I never wanted to keep anyone in the dark. Also? I hate that idiom. It sounds cruel, like you're doing it to hurt someone. Being trapped in the dark is never a good thing. So, let's come up with a new idiom: I was omitting the truth so my friends and colleagues wouldn't worry about me. Because we have to save the world. And saving the world is going to require planning and strategy. And it's harder to plan and even harder to strategize when you're also wondering, "Is Taimi okay now? Should I check on her?" Okay, that's not really an idiom. But the sentiment's there. Here's the real problem: I know the commander. I know everyone in Dragon's Watch. Their hearts are too big. They care too much. I need them to care less about me for a little while, just until we fix this. Until we can stop. Saving the whole world? That's a big mission. Impossibly big. It's hard to fathom the stakes. When push comes to shove, will they be thinking about the whole world, or will they think about me and my condition? When they have to make decisions, strategize, travel places, delve into ruins...will they be thinking about the whole world, or will they be worried whether or not I'm in pain? I know they'd never sideline me, but I don't want to put them in a spot where they'd...you know... ...have to consider it in the first place.