77 Pristine figure

Nero listened in silence as Gabriel explained the dangers he would face, and the complicated social situations he would encounter. The words were different, the topics were different, the concern was different, but Nero could see a pattern.

Whether it was Footer, who was warning him of the dangers of the military, or Gabriel warning of the dangers of the great families, all Nero could sense was the fear in them. They were not cowards, far from it, but on some level, they had let a certain fear take hold of them.

That fear brought out their cautious side, and the instinct to avoid the danger they were fearing. They had not said that in so many words, but Nero could feel it nonetheless. The fear had a grip on them that even they did not seem to realise.