The old soul listened to the young man's responses towards her first and second teachings, giving a simple "Indeed," in response to his comment 'A strangle circle, no?'.

"I understand you feel the people littering the tunnels do not deserve any remembrance, but I did not speak of this for their sakes. I said them for yours, Killian. They may be nothing to you, but they may well have been the world to someone else. You are correct in that they have made their choices, as did you and I. The cycle of vengeance is an ugly one, and I can only hope none of their chains find you. If they do, it is worth at least being aware of why it could be the case. Nothing feeds paranoia more than ignorance." Ambika was uncertain if he would even pay any proper mind to this, but it was worth mentioning anyway. The words he used suggested that he was likely driven by justice and a strong sense of morality, both virtues she would never be able to stand by.

"I will not pretend I am above ending the child if he came for my life." Even if that was one bottom she never wanted to sink back into.

Seeing the pride and anger welling up and showing in Killian's being as he confessed to the details of his haunting deed, the old soul surmised there was probably not much else she could offer for the time being. The door to further deconstruction had closed, now covered in gilded light and flames that would deny entry, and she knew then the two were fundamentally different from one another. The young man is doing his darnedest best to stand in the light even as his shadows grew larger and darker in response to the blazing sun burning within him. Her? She lived in the shadows all her life, where morality was as useful as dead weight and justice was nothing more than a convenience, swung by those in authority over those in opposition.

"I hope then, for your sake, that nothing comes to challenge your understanding. The mind has an unfortunate tendency to attempt to grasp for answers where there are none, to flood one in emotions even when it does not serve, and to cast doubt over seemingly immutable realities." Ambika's words were drenched in genuine concern as she began walking along the long, winding path to the exit once more.

"Worry not. I shall carry your secret to the grave." That may well break the reverie the young man steeped himself in, but it had to be mentioned regardless.

Killian blinked in surprise. He had been in such a state of righteous affront that he wasn’t thinking of the old woman’s advice to be more practical than he was thinking. She’s telling me to watch my back?

Vengeance. A concept he was familiar with. It had happened once or twice, people trying to kill him in an attempt to get revenge, but what was Killian supposed to do? Stop helping people just to make his own life easier? That wasn’t in his bones. He would always help the helpless. Always do what he felt was right.

Ambika continued talking, and Killian frowned. “You’re saying it might not matter whether I feel justified in my actions or not?” He slowly began following her out of the cavern, stepping over bodies and around pools of blood. Maybe some things just hurt, no matter how you view it. He didn't like what that implied, so he sighed and continued walking in silence.

I shall carry your secret to the grave.

As the sunlight hit their faces as they exited the cave system, Killian took a deep breath. Secret? What secret? That I’ve killed people?

…Or that I feel things sometimes? That I’m fallible? That I can break?

Hell, I’m always broken. Sometimes I just hide it better.

“Ambika.”

They paused, the both of them, standing outside the site of the slaughter both of them caused. Killian didn’t look at her as he took another deep breath, hands on his hips.

“... Thanks. For stopping me in there. And for talking to me. I can’t say I agree with everything you said, but… It helped.”

He checked his sword, tightened the straps of his leathers, and bent down to pick up the travel bag he had left at the cave mouth. Swinging it over his shoulder, he turned to go, facing away from the direction Kenting lay in. He paused one last time.

“I hope we meet again, Ms. Phairot. Under better circumstances.”

With that he set off, heading, as always, down his own path.

But he would remember her words.

Ambika only tilted her head slightly at her first query. It was not a question she wanted to give a definitive answer to.

As sunlight shone into the old soul's eyes once more and the two exited the cave system, she would stop as he did, and turn to face him when he called for her.

"I simply did what I believed should be done. I should hope you do not have to agree with all of my words, for better or for ill." Those who came after the former assassin deserved better than to have their ideals and beliefs shattered into nonexistence, that much she would fight for despite her unsalvageable self. It was why she tried her hardest to be better for the longest time after her first child joined the world, and spared no effort to show her three children love and warmth, even if she was far from perfect and painfully inept with her emotions.
It was why she saw it important to be honest with her children about her sordid past, even if she could never divulge any of it in genuine detail. She wanted them to know she would be there, always, to support them through thick and thin, and that she would be able to accept them at their worst. And now only one remained.

"I hope so too, Killian Glae. Safe travels." Ambika watched as the man set off, looked around to gather her bearings once more, and strode briskly in a direction different from his. Helping others makes the world go round, as Florentio loved to use as a practical excuse of his, and this was no time for her to be drowning herself in her grief.