[ Rezo's reaction after Zel grabs him causes a pang of guilt.

Of all things.

Rezo might have earnestly thought that Zelgadis meant to attack him.

Without even trying to defend himself.

For a split second, Zelgadis feels like a bully.

Though blood is already smeared on his sleeve, he wordlessly accepts the handkerchief, holding it to his nose and leaning his head forward. Still bleeding, it seems.

Rezo wasn't happy that Zelgadis skirted past the details earlier. He won't be able to get away with being dodgy a second time. ]

...When I said it was harder to cast magic, what I meant was that it's painful. It's taking more out of me than it should.

[ He keeps his voice low.

No complaining where the patients can hear him. ]

I was going to power through it. I still plan to.

[ He doesn't want to amend that with an "if I can". It would be like admitting defeat.

He may be too stubborn for his own good. He knows it, even. If he's draining magic too quickly, that's serious.

Whatever the case, this is serious. If he needs to cast any healing magic on himself, he's almost certainly out of luck. ]

Don't tell me to call it quits here.

[ It's not a demand, but a request made in a quiet, measured tone. ]