=== Alcryst & Citrinne === --- C --- [Citrinne] Hyah! [Citrinne] I just can't seem to get this right. [Alcryst] Hello, Citrinne. Are you training with magic? [Citrinne] Oh! Alcryst! Where did you come from? Are you lost? [Alcryst] What? No, I was just passing by. [Citrinne] I see. My goodness, you were so...quiet. [Alcryst] You always seem to be training in your spare time, Citrinne. I admire your dedication. [Alcryst] I think you might be the hardest-working person in all of Brodia. [Citrinne] I appreciate the kind words, Alcryst, but... [Citrinne] All of this training isn't enough. I'm still far behind everyone else. [Citrinne] I must, must, must grow stronger. [Alcryst] Really? Why? I think you're fine as you are now. Besides, I'll protect you. [Citrinne] Ah, yes. That's the same Alcryst I knew as a child─placing others well ahead of himself. [Citrinne] However...I can't rely on your kindness. [Citrinne] When it comes down to it, I... [Alcryst] Citrinne? [Citrinne] No, it's nothing. Don't worry about it. [Citrinne] I need to resume my training. Please excuse me, Alcryst. [Alcryst] Oh, uh... All right, Citrinne... [Citrinne] [Alcryst] Something is seriously bothering her...but what? --- B --- [Citrinne] Oh, it's hopeless. My best is still so weak. [Citrinne] I... I don't deserve to be Alcryst's retainer. [Alcryst] I disagree. [Citrinne] Alcryst! Again? How long have you been there? [Alcryst] A while. I apologize for spying. I was worried about you after our last chat. [Alcryst] Do you really believe that you don't deserve to be my retainer? You know that's not true. [Citrinne] ... [Citrinne] Alcryst, you and I are cousins─practically siblings since we grew up together. [Citrinne] And, for as long as I've known you, you've carried a low opinion of yourself. [Citrinne] Growing up in Diamant's shadow didn't give you many chances to shine on your own. [Alcryst] That's true. I suppose it's still true. [Citrinne] But I've seen you shine. I see how amazing you truly are. [Citrinne] You always spot a person's greatest skill or best quality and make sure they're recognized for it. [Citrinne] You support and openly praise the people around you. [Citrinne] I could go on. [Alcryst] You're giving me far too much credit... [Citrinne] A person like that should be protected. I've felt that way about you since we were children. [Citrinne] But I was a fool to think I could succeed at that. Convictions aren't enough. [Citrinne] I am simply not strong enough to keep you safe. [Alcryst] That isn't true! [Citrinne] I'm sorry, Alcryst. I'm so sorry that they chose me to be your retainer. [Citrinne] If you weren't stuck with me...I'm sure you'd have someone stronger by your side. [Alcryst] Citrinne... --- A --- [Alcryst] Citrinne, do you have a moment? [Citrinne] Oh, Alcryst. [Alcryst] I'm not sure if it's because we're cousins or what, but...we have a lot in common. [Alcryst] As you know, I find it...difficult...to accept my own worth. I see that same struggle in you. [Citrinne] How do you mean? [Alcryst] You believe that you're too weak to be my retainer, but you couldn't be more wrong. [Citrinne] Alcryst, you really don't have to try and make me feel better about this. [Citrinne] In terms of strength, I am inferior to the other royal retainers. That is irrefutable. [Alcryst] If you're referring to raw power, maybe. [Alcryst] But that's why you use every spare moment you have to train, right? [Alcryst] Rain or shine, you haven't missed a single day. [Alcryst] You may lack physical strength, but you make up for it in strength of will. That matters. [Citrinne] Perhaps, but...commitment to training is not what makes a worthy retainer. [Alcryst] Again, I disagree. [Alcryst] Because I know how seriously you take your role, it's easy to place my trust in you. So I do. [Citrinne] You do? Really? [Alcryst] Do you have any idea how reassured I was when I heard that you would be my retainer? [Alcryst] Wait─reassured isn't the right word for it. Let me phrase this more clearly. [Alcryst] I am so, so glad that you became my retainer. [Alcryst] Yes, we are cousins. Yes, we have known each other since we were very young. [Alcryst] But I don't care about the obvious reasons why you were chosen. [Alcryst] To me, the important difference is that you volunteered for this position yourself. [Citrinne] I wanted to protect my wonderful cousin. [Alcryst] Exactly. I don't deserve that protection, but... it means the world to me that you think I do. [Alcryst] That's why I'm happy things are like this, Citrinne. [Citrinne] Alcryst... [Citrinne] That's...such a wonderful thing to hear you say. It makes me want to redouble my training! [Citrinne] I have a long way to go before I know I can protect you, after all. [Alcryst] Hey, wait─I'm the one who's protecting you! [Citrinne] Haha, of course. Thank you, Alcryst. --- S ---