link Raphael volume_up
Hey, I was wondering if I could ask you something. I heard that you don't have any parents. Is that right?
link Shez volume_up
Yeah. The woman who raised me died, and I don't even know who my birth parents are.
link Raphael volume_up
That must be tough for you, huh?
link Shez volume_up
I don't really feel sad about it or anything, but I do think about my birth parents sometimes.
link Shez volume_up
It can weigh on me, not knowing who I really am. You know?
link Shez volume_up
Nah, it's OK. They all died a long time ago, so I don't feel sad or anything like that now.
link Shez volume_up
But I do wonder who I really am sometimes. I don't have even the slightest memory of my birth parents.
link Raphael volume_up
Well, you might not know who you are, but you still work hard and you keep your chin up through it all. That makes you super strong in my book!
link Shez volume_up
Hey, Raphael. Your parents are gone too, right?
link Raphael volume_up
Yeah, both my ma and pa died in an accident.
link Shez volume_up
Well then, you're just as strong as I am. You work harder than anyone I know, and you do it all with the biggest grin in the world.
link Raphael volume_up
Of course! It's easy when you love training as much as I do!
link Raphael volume_up
Hey, I just realized something. We've sure got a lot in common!
link Raphael volume_up
Our parents aren't with us anymore, we're both commoners scraping our way through this war, and most importantly...
link Shez volume_up
What can be more important than that?
link Raphael volume_up
Both of us have got some serious brawn!
link Shez volume_up
I appreciate that, but our body types are completely different. Not sure this really counts as brawn.
link Raphael volume_up
Sure, you're a little scrawnier than me. And maybe a lot smarter.
link Raphael volume_up
But y'know, my brain's been getting a constant workout ever since we opened the inn!
link Shez volume_up
You have an inn?
link Raphael volume_up
Oh, yeah. I went home and started one up with my grandpa and little sis once the academy shut down.
link Raphael volume_up
Running a business like that takes a surprising amount of muscle! Sure, there's regular stuff like hauling things around, but you need brainpower too!
link Raphael volume_up
If you ever wanna make a profit, you have to pay real close attention to keeping the books straight.
link Raphael volume_up
I mostly let my sis handle that stuff, though. That muscle still needs more work for me.
link Raphael volume_up
Which means I'm in charge of the cooking! But that has its own share of problems.
link Shez volume_up
Yeah, it can be tough to find your footing when you switch jobs. Especially if you have to start doing things outside your wheelhouse.
link Shez volume_up
Trust me, I've had my fair share of growing pains getting used to the army life. Everything's way different from how it worked with my merc groups.
link Raphael volume_up
But don't you just fight? That doesn't seem so different to me.
link Shez volume_up
As a mercenary, the only thing you're responsible for is yourself. Show up and do the job right, and you'll get your pay.
link Shez volume_up
But having soldiers to command, people I'm in charge of beyond just myself? That's a huge change for me.
link Shez volume_up
Mercenaries tend to get involved in smaller skirmishes as opposed to big battles, and most of them prefer to fight solo if they can afford it.
link Shez volume_up
But an army acts as one unit. Coordinating that many people all at the same time is a huge change for me.
link Shez volume_up
And there's way more to military work than just plain combat. Stuff like managing resources, making sure everyone has the weapons and armor they need.
link Shez volume_up
I don't think I'm bad at math per se, but it's definitely not something I'm used to doing. And the more stuff there is to keep track of, the harder it all gets.
link Raphael volume_up
Hey, you're not so good at using your brain either! We're practically twins!
link Raphael volume_up
That makes us pals now, right? I've got your back, so you just keep on working hard, buddy!
link Shez volume_up
Right back at you. Let's keep fighting the good fight.