James walked slowly away from the colosseum, head low and brows slightly furrowed. He had a lot to think about, that was for sure. He stopped and swallowed, doubt circling in his thoughts like vultures.

I don't want my children to suffer that fate, he thought, ears pinning.

No... no one would suffer that fate. Not if he could help it. Though... what could he even do? He was no warrior. He was a child with an unusual magical ability, with no experience in stopping cults. He may as well be a mosquito with all the good he'd do. They'd swat him down without a second thought.

He'd have to grow up first before he even thought of rebellion.

Though... reading, writing. What was that all about?

The rest of the meeting was a blur, him being barely able to listen past the massive shapes of monsters and beings straight out of a nightmare. Scary...

James didn't notice the other grow closer, his thoughts running rampant in his head. He jolted and darted away a few steps, startled by Gaul, before turning to look at them and sighing in relief.

"I'm okay," he assured softly, "Just... overthinking. I tend to do that.
But um... thank you for staying with me through all that. I appreciate it. I doubt I would have had the guts to stay by myself any longer if you hadn't been there."

James sighed softly and walked forward to stand next to Gaul again, eyes downcast, "... I never realized how small I was until now. I can't really make much of a difference, not until I'm bigger. And it scares me that something may happen and I'll be helpless to stop it."

Letting out a deep breath, he turned towards the ruins in the distance, before walking in a different direction, instead, "Walk with me?"