As often happened whenever she heard him sing, Tear went still with the sound of his voice, eyes opening in slow surprise as she recognised the tune as one she knew he held dear, the one she most associated with the cadet. More importantly, it was the words accompanying it that caught her attention, breath coming to a still the further he went.

Without thinking her own hold on his hand tightened in turn, once again struggling against the feelings in her heart as her body acted of its own accord by leaning even closer into him. They were lyrics she hadn't yet heard, but no less precious if only because they were his.

Cradled within those emotions was a strange sense of pride for his progress, small as it was. Yet it was overshadowed by the message that made her breathe out softly—not quite relief, but nevertheless an unspoken gratitude for its deliverance.