He's long past the stage of being surprised at Evie's apparent use of magic, though aside from the hair on the back of his neck standing on end, nothing that she laid out in front of him surprised him. New world, new rules.
Or something like that.
Dante doesn't speak for a long while (probably the longest since arriving in Caido) as Evie verbally processes her thoughts and explains more of this unknown land, and for once his hands are still. He doesn't fidget, only leaning forward to right the plant that she's flung after the fact, and though wide-eyed and admittedly startled at the outburst, he remains silent. His smaller hands scoop the soil back into the pot, patting the dirt back into place. And if the plant begins to wither at his touch, he doesn't notice.
"I think that's stupid. What kind of parent would call their kid something like that? I think it should be called..." He doesn't speak until he's safely tucked back against her side, leaning up into the hand ruffling his hair. And though he feels a bit like a dog at their master's side, it doesn't stop the smile spreading on his lips at the soft touch of affection. "Gifted. I don't think you could be anything else with how much you've helped. Not just me but these plants too. Who else can do that?"
"Okay, maybe these gods can do that but they don't call them abandoned." His nose wrinkles as he scrunches his face up in thought, still cradling the small plant in his lap as he rests against Evie.
no, i won't be afraid
