[Concerned eyes flicked from the knife and back to Paul's face, Oscar's wariness as plain as his willingness to trust his friend. They had come this far-- and he planned to see it through.]

Fighting them last year obviously didn't fix the bigger problem, [Oscar said quietly, recalling the battle that had taken over the shores.]

You and your partners were all hurt pretty badly, Johnny-sensei died, and I was with Captain Anna when she rammed the ship.

Nothing helped.

... But, I've been helping that Druid in town work on the farm for the last several months, And we've talked. A lot.

I think I have a few ideas.