[Valvatorez walked into the room more directly, and slowly shut the door behind him, preferring that anything they talk about remain in confidence. ...Not that he didn't trust the medical staff here. Heike, Ekkehardt, and many of the others were all trustworthy sorts, and would probably understand everything that might be said anyway, but sometimes it was just easier to speak in privacy.]

Unfortunately, there is no way to know that for sure. If someone managed to do... this, to someone with a history of being an excellent mission operative? It's a good bet that they would've been ready for more than one foe.

[Valvatorez didn't have him as a student often personally, but... he knew very well this boy's seen battle against two different Heralds/Heraldic forces and lived to tell. You don't do that by being stupid.

Still, he glanced over to her, and his normally harsh red eyes actually showed flickers of sympathy.]

I know that... it's hard. ...I hope you have not been blaming yourself for this.