Their gaze searches his face, looking for any sign that he's hiding anything, gentling down a brutal truth to avoid scaring them. It happens to Ayatan sometimes, and they understand why, but it rankles to be treated like a child to be sheltered when they've not been that naive innocent for longer than they can count. They see no such deception in Rolan's open expression, and while this does not dampen their anger at what's been done to the tieflings, it does ease their more immediate fury. They nod once. "That's good. Everyone should get to choose for themselves."

A basic, childish declaration of rights, but no less true for it.

They lean back on their legs, taking a measured breath, letting the anger go. Embrace emptiness. Recalibrate. They look up at Rolan again, not as relaxed as before but letting glimpses of that childish curiosity back in, eyes wandering back to the instruments. "What are you researching anyway? You said you're measuring power, but why? Are you trying to invent something?"