"Damn."

It's not what he wanted to hear. That it doesn't sound like a passing thing. It doesn't sound like a flux of power, or anything like that. It sounds serious. And he doesn't know what the hell to do with something serious like this. Even now, after so many centuries here, so long being a walking, talking, beacon of power - there is so much he doesn't understand.

... it feels like he used to know things. Like he used to be absolutely certain in some aspects. Like things used to be simpler and more complicated all at once.

He scrubs at his face. It's been a habit for as long as he can remember. "We should ask around," he says, finally, and clasps his other hand on Koby's shoulder. "See what other people know. Maybe someone's gone through this before." At least, he hopes so. It has to be something they can fix. Koby is one of their own. He won't let anything happen to one of their own.

Not again whispers some fragmented thought. Something to be pushed away to deal with another day, when he has time to think.