Even as he grips the front of his robes, Felih will quickly find that crystal spreads beneath his hands, spreading across not only the Exarch's chest but through the fabric and glowing bright blue as the Exarch makes a barely distinguishable hiss of pain... but he doesn't resist. He wants to, but he can't, lest his hood fall back and reveal the truth of it. The very last thing he wants is for Felih to realise this hollow monster of a man is all that is left of his treasured friend.

"Let me go," he says, voice soft but with an undeniable tremble to it that prevents him from sounding the unfeeling automaton he has presented himself as. "I know very well what I have done."