[ His eyes roam the place again, just a quick look over as Byleth's warning sinks in. There's definitely something off about the atmosphere here, the air heavy from more than just underground pressure, a chill in his bones that not even sunlight could cast away. ]

I'd be lying if I said I didn't, but... that might not be for the same reason.

[ And it's obvious, isn't it? Byleth inspired nothing but ugly looks and downright hostility from the locals, so it's no wonder he would be on guard, but Shez? He blends in so easily that it feels... foreign, in how natural it is. How suspicious it is that he isn't regarded with even mild suspicion, like his other friends from Fodlan. How being the odd one out makes him belong.

The breath that follows is a near shuddering thing. ]

Anyway, we can't just loaf around and dawdle. [ He shakes his head, just once. ] We don't know how much longer we have until we're dragged off to the next world, so we gotta press forward.

[ A beat. ]

Or, at least I feel like I have to. It's okay if you wanna stay back, though.