Ace noted the subtle shift in her tone that immediately brought to mind a military report rather than what had been a private exchange, and though it wouldn't have been that odd under normal circumstances, at this time it made him feel slightly uncomfortable. This is how detached Tear seemed to be, laying out the details in a somewhat vague manner as if trying to make them sound like something they weren't.

Retrieving the bodies, through any means necessary.... Having been raised for the sole purpose of becoming a soldier, Ace did not have to be lectured on the importance of taking more extreme measures in order to reach one's goal. Despite their formative nature, the months he had spend in Crystallis so far hadn't managed to make him lose sight of those basic principles; that wasn't the point.

Placed in the correct context, all of these supposedly dry phrases form an image of a world where individuals, tempted by a promise of resolution, become just the force everyone had been fighting against. Once again, he had not been there to make all of those decisions in anyone's stead, but it can't have been merely a coincidence that the new-old memory the stasis had granted him could have been an answer to this particular situation as well.

The future could only be gained through cooperation and strong faith.

And judging by the broken smile that tugged at the melodist's lips, he had no doubts that she'd eventually realized the errors of her path.

"I don't have any reason to be upset with you, Tear. I've asked you to tell me all of these things, and you did."

There is no point in being so hard on yourself. Drawing in a breath, he then leaned his head against her shoulder and continued in a quiet voice.

"I just wish you had been able to hold onto the hope you believed in."