[It does take several minutes for him to work up courage to do so.]

How can you say that? You barely know anything about me... you don't know what you'd be getting into. Other mages may not be dangerous -- but I... with Justice in my head, I'm not safe.

There are so many better options -- so many better men.

I'm an apostate with no future and an angry spirit living in his body. One who's bound to end up dead if he returns home again.