Cedric considered what to say over another mouthful of tea. It was such a tricky line to walk.

"All the things I haven't told you that you've pulled out of me, for one thing. I mean...I'm aware that you're a kirin, obviously, it's just taking a while to grasp the scope properly when my eyes see something else. But some wizards have the same ability---I just thought it'd be more obvious to me."

He shook his head. "I'm not offended! I was just...worried, for a little while. But then you've been kinder to me than I would have expected, and...training's important to me. I was going to do it on my own anyway, but I really appreciate that."

Ah, the silly naïve boy. Still searching for any shred of kindness in a world he now knew the cruelty of.