He'd never say that Oz went 'easy on him' (because his young master might just see that as a challenge...!) but it was true, he'd always thought less of himself while Oz promised him the opposite. He had too much misplaced faith in his useless servant; Gil would never be able to see that potential that Oz seemed to see.

His expression turns softer, an almost-smile tugging at his lips. "When I met Oz for the first time, he told me...that from that moment on, he'd protect me because 'that's a master's job'. Even now a decade later he still believes that."

He shakes his head, lets his eyes close again.

"But to let his fragile body take on any more burden after everything - I can't allow that..."