"After Crimson lost his old friends, I told you he trained very hard so he could kill every Dark One that exists, right?" Ezra asked softly, looking down at Lior.
Lior nodded enthusiastically. "Yup!"
Ezra smiled faintly.
"Crimson got new companions," he continued. "Though at that point in the story, he did not consider them his friends. Crimson wasn't interested in having friends anymore."
Lior's small brows furrowed. "That sounds… lonely."
Ezra let out a quiet chuckle as he stroked Lior's hair.
"Lonely, indeed," he agreed. "He thought being alone was safer. Easier. If you do not care for anyone, you do not lose anyone."
'That is what he told himself.'
"But," Ezra went on, "there came a time when Crimson slowly started treating two of them differently. Leomord. And Fredrinn."
"Oh!" Lior gasped. "A story of freship!"
"Friendship, little one."
"That's what I said!" Lior protested with a pout.
Ezra laughed softly, the sound warmer this time.
"Yes, yes. Friendship."
