"What..is this..?"
"It's...the trial grounds. You're getting tried, Xen...this...this is what I was afraid of..."
He cups Xen's face in his hands, looking at him dead in the eye, sharp green eyes gazing into Xen's.
"Listen to me-I'm going to have to leave. This next part-you have to do it on your own. But-and this is very, very important-I need you to remember...whatever you see, whatever you...feel...it's just an illusion. It's all fake-you have to remember that."
He sighs and smiles a little
"I love you..."
He kisses Xen's forehead and then-an amplified voice rings out from above, startling him
???: "DEMON #225, VACATE THE ARENA IMMEDIATELY."
"Hf-"
He pulls away from Xen
"I'm sorry...please-be careful. You can do this...I-I know you can."
The smaller gate at the end of the arena opens, and Dmitri walks out, looking over his shoulder and giving him a small, encouraging smile before the gate shuts behind him