[Lailah returns the embrace tightly, welcoming his comfort. She sniffs softly. She tries to surreptitiously wipe her eyes as she feels the tears threaten to fall.]

You came back. That's all that matters to me.

[How many have walked away from her because they'd given up on themselves, their dreams, her, or all of the above? How many times has she had to cut her pact with a fallen Shepherd and wait for another to quell them? One too many and Sorey came so close to joining those too many souls. At least this time, he can have the choice to continue being the Shepherd, and she'll be okay if he decides to walk away from that or her. Better that Sorey walk away than be part of the souls who died becoming the thing they said they'd quell.]

The last thing I want is for you to go through that again. That's why it's okay if you decide not to reinstate the pact.

[The fire seraph will attempt to pull away only so that she can look him in the eye. She wants this to be clear to him.]

The Shepherd's duty isn't something that should consume you. You as a person are just as important as purifying malevolence.