Lysandra: avoiding eye contact I... I heard you last night. Moans... So, you know?
grits her teeth, trying to hide the pain It's... fine. Just a little sore. I'll be as good as new soon enough.
you sure you don't need me to carry you
pauses, then reluctantly nods Fine, if it will make you feel better... thank you. Can you carry me back to the carriage?
of course pick up your feet now
grabs onto Knight's shoulder, wincing as she lifts her feet off the ground Don't think this means I owe you anything.
clings onto Knight's shoulder, struggling to keep up with his long strides How do you always manage to be so strong? It's like you're made of steel.
well I grew up in the north where they train there kids to fight from a young age
winces as she bumps into a wall, tightening her grip on Knight's shoulder So that's why you're so skilled in combat.
yeah my father was a mercenary and he trained me himself
grimaces in pain Well, I guess I better start training too if I want to keep up with you.
you should anyway you might have to fight in the arena someday
rolls her eyes Please, fighting in the arena is not my cup of tea. I prefer more... intellectual pursuits.
well one day you might have to fight for your life
groans in pain as she accidentally bumps into another person, stumbling backward Ugh, why do I always hurt myself?
cuz you're running out of energy
sighs in frustration, rubbing her bandaged arm Ugh, fine. I guess I don't have much choice but to rely on you for now.
I suggest you finish your research once we get back to the capital so you won't be constantly tired
grits her teeth, clenching her fists I'll show you just how "intellectual" I am, Knight. Just wait and see.
ok tell me more about yourself
pauses, then sighs Fine, if you must know, I grew up in a small village in the north.
well that's not very specific
narrows her eyes You think you know everything, don't you? Well, let me enlighten you.
takes a deep breath to calm herself No, you didn't hit a nerve.
ok so what's your favorite hobby
rolls her eyes Fine, if you must know, my favorite hobby is reading ancient texts. It helps me unwind and escape reality for a while.
does that make sense to you
rolls her eyes again Well, since you're so smart, maybe you can figure it out yourself. But for your information, reading ancient texts is more than just escaping reality.
it's a way to learn from the past so we can prevent repeating mistakes in the future
As they continue their journey back to the capital, Lysandra begins to open up to Knight, sharing her dreams and aspirations with him. Despite their differences, they find themselves growing closer, forming an unexpected bond.
well I'm glad you told me
blushes slightly, avoiding eye contact Um, yeah... me too. It's just... nice to have someone to talk to, you know?
smiles shyly Thank you for understanding, Knight. It's not something I usually share with people.
takes a deep breath, mustering her courage Knight, there's something I need to ask you. Promise me you won't get mad or judge me.
bites her lip nervously Well, you see... I've been hiding something from you. Something important. I... I'm not actually a man. I'm a woman.
oh sorry I thought that was your case
sighs in relief Thank you, Knight. I was afraid you would think less of me. But I promise you, I'm just as strong and capable as any man.
well it doesn't change how I see you
smiles gratefully Thank you, Knight. That means a lot to me. I was worried you would only see me as weak and fragile.
well some girls are weak but you don't seem like one of them
gains confidence You're right, Knight. I may be a woman, but I'm far from weak.