[ there's a shrug, at her first question -- the rule of law, and of alchemy, is something that's been a comfort to him, even if he's constantly pushing the boundaries on the first. certain things must be true. hydrogen and oxygen compromise water; fire requires fuel and oxygen to burn; manipulating the airflow can cause certain things to explode. science is comforting, and here, science means nothing.

but at her second question, about maes, he pauses in his walk, to stop completely, because it's something he's been focused on. weighed heavily, repeated in his mind since shehui. ]

It's prolonging the inevitable. It would be cruel. He would be trapped here knowing he was going to be sent back to his death, once that woman is done with him.

[ finally. but, almost a little reluctantly: ]

But he deserves a chance to live, even if it's only for another few days. He deserves to know what happened. But I don't know if that's something he actually would want, or if that's something I need to hear.