- Hey, Holst. You here to train?
- That's right. I was just about to get started, in fact.
- Perfect! Mind if I join you?
- Be my guest. I was only planning on honing the
[cdb]fundamentals, mind you.
- Oh, hm. I was actually hoping we could spar a little.
- I've heard stories about you for as long as I can
[cdb]remember. People say you're the mightiest warrior in
[cdb]all of Leicester.
- So I thought this would be a good chance to learn
[cdb]a little something about your strength.
- I'm afraid you'd likely learn little from such a bout.
- What? Why?
- I can't go all-out against an ally. When I spar,
I have to take care not to kill my partner—unlike
[cdb]in a real fight.
- Eh, I can live with a few broken bones. Just show me
[cdb]what you've got.
- If I do, broken bones will be the least of your worries.
- I'm well aware of your strength. I'd be in for a world
[cdb]of trouble myself if I held anything back.
- Sooo is there anything I can do to convince you?
- If you're that insistent about it, I suppose there is
[cdb]one thing that would change my mind.
- Making a move on Hilda?
- Switching to the enemy side?
- You mean, if I made a move on Hilda?
- You? On her?
- Hah! Now why would I want to kill you for that?
Don't be ridiculous.
- Haha...haha...ha...
- But, uh, no. That's not what I meant.
- You mean, if I switched sides and joined the enemy?
- Precisely. I knew you'd figure it out.
- The only way you'll experience my full might is if you
[cdb]face me as an enemy.
- After all, there's no greater teacher than the
[cdb]battlefield.
- The vast majority of what I've learned didn't come
[cdb]from lectures or drills.
- It came from dancing with death time and again in
[cdb]the heat of battle.
- So, what do you say, friend? Care to team up with the
[cdb]enemy and pit your steel against mine?
- Maybe someday.
- Not a chance.
- I dunno. I'll think about it.
- Oh, so you'd actually consider it. Nothing wrong with
[cdb]that, I suppose. You have to keep your options open.
- Nah, I'm good. I'm not in the mood to betray my
[cdb]friends today.
- Quite a collected response for someone so young.
Truth be told, I was expecting a little more bravado.
- Anyway, for now I can settle for honing the
[cdb]fundamentals alongside an ally.
- Wonderful. Shall we begin?