Irene felt particularly pathetic that it was taking bravery to approach the man. She was in fight-or-flight mode, but unlike when she was on the battlefield, she wasn't wearing her sword and couldn't hide behind her strength or speed.
Instead, she walked towards the Commander because he was looking directly at her.
"Do you need something?" the Commander asked, his voice surprisingly gentle despite the unbelievably stressed-out posture and expression he had just before he noticed her.
However, now that Irene was here, she decided she should press on.
The Commander was under terrible circumstances. It seemed he wasn't able to sleep on the night before he would be subjected to the arduous journey of crossing the eastern mountains. She felt the urge to check on him as if she had the power to make anything better.
