[It was a long while before Ardyn sought out Church; maybe near evening, or whenever he was packing up to clear out. He didn't even know if he'd cooled off about the whole thing, or if that was something Ardyn knew how to do.]

[But he took a deep breath, speaking in tense but steady words.]

You're right that this is the stupidest possible risk to take. I don't know who is on the other end of these messages and I don't know what they seek to accomplish. You're right that they can't be easily trusted, and you're right that this motive isn't something easily dismissed.

[Another deep breath.]

I don't want anyone else to die. Not for this or any other incentive they come up with. So if the scale of risks we have to take is 'wait it out and trust that no one will take the bait' or 'accept the only potential help we're given', I am going to take the latter.

I promised you we wouldn't be trapped here forever, that we wouldn't all just die off never knowing the truth. I am trying to keep my word.