This man might be the first one to say it so explicitly. In sharp contrast, Estinien has been fighting tooth and nail every step of the way - at least as much as the whip's magical binds would allow - but he seems no less devasted by his loss of power and control. He feels it acutely, the lack of strength in his body, the lack of the weapon at his side. Even Nidhogg's aether has fallen silent.

Yet no silence cuts as deeply as the one that came after he felt it all fade away in that vision of his. To hear someone else speak of it bring it sharply back into focus, as if the passing of time since waking has dulled it not at all.

He can't process this. It's not possible.

"They can't be," he says through gritted teeth, more for himself than Binghe. All the same, his heart aches in his chest.