[ He will let Passenger continue to scold him, his expression softening into a gentle look of understand. He understands Passenger is mostly emotionless due to the Oripathy, so for all this ire to be here.

He gets it, and he understands, and he's touched. That there's enough care there to be angry about it.

The only hardening of his expression is Passenger saying he would have consented. ]

No.

[ That one word carries with it the very reason he was the Leader of their little band of merry Adventurers. That shows for years he was a King. It's firm and final, with a power behind it that says not to argue. When his hand is finally released, he sighs gently and lets it fall, leaning on his Staff a little. ]

I am over two-thousand years of age, my friend. I have learned far more than I have any right to have learned. I will discover a cure. For you, for Phantom, for anyone else who has the infection coursing through their veins. And magic can be temperamental. Painful. I will never ask anyone but myself to go through it.

[ He reaches out with his uninfected hand and gently brushes some of Passengers hair from his face, tucks it behind his ear. A Grandfatherly touch. Soft and caring. ]

You will have many more years, my friend, I promise you.