[How achingly familiar. Thinking they chose the violence willingly, rather than being manipulated. Thinking they could handle themselves. Thinking they'd signed up for a greater purpose by setting the mundane aside. It took him too long to realize what had been stolen from him, and then it was too late; he has little hope she'll escape that fate, herself.

The faint smile he offers is one of pity. The rest of his feelings on the situation remain internal.]

I wasn't fond of school, myself, though I was grateful for it later.

[For the normalcy it granted him, in comparison to his other life—and then later, for the tools he needed to dig deeper, to follow his chosen path.]

I don't mean to lecture—but there are other ways to help and protect people. All worthwhile, even if many of them require schooling.

[The sentiment of wishing a better life for her is real. The idea that pursuing anything is worthwhile is not, but he's too practiced in giving genuine-sounding advice he doesn't believe in to let that slip.]