A Lullaby For Gods Chapter 69 revamped scene

A scene I deleted and rewrote since I didn't like how it went. This is how it originally went:

The King orders the rest of the soldiers who weren't slaughtered trying to apprehend the possessed seer to bring the civilians into the palace. Every room that wasn't terribly destroyed and wasn't a royal bedroom was to be utilized: the kitchens, the infirmary, the guest rooms upstairs, everything. After a moment of deliberation, Odin seems to decide that the War Room is also fair game - so long as the doors aren't destroyed and the runes aren't disturbed. 

There's likely to be a space problem, though. The Hall is much larger than the castle, able to fit Asgard's entire population in it. The castle is huge, but most of its space is divided, walls and hallways taking up precious room. The throne room has a destroyed wall open to the outside, so the animals can barge right in. 

Still, they don't have much time, and they can't do much else. The soldiers run out, attending to their orders. 

Captain Hallr tells her to report to her instructor.

"There's a possibility the trainees will have to be called in," he says, expression grim. "Our numbers have...taken a small dent."

From where they're sitting, Haldis ducks their head. 

"I don't suppose we can count on that terrifying magic of yours?" the Captain asks, turning to the seer.

"I'll have to apologize, Captain, but I don't know much about my magic. I'm primarily a healer," they say. "I can move things, small things, from place to place, but I've never used my magic like that. Not in that amount, and not with that precision."

"You're saying whoever possessed you has a finer grasp on your type of magic?" Thor asks.

They nod. "I am...exhausted. They've pushed forward a large amount of magic to fight how they did," they say, "But I don't even know how to push out that much all once, much less how to direct everything to achieve the targeted result."

"That's worrying," Thor says.

"I do think it's still safer for both of us to stay here," Caelum says. "We don't know if we'll simply get repossessed if we step out."

"That is also a concern."

Captain Hallr sighs, weary. He turns back to Nepeta, almost looking apologetic. "To your post, then, Leijon."

"Wait," Equius calls out. Nepeta turns to him. "She's just a trainee."

"I know," the Captain says. "But the beasts of Asgard are more than dangerous. One soldier cannot take them on their own, so fighting them should be in teams - unfortunately, we might be shorthanded. This is just a precaution."

"I'll be fine, Equius," Nepeta says. "I've killed Lusii before."

"We don't know how dangerous these animals are."

"Equius," Nepeta says, raising her head and meeting his eyes. He stills. "I will be fine."

He stares at her, like he's searching for something, before eventually taking a few steps forward. He looks sad, almost, but also a little proud.

"There you go again, stepping right into the world without me," he says, but not unkindly. "When did you grow up so fast?"

She grins up at him. "I don't know," she says. "But, being a kid and growing up - we can't really know how fast we'll go, can we?"

"Yeah," he says, "I guess we don't."

He raises a hand, like he wants to put it on her shoulder, or pat her on the head, but is mindful of his strength. Nepeta pulls him into a hug instead. He huffs, and then chuckles.

"Stay safe," he says. 

She nods into his shoulder. "I'll try my best."

They both pull away, and Nepeta looks at him for a beat longer before running out the doors. 

She heads to her bedroom. She's got a pair of gauntlets to equip.