[ Alayne manages not to do a double take when Sae says she's a monster. The urge is foolish anyway, she tells herself - it's not as if the girl will have suddenly sprouted monstrous features.

And it is not as if those features make a monster, either. It's a thought that's occurred to her before, which Sae's confiding brings again to the forefront of her mind. It means something different here, she supposes. Despite her initial revulsion at the idea, the monsters here are less awful than those she's known before. ]

Apparently so, [ her expression is wan, a little overwhelmed. Really, she does need some reassuring. ] I hardly know where to begin. It is hard to believe, still, that might be capable, or have some sort of - power. [ She glances at Sae again. ] From what I've learned, though, it seems that 'monster' is just... A different sort of power, here.