⠀

⠀⠀⠀they got me working a
nine to five . send help ^^ * 💢

⠀⠀

i don't know exactly how you're feeling on the inside . sure 、 i can see it on the outside 、 but ... that's not the full story . i know that .

i can't help with everything .

⠀

⠀⠀

（ his hand had moved away from her . did he ever even try to touch her .ᐣ maybe he doesn't want to . maybe he thinks words are enough . maybe he thinks she isn't worthy of touch . ）

i'd help you with that 、 but ... ++

⠀

⠀⠀

there is .

（ he quickly states . ）

but it's not something you would like . you've been ... hiding from it every time you come down here . or rather hiding from yourself . everything starts from the inside 、 chrissie . ++

⠀

⠀

⠀⠀⠀" you're a good kid ，
luan . "

He ruffles their hair and soon
fix their bear ears .

" you are likely famished after
all of this . come ， now .
i'll get us food . "

⠀

⠀⠀⠀" precisely . "

" All living things can and
will eventually betray you . "

The voice is the closest
it's ever been .

" 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 . "

After a few moments of silence ，
He leans away from them
and waits .

" do i make myself clear ？ "

" You will never know a
living thing's true intentions
no matter how good they
make themselves look ，
how many gifts they
give you ， how many good
deeds they do for you
or how much trust they attempt
to build with you . "

++

⠀

⠀⠀⠀His hands soon move away
from the boy's shoulders .

" going forward ， luan ，
i want you to have this
mindset . you must carry
it less you be pulled
astray and away from
your goal to be a hero . "

The voice leans in .

++

" — will deceive you .
that is why you could not
make a proper shot like
you have to every other
thing i have tested you with . "

" do you truly know that
it was innocent ？
did it prove that to you ，
or did you assume just
based on the single glance
at it and its noises ？ "

His grip soon loosens ，
and His tone returns to normal .

" that is how evil — and
villains you will face — " ++

⠀

⠀⠀⠀" are you assuming it
was innocent based on its
appearance alone ？ "

His grip becomes tighter and
less comforting . His words
pierce the heart and puncture
the soul . they are so clear ，
and the bot can understand
them viscerally .

++

" . . with blood left behind .
there should not be blood
next time . "

" as much as I am proud
you overcame it ， it affected
you greatly ， and now there
is blood instead of nothing . "

another hand places itself
on the boy's other shoulder
in an act of comfort .

" now you must live with the
fact you removed an enemy . . "

He places a hand on the
young one's shoulder ； He
always had an icy touch .
He speaks in the tone
the boy recognizes .

" your hesitation led you astray ，
luan . "

a soft ， kind tone coats
His words to ease the
boy's mind of what
he had done .

⠀

⠀⠀⠀how disappointing .

out from the shadows ，
He arrives . with a face coated
in shadow ， His disappointment
is clear despite His constant ，
emotionless smile .
however ， behind it is pride
from the fledgling's overcoming
of the obstacle in the test .

" if you wish to become
stronger ， luan ， do
what you must . "

He speaks like this is
not a choice or option .