[he knew milla would understand. of course she does—and it seems like she's quickly drawing conclusions similar to his own. he's thought long and hard about the clues in the letters...

and how they all seem to spell out something morbidly similar.

it's something he's accepting because he has to, not because he really wants to. because of course, he doesn't want to die—but he knows that with their numbers so thin, it's possible, and percy didn't exactly give him any assurance. it's a cloud, weighted over noct's head right now.]

I know you will. I will too, so long as I'm alive.

[but there is a bit of a distinct change in his tone that comes with how it goes when he thinks about it. the glimmer of who he needs be. of a fledgling king who would make sacrifices for his people. of a man that has the conviction to be all of those things, but he hasn't yet learned how to harness completely.]

We don't know what'll happen even tomorrow... so we shouldn't waste any time at all.