"A death is a death," he answers that first bit immediately, his voice warbling once again. He brings himself to a pause when Luka releases the wire, stopping in place so the other doesn't lose where his is compared to the guide.

He sniffs, wipes his face again. It takes him another breath, but then he's nodding emphatically, trying to tug the last dregs of exhausted hope back up into his thoughts. They can do this. He's... he's pretty sure they can do this.

"That's what I think. That's what I want to do for them," he says, reaching up to cup a hand around Luka's cheek. He runs a thumb along his skin before pulling away again. He is amazed to hear the princess talking like this, and he uh loves it a little. "We can help them settle in... in the new world, too. They'll have a lot to adjust to, after all this."