[ It's a rather obtuse answer, and not the most detailed. But still, he can glean some unsaid information from those curt words. Vangeance gives a tilt of the head in thought as he replays Cinnabar's voice in his head. ]

... an island. [ Idle words to fill the silence while his mind races. ] It sounds quite pleasant if you put it that way. My homeland does border the sea, but it's quite far from where most of my work takes place and I've only seen it once. I can't imagine being surrounded by such a sight at all times.

[ -- they don't reproduce, then, if Cinnabar differentiates between the gems, and the insects and plants. And there's a difference between 'death' and 'disappearance.' Gems can be incapacitated, then? Or perhaps there's simply a limit to how much 'death' they can endure. And this 'Kongou-sensei' probably isn't a gem? What kind of relationship does this person(?) have with the gems, then? And what is he? Not to mention -- ]

But I take it your life isn't entirely idyllic, if defending your home is something you speak of so plainly. [ His tone of voice remains calm. Not dark, not pitying, because he somehow doubts Cinnabar wants that kind of simpering sympathy. But it's just a touch more careful than usual as he continues: ] May I ask what exactly you must defend yourselves from?

[ What kind of people(?) would invade an island, one that sounds so isolated and self-sufficient, and why? Already, there's an ill premonition prickling at the back of his neck, and Vangeance hopes that it's wrong. ]