That's what I was afraid of, but I suppose we have been getting off fairly lightly, these trials. It'd only make sense that whatever the rules are, they'll start being enforced more strictly, and in the proper spirit. These things can't always be that easy, after all...

[ not to say that possibly sending an innocent off to die was easy, per se, but they'd been willing, and it was better than the alternative.

he huffs a brief, wry breath. ]

You really were telling the truth at the trial when you said you weren't giving up, huh. It might not mean much coming from me, all things considered, but there are still things such as senseless self-sacrifice.

...Anyway. I might not be aligned with you, but I can't say I bear you any ill will- even in the spirit of this competition.