Lloyd stared at that answer. How could he not? Who in their right mind was okay with the idea of being experimented on? "You're insane." That was the only conclusion he could make. Not even his Professor, who was nuts about research and science, would go so far as to subject herself to anything like this.

The abrupt declaration that they were done, though, caught Lloyd a little off guard. He started with surprise, then with no small amount of alarm at what the doctor was suggesting. "Wait, you're just going to leave me here? Like this?" He jerked against the restraints for emphasis. Trapped, alone, helpless, waiting for... For what? For morning? For his mana to consume him? For someone to come rescue him? The only people who might even know what had happened were Claude and Kratos, assuming Claude had managed to pass that message along. They probably didn't know where he was, though. Even if nothing else happened to stop them, they could end up searching all night. He really would be alone for hours at the least, or longer. Alone with only his thoughts for company. This thoughts...

And his father's Exsphere, slowly entwining itself deeper with his mana... He shuddered, trying to shake the thought away. It won't come to that. I'll find a way. I have to.

He wished he felt as confident as he tried to sound to himself.