[Maes considers that. He takes aim and tosses the ring. This time it doesn't hit its mark and lands in the grass. He frowns, the implications of it being a 'joke' don't exactly sit well with him.]

Well, it could be a practical joke. A pretty terrible one, but I'm not sure we can rule it out.

[Although he would certainly want to have some serious words about jokes involving putting his friends through the ringer of his resurrection. Not to mention his own feelings on the matter of being jerked around in such a way. You don't...you just don't joke about something like that.]

I think I'd prefer thinking of it as a test honestly. Seems less cruel.