Mirela blinked with her lips parting in surprise. "Master? What are you apologizing for?"
"For everything," Klaus replied, looking down into her wide eyes. "For treating you like an NPC… For pushing you away… If I die in there... and the system somehow lets you leave... please tell the rest of the girls I said sorry as well. Tell Serra I should have been kinder… Tell Zephyra she deserved better than this and tell Taula..." He swallowed hard. "Tell her I understand why she left."
"No!" Mirela cried out, hot tears instantly welling up in her eyes. She stepped forward, shaking her head frantically. "Do not talk like that! You are not going to die! You promised you would protect me! You have to come back!"
She reached out to grab him, to pull him away from the door, but Klaus gently caught her wrist.
He reached out with his other hand and gently, firmly patted the top of her dark hair. He let his hand rest between her goat ears, offering a warm reassuring pressure.
