He hears her soft approach, but doesn't turn to look at her even as he recognizes her out of the corner of his eye; he just grips the railing a little harder and grimaces. The thought flashes through his head that there are worse people than Elika to see him like this, but he pushes it aside.

"It's morning, then." His own voice is flat. "A strange hour." He pauses a beat, then glances sidelong at her. Now that he knows he's in someone else's presence, he's become reserved again, his expression typically inscrutable. Only a faint glaze to his eyes and the slightest raggedness to his breath gives him away as in pain. "Can you think of anything else it would be?"

He looks away again. "They're mine once more. There's no need for you to concern yourself."