The serval addresses multiple others, and Volterra has to admire his restraint in not simply attacking the numerous ones who question him. This is the sort of restraint that the goliath has to learn, because when he is king he will have to accept that not everyone will agree with his decisions. Attacking dissenters will only get him so far - he will need diplomacy as well as raw power.

Suddenly his burnt back heals itself, and his muscles unclench at the absence of pain. His grin returns at the cat's first statement, remarking on Volterra's acknowledgement of his mortal greed. "I have many, many flaws, but I do not delude myself into thinking that I am a paragon of goodness and self-sacrifice." He knows he is not; quite the contrary. He is greedy, selfish, possessive, avaricious, and most of all he is shameless about admitting these things. Honesty is one of his few positive traits, and this includes being honest towards himself about his flaws.

And now? In this very moment? If you had nothing to wish for, if your life was momentarily complete...what then? Unbidden, Isopia's face drifts across the forefront of his vision, and he clenches his teeth to try and rid himself of the image. He is not going to admit that to a crowd full of people. "In this very moment, the thing I desire most is a throne - but I would not ask a God to help me attain that, because I know I am quite capable of getting it by myself." He wouldn't waste his wish on something he knows he can get by mortal means, through hard work and strength of body. So he would probably ask for an increase in his magical ability, as there's no way of him getting that by himself - but that seems a stupid answer, a cop-out. Everybody would say that, and doesn't he pride himself on going against the grain?

To his astonishment, he is one of the ones chosen to receive the flower, which is his key to speaking to a God. Immediately he thinks of Father Earth, and is tempted to move towards the Veins right away to discuss numerous things with his favoured deity, but he resists. He will save it for when he really needs it. "Thank you," he rumbles, dipping his head in a rare gesture of humility.