Garlemald in ruins is one of those things that can make Zenos stop outright for a few moments. It's some other star, some other time ... but it's still Garlemald. Would his beloved nation have suffered a similar fate, had he attempted to keep the throne?

Not everyone wanted him in power, after all. "A war nearly erupted after the Ascians killed my father upon my star as well," he says, sobering. All traces of the earlier humor is simply.. gone, left behind a dull sort of pain that really shouldn't be there for any Zenos. He's a killer, he doesn't ... do feelings. "Had I not abdicated in favor of my cousin, I imagine it would have gotten ... very bloody very quickly. Each party is staunch in their following of only one leader, and if that conflicts.."

He shakes his head; there's a reason Nerva was better than he was for the slot. "Still, it's heartening to hear there's a way to .. reverse tempering. Do you know how it is done? I am useless with magic, but I could pass on the information to those who can use it." And use it everywhere, at every possible time! To completely nullify the threat of tempering, and save those who were once thought too late..