What am I, now that the Council is gone? I’m a bit of flotsam washed up on a foreign shore. It’s no wonder that she doesn’t listen to me anymore. I’m lost.

I think that is a really concise explanation of Giles in S7. Even if his earlier adult years were spent in rebellion against the CoW, he is defined inspite of himself, by his relation to the organization. What is he, he wonders if the CoW and its staff do longer exists. Excellent work, Elsa!