Maybe it seems weird for Seto to be the one reassuring Kisara.
Maybe that's odd, considering who she is.
I don't know. All I can say is, this made sense to me.
.
"In the days of the wars where I made my reputation," Kisara said, "there was no rule of law. Might makes right, as one might say. That was all. There were precious few who could stand against me and my dearest siblings. We could have built an empire. Sometimes, I wonder if it would not have been better if we had. Maybe . . . maybe they would still live, if we had."
Seto was listening, but he often had little to say when Kisara started waxing poetic about the world where she, as the dragon, reigned. The Barrier, as she called it, often only felt important to him insomuch as it explained some—but not nearly all—of the magic he'd witnessed in his life; particularly as it pertained to Magic & Wizards. Seto had never been there, and he wasn't sure if he ever wanted to go there.
Here, though, he looked up from his desk.
"You think," he said, "if you had built a terrible enough reputation. If you had proven yourself strong enough. Big enough. Ferocious enough. Then the forces of Chaos would not have tried to make enemies of you." Kisara nodded. "I don't have much experience in this arena, unless you would permit me to make use of some . . . stretched and creative metaphors. But I do know what it's like to leverage my reputation to protect others." He paused. "It never works as well as you hope it will."
Kisara sighed. "I think," she said, "a part of me knows this. But I cannot stop myself from imagining our final battle taking a different path. Twisting myself into the right position, throwing myself into just the right spot. Just to give them another moment. One more chance. Just one more."
Seto nodded. "I know," he said softly.
"I think of how many things they never got to see," Kisara said. "How many mornings have passed, and they have never woken up. How many nights have passed, and they have never slept. And if I had just been stronger, if I had just been faster, if I had just been better . . ."
"I know."
"If . . . if the dragon is right, and my family is in danger . . . you will help me protect my little ones. Won't you? If I . . . fail them." She didn't say again, but her eyes did. "You will step into my place and see to their safety, won't you?"
Seto locked his eyes with hers. "Kisara," he said.
Kisara flinched, then shook her head violently. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I should not have asked such a selfish thing. No, no, it was disgusting of me."
"Kisara." Seto reached out and put a hand on his bodyguard's shoulder. "Your family is safe now, and your family will continue to be safe. I have looked gods in the face and dared them to kill me. There is nothing that could ever threaten you that would scare me."
Kisara's eyes went wide, and she smiled.
It was a shaky smile, but it said enough.
It said what it needed to say.
"My prince."