"And the Empire? Will you fight the elite soldiers of the Cerberus Assembly as well as my homeland, both? You would only heighten their determination."

Essek shakes his head, shifting in discomfort. "No. If I give myself up I am forfeiting my life, and I want to live. Despite all of the terrible things that I have done, there is more yet that I want to learn. The mysteries of dunamis and the Luxon...no one else will do the work. Even if I am exiled from my homeland, I want to continue. But I will not continually ask you all to risk your lives for my sake. And I am sure there are other things you all wish to do, your own futures to pursue."