Kairils gave Ma Lou a long, searching look.
"What's your name?"
"Huh?"
Ma Lou froze for a moment. Why was an NPC in this game checking my personal details?
Still, he gave Kairils his ID, even coming up with a suitable explanation:
"My lord, my name is Ma Lou!"
"I grew up in Fog Town. I never had a proper name, so that's what everyone calls me."
"Ma... Ma Lou?"
Kairils softly repeated the strange name.
The surprise on his face lasted only an instant. Then he did something Ma Lou would never have imagined, even in his dreams.
The proud Genius Knight of Winterhold actually forced his grievously injured body upright and gave Ma Lou a solemn bow!
"Thank you for not abandoning me out in the wilderness."
Kairils's voice was filled with sincere gratitude. "If it weren't for you, I would already be a cold corpse."
"Holy shit! Please, don't! Don't!"
Startled, Ma Lou hurriedly jumped aside, frantically waving both hands in the air.
Bro!
Stop bowing!
Keep this up and you'll smash what little conscience I have left to pieces!
I just teamed up with my squadmates yesterday to screw over your entire squad, and now you're bowing to thank me?
What kind of hell-mode test of human decency is this?!
Kairils watched Ma Lou's comical display as he waved his hands wildly in the air.
He was taken aback at first, but then understanding dawned in his eyes.
In this Wasteland World, with its rigid theocratic hierarchy, a nearly insurmountable gulf did indeed separate the lofty, officially recognized knights from commoners living in the wilderness.
Before a city-state's knights, ordinary refugees considered even raising their heads to meet their eyes an affront to their authority.
To Kairils, it was perfectly understandable that Ma Lou would be