THE UNDINE WAS not surprised to hear him say that — after everything that had happened, she would had been more surprised if the guild was still as many members as it had before everything went down. Somehow, hearing that was bittersweet, in one way she was glad to hear it to know that people changed their ways but on the other hand she felt a little bad. Knowing how much Sumeragi really seemed to care about the guild, practically running it and all and losing a fair number of people from it – that had to hurt.
“ I see…. are you okay with that – do you have any sort of plan now ? ”
“ Try to build things back up to their former glory or —- ”
She felt like she may have been striking a nerve with that — she really had no idea if she was crossing any sort of boundaries, ( she would of course apologize if she had. ) A nod is given at his determined words, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to have the same strength he did if she were going through the same thing - in fact, if she were in his position she may have just left ALO for good. Sumeragi was– no, is, strong for being able to face it head-on. ( It was quite admirable, really. )
“ Again — ? Are you used to it being just the two of you ? ”
“ Unfortunately, it was by Seven’s charm that Shamrock
gained so many members. Without her, all I can do is
bear the weight of the consequences. ”
Was he okay with this? Was this something he could deem permissible? Whether he was, or wasn’t, wasn’t within his realm of thought. He forbade himself for even considering it, for as far as Sumeragi believed this was how it should be. After all, Seven’s experiment, and his following her through it—they had very well slighted this game and its players once before. Even now, Sumeragi believed it was only right for things to be as they now were. He believed that, if anything, he deserved to endure the extent of the masses’ criticisms towards Shamrock—towards himself, before Seven.
Briefly glancing down to his armored left hand, the undine swordsman slowly flexes his fingers. His hand opens itself, only to then close itself again into a tightened fist. By then would his gaze again rediscover the undine woman before him; Sumeragi’s expression more apathetic than it had ever been prior.
“ Yes, back when her and I both began here in ALfheim.
We spent quite some time as just US, until we started
the foundation of Shamrock—and the experiment. ”