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Garovel took a few moments to respond. ‘Unfortunately, we don’t have time to worry about that right now,’ he said privately. ‘I’ll look into it later. You just stay focused.’

Hector couldn’t argue with that, though he wanted to. When he neared the train, a group of Hun’Kui militiamen slid a door open for him and helped Selena inside.

“I’m sorry!” she was saying through choked breaths. “I just wanted to--! I couldn’t--! I’m sorry--!”

Hector was at a loss for what to say, not even really understanding why she was apologizing.

‘It’s okay,’ Garovel told her. ‘This sort of reaction to worms is actually quite common. Don’t be too hard on yourself. We have to go now, but we’ll talk to you later, Selena.’

She looked at Hector with tear-filled eyes for some reason.

Still, he didn’t know what to do. So he just gave a kind half-nod and then pulled away on his bridge of iron.

As he headed back toward the fighting, he couldn’t get what just happened out of his head. ‘Garovel...’

‘Not everyone adjusts to combat as easily as you do, Hector. But I won’t forget about her, so for now, just put it out of your mind and concentrate.’

Really, Hector wanted to ask about Selena’s reaper, but he knew Garovel was right. There would be time for that later. Assuming they lived through this battle, that was. He did have confidence in the Rainlords’ ability to take the monster down, but as he got closer to the mayhem again, it did not look like much progress had been made.

The worm still thrashed wildly around, occasionally catching servants out and sending them flying or just chomping them down. Perhaps most incredibly of all, Hector saw Darktide and Zeff come bursting out of the worm’s backside in a maelstrom of mercury and ice. Apparently, they’d gotten eaten during Hector’s absence.

One might have expected such a gaping back wound to slow the beast down, but it paused for hardly more than a shiver before continuing its rampage.

From his midair vantage point on his bridge, Hector tried to find an opportunity to reenter the fight, but seeing so many familiar faces charge in and get swatted away or be forced to dodge... well, it was a little disheartening.

Evangelina Stroud and Diego Redwater attacking in unison. Then a group of Blackburns, led by Horatio. A group of Delagunas, led by Salvador. A group of Sebolts, led by Carlos. And even the Najirs.

Everyone was struggling to do any kind of real damage. So what the hell did he think he was going to accomplish?

He knew that he was better suited to taking defensive action, but that didn’t seem to be the problem now. The remaining fighters looked like they were avoiding major hits well enough. But any time someone appeared to land a solid blow, the worm either brushed it off or its wounds simply reformed.

It wasn’t long before Hector was beginning to feel everyone’s frustration. ‘Garovel, how do we kill this fuckin’ thing?’