[ The way he praises them- for loving the world, for being helpers, for fulfilling their duty-- is at odds with how he delivers that praise. He is solemn, morose, and the tone is incongruent with the words that celebrate the oracles of the past. What makes it so off?

...Perhaps, because they are like him. He helps others, he does his duty, he loves the world. And if they are (were) like him, then they were rarely if ever told to focus on themselves, that it is okay to express their pain or hardships. ]

It sounds as if they gave all they could to others. [ She begins, slowly, at first thinking that she could leave it at that. ]

That's inspiring, in a way. But also.... sad. What did they have left to give themselves?