[ he stops in his tracks, considering the offer. leo must've noticed that he's scared, and while it's a relief that he's here to take over... something is holding izumi back. whether out of fear or just his chivalric honor as a knight protecting his former king - he can't say. ]

...No.

[ it comes out as curt, and a little too simple. ]

And we've got no time to be talking about that either, Leo-kun. We have to get to the other side first. Just trust me on this.

[ believe in him, because he really can't count on anyone else here. while he was saved by a bunch of people earlier, he was too wound up, and it's human nature to seek the familiar in this kind of high-stakes situation.

so he presses on, the path getting more and more treacherous. he doesn't dare look down, nor even behind him, since he knows leo's there. ]