[ It's a relief that Sylvain sounds like himself, from the small bit of laughter to responding with something more in line with what Claude would've expected to hear. It's not further apologies or even an attempt at them, which is a good thing.

Claude opens his mouth to start a thought then recalls when they'd arrived down here, and - ah. Abyss is probably filed under the same reasons for avoidance which makes sense. There was (is) a lot of overlap there and though he'd certainly found it worth looking into every place he was allowed or later scolded away from in Abyss, it did require a particular penchant for wandering through. ]

Does that mean you never browsed about the library down there? That's a shame if so, since I think you would've liked some of those volumes. [ Definitely not just because there's all kinds of evidence he would've liked to stack against the Church sometime. Totally not. ] Needless to say, whatever Seteth pulled out of the library upstairs didn't actually get thrown out.

[ Maybe this is working, Claude realizes, that while the past is as full of hazards to be avoided as anything else - it's something better to focus on than the present. Something he can offer Sylvain to hold onto as he absently moves his hand back and forth across the other's chest while thinking of somewhere lighter to take it next. For now. ]

Never mind that question before because I have another one for you. Where's somewhere you've always wanted to visit but haven't yet?