Oh.

That was.

Oh.

What stunned Eli more was the blasé way in which Chise mentioned this. As if truly was of no importance; Eli is familiar with combat, as part of the military he is liable to get injured or killed. He's never thought about it in depth, partially because under Thrawn's guidance he trusted him to not get Eli or the rest of the crew killed.

And Elias did what the fucking flying kriffing hell?

His expression remains carefully neutral except for the steady climb of his eyebrows as Chise goes on. There were undeniable parallels between Thrawn and Elias but this?

He was going to have words with Thrawn about Chise at some point. For her well-being. It wasn't pity but a sort of indignation skirting the edges of anger, a very Eli reaction when confronted with clearly unfair things.

Mentally listing what he ought to say in reply, Eli found his choices unsatisfactory. His powers couldn't heal or bring back the dead, and his reassurances had been surely given to Chise by other people before.

"Elias is not the only one who wants you now."