[ Something tenses in the air and in the Mist beyond it. Balthier doesn't see the effects of any spell, but Bruno suddenly has two towels when Balthier was sure the stack was out. Not the kind of magic he has at home, but appreciated. ]

I suppose it's easier to believe than the idea that all this was somehow hidden elsewhere on my own planet. [ planet. it feels strange in his mouth, a word he has only ever really used to name celestial objects while navigating the night skies. sure, it was a beloved past time by some to imagine that other worlds existed out on those celestial bodies, but his money had always been on magic and dreams. ah, well, he's nothing if not adaptable. ]

Any idea how many of us there are, or how long people like us have been showing up? [ he was so disoriented when he actually woke up, exhausted from fighting out of the egg mucous, and then focused on getting out of the holding cell. he hasn't truly stopped to gather his wits yet. ]