[Mentally, Yuan curses a number of things on general principle. He feels simultaneously insulted and complimented, and between the two it creates an irritating sludge of defensiveness.]

[He wonders how much he's going to wind up paying for this.]

I do.

[Pointless to deny his origins, when he swears half the soldiers in the city know it. Surely most of the apprentices have been told about him, too.]

[Yuan glances over his shoulder, confirming that Kratos is following; then, holding himself a little aloof from the surroundings, Yuan follows the smith.]