He turned to face her fully, those blue eyes intense.
"I mourn the world that was, but I see hope in the rebuilding. These mimics chose to create rather than steal. You are a cook who sees tools as partners, who feeds people based on need rather than payment. Alexander is a mimic who looks at his people and sees potential, not just survival."
Keeper gestured broadly at New Brookvale.
"The old world had master craftspeople who understood their tools," he continued. "But you, Marron Louvel, are learning to understand them in a world that largely forgot such partnerships were possible. That's not the same as what was lost—but it's not lesser, either. It's different. New. A different kind of hope."
"I don't know if I'm worthy of that comparison," Marron said, her voice small.
