And Casper can hear every sound in a large radius, no matter how small. Neuvillette might as well be speaking at a normal volume for all it matters to him. He's glad for the discretion, though.

"I can't... just throw him away. I can't stop caring about him." His heart feels like it's being ripped in two, and he doesn't know which direction to follow. There's the one that's right... and then the one that doesn't feel like a betrayal. "He hurt me, he had me hurt other people - he doesn't care about anyone but himself and making sure my mother's plans are carried out. Hell, he killed the brother I didn't even know I had. I don't... I don't think he even cared when I died. It was just... basically 'get back to work'."

He's not making a good case, he knows. "... He makes me feel like the worst version of myself, but... if not for him, I don't have anyone. I've met my mother twice, and the second was... bad." Being dead tends to not be the best situation, no. "I know I have... people here... but I'll have to go back eventually. I'm - I have to be responsible. If I can help save the world, even a little... it's too selfish to not try."

He puts a hand on his wrist - there's no mark, but that sort of spell wouldn't leave one. "He always has a way of making me think that I'm the one who's wrong. I can't help but fall in line when he's around." Maybe that's manipulation, but he can't stop himself. "I know I'm responsible for my own actions and not his, but..."

But what? He scrubs at his eyes and takes a deep breath. "I don't know. I feel stupid for not being able to break free from him."