helping them protect their minds from that? Of helping them hold onto their core selves? How many years had he been looking for the answer to that exact issue? and it was close at hand this whole time, if only he had thought to ask Shadow?

Would Shadow work with him on that, teach him? How could he even ask without making things even worse between them? He wanted things to be better between them, not worse. He just didn't know how to make that happen.

"I have no recollection of that, nor does it fit what I know of myself. Why would I have given up? I..." still have so much research to do. And there was Link. Even if he was coming to realize that he... might not be needed at home anymore. At least a few stops ago on the train he had gotten to talk to the Princess and Presea and the others, had gotten to say goodbye.

Even if Link said they hadn't really been there, they had to have been. That... That he would have known if it was fake... right? Wouldn't he...?

Now for the first time, he found himself doubting.

But if that hadn't been them, then what was going on at home? What...

What was actually real? How was he supposed to know...?