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"It's more than a shield, it's something that has been touched by Gonto herself; a piece of history and a physical manifestation of our faith in her," Hollidan says. "To see it is a blessing, to actually touch it--a great honor."

Echo lets out a sigh. She didn't understand why she couldn't comprehend this whole thing. "I will never understand the feeling the rest of you have when it comes to this shield," she finally says.

Hollidan frowns and there's a flash of pity on his face, just for an instant. "Maybe you never will. I thought everyone believed in something greater than themselves--a god, a philosophy, a community--something that they would risk their life for. Maybe you're the exception to the rule, I'm not sure."

"Or perhaps I just haven't found something important enough to me for me to risk my life for it," Echo says. "Though, if I remember correctly, I've risked my life a couple of times for this group now."

"And why did you do that?" Hollidan asks, genuinely curious to her answer.

"I...hmm," Echo says, looking back down at her pretty much empty bowl now. Why did she risk her life for these people that she didn't know? She knew she didn't risk her life for the people that she didn't know. She risked her life for the people that she did know as they were the ones that were determined to save the ones captured. "It was for you," she says. Though, upon realizing how that sounds, she quickly adds. "And Gimog and Nivain."

"Us? But why? We've barely known you for a week," Hollidan points out.

"And yet you've all been the closet things I've had to friends for...well ever," Echo points out. "But," she adds, standing up. "If you don't feel the same way, then perhaps I had erred in my judgement on the matter."

"Of course we feel the same way," Hollidan says. "We've risked our own lives for you, as well, if you recall," he points out.

Echo wasn't quite sure what to say to him. "Was there a point to this line of questioning?" she finally asks. She was hoping that there was because she normally wasn't the type to give out personal information like that.

Hollidan shakes his head. "I guess I was just trying to figure you out a bit," he confesses.

"And did you?" Echo asks curiously. "Figure me out a little bit, I mean?"

"I think the only thing I've really figured out is your something of a contradiction," Hollidan says.

"How is that?" Echo asks.

"You say you are a follower of Renos, but also that you risked your life for others because you consider them friends. But doesn't Renos teach that friendship is weakness?" asks Hollidan.