"A warrior can afford no luxuries. Even the air in his lungs should not be taken for granted." If Gadriel's voice sounded different, that was because he was quoting from the Codex Astartes commentaries, most of which he had committed to memory.

"Nina is good to train with. And a loyal friend." There might be a note of 'if you hurt her you will learn entire definitions of regret you did not know existed', but...just a little.

"It would be a challenge." That's all Gadriel would say. Part of him wanted it, too, because he has his abilities back, and there were altogether too few opportunities here for him to use them.