[ Himeka exhales long and low through her nose. Relena may be young, but she has one of those souls that feels that it has seen more than her age would give credence to. Himeka also isn't the sort of person who would deny reality--no matter how harsh--based on something like that either.

But she does feel a sense of responsibility for her well-being and safety, much as she does with Alphinaud and Alisaie no matter how capable they are on and off of the battlefield. So, despite it all, she manages to conjure up a new smile and rests a hand on Relena's shoulder. ]

If anything, we have seen that it's possible to subvert their expectations. Thorne did exalt itself as nigh inescapable, didn't it? And yet escape we did.