Though it was hard to tell at what point in Nytala's explanation it happened, Lunise grew guarded to the point of peering, stone faced, at the edge of her tea cup on the table as she held onto it with both hands. Her only obvious expression was that of something deep within churning far more violently behind her lowered eyes than her outward appearance would suggest. In truth, it was just memories and emotions.

Meesei saw Lunise's face draw into a scowl that faltered and relaxed, replaced with a very sudden and silent tear rolling down her cheeks.

She breathed in. "It would be a lie to claim I do not understand."

For a short while, she held her breath with her mouth open as if she had another thing to add. The tension hovered. She very gently wiped the tears off her face. But she had nothing else to say. Another set of tears replaced the previous ones as her face reddened beyond repression.

She was trying so very hard to not cry.