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Alja was...concerned.

Not so much about the missing wayfarers and denizens—though she was. No, she was more worried about [i]Benkei.[/i] As disaffected as he seemed, she couldn't [i]help[/i] but worry, as a vivid recollection played through her mind.

[color=#98A9B1][i]I thought for just one second, that maybe we could make this place better. That we could stick together and build a world for ourselves here. But then the moment I turn around everyone’s fighting, and then [i]I[/i] start fighting too. It’s hopeless if this is how it’s going to be.[/i][/color] 

Words that Benkei had spoken to her as she sat behind him, his eyes pitched down to the river. The sheer, utter hopelessness in his voice. That had happened after she'd yelled at Rael, and after Kazuki had gone after Kalie. Now she'd yelled at [i]all[/i] of them, and from the way he'd glared, Kazuki wasn't overfond of Artemis. A sick feeling of dread began to build in her stomach. Things were too similar. And though the circumstances were vastly different, that fact did nothing to assuage her growing anxiety. But Rael could handle it. Rael could keep them safe as Alja discussed with the rest of the party, right? She didn't need to go to Prophecy [i]that[/i] badly. She didn't want to blunder into whatever was happening out there, make it worse. So as they left, she remained silent. Her head began to pound.

Not long afterwards, she shook her head distractedly. She was too worried. She couldn't focus. She was nothing but a [i]detriment[/i] to this conversation as of now, not paying enough attention. She stood up with a sharp movement, nearly knocking the chair over as she shoved it back all at once. She couldn't quite hide the worry in her voice as she spoke. "[color=d1fffc]I'm gonna go check on them outside, make sure they're alright.[/color]" Kicking herself, she strode to the door—[i][color=d1fffc]You should have gone with them at the start, stupid—[/color][/i]then threw it open just in time to hear Benkei following Rael, talking about visiting Prophecy. Well, it looked like everyone was okay. Nobody was yelling. Benkei didn't have that same droning, dead voice as he had that day by the river. But still, that powerful urge to keep them safe screamed through her, so she stepped forwards, throwing a cheeky grin up on her face and trying to avoid showing that terrible, irrational fear.

"[color=d1fffc]Not without me, you're not.[/color]"