It almost sounds like he's slipping out of a reverie when he answers, "My - yes. It is."

The problem is, it's getting hard to focus. Gradually losing weight is helping, in one sense, but he's also losing the grounding balance of it, and -

Once the full chest plate comes over his head, it's clear why. More than one weapon was powerful and precise enough to puncture the leather of his gambeson, and that's soaked in blood too.

It isn't the tearing that surprises Zerxus, as he frowns down at himself; it's the fact that he's still bleeding.

Well. The cost was simple enough, at least.