[ ... ]

I... I didn't. [ it's a swell of guilt at that. curling into herself with a wince, the pain still there and real. ] ..I told someone that I'd, be careful if anything happened, that I would run away but.. I couldn't.

[ she couldn't run away. so deeply ingrained was the mission, to face everything till the end no matter how much it hurt. ] And yet, I.. I couldn't even fight, even with my- the sword. I.. I knew how to but, I--

[ she couldn't bring herself to use it. even with the experience and knowledge of a swordsman, she couldn't. and then very, very quietly- like a whisper, gaze unfocused as if she's reliving it. the crushing pain, the fear curling tight-- ] I... did get to protect Prompto. [ which there was relief for that, but that fear is lingering. ] ..Death is.. was, a lot scarier than I expected it to be. It's normal, for people to think about it, isn't it? I.. never have, before here.

[ she looks to her hands, as lightly bandaged as they are. ] It doesn't really, prepare you for the second time either... [ will she die a third? stay tuned ]