“He was the one who assisted me, when I was first cast into this world.” Edgard, he means. Few words, rough around the edges, but— undeniably sincere in both deed and speech, and there’s something about that Gabranth finds he can respect.

The sound of scrubbing slows, ebbing away for a gentle beat as Gabranth— no, as the man he’d been before that— steals a moment to sink down in warm water up to his chin. His ears. Just one second longer than he ought spare for the task.

The smallest possible indulgence.

“I might not have endured save for his intervention.”