[ a high honor? he definitely thought so, for a long time. his shaking hands clench briefly, and he self-consciously stashes them away so vergilius can't see ]

[ flapjack chirps something ]

It was given to me by the emperor. I was... a replacement. [ more chirping from flapjack, like he's trying to encourage hunter to keep talking. ]

I'm not the Golden Guard anymore. I'd be killed if I get sent back there.