[ Sure. They're chosen, whatever that means. Claude blinks a few times to attempt bringing everything into focus. The dead still surround him no matter how many times he looks away and then back in something too close to being after battle, and it takes him a second to collect himself to shake off the residual weakness as best as he can. His hands are still bound and he takes stock of them first, eying the thorns. Nothing worse than shallow knife wounds, Claude thinks, and he yanks his hands upwards to release them. Turns out it's more painful than that, but the only outward sign of it will be a sharp intake of breath.

But - he is free, mind still spinning, and that instinct to make sure no one's left behind kicks in. If someone's still struggling with their bindings next to him, Claude will steady himself for a second before stumbling over to them and finding the least thorny sections to pull on to help them get free. ]

C'mon. We're getting out of here.

[ He's not normally one for touching people unbidden, but if someone seems like they need it Claude will also place his hands on their shoulders until they make eye contact with him and offer a decisive nod. His tone leaves no room for argument in an echo of being a commander from what feels like a lifetime ago at this point. The message is clear no matter what: it's time to move forward and there's no need to linger here any longer. ]

[ Things do not improve upon his return.

Some part of this he expected from having watched others return and fall ill in ways which seem horrifying. Predictably, those ways don't become less terrifying when he's the one going through them. It starts with coughing up blood for him and suddenly the fire is too bright, and he sleeps even less than the insomnia he's already prone to more often than not.

Though he knew his magic wasn't working, it now seems to have taken on an even worse characteristic. Where before he could count on his Crest to heal him when it felt like doing so - now each time he's wracked with pain it comes from the inside. There's that familiar flash which should bring comfort but instead adds bruises and cracks in his skin that weren't there before, ones he can tell in his delirious state aren't from whatever that ritual was alone. Attempts to heal him will go wrong and amplify that, to the point where if someone offers him any kind of cure or first aid he'll beg that it's given to someone else.

But the biggest change is that while Claude is normally rather even in temperament, as his symptoms and struggle draw on longer and longer his mood decisively plummets. Some of that camaraderie he's projected throughout erodes away, and he's more prone to snapping when asked something.

If you venture too close to where he's suffering next to Sylvain while his eyes are closed without announcing your presence first, expect him to suddenly become alert with his makeshift rock knife drawn and pointed your way if not pressed outright somewhere threatening upon you with a hiss of: ] Don't.

[ It's most likely your intentions were misunderstood as paranoia runs high in which case - good luck explaining it. Alternatively, if Claude wakes to find someone threatening you - they'll get the same knife treatment until they back off. ]

[ Even in the midst of everything, Claude holds one thought in his mind with absolute certainty: they have to find a way out of here to get at least some of them to safety and away from this. As for the fact he's decided to stay behind if it comes down to it, well. He's not sharing that with his companions.

Eventually, the worse symptoms do fade. Claude might be alert and decently mobile, but he looks absolutely as rough as is befitting what he went through. To his surprise, when some of the confusion and agitation no longer exists and leaves him with a clearer mind, the illusions around them are suddenly just no more than like pulling away a veil. There's clear signs that are promising of somewhere which could be a way out, and even if time is of the essence he'll be peering at those as discreetly as possible.

He's upright though also visibly not well, but time is limited and there's none he's willing to spare. Any and all help is appreciated while he first studies the mysterious stranger as he has some doubts there, but focuses most of his efforts on that revealed wall and boulder. Just in case he's imagining this along with everything else, when someone else approaches - ]

I wonder if a few of us got together if we might be able to break this wall. I know some wind magic that might come in handy if it decides to cooperate.