"That might be enough to keep you going. Is it enough for you? What do you want out of your life besides that it not end in Hell?"

"It's hard to think of anything that could possibly matter, next to that.

I'd like to always be able to afford enough to eat, even when the café sells out and the rent's due and I just had to replace my shoes. I'd like to come home to — a woman who wants me, and not just because she needs a favor to pass her Theoretical Illusions class. It would be nice if I could cast Locate Object but I don't want it badly enough to risk my life for it."

Handsqueeze. "Those are all good goals - though I support you in not going adventuring to hang more spells. I hope if you can come back here, you will, and you'll meet people, and find opportunities, and the rest of your life will be a beautiful story for the angel I know you can be one day."

Handsqueeze. "I'll try to visit again if — if I'm able to."

"Do you want me to go with you, to the palace?"

"I'd appreciate that, if it's not too much trouble."

"I have time for you." She'll get up and walk him there.

He's very quiet as they walk.

(His Disguise Self wears off within a couple minutes. He doesn't remark on it. He's a little shorter and a little skinnier than he'd looked, with longer hair.) 

There's a reason she doesn't ask people for their names most of the time. If they want her to know they'll tell her. It doesn't change the fact that every one of them has a soul worth saving, worth brightening.

Eventually they reach the palace. 

He takes a deep breath, then another.

"If I don't — come back — will you pray for me?"

"Yes, I will."

He takes another deep breath, and closes his eyes for a few moments, and then he turns and goes inside.

She waits, for a minute - it could be that they're just letting peripheral rioters go, for lack of capacity, and that he'll come right out and want to go straight back and pray -

He doesn't come back out.

Exit Sad Laia.

Enter Ready For More Spiritual Counseling Laia.

Back she goes.