[Rinrou]

Laurel's eyes widened. She seemed to freeze for a long moment. Her worst nightmare, that had kept her up night after night, was Nic's reality. Surprisingly though, Laurel did not look sad and she didn't cry. She continued to stare at Nic, understanding that they shared a common pain. She didn't appear to be as naive as she had been a week ago. She seemed to have already accepted the realities of life she had been ignorant to.

"Is that... why you joined the Yin Long?" she asked after a long pause.