Linden raises his own drink in a half-hearted toast before taking a deep drink of it.

"There's not much humans can't get used to," he offers. "The indignity of it is unpleasant, of course, but when you win, even when you just compete, people want your company. You get used to it, and then new Victors appear and your looks start going and that kind of request starts to taper off. Mine are rare these days."

He pauses.

"I know that a lot of you off-worlders are very uncomfortable with the institution, so... as your Mentor, I can see if Stephen and I can pull some strings and keep you out of it as much as possible."