1. ...
  2. Oh, it's you. What are you doing?
  3. Hey, Ashe. Not much, just perusing this tactics book. Have you read it before?
  4. I sure have. It was popular in Leicester a few years [cdb]back, if I remember right.
  5. I picked it up myself back at the monastery, but it was [cdb]so dense it took me ages to finish.
  6. It's a pretty tough one, I'll give you that. But there's [cdb]some great stuff in here too, if you can get past the [cdb]writing.
  7. Hold on. You were born in a remote mountain village [cdb]in Ordelia territory, right?
  8. Uh, yeah? What's your point?
  9. I guess I'm just impressed you can handle such an [cdb]obtuse book, given your upbringing.
  10. I mean, nobles and the children of rich families are [cdb]taught to read by default, but most commoners never [cdb]get the opportunity.
  11. Honestly, I've been wondering who taught you ever [cdb]since our time at the academy. I...hope I didn't offend [cdb]you. I'm just curious.
  12. Nah, it's fine. I learned from my mom. Adoptive [cdb]mom, that is.
  13. Looking back on it now, it is kinda weird that [cdb]someone as smart as her was off living in the [cdb]middle of nowhere like that.
  14. Hm. I'm sure she must've had a reason for [cdb]being there.
  15. Hard to say. She never liked talking about her past, [cdb]so I dunno much beyond what I saw for myself.
  16. At the very least, it's obvious she was well educated. That's clear just from looking at you.
  17. Not only can you read and write, but you know [cdb]arithmetic and how to navigate with a map, too.
  18. In that sense, you're not so different from the [cdb]average noble or knight raised in the lap of luxury.
  19. Gladly accept the compliment.
  20. Express your doubts.
  21. You really think? Yeesh, you're gonna make a [cdb]gal blush.
  22. I only have my mom to thank for raising me so well, [cdb]though.
  23. Yeah. She must have been an incredible woman.
  24. Really? I don't think it's that big a deal, personally.
  25. Oh, but it is! Not many commoners are literate and [cdb]educated like you are.
  26. They don't need any of that stuff to make a living, [cdb]so it's not really viewed as a necessary skill.
  27. You know, I didn't know how to read myself until I [cdb]met Lonato.
  28. Huh. Now that you mention it, I never really saw the [cdb]other mercs in my company with a book in their [cdb]hands. Except for the captain, of course.
  29. Makes me wonder where my mom learned all that.
  30. But it's not like I can ask her now. She's gone.
  31. Oh...