[A life of privilege and passion. Hector understands at least part of Jaskier's drive. While music has never spoken to him the way it obviously does the bard, Hector gets rejecting money and power to follow a life devoted to a craft.]

A university graduate, eh? [That's the most surprising part for Hector. Education was so rare in his world. Hector considered himself fortunate to be learned, but college was never an option for him. He's still adjusting to the fact that the people he knows now had a completely different upbringing.]

And look at you now. No more condiments, only coins and praise being thrown at you. [Maybe he really should let Jaskier take care of him.

He shrugs as the conversations shifts back to him.]

I wanted a dog. My father was an alchemist-- they are notorious for being obsessed with money and power-- and he trained me from a young age. He wanted me to focus on my studies, and all I wanted was a dog to play with. [He tends not to talk about his family, but here he is, sharing. He wants Jaskier to understand him.]

I thought he couldn't object if I was able to make a pet that cost nothing, needed no feeding. I was seven or eight at the time, and hopelessly naive. So I found a dead dog that had been struck by a cart and brought it back to life. It should have been far beyond my abilities, but I had a natural talent, I discovered.