So he really did come from before that time, did he? However that happened. But it explained why he was still human. That was enough.

"Yeah. You brought me back." She smiled, a gesture he couldn't see, and then dropped her hand to his shoulder reassuringly. "I knew you would."

It wasn't really a lie. Half of her had trusted Emil to find a way, even as half of her had been perfectly fine with dying. It was what she'd always wanted... but living was a good enough alternative, too.