[ Clive takes a deep breath. Maybe it will help them both. ]

My brother... When he was ten years old, we lost our father in a coup orchestrated by our mother. He witnessed our father's death, and in his terror, became the Phoenix for the first time, uncontrolled. I was his First Shield, blessed with a portion of his power, sworn to protect him. And I failed.

[ He lifts a hand, looking at it, clenching his fingers into a fist. ]

Though I had no choice in it, I lost my brother that night to my own hand. And for eighteen years, he was lost to me. Fate would see us reunited, only for me to lose him again. [ He pauses, unclenching his fist to gaze up into the branches above, rubbing his fingers together. ]

And now I've lost him a third time.