[He actually takes a step back, because he's close enough to the shelves that any closer would put her dangerously close to it. There's an underlying strength and courage to the girl, but it's no reason to put her in harm's way needlessly. Not when, clearly, touching this stuff with bare skin is bad news.]

No... I believe that the worst thing you can think of is in fact more terrible than what I can, or what these curses could possibly do. What you've described would be very difficult to live with.

But you're alive, aren't you? No worms in your eyes yet. Whatever you've been through up until this point, you've survived, and that's something.