Watching her carefully - a little concerned he'd end up with another person who had panic attacks, honestly - Takumi stood his ground, and waited her out. Her thoughts, her feelings, were things she'd needed to work out on her own.

At the same time, though, Takumi was ready. If ... whatever the bloodline of Kallig meant, agitating ghosts and possibly the undead ... he had to be ready for an attack. He didn't want to be, but it was only sensible to be prepared.

The question, when it came, made a lot of sense to him. His expression was still grave.

"It is one thing, perhaps a mortal thing, to expect and be prepared for death. Even I - with all of my power - am more prepared to accept it, than find ways to cheat it."

"But it's another thing, to have death or oblivion waiting for you. An unmovable fate, an inescapable cage. Something without choice - just a blade, for you to run headlong into, with a hand on your back, pushing you against it."

"We should not be caged by fate, we have our choices. No-one deserves to be imprisoned by such a thing - to be trapped here against their will, knowing that at any time, if they leave, they are gone."

Takumi's eyes sparked with passion, now. "I do not accept chains of any kind, Lydia. Either people will be free to live out their lives here - or they will be free of a death sentence when they return. Those are the only acceptable options to me."