Asher didn't move until the pale purple glow of Verissa's magic shield blossomed up between them, his fretful grip around her wrist broken by the Swordmaster's sense of self-preservation as he stepped back to watch it warily as it glowed and then gradually disappeared.

Up until that moment he had worn a wondous and thoughtful expression as he looked into her pale face, his shocked concern fading once he realized Verissa wasn't hurt. He quickly came to grips with the power she had kept hidden, and was not terribly surprised that she hadn't been up front about it. He naturally paused to consider the repercussions, what this meant for his Tribe, what it meant for Verissa's life among them, what it meant for him, what it meant for them, together. His mouth formed a small circle and his breath came out in a silent whoosh.

[color=707070]"That's [i]amazing[/i],"[/color] he breathed, watching the patch of invisibility with the fascination of someone who appreciated magic but the caution of someone who clearly had never and would never weild it himself. But after a moment he noticed Verissa's panic. Her pale face and wide eyes, her tense and defensive posture, her rapid, shallow breathing. 

[color=707070]"Verissa, what's wrong? Are you hurt? What are you afraid of?"[/color] He resisted the urge to step forward to comfort her, stopped by both the recent presence of the violet apparition as well as some subconscious suspicion that it was him she was afraid of. He had no way to know that the shield was still between them even if it was invisible, but fortunately did not sweep forward and crash into it.

The fighter noticed when her pretty but terrified eyes darted to the door like a frightened animal and Asher moved back, crossing his arms across his bare chest as he smoothly blocked her path, his expression growing stonier. [color=707070]"Don't do it, Verissa,"[/color] he warned. [color=707070]"Please, what's wrong?"[/color]

He didn't bother translating into Kvaren right now, the situation far more tense for the trouble.