[There's the barest quirk of his lips as he smiles briefly at the dry tone.] It will keep the novices on their toes, I think, if they are unaware that I'm around. [And also, if he is honest, the room does not feel like it is his. It's still too heavy with his master's presence, still feels like it belongs Al Mualim. Time, as it does, will bleed away and this will be his.

He just has to use his newfound patience to wait for that time.] Let that be a lesson to us then, Malik. We are not anymore untouchable than our masters, and the moment we begin to think so, we're as lost as they are now. [A darkness presses against him, and he frowns. In the back of his mind, there is always that feelings. Having the whole truth in his hands and stepping away is perhaps the hardest thing he has done.

His head tilts a bit.] It's a burden I wouldn't wish on anyone else to know that. [And then a pause as he makes a huffing noise that might be a laugh.] Hearing you call me that is strange, my friend.