[ Claire's smile is already warm, though small, at the sound of his voice. She knows she sounded melancholy, and perhaps she is a little, but she isn't deeply sad, at least.

Turning to face him, she opens herself up for a hug in greeting, if he'd like, and offers a simple explanation. ]

I'm unsure if you knew him, but Zagreus has left us, and he'd become a good friend to me. It's made me think about others, and the ones who are still here.

[ She isn't admonishing when she speaks again, after all, reaching out works both ways. It's only that she's realizing she would regret it, if she left this place and hadn't seen Sylvain in months and months. ]

It's been too long.