Giving up on holding the unpleasant little piece of paper, Zagreus dropped it, letting it flutter to his feet where it began to char a bit from the proximity to the flames. He took a step back, hoping he hadn't offended the man.

Of course, the question shot at him sort of offended him.

"A ghost? You mean a shade??" Was this man asking if he was dead? Not that there was anything wrong with being dead - he had a great many dead friends! - but it was rather presumptuous and also a bit of a touchy topic for the prince. "No! No, I'm not dead! Even if I was, what sort of question is that?? You can see clearly I'm solid and breathing." Having died doesn't count as being dead, right? He can die, he just can't be dead, right?