school: otome

[shaft]

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[shaft]

[ He can't help a snort before he takes a moment to consider her words. ]

You are, as always, correct. I truly expected some grisly fate to befall us come Monday, and yet here we are... living the lives of students, carefree and unburdened.

[momming]

[ A quiet snort of her own, even as she gazes ahead again. ]

Is that how you feel right now? Unburdened and carefree?

[shaft]

[ He mulls over his answer for a moment before, ] I'm afraid not. But it will take more than a day to quiet the concern in our hearts, don't you think?

[momming]

[ She hums a soft response, agreement. ]

To be completely honest, I think it would take longer than the year we supposedly have. There are things we were taken away from, after all.

[shaft]

[ He tilts his head toward her. ]

You must have something you're eager to return to?

[momming]

[ There's a short pause, and then Otome glances back towards Claude, a little more solemn. ]

It's a bit of a long story, but yes. I'm fighting to let people live without anyone else saying otherwise.

[shaft]

[ He lifts a brow, curious. ]

An exceptional goal... Can I ask what it is you're protecting these people from?

[momming]

[ She. Closes her eyes. Briefly. ]

... It's going to sound a little strange. Are you sure you'd like to know?

[shaft]

You're only making me all the more curious.

[ He props his chin on his palm, watching her carefully. ]

If it weighs so heavily on your heart, you needn't share, but I won't cast any judgement on your response.

[momming]

It's not that it does, I just know it might sound a bit bizarre.

... Basically, a higher force is trying to erase our world and if not defeated, it will be as though nothing ever existed. It will just be a void.

[shaft]

[ Well, he had expected a narrative of good vs. evil, but the scale of it has him momentarily speechless. ]

That's... quite a heavy burden to bear. Have you been fighting long?

[momming]

Technically? Less than a week.

[ She looks a little tired, though. ]

[shaft]

It's must have been an arduous week.

[ He settles a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. ]

Do you have hope to see the end of it soon?

[momming]

[ She smiles over at him, touched but also doing her best to keep the expression reassuring. The last thing she wants is anyone worrying about her. ]

In a matter of hours, ideally... once I'm able to leave, of course.

[shaft]

[ Otome is great at appearing reassuring, but the world disappearing into nothingness is a little too alarming to move past that quickly.

Still, he offers her a small smile. ]

I wish a swift victory then, and I hope it's the last battle of the sort you'll need to fight. The people you're fighting for are luckier than they realize.

[momming]

... [ she dips her head with a grateful smile. ]

Thank you. Though I doubt this is proper bonfire talk, so I'm sorry for dampening the experience.

[shaft]

I'd hardly consider the experience dampened. I only wish that I could offer some aid or comfort...

[ He pauses for a moment. ]

I'm certain that you'll succeed.

[momming]

Well, if you're certain...

[ She pauses, then laughs softly. ]

Then I don't see how I could possibly lose! Willpower goes a long way, after all.

[shaft]

Willpower and a cool head. You have plenty of resources at your disposal here too. Plenty of brains to pick.

[ He rubs his neck. ]

Though sometimes it does come down to brute force. Are you a user of magic?

[momming]

I am, yes. [ wryly ]

Though I hope you're not basing that off my appearance. I'm actually more into running and wrestling than actual graceful activities.

[shaft]

I... [ Was he? He didn't even realize. Whoops. ] I wouldn't doubt your skill in either.

You didn't bring a weapon here though, did you?

[momming]

Oh... no, I didn't. My bag was the only thing that came with me.

[shaft]

Then perhaps we should try fashioning one. [ He looks briefly grim. ] We don't know what lies ahead.

[momming]

Better safe than sorry... though I hate to have to think like that.

[ Still, she... doesn't trust this. ]

Do all soldiers know how to fashion weapons, then? Admittedly, that was never a skill I picked up.

[shaft]

It's nothing that I would boast about, but I can pull together a meagre bow with twig and twine...

Though this begs the question: what is your weapon of choice?