To hold it all against Squall isn’t fair. Nida knows that. All his pain, all his suffering, he was the gullible one who believed in Elijah. He was... no, he refused to think about it. His expression hardened as he considers, trying to ignore his own pain. Pain Squall serves as a reminder of.

“You’re a good leader,” Nida repeats, this time his voice is firm. Finds enough conviction to follow it up with. “Without some subtle encouragement from your direction I wouldn’t have made A-Rank. So no, you don’t have to go, Sir. But with a captive audience, we do need to talk. About someone else here you are bound to recognize.”

Someone Nida might fight Squall to protect.