"Yes." The answer to all of that is acknowledgment. "You're wounded in a way that will never entirely heal. It can get better, it could even for a time seem completely gone, but it will always be there and that is your life now."
There's no sugar-coating it. "Every mage is a little broken from being held captive and taught there should be bars around them. But many are far more broken from what happened while surrounded by those bars. I... I've difficulty with the dark and enclosed spaces and being alone, things that a Warden especially is expected to deal with. I survived my time in solitary," and he's quite certain every Kinloch Hold mage knows about that, "but I didn't walk away from it whole. And that will be a part of my life for forever."
"It's easier to handle with someone." His gaze flickers very briefly to where Purrelden has rolled on to her back, putting her tummy on display, but then he's looking back at Colin as if the glance hadn't happened. "Luckily, you've people around who care. When you feel you need someone, call on me. I'll be here."
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There's no sugar-coating it. "Every mage is a little broken from being held captive and taught there should be bars around them. But many are far more broken from what happened while surrounded by those bars. I... I've difficulty with the dark and enclosed spaces and being alone, things that a Warden especially is expected to deal with. I survived my time in solitary," and he's quite certain every Kinloch Hold mage knows about that, "but I didn't walk away from it whole. And that will be a part of my life for forever."
"It's easier to handle with someone." His gaze flickers very briefly to where Purrelden has rolled on to her back, putting her tummy on display, but then he's looking back at Colin as if the glance hadn't happened. "Luckily, you've people around who care. When you feel you need someone, call on me. I'll be here."