[ Numbness, he can understand. It's close enough to shock, or denial, maybe-- but he was assigned to Meridian, so that might explain it. Regardless, the answer to her question remains the same: ]

If they do, they won't tell us about it. The gist of what we know is that our worlds are gone, and the path forward is to either restore them or create them anew. That's something only us Shard-bearers can do.

[ ... right, that's something probably best shown rather than told about. Holding out his hand, he summons forth his own Shard: the stone is small and ruggedy, and vaguely shaped like a butterfly that's black as night. ]

This is my Shard, and you must have one somewhere in your body, too. We're told these are our souls given shape. Whether you believe it or not, it doesn't hurt to be careful with it.

[ And to further drive his point home, his own Shard sinks back in his palm and disappears, kept safe underneath his glove. ]