They both knew the ultimatum without speaking it, though Eldrin knew it was likely too late to ever change Jasper’s mind. He slept alone while Jasper recovered in the infirmary, and on the third day of being alone with his thoughts, haunted by it all, he walked into Kylantha’s office.

“Eldrin? Is everything alright?” Kylantha asked, knowing that Eldrin had also been injured in the mission, though she did not know that he had been changed in ways he did not yet know.

Eldrin closed the door. “I have to tell you something.”