[It isn't Bruce's fault. This just hasn't been a particularly good month for Hermione. Or for rifters in general, it seems. She knows that he doesn't mean to imply anything so drastic towards rifters or anyone at all, but she can't help but feel as though the vast majority of Thedas would much prefer it if rifters were kept out of the picture. They have enough complications to deal with, after all.

As much as Hermione doesn't like to have things sugarcoated, she sort of wishes that Bruce or anyone else she's spoken to on this matter would just tell her that she's overreacting, that things will be all right, and that really, Thedas isn't nearly as bad as it seems right now. But it's as though she's only just discovered the true nature of the world she'd landed in, and no one has the heart to wrap her in false security anymore. She's not sure if she should thank them or begrudge them.]

Then maybe Thedas needs to change that. Because I can't imagine any place where everything will always stay the same. There will always be surprises, and variables, and general unknowns. If Thedas isn't equipped to deal with them as they crop up, then I'm almost more worried for the world as a whole than I am for myself.

[Almost.]