[As Akira braces himself through the hits, Solomon reaches to his belt, to the pouch that has sat at his hip since his time in the North. Out of it emerges a stone of brilliant purple, which is slipped into his mouth and swallowed.

The magic in the air immediately ripples as Solomon's expression tightens, as though bracing.]

You cannot be a wall. You cannot stand against everything.

[The air around Akira will start to grow warm, to constrict against his limbs and his neck. Spirit of wind, bind that which stands in front of him--]

You are human. If your promises are as valuable as your life, then you protect them equally.

Are you so determined to keep your chin held high that you'd let anyone, anything, rip you to pieces? Who are you proving anything to, other than yourself?