[Were he still capable of it, he would have smiled at her excitement, and at the innocence in her eyes. To find such wonder in something he'd considered to be a curse for so long....]

I suppose that it is. [He stood slowly with the slightest whirr of mechanical components, letting his cloak drop around him again, and raised his head to look around himself.] But I am surprised you even know the word. It seems the world above ground has changed a great deal since I last walked upon it.