[The acceptance has rooted deep, intertwined with the equally deep roots of his guilt. It has never been a question that he would die, and he would die quite young. It is simply what was expected of him; as long as it was what the Empire needed, and it was in his power to give, he would give them everything. Including his life.]

And there are men who may be dead if I had not. It is a fair trade.

[They may not be his people, but they are still only people. The closer those monsters got to the portals, to Thorne, the more people would die.]

After all, we all take risks being on the battlefield in the first place.