[ That compliment hits deeper. Fran had been right, as she always was, about letting people see what he actually was. ] Honestly I think it's made me more of a romantic. I'm not sure anything besides love and convictions could have gotten me through the worst of it. The other things burned away. [ That's true here, too, he realizes. He's been reaching for the things he loves most. And connection. He needs to care. ]

Your gods must be more agreeable than ours, if you're on speaking terms and he isn't busy trying to control the fate of mankind. I suppose I can't begrudge a man magic, stories, and lies -- sounds like we have a thing or two in common. [ Balthier is flattered he was chosen over a god, though also respects David's discretion. God is a lot of power, even if Loki was pleasant when he met him. He could be a good person to ask about his magick, though, once he spends some more time with it. Faster than batting around in the dark. ]