"I, yes please, please don't be upset with her it's my fault -"

"It's not your fault," he says. "But in her own way, she was only trying to help, and I don't think punishing her will stop her from trying something like this again."

He holds out his hand. "I can walk you there or carry you on the wind, which do you prefer?"

That's actually super reasonable, and oh look she's crying now when did that happen. (It was during the attempted strangling.)

"Wind," she says, and then Serik is glomped by the woman who nearly just died, because while he tortures people, she nearly just died, and he's being super reasonable and she nearly just died she requires hugs now.

—he holds her for a moment, surprised, and then they're on the wind, and flowing up to the castle and in the window and right to the door of her guest room, where they reappear in the doorway with Serik still holding her.

Being wind for a little while actually sort of magnifies her urge to cling to him and cry, because she forgot how scary it was to be wind. But he's helpfully still holding her, so, she can just do those things.

Does he want a slightly damp shirt? Because he's getting one.

His feelings about this slightly damp shirt are... surprisingly mixed. But he hugs her gently and doesn't interrupt.

"Thank you," she mumbles into his chest, still clinging. She makes a little hiccupy sob sound. "Sorry, I'll, I'll stop taking inspiration from the lake and dampening your shirt soon, I just sort of need a minute because I am the biggest idiot."

Hugs.

"It's fine. Take your time," he says. "I'm sorry I didn't think of it in time to warn you."

"I should have sat down and thought about it before actually going there, it's really obvious in retrospect, I was just." Sniffle. "I'm not used to being in situations where people might try to kill me."

"Whereas I have no such excuse," he says wryly. "And I'm - if I'd been thinking - am I right that you didn't want to call me for fear of what I'd do to her when I came?"

".... Yeah," she mumbles. "Sorry. I - I understood why she was trying to kill me, I didn't - don't - want her to get hurt for it."

"I've been down that road before with Iri - I should've thought ahead and promised - if you call for my help, I swear I won't torture anyone over it," he says, hugging her. "You were right to think I might want to, I don't deny that, but - it's more important to me that you be able to call for my help when you need it."

"Okay," she agrees softly. That's - surprisingly touching and emotionally mature. Without really quite meaning to, she snuggles the terrifying sorcerer that tortures people. Hugs are nice, okay, even from terrifying sorcerers.

He holds her and breathes and tries not to dwell on how beautiful she is and how much he wants to kiss her. Now is really not the time.

Vaguely, she recognizes that look. That's the 'I want to kiss you' look.

Even more vaguely, she recognizes that if he did, she wouldn't mind.

Or to be more precise, she kind of wants to kiss him, too.

Oh. Oh dear.

...ah. She's noticed.

"Sorry," he murmurs.

(aaaaaaaaaa she wanted to kiss the terrifying sorcerer that tortures people aaaa, why would she want that?????)

"It's, it's fine," she says, and now she is flustered. "I'm not upset with you, or anything, you're allowed to feel whatever you want."

"I don't - want to make you feel like you're not safe here."

"You're doing a pretty good job," she points out. "Of making me feel safe, I mean. Thanks for that, I appreciate it."

"I'm glad."

Smile.

"And now I know not to go visiting the lakeside village while I'm breakable! See, much safer."

"I guess that's one way of looking at it."

"I'm occasionally flippant when handling scary things! Joking about things makes them less frightening."

"You're very sensible, I appreciate that about you."

Giggle.

"Thank you! Just because the world's crazy doesn't mean I have to be."