[Luckily for him, she has grown accustomed to someone being nosy while she's brewing something or another, that she doesn't even pause in her work. At least, not enough to be noticeable.]

On that, we agree. [It's very good to be on dry land again. She frowns.] ...It could have gone better, had we figured out a way to close that blasted rift. Yet "what-ifs" seldom help anyone. Choices were made, and now we must live with the consequences.

[However heavy a toll they may bring.]