Silence spread throughout the room as they all processed Damian's words.
Then… Alaric noticed blood forming around Damian's clenched fists, his nails digging into his palms.
"Lyandra, stop asking about his past life. Look at his hands. You're pushing him too hard."
She looked down and immediately felt guilty, realizing she was forcing her son to relive trauma that clearly still wounded him.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Damy."
She changed direction, pulling back from the deepest pain.
"Why did you torture those terrorists at the Norrington attack instead of just killing them? It seemed... excessive and completely unnecessary."
Damian's expression shifted to confusion, genuine puzzlement evident despite the hypnosis.
"Isn't that how you're supposed to treat people you don't like?"
Silence crashed through the room.
"...What?"
Lyandra exchanged shocked looks with Alaric.
Damian's blank eyes stared past them, seeing something from his distant past.
