What was a light hearted smile quickly turned into a venemous scowl, the monk seeming to glare threats into the man's eyes. "You're very candid, aren't you? I'd dare say unbearably so." He put on a front of restrained disgust, dismissive towards the honesty thrown his way despite requesting such, though in a way that he appeared to remain polite. In truth he just wanted to force his mind into a state that pushed out whatever Ardnt just told him in that low, rough voice of his, torn by the ocean air, age and a fair share of fights. Luitwin swallowed down the heat that seemed to pool in his throat, instead letting the slight discomfort settle in it's place. It was.. embarrassing, in a way. He wasn't a timid man, especially for a holy monk on his path to priesthood, but Ardnt's words made him feel especially... small, and weak. Tight little noble, Ardnt said, and Luitwin didn't bother to elaborate on the topic as he all too eagerly let it be swept to the side of the road.<br/><br/>There was that aggression again, Luitwin could feel it, he was aware of the fire in his belly and the sudden urge to devolve into a little wrath. But for the better of the both of them, he suppressed this, for now.<br/><br/>"I think that you should realize that being so complacent will only hurt your recovery. This is.. recovery, Ardnt. Have you forgotten already? The fact of mortal imperfection shouldn't have you so content with yourself." Luitwin scoffed, pausing when he realized he was speaking too quickly, too bitterly. "... It's not about proving you innocent to the court, it's about taking you as my own responsibility, to announce you safe by sanctuary. It means that you will be staying with me, at the monastery, you will own little, want little... And if I feel you're a hopeless case, or months run into years with the dwindling support from the Abbot..."<br/><br/>He forced himself to make eye contact again, personal and honest. "You'll be relinguished to the court, and the church will not support you during your trial... And that's if you have a second trial. For a man from Alriah, I can't say with good faith that the court would be willing to expend the time and resources to re-sentence you."<br/><br/>Luitwin had gotten too comfortable with Ardnt, and it seemed to work against him. The rippling of the man's laugh and the sharp bite in his words, the monk felt he wasn't in control of an interview he conducted. Though Ardnt didnt seem to realize that, which was for the best. His ignorance alone was a blessing.<br/><br/>Stiffly, the monk put on a face of stone. "Even sanctuary isn't kind to those who've committed numerous sins, but you're foreign, and for once this is on your side. I doubt your case would appear as a point of pride, they'd see you as a loose end. But there are still some days until we arrive, I take it you're wise enough to use that time to further reflect and keep me convinced of your want for devotion." Coldly, he shifted the subject, as if going down a mental checklist. "I'd like to then ask about your life... How you grew up, or your battles, anything that would help me conceptualize the trials of a man growing up in such a place as that, under the veil." Alriah, the populace there was likely ignorant. He often heard of  holy men traveling north to spread the word of God and the gift of medicine.<br/><br/>"Or.. This event that has you sitting here in stitches, if you don't like to go so far back. The man who stabbed you, you said you.. killed him, yes? And the one whose persecuted you, a man native to Herzland? I only suppose that would make sense, seeing as you're alive you haven't drifted far as you would've from Alriah's waters." He had his body turned to Ardnt fully by now, hands gathered in his lap like before, prim and composed.