#ELINCIA IN THE INBOX :pleading:

[lycianlynx]

"Hello Chad. I was hoping to check in on you. Are you feeling better?" She grimaces slightly. Perhaps she'd been a little too enthusiastic about their mock battle. "I want you to know that I think you have great potential. Guts too, challenging a professor and trying to steal from a pegasus knight. Hm."

"I know you aren't one of my students, but I've seen you engaged in swordplay. Perhaps I could offer some tutoring or sparring. Gentle, training weapons only," Maybe that was too much. Elincia smiles fondly at him, recalling his creative use of battle tactics. "I could offer you practice at stealing from more agile enemies too. Without the counterattack to worry about whilst you practice this time."

"I'm sorry, I hope I don't seem condescending. I see great promise in you and a desire to improve - as a teacher I sincerely wish to see you blossom."

"Thank you for the challenge. I look forward to seeing your growth."

"I... Yeah," Chad sighs, nodding, looking exhausted despite having been knocked out early — Not from fighting, but from lending a hand in the med tent. For the record, he really, genuinely doesn't hold his loss against Elincia; Like she said, she was far more agile and sharper than most run of the mill soldiers and ruffians he'd had to face. His mistake had been underestimating her. A costly one, his mind insists, despite her prior reassurances.

(Haah, guts? What a joke. Maybe he's lost his edge? It's been two years, so why is wartime still baked into his limbs?)

And... He'd bat her offer off as classic adult condecension, but she's so... Sincere. Knows how her tone might sound. Keeps assuming way too good from him. Offers him practice so he doesn't repeat said mistake. Honestly, what is this? What's up with this professor that's so —

Oh. That's it. She reminds them of Father, how he nurtured them despite their shortcomings and let their strengths flourish as much he could with the means they had. They didn't know what he saw in them then, either, and they don't know what Elincia sees in them, now. Maybe that's why they cave, the corner of their lips twitching upward in attempt to return her smile. It's not quite there, but the perpetual furrow of their brow eases, brown eyes less hard.

"No, I appreciate it. You're right about one thing — I do want to do better. So I'd be happy to take you up on that."

They sigh again, before reaching into their thigh bag, pulling out a granola bar to offer to her; A clear sign, i'm not mad, i'll be fine. "And spar me again sometime, properly. I can do better than... That."

#ELINCIA IN THE INBOX :pleading: #SORRY HES BEATING HIMSELF UP SO BAD he'll be fine he just has the self esteem of a brick #just give em like. a week. and they'll be semi normal about it #probably. #amitieos #;s. virtue in viridian | elincia #;e. battle of the eagle and lion | 2023