"..."

It's a sobering reminder that, assuming he ends up back in his own world and in one piece, that he faces some hefty barriers to actually reconnecting with anyone from his past. But he won't take away from his achievement by bringing up all the things that could go wrong. He's sure he already knows.

He gets a glimpse of blue with hints of yellow centers as Teo picks out some flowers to place in his hair, and he has to refrain from the childish urge to reject them. It's not as if he would know the significance of those colors... and there's nothing wrong with the colors or flowers themselves.

"...I'll save Mateo for when you get on my nerves, then." It's a light jab, though he falls into a thoughtful silence afterwards. Even now Lennox insists on using formalities with him... but that was always the relationship he wanted. Nero obviously takes formalities less seriously, and there's no need for them with the Sage beyond using that title...

"...If anything, it feels like everyone often tries to treat me too formally, even though I'm a maledictor... at least I know that isn't a concern with you."

Hard to say if that's a compliment or an insult, depending on how you look at it.