Rene placed a hand on her shoulder softly, almost sensing her unease. He looked into her eyes when she turned towards him, and smiled a reassuring smile. The best one he could muter right now.

"It's all right." he said.

"There's a really strong person here. A number of them, actually." he went on. "But the one I'M talking about should be able to do anything. Include help free you from those mana shackles." he continued.

"Again, just trust me. Trust me when I say I completely believe this is what will help you. Save you." he then said.

"Just... yeah, this place IS a bit on the weird side..."

Rene nodded in response.

"If you don't mind." he said.

"Sabrina is a dear friend of mine, and... well, it'll make ME feel better, at least, to be hanging around her." he reasoned. "That and this is a new place for her, with a LOT of new people." he went on.

'I want to be here in case it's a smidgen overwhelming." he added.

"If that's all right."

Rene watched her go, and then turned to Sabrina again.

"It'll be fine." he assured her.

"This is a theatre troupe that I'm friends with a couple of people in." he said. "And all of them are non-human in some way shape or form. They're an eclectic group that... well, they're like a big family." he went on.

"...a very close big family..." he then mumbled.

"Anyway, I trust them." he said.

"And I trust them to be able to help you." he continued.

"Without their help, I won't be able to get you to San Diego." he then finished with a small sigh.

Rene shook his head.

"Well, see, optimally, they'll be able to remove that cursed branding on you, AND rid you of that mana lock on your shifting." he answered. "However, I'll be happy with just being able to remove that branding, so I can safely take you somewhere that CAN aide you with the mana lock." he continued.

"And we'll never find out what they'll do." he then stated. "Because they won't." he told her.

"If they come after you again, I'll take them all on if I have to." he promised her further.

"They'll see what it means to anger a Lanthan warrior." he growled.

"Those instincts, those techniques... just need the right push to come to the surface."

Rene was silent for a moment, before nodding slowly.

"I'm sure you will." he told her.

"You'll get that chance. I promise." he said further, before looking ahead and thinking about something.

He knew he'd already stepped into it deep. REAL deep. He'd acted on impulse and emotion, and there was no going back now. He had to see this through. He wouldn't allow himself NOT to.

So he started thinking about San Diego... he needed to get the information straight, for them. And for the people here.

And he also needed to make sure that his and Sabrina's presence here would go unknown to the ring. The last thing the Hallowglades needed was the attention of THAT hellish organisation.

Rene looked over at the new person, and smiled at the woman.

"Ah, hello, hello, Vae." he greeted her.

"Sabrina, this is Vae. She has HELLA-strong mana, and should be able to help you." he told Sabrina. "Seriously, there's not a lot she can't do." he then muttered, clearing his throat a little.

"Vae, this is Sabrina, a close friend of mine. She's been coerced into working for some very shady people, who have recently put a mana lock on her shifting abilities... even though she's a SHAPESHIFTER." he stated.

"She also has a mark on her that will kill her if she goes too far from a certain area." he then went on. "The bastards placed it on her, and the lock, when she tried to escape." he then said.

"Think you can help with either of those?" he asked.

"...ah. Right." Rene said. "Kaia might not be quite as strong as you, but... yeah, hm. Fair." he muttered.

"The mark on her." he then answered.

"I'll be taking her to San Diego afterwards, and THEY can deal with the mana lock on her shifting." he told her. "But I'll need to GET her there in the first place, which the mark... hinders. Severely." he continued.

"So yeah, go for that first, if you would be so kind?" he asked.

"Sorry to pop in unannounced like this, as well." he then apologised. "But this needed to happen quickly, and this was the first place I thought of that could give Sabrina the help she desperately needs."

Rene resisted the urge to say anything to Sabrina. But he could tell she was in pain, just wasn't saying anything. He guessed it was a trait/behavior that had been forced into her, and he hated it.

But he said nothing.

Instead, he subtly moved his hand over and placed it atop one of hers.

If she wanted to hold it, she could. If she wanted to squeeze it, she could.

All he could do was be there for her, and prove he was still there. That he believed in this. That he did have the best intentions.

Rene was silent as he looked Sabrina over, before looking over towards Vae and nodding.

"Right." he said.

"Thank you." he told her. "Seriously, I... yeah, when I heard what they had done to her, I couldn't NOT act." he reasoned, shaking his head slightly. "But thanks for helping her like that." he went on.

"Now I can get her somewhere that has a LOT more resources to help her... well, even more." he went on, realising how... awkward that sounded, but not really caring at the moment.

"And... hello again, Vae." he then properly greeted her.

"Sorry this little meet-up had to be under such circumstances."

Rene raised an eyebrow when she made her suggestion.

"I... ah..." he stammered, before shaking his head and lightly slapping the sides of his head.

"Focus, Rene, focus." he told himself, clearing his throat.

"I... really should be concerning myself with Sabrina's safety right now..." he told her... though the more he looked into her eyes, the more he could feel his resolve weakening.

"But... I mean... you said she'd be out for 10... and... I guess it can be... quick..." he then reasoned, shaking his head again.

"Should I wait until Sabrina is conscious before moving her?" he managed to ask, sweating noticeably now.