He inclines his head slightly in understanding. He knows that she has more to lose, with their aetheric foundation upturned. What does it mean? He's never been in a realm that felt quite like this.
Of course, when she points out his injuries, he feels the stab of humiliation in his gut all the more keenly. He's been trying - he's never stopped trying. And yet, it's been so ineffectually that he is beginning to wish he hadn't. He looks away from her, in trembling silence. It's a moment before he seems to decide on what to say, and even then, he falters.
"Before the cave... did you..."
Yet it seems he's lingered too long, because then his leash is getting yanked on again. He doesn't have the strength to resist, forced by the whip's enchantment to plod along after his escort, wincing all the while.
"On the ground," the soldier leading him says, shoving Estinien part of the way down by the shoulder. For the rest, it's all Estinien can do to curl onto his knees. The soldier loops the whip binding his hands through a metal ring built into the side of the boat, and then points at Himeka. "You too."
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Of course, when she points out his injuries, he feels the stab of humiliation in his gut all the more keenly. He's been trying - he's never stopped trying. And yet, it's been so ineffectually that he is beginning to wish he hadn't. He looks away from her, in trembling silence. It's a moment before he seems to decide on what to say, and even then, he falters.
"Before the cave... did you..."
Yet it seems he's lingered too long, because then his leash is getting yanked on again. He doesn't have the strength to resist, forced by the whip's enchantment to plod along after his escort, wincing all the while.
"On the ground," the soldier leading him says, shoving Estinien part of the way down by the shoulder. For the rest, it's all Estinien can do to curl onto his knees. The soldier loops the whip binding his hands through a metal ring built into the side of the boat, and then points at Himeka. "You too."