[He smiles a bit even as Astralin downplays it -- and doesn't push. Compliments can be hard to take, that's something he understands. For a moment, he watches the workers thoughtfully as the construction begins to take on some familiar shapes. So it's going to be like that, huh...?

His expression turns fond at those words. A parent's protectiveness...]

I understand. [And he's grateful, too, even if he can't promise to stay out of trouble. Even at home, he couldn't make that promise.

Speaking of trouble--]

I would, too. Since it happened so soon after the maze, I can't help wondering if there's a connection, but...none of them went into it, so it's hard to say.