[...it's really tempting to lash out, even though he knows he'd just die --- even in the unlikely circumstance that it wasn't now, it would most definitely be later. So he takes a breath that's sharpened by the pain, but... well, if he wasn't used to dealing with pain, he wouldn't be a mage, so he is able to continue the conversation on without making a scene.]

...he's somewhere or other, doing something noble, I'd imagine. Given the change in circumstances, I can't really say I care one way or another what he's up to, honestly.

[maybe someone else will adopt that poor dog...]