Axley wasn't sure if she should feel bad that she didn't feel as badly as perhaps she ought to for the destruction of the Imperial Ruins. Yes, it had been her home, but...it hadn't been her home that long. She had only just begun to truly live her life once again after having it taken away from her in similar, if not quite so flashy, fashion. Now it was all gone a second time. In spite of the terrible case of deja vu she was getting, Axley felt...hollow. She had seen it all before.  Innocent people losing their lives for relatively no reason, homes and gardens and more being pillaged and destroyed just for the sake of watching it burn. Deep down, she felt jealous of those who had perished. At least they didn't have to endure the anguish of witnessing not simply their own, but everyone's demise. 

Someone HAD broken, however. From the ear-splitting cry, she had briefly believed it to be Fergus, but finding Sparrow to be the one shrieking to the heavens was not what she had expected to greet her. She overheard his promise spoken beneath his breath, if only just. A concerned look grew on the bard's face; she had spent her entire life only caring about herself and what made her a success. When she had had it all ripped from her, she had expected ridicule and shunning wherever she had gone. But Sparrow had taken her in in her hour of need, gotten her situated and on the right path once more...all without asking for a penny out of pocket. Axley had learned so much from him about compassion for others and the ability to have a heart for those around her. She wasn't well-versed in it yet, but she could see an opportunity to make amends for her selfishness in the past when it arose. Even as she made up her mind to console one man, the other broke as well. She couldn't say she knew Fergus as well as Snow, but the barrister was likely the most well-off of the four of them. It wouldn't have surprised her in the least if he hadn't seen a moment of hardship in his life before; he probably didn't have the faintest idea what to make of the situation. Granted, neither did they; but at least they'd either suffered or seen so much suffering that they knew what it was like. Thankfully, Cilia was seeing to him, which eased her mind enough to focus on her own friend.

She slowly turned away from the destruction behind her, finding it easier to focus when the horizon of death was not directly in front of her, and approached the man who'd given so much of his life to others. A gentle hand rested on his shoulder as she witnessed his pained anguish up close, understood more clearly his oath of vengeance. Axley shook her head and lifted the man's chin, forcing him to look her in the eye. "You would sooner wish suicide upon yourself than succeed in that goal. You saw those monsters. We were barely able to subdue just a few of them. If we were to fight their whole army, even with the four of us..." Axley closed her eyes for a moment, letting the truth of her words sink in. "I know I can't speak for your entire flock, but..." Axley knew what she wanted to say, but wasn't sure exactly how to say it. After a moment, she gave up trying and just let the words flow. "They would want you to carry on your duty. Whoever needs help...they would want you to extend your endless generosity to them. And right now, we need you to stay with us. We will need your strength this time more than your kindness but...we would surely be lost if you were not here with us." A gentle smile from the bard as she allowed herself to draw close. "No more talk of revenge. Not until we make sure we wouldn't die trying. I'd lose it if you fell now."