From the way that Cal was avoiding my gaze, I could sort of sense that this topic was a serious one for him — it was surprising that he'd opened up to me at all. Maybe the island had helped him; after all, if he was half-descended from the creature that he'd described, I would have expected him to have at least a few of the features mentioned, and not just the pale skin. It was possible that Tabula Rasa changed him from some hybrid into someone who looked and functionally was human. Was I supposed to ask him if that was the case? I ended up deciding not to, after that strange smile he flashed in my direction. If anything, though, what Cal had just told me made me more resolute about being there for him.

"Some people'll do just about anythin' for money," I replied, pursing my lips and leaning in just a little to better meet his gaze. "But hey, doesn't matter who your parents were, as long as you don't end up learnin' from them. I don't think you have a bad disposition, and if pirates come across this island, I doubt you'd give me up for a few doubloons, so we're safe." I shrugged for emphasis, then furrowed my brow in thought. It couldn't have been easy on Niko, and the fact that Cal had turned out alright despite everything was probably something he could attribute to Niko's influence. I could respect him a lot more for that.

Even if it meant respecting someone who shared Eric's face.