[He already knows what he will hear, but he makes no move to interrupt her, allowing her to speak as she will. It is as she says - he doesn't like it, but it isn't for him to dictate how this story goes. War is never a comfort to people like them and it never will be. To see what little they have left in this world reduced again and again with each battle crushes each of them in its own, awful way.]
[He knows it all too well, and he sees it in more than just her eyes. He sees it in the slight movement, favoring the one leg over the other, and he knows now she is hurt. In his chest, his heart clenches, knowing she walked all this way just to bear her burden to him. If ever he held respect for this woman, he knows it now more than ever.]
[But he lets her continue and speak of her comrades, who fell one by one to the stronger of the sin eaters. He had been witness to that event, watched in angry horror as the creature took first one, then the next, then the next, until it had Lyna herself in its sights. Then Minfilia, who wished only to aid a friend. Then Thancred, who challenged the sin eater with a vengeance.]
'Twas a battle well fought. I have no doubt that every man and woman on the field gave their all to protect this city and those who cannot fight. They will be honored. [He turned his gaze up to her again, eyes weighted down with everything upon her shoulders and his own.] They will be remembered. Once we have gathered our resources and our people have had rest, we will see to memorial services for those who laid down their lives this day, that we might know a better tomorrow.
[The hood lowered with his gaze again, and this time did not rise. As much as he longed to be on the field with them, his own duties kept him in the Tower, to monitor from afar while his people fought and died and faced horrors that, in a perfect world, he would have shielded them from forever. But it wasn't to be. Not this time, and it burned no less that he could not follow his heart's content.] Thank you for your report, Captain. Your dedication is, as always, admirable. But before you return to your duties, I would offer a proposal.
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[He knows it all too well, and he sees it in more than just her eyes. He sees it in the slight movement, favoring the one leg over the other, and he knows now she is hurt. In his chest, his heart clenches, knowing she walked all this way just to bear her burden to him. If ever he held respect for this woman, he knows it now more than ever.]
[But he lets her continue and speak of her comrades, who fell one by one to the stronger of the sin eaters. He had been witness to that event, watched in angry horror as the creature took first one, then the next, then the next, until it had Lyna herself in its sights. Then Minfilia, who wished only to aid a friend. Then Thancred, who challenged the sin eater with a vengeance.]
'Twas a battle well fought. I have no doubt that every man and woman on the field gave their all to protect this city and those who cannot fight. They will be honored. [He turned his gaze up to her again, eyes weighted down with everything upon her shoulders and his own.] They will be remembered. Once we have gathered our resources and our people have had rest, we will see to memorial services for those who laid down their lives this day, that we might know a better tomorrow.
[The hood lowered with his gaze again, and this time did not rise. As much as he longed to be on the field with them, his own duties kept him in the Tower, to monitor from afar while his people fought and died and faced horrors that, in a perfect world, he would have shielded them from forever. But it wasn't to be. Not this time, and it burned no less that he could not follow his heart's content.] Thank you for your report, Captain. Your dedication is, as always, admirable. But before you return to your duties, I would offer a proposal.