Quoted By:
Marle pulled back and looked up at Schala's face. "Are you sure?" she asked. Schala sniffled again, then nodded with a smile in a vigorous motion that sent her long hair waving. Marle moved a step back. "We're all your friends, never forget that."
"I won't. Thank you, really!" Schala answered her, still smiling. She then removed the sheath from her new dagger and resolutely brandished it in front of her, ready to stab someone.
You approached her carefully, ducked to pick up the sheath and the dull knife she had dropped and deftly maneuvered around the blade she was holding to plant a kiss on her damp cheek. "You look so cute." you declared "Now, let's teach you how to use that, alright?"
She blushed at your touch and nodded with sparkling eyes. "Alright!"
"Good, let's go! You two have to train and I have a contest to win!" Marle declared and made for the door.
"You have no chance of winning." Lucca boldly stated before following her. Chrono went after them, silent as usual.
Schala haphazardly threw the sheathed dagger and your silver staff in her Space, leaving you both armed with just your training weapons. Your barely contained concern surfaced now that you were alone. "Are you sure you're alright?" you asked her.
"I am." she reassured you. "These were happy tears." She sniffled for one more time, then chuckled again. "They are!" she insisted as her eyes moistened. "It's only that... they're so kind. They accepted us so easily. They didn't... They gave me this... They'd even give their lives for someone they barely know. And I only... I was..."
Give their lives for someone they barely know? That's what the old man in your dream had said, before you'd even met them. Had you told her about that? You must have, how else could she know? It wasn't important now anyway. You wiped the gathering tears from beneath her emerald eyes with your thumb, leaving your palm on her cheek. "You are extraordinary. And too hard on yourself. Didn't you hear Marle? They're your friends, nothing you've done or said or felt has bothered them."
She smiled timidly and put her hand on your wrist, visibly calmer than before. "You're right. Thank you. I... have been giving an abundance of thanks since we first spoke, haven't I?"
"You have. It's one of the things I love about you. Your kindness, how much you appreciate even the little things. But if anything bothers you, anything at all, tell me. I can't help you if I don't know." you finished in a more serious tone.
She seemed to consider your words for a moment. "Um... anything? Maybe you can...? I have..." she spoke hesitantly, but the moment passed and she looked away before continuing with a steadier voice. "Gaius? We should go as well. We shouldn't keep them waiting."
