No offense taken, Madhuri. He was well-aware of his beanpole status. He'd always been one.

He got to his feet and used her to help him balance as they moved into the crystals' glow. He kept his eyes on the noctaere as it approached the edge of the field...

...and entered it without hesitation.

In fact, the creature bent its head to snap up some loose crystal shards in its jaws, grind them between its teeth, and swallowed them. In the light, it was easy to see it seemed to have been carved out of darkened rock.

"...That is concerning."