The boy's reaction did not surprise Shard, for he would have been surprised if anyone could calmly accept that they were about to drink "The Price of Growth."
"What kind of growth are you looking for?"
Shard asked, and the boy who had used the toy knife to protect himself was not stumped by this question. He looked up at Shard:
"To be carefree, to be free, to not be bound by adults, to do whatever I want..."
Shard did not continue to listen but instead turned and shook his head at the Saint. This was not growth, and what he desired, he did not understand himself.
The Saint maintained that smile:
"As you express your wishes to this gentleman, what you truly desire is to become an adult."
The voice was still gentle, but Shard subconsciously felt that there was something different in its tone:
"Lying and denying your own past words is not the behavior of a good child."
The Saint said softly, picking up the teacup and gently shaking it, causing Shard to almost dodge away.
