Valerion seemed to be deep in thought. "This is not something that has to have a reason", he then said. "You can think of it this way: if you caught a cold, would you blame yourself because you have no reason to be catching a cold?".

"I -- I guess not", Adrien replied.

"If someone called you pathetic for being ill and bedbound, what would you say to that person?".

Adrien's mouth twisted into a restrained sort of smile. "Many words that I wouldn't repeat here", he said with a faint chuckle to his voice.

Valerion laughed softly in response. "And you would be right to do so".

"I guess that was the bully talking, wasn't it?".

"Yes, it was", Valerion said, accompanying his words with a slow nod.