In truth, Kalenedral thinks of his ghoul very much as a living man would think of their son... or as close as a creature of the Scourge can get. But it is not the way of Death Knights to show affection, and certainly not their way to call ghouls anything more personal than 'my minion' or 'my servant'.

Off the field of battle, he looks after his ghoul in a rather fatherly way, from periodically re-tying the ghoul's topknot for him to keeping the bandages wrapped around his limbs clean and securely-tied. Showering him with 'toys' is perhaps the natural progression, even if it's for reasons besides simply entertaining the creature.

But on the field of battle, he does not hesitate to destroy his minion -- however temporarily -- to gain an edge on his opponent. He will never flinch when Limbface is cut in half, or his skull is bashed in, or the ghoul is lit on fire.

It's a fairly unique dynamic they have. Even among their kind, since few Knights are as invested in their ghouls as Kalenedral is. Thassarian and Munch are the only real examples he himself knows of.

"Indeed," Kalenedral says, although he eyes John for a moment as though he's finally detected the snark. It's not like he's dumb, he just doesn't understand the living.