He softly chuckled as she associated him with the word ‘eloquent’. 

“I might not be the sharpest tool in the armory, but I [i]do[/i] have my moments.” Ishawari grinned. He never knew how to handle compliments, and with the moment so intensely vulnerable, he more than welcomed her idea to plot their next course of action. Was he so duty bound that he failed to read the moment? With what happened today, his mind was weary and filled with concern. Hanowa brought peace into his life, and perhaps a look into a possible future, but he muffled his emotions because that is how he was raised. Strict discipline through the art of combat did not allow for emotions like love to blossom. [i]Will I guard my heart forever?[/i] He shook his head. 

“Today is a grim reminder of the dangers that await us. We should definitely make preparations to take our leave as soon as possible. Perhaps we can even use what transpired as a valid excuse for our departure? No doubt the villagers will do everything in their power to make us want to stay. We have to remain vigilant on that front...” Ishawari looked over to the open entrance way into Prince Hotaru’s room and sighed. “The sooner we leave, the easier it’ll be on the boy. He’s made friends here...”