Even-tempered? There's a flicker of surprise from him too, then he ducks his chin and laughs, shaking his head after.

"Maybe now. Back then I was proud, and selfish, and took every slight to heart. My teacher wanted to strangle me most of the time," he says this with grin, like a joke and not the actual fact that it is: Dayyid would have murdered him for his sins and defiance had he not desperately needed Kahlil. From this distance of space and time he can laugh at it now, though.

"I used to think the other students were jealous that I was better than them, but really I was probably just a jerk."

He shrugs at that. This might be the first time he's had the time and access to his memories to self-reflect on this. He glances over at Wilhelm.

"What about you? Did you enjoy your school?"