[As Leslie follows Edelgard into the chamber, she does consider that out. It would be nice to not have to revisit that shame with someone who she respects so highly. But it feels like she’d be running from responsibility.]

I couldn’t feel my bond with Mr. Hector anymore. And it hasn’t been long enough for it to break on its own.

[This isn’t quite true. Visiting the Outer City and its stress over the Nuckelavee so many times has made the days run together a bit, so it’s been longer since the last time the two renewed their longterm-temporary bond (since Hector is too concerned about being Wrong For This Child to go for a real bonding ceremony) than she thinks. It’s still within the realm of being stable normally, but they’re separated by a great deal of Wilde.]

I thought...he’s with the people at the fort to deal with the skinless horses. Maybe something bad happened to him. And...I panicked.

[She hangs her head, ashamed.]

I thought the wall might be making it harder to feel the bond, and I didn’t want to delay in case he really was in trouble, so I went to the Outer City on my own. And I didn’t stay close to the wall like I should have.