[ Damn it. If only he were less tired, then perhaps he could put his thoughts in proper order and say something more eloquent. But on the other hand, maybe it would just make it harder instead. He's always been prone to censoring himself, and he's pretty sure that isn't what Zelgadis wants right now.

It's just a shame that the honest, uncensored truth is so hard to believe. ]

...I know that it sounds like madness, but I truly had convinced myself I was doing you a favor. [ He winces, remembering what Zelgadis had told him when he was in the Hellmaster's Jar, how he'd secretly followed Rezo and learned of his chimera experiments. ] One that would be mutually beneficial, I admit, but I had no desire to throw you away.

[ Rezo runs a hand through his hair, agitated. ]

If anything, you were the one who discarded me. And you were right to do so.

[ Even if Rezo hadn't ruined Zelgadis's life and stolen his future by turning him into a chimera, he'd still intended to revive Shabranigdu. It was an objectively insane plan, and even Rezo is astonished by his own arrogance in believing he could have contained the Dark Lord somehow.

Oh, he'd certainly been furious when Zelgadis had turned against him, stung by betrayal and his pride wounded badly enough to try and kill him. But that's all the more reason for Zelgadis to leave, isn't it? And all the more reason for Rezo, with what little decency he has left, to keep his distance from Zelgadis and not barge in on the life he'd managed to establish once Rezo was out of the picture. ]

You didn't get anything wrong. I thought you knew that.