The way it's asked, with honesty, like he really wants to know, takes Anders by surprise. Not that he thought Nate callous, or cruel, but he's not used to people actually wanting to know how he is. Normally he'd deflect. He'd joke about how he's great, being in this place with Templars while possessed and wanted. But no one has asked and truly wanted to know, and he takes a shaky breath.
"No." His voice is quiet. Honesty is difficult. "But considering what I've done, I've no right to be all right any longer. It is what it is."
Mages are free of the Circles and no longer are at risk of being slaughtered by Templar whims. If he's the final mage to pay the price for that, then he can, well. Not live with it, obviously. But he can die at some sort of peace with it.
He takes another breath and straightens, glancing at the way they'd come in. "I go by Detlef, here. Anywhere, really."
no subject
"No." His voice is quiet. Honesty is difficult. "But considering what I've done, I've no right to be all right any longer. It is what it is."
Mages are free of the Circles and no longer are at risk of being slaughtered by Templar whims. If he's the final mage to pay the price for that, then he can, well. Not live with it, obviously. But he can die at some sort of peace with it.
He takes another breath and straightens, glancing at the way they'd come in. "I go by Detlef, here. Anywhere, really."