[ rey only sighs. a part of her hurts for him, seeing how he can't understand it. his rejection of the mere concept runs deep enough that he can't entirely form it, and that is when she knows to let it lie.

what does it matter why he thinks she's here? ]

No. Empress Youmi has kept her territory closed off, probably from fear of invasion. [ the mountain clan is more militarized, after all. and if she can give him that, hopefully he can give her — ] Keith knows something's wrong. I have to tell him something.

[ the searching expression she wears doesn't give a damn about permission, but rather seems lost in how to approach that. what could she tell him to explain? the complete truth seems to bizarre to put to words, still. ]