"From what I see, your technique is not working even half as well as you intend. Are those the tears of a woman who does not fear?"

Whether or not this entity is real or simply a reflection of Minfilia's beliefs, she is certainly old and set in her ways. Even Materia at her most stubborn would have tried a different tactic, by now. Still, Cecil has to try.

"I suppose there is little reassurance I can offer myself, beyond the length of my own stay. But I can recognize an attempt that makes things worse."