Lunise returned Meesei's look. Even without her previous objections, Meesei could tell by the shallowness of her breathing and the tension in her posture that she was immensely conflicted. After another few moments of her disposition only growing worse, Lunise drew Meesei's hands onto her lap and bowed her head, closing her eyes.

Meesei felt her hands get squeezed in the grip of Lunise's fingers as she opened her mouth to speak.

"I cannot so easily go on without you," she trembled. "But I could not die knowing that what we both love would be doomed. If you trust your abilities, Meesei, I will trust you. Say as much and I will stay behind from the invasion."