[It's a start, he thinks as he rolls his left shoulder back. Shiro nods once,] That's a start. If they haven't seen anyone out of the ordinary beside us, Kathashun, and Jalin...focusing on what the princess was doing could get some kind of details.

If only to retrace her steps as far as the public knew about them. [That out of the way he finally addresses Beat's pinching himself on the arm. He'd spotted it but it's become such common place people find him alarming.

He spreads his hands apart, adding.] You weren't seeing things. Astoria's magic gift for me was to shapeshift. I used to pilot a larger version of that lion. Now I am the Lion. It's as confusing for me as it is for you. I'm Shiro.

[He offers him his right metal hand.]