<span style="font-weight: bold">"I am coming whether you want me to go or not,”</span><br/><br/>Ilia would be lying if she said she wasn't a little bit surprised at Shadow's confident answer. Sure, he seemed like a self assured young man, but Ilia wondered if it was all a front. However, his answer made her heart swell, if only a little. Alright, perhaps more than a little, but Ilia refused to let her emotions get the best of her. Ilia's shoulders slumped slightly when Shadow asked about the test, more specifically about lost Accepted. She couldn't voice her answer, it was almost to scary to think about, so instead she just nodded, blonde ringlets swaying slightly.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">"I don’t care if you have a shawl or what shawl you pick…I…just… I just want you to come back,”</span><br/><br/>Ilia looked to Shadow. His fragility was something she liked about him. Of course, it could be a side others didn't see and Ilia felt all the more special for it. When Shadow offered her a knife, Ilia's initial instinct was to say no. She was one of the Tuatha'an. Or had been. In the brief few seconds it took Shadow to offer Ilia his knife, she had thought back to her past. A small part of her had hoped to go back to her people one day, but in her heart, Ilia had always known the price of pursuing the Green Ajah. Taking the knife into her hands, Ilia traced the bonded leather, looking down at it. She had never been given anything like it. Sure, she had been given gifts in her life, but never a weapon. Something about it brought up an emotion she couldn't place.<br/><br/>In all her years, this was the first weapon she had ever held within her hands. Oddly, Ilia had expected it to feel more...evil than it did. Or perhaps she expected something within her to change for the worse. Nothing like that happened, though. It was merely steel molded to be a certain way.<span style="font-weight: bold">"Its…uh…for protection…I hear spiders get rather big in that tower,”</span>A small burst of laughter escaped from Ilia. She had been doing so well keeping an Aes Sedai's calm, burn him, but she felt like she needed a laugh. Setting the knife upon her lap, Ilia placed a hand on Shadow's arm and thanked him. He was too sweet to her.<br/><br/>"I think, someday, I should like to bond you." Ilia said sheepishly. "Only if you want." She didn't want to pressure him into being bonded if he didn't want too. "Regardless, I think this voyage will be a great experience! Especially with an Aes Sedai as... knowledgeable as Luna Sedai. I only feel sorry for Moe." Trying to keep some decorum, Ilia his a smile behind her hand. "I think he is in way over his head with her. She seems...determined to bond him." There was a light flush to her cheeks. "Luna Sedai gave me a Sa'angreal." Ilia held the polished stone upon her palm for Shadow to look at. The warmth spread from the stone to her palm and down her wrist. It felt like sunlight spreading through her veins.