He didn't look at Original Satori. Didn't acknowledge him at all. His attention was fixed entirely on me.
"In the dungeon. When that thing launched its attack at the healer." He took a step closer. His boots didn't splash in the water. They walked on top of it. "You had a clear angle on the core. Two seconds to line up your shot. Instead, you threw yourself in front of a death beam for a girl you've known for, what, a few weeks?"
"She's an asset."
"She's a liability." His voice was flat. Cold. The voice of a man who'd cut out every emotion that couldn't be weaponized. "You broke three ribs. Punctured a lung. Nearly died. For what? Sentiment? Heroism?"
Original Satori piped up from the water. "Yeah! You could have died! And then I would have been dead forever! Do you even think about anyone but yourself?"
We both ignored him.
Kaelen circled me slowly. Evaluating. Judging. Finding me lacking.
