Bab 192: Iron Matron (4)

"I wanted to be strong. Stronger than my father or mother so that when the time came and I was in a similar situation, this time I wouldn't die. So that, the people I cared about wouldn't feel the same pain I felt at that time."

Hearing this, Lucavion's gaze flickered with something unreadable as he listened to Mariel speak. His usually playful demeanor was absent, replaced by a rare moment of introspection. When Mariel finished speaking, he mumbled, almost to himself, "Some will die protecting others... it's not easy. But it's also not easy to be the one protected. To be the one left behind."