There was no judgement. How could there be? Eraqus knew nothing of what had transpired here, or elsewhere, beyond a sense of distance brought about by events beyond their control. At least, before tonight - and his own actions, in the Master's mind, far outweighed any wrong his student could think to be punished for.

It took far longer than he wished until Terra, finally, complied with his unspoken request. And with his face still downcast, eyes hidden, Eraqus was unable to tell if what he had seen hours ago had been a trick of the darkness and the night.

He did not think it was, though he had so wanted to hope.

"..It has been a very long time since we last saw one another," he said, voice still gravelly with disuse, though not as raw as he had feared. The sentance was phrased like a question, really, a desire for confirmation of something his heavy heart knew was a certainty - though exactly how long escaped him. Time had not exactly been very linear since..

His hands remained a light grasp fixed on Terra's shoulders. Not tightly, though who could say what sort of comfort (or discomfort) the gesture brought to the younger keyblade wielder. But Eraqus did not dare let go.