If it was possible for her to be smaller, she would in that moment. Instead, it felt more as if she was tucking herself closer inside of his heart, burrowing herself, that she might vanish and not be seen again.

But Neria's gaze was focused on his shoulder, that she might not look him completely in the eye. It lasted several moments.

Then, "I was told to kindle True Faith in someone who loves me...and then to ask them to die for me, as I died for the world." Slowly, she looked up at him. "And as I cannot kill those who love me, even if I had wish to, I must find people. Make them love me, make them have unshakable faith in me. And then, when they are primed and ready, I must ask them to kill themselves for me."

There was so much wrong with it. That she must manipulate and lie; that she must be selfish; that she must twist a person so tightly that they cannot imagine living without her.

All for her, when she'd never felt worthy enough before. Why would this change any of that, beyond making her loathe everything she was and would be?