Lost Creek Hollow venustas

Ico would later wonder if the compliment fizzled with such fervor in his chest because it was such a rare thing, or because it was coming from Germanicus. He knew by now that the latter reason was a considerable one. But in order to accept the compliment, he had to rationalise it beyond the emotional, and settled on the fact that yes, it was a loss when people couldn't see others for who they were. Germanicus was right, and Ico smiled up at him.

Oh what I'd give for a boring life, he chuckled. Truthfully, all he meant by that was the antithesis of terrifying. There was some middle ground, and it seemed both Germanicus and Ico would be best suited to that, but were currently confined and committed to what lay on separate ends of that particular scale.

I don't think it's a failing at all. And when chaos comes, as it is sure to do, Whitebark will be profoundly grateful for your instincts. Yet it seemed to him that Germanicus did not count gratitude as a primary motivator.

His ear tilted as an idea struck him. Germanicus, do you know how to... to prevent war?