Auron didn't respond to any of the praise. Jecht didn't know the whole story, and while Jecht may not have held hard feelings for what ended up happening, Auron still couldn't shake off that lingering guilt. The only good thing that had come of that rash decision back in Zanarkand was his being able to go to Zanarkand. Everything else... Everything else could have been ruined. It was only by chance that it hadn't.

"Only once," Auron replied. He hesitated. He shouldn't have. It was better to say what he needed to outright. The longer he waited, the more difficult it would be. But...

No. No excuses. "When he saw you."