[ To lose a connection to her faith that young, combined with the bits and pieces he knows of her history - all of the loss she's endured, is telling.

He looks at her with interest when she mentions someone else - the only other person he knows here that still holds faith as deeply as he does is Inej. Others, like Wilhelm, can tell him about the written word, but it's different speaking to someone who holds their faith close. ]

I am. [ In spite of all that the Payshmura took from him. In spite of all that he had to endure to be worthy and chosen as the Kahlil. He looks down into his tea.

His church has done horrible things, he's told her. Parfir didn't stop them from being destroyed. Now he knows that it's because Parfir had been the instrument of their destruction, as they had always feared when they bound a Kahlil to the Rifter. All because he left his post, trying to save his sister.

The guilt is not as strong as it was, some months ago. ]

I'm all that's left of my church. But I have met my god, and I know that he is real. So I guess that makes it easier than most to believe.