franka

Control your distance! Close in!

Slash! Don't just rely on thrusts!

Phew!

Aim low!

Eyah!

You lost.

Franka...

How many times have I told you? You're using a longsword. Your style may be based around rapiers, but don't rely on thrusts so much.

Sorry.

You don't need to apologize. Old habits die hard. It's not easy to combine those two weapons' techniques, and I'm really just coming up with this on the fly as I train you.

Um, Franka? There's actually something that I've been meaning to ask.

Mm?

You seem to know a lot about my rapier style. Why's that?

Hm... Well, before I became a mercenary, I was actually the greatest fencing teacher in all of Columbia.

R-Really?

Hehe, normally you'd have to pay the big bucks to take my lessons.

Um, so...

Just kidding. I was never a teacher.

Mnngh... Not another one of your jokes. But why then?

You're very familiar with that particular style. If I remember correctly, last time you even said, 'have you forgotten your third lesson, on how much force to apply to a thrust?' Or something like that.

Hm...

Right, I wonder why.

Control your distance! Close in!

Aim low!

Have you forgotten your third lesson, on how much force to apply to a thrust?

*Sobs*...

Eh? C'mon, don't cry. I just meant if you're here to learn fencing, you gotta put in some work, you know? I didn't mean it like that. Alright, alright. Don't cry, now.

Alright, that's enough chatter. Let's take it from the top.

Franka raises her sword, holding it right before her nose.

An opening! Strike!

I've got a chance!

Melantha, who finally managed to threaten Franka's neck with her training sword, notices that her teacher seems to be in a bit of a trance.

Fine, you got me. This is your first win during training, isn't it Mel?

Only because you were a little... A-Anyway, I still have much to learn!

Of course. When did I say you were good enough to graduate from my classes? You still won, though, and that counts for something.

She strokes Melantha's hair.

Her usual smile has reappeared on her face.

Um... Thank you!

Right, I probably won't be at Rhodes Island much next month. Be sure to keep up your training, okay?

Um? Huh? What are you off to do, Miss Franka...?

Ah, I don't mean to pry...

If you're going into danger, please, make sure to stay safe.

Don't worry, it's nothing dangerous. I'm just taking some time off for a trip, what with how busy I've been lately.

Huh? Really?

Alright, time's up. Gotta go.

I heard that.

Wha?

Oh... I remember, you were there drilling while I was training Mel. What, you heard something?

So what's this about taking time off?

Didn't I just say it's for a trip?

Yeah right.

Can't you trust me even a little?

Okay, so what's the destination?

Most governments don't welcome Infected tourists. Where are you going?

Oh dear, is Little Miss Teacher's Pet really so worried that I'm about to do something dangerous?

I'm not worried about YOU. I'm just worried about the trouble you'll—

Whatever, screw this song and dance.

Yes, I'm worried about you, alright? You were acting so distracted back there. If you ever need help, or just to talk, I'm here for you, okay?

Alright, alright... But I really don't need any help, I promise. It's not anything dangerous this time, just a personal matter.

So how do you know so much about rapiers?

Et tu, Liskarm? Why's everyone so curious about this all of a sudden?

You wouldn't normally lose a match like that, but you did. And right after she brought it up.

Oh.

It's my job to worry about my partner when she's not at the top of her game.

Alright. I'll tell you. I'm actually the successor to the Victorian Aubigny school of fencing. I was way too talented even, renowned across all of Londinium by the time I was seven.

And apparently God Himself had a problem with that, because I caught Oripathy when I was eight for no apparent reason.

After my master died, I left Victoria in search of the twelve surviving blades, forged by a legendary blacksmith.

That's the plot of a Higashinese novel, isn't it?! Besides, you're Columbian!

Heheh...

Ahem. Truth is, I had a dream when I was eight. After I woke up, I went and followed that dream's guidance, all the way to this remote abandoned city.

Then I met a giant fowlbeast who used its own feathers to stab its prey. I was just a kid, but seeing that technique gave me a revelation—

There are no fowlbeasts like that!

Huh. So that's not gonna fly either?

Alright then. So by pure chance, I met a Yanese swordmaster who taught me their secret techniques—

Come on. Stop fooling around.

If you don't want to talk about it, then fine, forget I asked. Sorry for bringing it up.

Everyone's got things that are hard to talk about. No need to go through all that trouble just to hide it.

One month later...

Um... Liskarm? Do you know if Franka's back yet?

You know, I just asked the Doctor about that.

What did they say?

Nothing in particular, just that we shouldn't worry. She'll be back on schedule.

I'm still worried about her, though. She seemed a little out of it before she left.

Relax, she'll be fine.

I believe in her.

Aw, how touching! Hey there, you two.

Franka!

Franka...

Honey, I'm home! Okay, Mel, let's get right to business. Let's see if you've gotten rusty this past month.

A-Alright!

Haah—!

Slash!

Oh.

Not bad, not bad. You haven't been slacking off, at least. You're connecting your slashes and thrusts much better now. Very nice.

Yeah... Um, Franka?

What's wrong? Did you suddenly notice how cool I am? Is this the birth of yet another Franka stan? In that case, feel free to hop right into my embrace.

You look so much happier now. I'm glad.

Oh.

Alright, alright. Let's continue your training. Have you been working on your basic stances?

If I remember correctly, you come from a pretty well-off family, right?