Benedict smiles, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes-- was it even Riftwatch yet, at the time, or still a branch of the Inquisition? For related reasons, he doesn't even quite remember.

"I," he replies, a bit haltingly, "I didn't know how bad things had gotten. Up north. And down here, the... I suppose you could say the culture was different." His mouth twitches, like he's about to say more, but changes course.

"The Templars who were around then-- they were. Really Templars. They handled things like southern Templars do." Focusing very intently on one small rock by his leg, he distractedly adds, "as far as I know, anyway."