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''I-I wouldn't mind being your first student.'' Did you blurt that out? Or whisper? Maybe both?
<span class="mu-i">Breathe in but not too loudly Rey. Be you. Be yourself.</span> Not that you know much about ''yourself''. Your mom taught you how to handle a bow, then progressed into stalking forests, how to mind your weight, and even exercise with reducing the presence of your soul... None of that is helping here. Would a lady like to hear you talking about shooting and skinning a deer? No way. ''<span class="mu-i">Sorry that was lame.</span>''
''If fates and time allow? Why not.'' You feel Augustine hand rest on top of yours and try your best not to stiffen. This is nice... ''Rey? You can relax, you're at no risk of offending me.''
''Ah...''<span class="mu-i">Breathe in and out</span> ''...thank you.'' The gentle expression in Augustine almost reminds you of your mother. <span class="mu-i">Undeniably your mind playing tricks on you</span>
''This is only my first day in town so I'm trying my best to avoid making strong judgements.''
''But?'' The pink godtouched urge you on.
''Me and my mother were accosted by three, huh, stooges.'' <span class="mu-i">That's a good word, right?</span> ''Earlier because they took issue with our swords.'' You gently rattle your short blade on your hip. ''Granted, I can't expect every decision of our baron or his officials to be known to all peacekeepers but their attitudes, well...'' Augustine's expression hardened, her lips pressed together into a stressed line.''...Your earlier words about the baron's son are making me wary of the situation in town, it almost sounded like a grudge.''
Augustine leans back to fully rest on her chair, breaking the contacts of your hands. <span class="mu-i">There's no need for you to apologize right?</span>
''Grudge huh? It's strange, I never actually looked at it that way. It truly is easy to get swept up by emotions.'' There it is again, that almost sad expression of nostalgia. ''You're right to be wary Rey, though I think I might be a -little- too harsh in my judgment, I'll explain.''
She took almost a complete minute to properly inspect the progress of her medicine before returning her attention to you.
''<span class="mu-r">I spent all of last month in the baron manor</span> to refine my apprenticeship with the master in medicine his lordship hired, things were going well until his son returned <span class="mu-r">two weeks ago</span> with a big mercenary company. I've only now returned to Eichenwald properly so I'm not entirely in the known about what the men have been doing, I haven't heard anything about actual rapes but the harassment of women and brawl with husbands started when the men arrived, our genuine peacekeepers don't have it easy. I have a friend who tries his best to keep the Mamonos in decent shape and, in his words the mercs ''are a cancerous growth on the harmony of good souls.''
She tried to bring some levity by imitating a man but her heart wasn't in it.
''It's a difficult topic, isn't it?'' You find the courage to push your seat closer.
