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Dias has never quite understood how Noel could attract so many animals. He'd thought that Rena's ability to befriend them had been impressive, when they were children; they tended to be standoffish for a while, but Rena was so gentle and quiet with animals, and could usually convince strays to come close enough to let her pet them. Back then they didn't understand that stray animals could be dangerous even if they were friendly, but they'd been lucky enough to avoid those dangers, even before Rena had realized that she could heal them. But Noel wasn't just kind and gentle; he seemed to understand beasts, on a level that Dias couldn't even understand. Whenever he went out to the forest he would come back with a friend trailing behind him, though they usually turned back when he entered the town proper; whatever magic he could work with animals didn't extend to the rest of the townsfolk.
Noel and Rena went out to the forest frequently now, to find any animals there that need to be healed and to make sure that the forests are safe for everyone; they're strong enough by now that there's no bandits that could touch them. All the same, Dias knew that he should go with them, but he hasn't been able to bring himself to go; something deep inside of him hadn't forgotten falling to the ground, too slow to even draw his sword in time to strike the bandit that had found his sister's hiding place. He knew he should go see their resting place, if nothing else, and tell them he still lives and that he thinks of them every day. He tried to leave with them more than once, but he's yet to manage to walk out that door.
"It's okay, Dias," Rena had told him once, holding his hands, when she'd apparently sensed him sulking after one of their trips. "It's okay to not be ready yet. You only just came back to Arlia... give it time, okay?"
Noel never spoke during those times, but Dias could see on his face he understood. More than understood, really. Dias had failed to save his family; Noel had failed his entire world. As much as Rena's words helped, it was knowing that there was someone who truly understood that did the most to make him feel like he was going to be okay.