[ If Jill was any of those things, now she is resolved that the girl who once had a relatively happy life as the daughter of a chieftain might as well be dead. Poise, grace, posture... none of those things seem to matter now, although they may still cling to Jill like shadows of her old life. Not that she remembers very much of it, but it was happy, and she had a family.

Now... She isn't certain what she has. Clive is here, and that means the world to her, and that is why she is determined to have Phya do whatever she needs to, to save him. ]

Please. Clive ought to be the one giving you the permission, but as he cannot right now... Please, do whatever you need to. Save him, and I'll find a way to pay you, even if you insist that payment is not needed. If guiding his aether is what will save him, please...

[ Jill wonders when she became so emotional; can it be because of Clive and her concern for him? Or could it be a result of everything she has done up until now? She thought herself hard because she had to be, but there are times when she feels anything but hard. Perhaps she's the weak one here, and hasn't been able to see it.

But none of this matters; what matters is that Clive lives. ]

Please, do whatever you can, and I- I will owe you a great debt.