He wondered if that was what he wanted. Someone to tell him what to do, how all of this made sense. It did not seem to fit his character the way that he judged it - but ever since Bahamut had come to him, he did not know what to make of very much. Perhaps it was easier just to think that he was ending up where he was meant to be. It was more than that. Part of him wanted to tell Ilyien of Orb, and ask for his help in slaying that beast. But that assumed that he believed Orb could indeed be slain. And it also assumed that he was willing to visit his troubles upon Ilyien. Or Iluq. Or this prince of hers. These refugees as well, simply looking for safety and unconcerned with the grand deeds of those who still thought they were chosen by gods.
He could not commit himself to that.
The First Song was not just a tune, to be sung by whomever could discover its content. It was a state of mind, a state of being, an existence that he was not sure he was ready for. Koe did not enjoy the thought that Bahamut would select him for something that he could not do. Koe also did not enjoy the thought that Bahamut would not right a thing that needed righting. If there was to be a new dawn, if the world was to be saved, why would Bahamut choose to leave it in the hands of so frail and fallible a creature? What made a god so certain that a mortal could do this thing, when the mortal was not convinced. Perhaps an easy question to answer by the cold light of day. In practice it was much more difficult. In practice he was not convinced that he was mortal, but not convinced that he was ready to sing the song of the gods.
A thorny trouble. It was compounded by the fact that he assumed he could not fail, only that he needed more time. Time was a precious commodity in these days. With the Deadlands spreading north - swallowing entire villages and even a great city - how much time did this world have? How much time did Koe have to deduce the answer to this incredible complex riddle which was never stated outright. It wasn't about what Koe thought he needed. It was about helping this world back from the brink.
He couldn't do it.
"I would never think that of you," and he smiled - it even lit his eyes, for a moment. "But I am staying, duel with a prince or no."