[ The voice sounds familiar, but in a confusing way. It's been years since he's heard Xue Yang's real voice, but the voice he used when they were together was never so different that it would have been impossible to connect if he tried. The taunting tone was gone, which was the largest difference, and the excitement Xingchen hears now is far from mocking. In his mind, it connects more to the friend he made in the city than of the enemy he fought so hard to capture. More recent memory overrides the distance mockery.

So, Xingchen smiles, even if he doesn't understand what it could mean that 'he's back'. It's a familiarity among a very unfamiliar world. ]

You're here.

[ He didn't think it was possible to run into a person from his world, but it's a relief that he did. However, the exclaimation has to be addressed. ]

I don't understand what you mean when you say that I'm back. I've only been here for a few days, and it's our first time reuniting.

[ There's a sliver of worry in his voice. Has something been impersonating him? Xingchen knows that there are creatures other than humans living in this world. ]