It's not the same without them at all. Honestly, most days, Merrin felt exactly like the rest of her sisters, just a specter haunting Dathomir, lost and very, very alone. Even the promise of revenge had started to lose its comfort, and so she'd begun losing her purpose as well as everything else. If Cal hadn't shown up... what would've happened to her?

His laugh gets a smile out of her, at least, wan but understanding. How she wishes both their experiences could've been different. Then again, if that had happened, then it's likely that they wouldn't have ever crossed paths.

"You told me something similar, before. You said that... life has this funny way of forcing you on the path forward anyway." If she remembers his exact words—well, they'd had an impact on her. Had given her that push. "That is why I chose to... to not be alone."

Then, wryly and very knowingly, she adds, "You do not change, Cal Kestis."