It's the mention of wanting to make sure her tormentors suffer that makes Tessla's feather cocoon withdraw a little bit, showing more of the blonde girl underneath. She wipes her tears with her eye wings, still trembling and keeping her eyes on Nico.

"W-what's an orphanage?" She asks, still very, very embarrassed about her terrified accident. It's not like she knows it's a possible reaction when you're really frightened.

At his question about her brothers, the faces of her littlest ones flash before her eyes and she spreads her wings as if she wants to look bigger. "T-they're far away, so you can't hurt them!"