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“You need to be more careful,” Master sighs as he wraps up her leg. “I know you’re not sick anymore, but you can still get hurt like anyone else.”
“I’m sorry,” Collei mumbles looking down.
Finishing his work, Master pulls back. “Take the rest of the day off and study, the others will handle the rest.”
“But—”
“Collei,” he levels a look at her. “You know that you shouldn’t work when you’re injured.”
“I know,” she nods. “You taught me that.”
“And I’ll be keen not to lose someone who actually listens to me,” Master nods. He gets up, stretching. “Alright, I’ll check on you later.” He starts to walk out but turns at the entrance. “Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“Okay,” she nods. “I promise.”
He smiles and heads out.
Alright then! Collei mentally pumps herself up. She’s going to study her hardest! She refuses to waste any more time today!
Pulling a pen and a notebook close, she gets to practicing.
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Looking over her work, Collei nods to herself happily.
It looks good! Master is going to be so happy to see how much she’s improved!
Getting up slowly, she carefully starts to make her way out of her home to look for him.
It takes a bit, but she eventually hears his voice. He seems to be talking to someone else, though, so she’ll just wait until he’s done.
“So she’s going to be alright?” The other voice says.
Is someone in trouble?
“It was just a bite,” she hears Master respond, “Collei’s going to be fine.”
Oh right.
Oh no, now she’s worrying other people.
Does everyone know about it? How embarrassing!
I mean, yeah, everyone needs to report what happens if someone gets injured, but still!
Master sighs.
“Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever had as much as I have since she came along.”
…
Is Master Tighnari…tired?
Is he tired of having to look after her? Is she not making enough progress?
Does he want her to leave?
…
She can’t really blame him, now can she?
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Her feet ended up taking her a bit out of town, to the patch where she likes to let her thoughts out.
Maybe it’d be better if she left…No, she can’t do that. She has to become a Forest Ranger so that she can help people.
She’s just…not that good at it, apparently.
She thought she was starting to get there, but…
…At this rate, she’ll never be able to help anyone like Amber does.
Sitting here being sad isn’t helping, but she really doesn’t want to take a chance at running into Master.
She’s wasted enough of his time.
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There’s a rustling in bushes to her left. Pulling out her bow, she readies an arrow at—
Master Tighnari, who is not at all concerned his apprentice pointed a weapon at him.
“I’m sorry!” Collei whimpers, eyes wide. She quickly retracts her bow. “Master Tighnari, I didn’t mean to--!”
“It’s fine,” he cuts her off, holding a hand out. “It’s important to prepared in case of trouble, I’m glad your reflexes are so good.”
“Oh.”
Is he just saying that to make her feel better?
No, Master Tighnari isn’t like that.
Then again, he’s kept her around this long.
“But you really shouldn’t be doing much running right now.” He tells her.
“…I’m sorry.”
He sits down on a patch of grass, patting the space next to it.
Taking the offered seat, she stays silent.
After a beat, he speaks up. “What made you so upset?”
“I—," she stutters. “I’m not--!”
“Then why did you run away before you could talk to me?” He asks, a neutral gaze on his face. “I don’t think you were spying on me, so were you waiting for the conversation to end?”
“W—What?!” How did he know that?!
Master Tighnari simply points upward, ears giving a slight wiggle.
Oh right.
Collei sighs.
“So…” Master encourages.
“I wanted to show you my paper,” she begins, “But then…”
She really shouldn’t say anything, he already has enough to deal with. But she knows he won’t let it go.
“Um…” She starts, looking at the ground. “Am I…Am I too much for you to deal with?”
“What?” He says, genuinely confused. “Why would you—oh.”
No point in denying it now.
“So you heard…” he sighs. “Collei, I didn’t mean it like…I wasn’t complaining. It was just an assessment. Well I mean, it might not have been completely positive, but…”
She curls into herself.
Master sighs again. “Okay, let’s try again: Maybe I have more to do than I used to, but I don’t mind it.”
She still won’t look at him.
“Look,” he tries, “It’s like an experiment: It would be great if that weren’t that many steps to it, but some things are just too complex for that.” He inches his hand a bit to her side, but not touching. “But if it’s worth it, you just don’t mind. And I don’t mind having you here, and I never will.”
She starts to untuck a bit, nervously lifting her head up to show a single eye.
“You don’t?”
“If we’re being honest,” he continues, “You might just be one of the few things keeping me sane. What with the adventurers that disregard common sense, monsters, the Withering and Cyno being…Cyno.” He sighs. “Having someone like you around helps me remember that it’s all worth it.”
She lifts her head fully, eyes a little watery.
“You mean it?”
He smiles. “Have I ever lied to you?”
He hasn’t. He never does.
She finally smiles, bright as she gives a tearful nod.
“Now,” he says softly. “Did you want to show me something?”