[As much as Richard tries to fight against it, he can't help but feel his heart clenching in his chest as his blood freezes still, stomach dropping upon hearing those words. He's certain that Silco has no idea what it means to someone like Richard, who's spent a lifetime hiding and clinging on the darkness, hoping that it would hide away the sin carved on his body.

The room disappears from his view again, covered in the dark depths of the woods. There's a chorus of voices, hissing and whispering to his name and the curses. "To wit, an undigested and deformed lump!", "A demon!". The usual mantra from his nightmare. Who knows, maybe he should show Silco what a true monster looked like? Maybe that would finally break the man's calm and run off in fear.]

Hehe. [Richard laughs, raising his gaze up to meet Silco with an ironic smile on his face as he deflects the panic from his features.] I only jest. There are some monsters that ought to stay hidden away from the eyes, even as sharp as yours.

[Then he focuses back on his tumbler, swirling the liquid in it before taking another sip.] I believe your ale might be a tad bit too strong for my spirit.