[It's always easier to continue, once begun. Kratos has learned that about himself, previously; it's one of the reasons he so rarely starts. Aurions can't afford to run off their mouths -- so he says very little. It's in keeping, with his mask. But he's begun now, and with his hands and focus on the dishes, it seems even easier to keep going, even though he hasn't thought about this in years. It's a door in his heart he hasn't dared open for a very long time.]

When I was a youth, I was responsible for tutoring my siblings. They always responded best to stories and plays. Things they could laugh at, engage in. I enjoyed helping them see the world in new ways. I thought that if I could apply that same principle to the world, what could I change? We still speak of legends from centuries ago. Being able to tell even just one story in a way that will change the hearts of others -- surely, that's a worthy way to spend a life.

[His voice begins matter-of-fact; by the end, it's wistful.]