He had no reason to lie. And that was why he said softly, "Yes. And he knew it would. He had experience with the Apple before. I do not know why I was immune to the Apple's effects, but for everyone else, the Apple extracted a price from the very force that kept them alive. It would drain them to the point of death for them to use it as--"

His words stopped abruptly, eyes closing in a wince as the memory came yet again. His hand gripping the apple tightly, golden beams cutting through the air as Swami choked on a cry. It was no small wonder that Maria had stopped him. Such vindictiveness...

"--As I did," he exhaled, "against Swami. I was the only one who never paid that price. I've always attributed that to the amount of death in my life, but there is no way to know."