Asbel shook his head firmly. "No, it's better this way. I don't think I could stand it if something had happened to you back there. Even now, we're still trying to figure out what it all means."

He wasn't saying it out of disregard for Sophie's feelings, but because he wanted to protect her. By now he knew the lengths Sophie would go to for her friends, for her mission, and he couldn't bear the thought of her being put in harm's way again.

"Besides, I'm okay. It's just...I think it's been hard on Tern."

Tern slowly peeked his head up. "N-no... I wasn't hurt. B-but I...I don't ever want to go b-back there, kupo. We w-worked for Miss Kalki, kupo. If the Heroes hadn't helped us...we'd s-still be working for her, k-kupo."