When Hilda reaches out to take his hand, he's surprised and it shows. Jesper is so used to being the one other people lean on, that's his position of choice, and he usually is such a bright and sunny person that he doesn't reveal too much of his inner struggles. Being the one comforted is not easy for him. It does come to him, to shrug it off or smile or deny it, instead of admit to anything more than that.

But he squeezes her hand back instead. "I don't think I'm ready to try. But I will if I have to, I wouldn't stand by and watch someone die." Maybe that should mean Jesper should practice by dealing with poison, so it isn't him being an amateur, but obviously it's a point of pain for him.

"Leoni Hilli is her name, she's alive and well, last time I checked. She joined the Grisha army. She's in the same type of powers we are. The Materialki are put into two groups, Durast and Alkemi. Her type use more chemicals and alchemy, mine build things manipulating matter." Jesper's actually never been this detailed before talking about the Grisha. It used to be a sore subject too as he was actively untrained, but he's come a long way. "My father hid me so they couldn't train me, but I do think it was for the best. I wouldn't want to be a soldier."