[ while he vaguely remembers her words about disciples before, he hadn't paid it much mind. he understands that she'd had followers at some point, but not much beyond that. like most things, they generally resisted prying too much in each others' respective histories. the past could remain in the past.

but perhaps he should have paid it much more attention; perhaps he should have inquired further. neither truly knows the nature of the other. he'd told her about Servants only in the vaguest of terms, while she'd said nothing about herself. what she is, why she is the way she is, the power she holds... all of those questions rise in his mind now.

he'd absolutely refused to be bound to the will of another, especially someone he didn't know. in truth, he still did not know zero very well. any closeness between the two of them had been manufactured and false, the result of machinations out of either of their control. that had been enough for him to keep an eye on her after she'd awoken, but that was all.

so why would he even consider this idea? never mind whether or not it's even possible, she's hardly a fitting Master for a Servant.

so perhaps that's why she makes a suitable Master for someone who shouldn't be a Servant in the first place. ]

An... interesting idea. [ he opens his eyes again, looking up and studying her expression. it's hard to read, though the concern is still obvious. for whatever reason, she does genuinely seem to care whether he lives or dies. ] Perhaps it wouldn't be so terrible serving someone like you.

But do you really think you have what it takes? There is a cost. [ the connection between the two of them will last until their pact is severed. since she isn't a proper magus, he isn't sure what exactly that means for her. ]