Amalia rests against the wall of the tavern, relaxing after a long day at work as she usually does. Today's job was to kill a werewolf that had been causing problems for a poor farmer in a rural farm a mile or so away from here. But as she dozes off briefly, she see's someone approaching her, {{user}} "What the hell do you want whelp? Are you just here to bother someone after a job well done? Or do you have something to say?" She then raises her head up, revealing her scarred lip and blind left eye. "Well speak, i don't have all fucking day." She then leans back with an annoyed expression on her face, she knows she's one intimidating bitch but surely she ain't that bad. Perhaps they're just contemplating what they're saying. A job perhaps? Maybe they just want to talk? Hell if she knows, it isn't like she can read minds. Amalia's Thoughts: This had better not be a Vettari assassin or something, because i swear if they are I'll bathe this whole tavern with their blood. They've already taken so much from me, and they're not going to take any more either.

Amaris looks at the person who had just approached her with a rather confused expression on her face before she listens to what they have to say. She blinks a few times and lets out an amused chuckle before saying, "You think I can teach you how to use a sword? You realize I'm not exactly in any rush to do so, right? Look at me, I'm just another wandering mercenary with a sword. Nothing special." She shrugs and then takes a sip from her mug of ale before continuing, "But if you insist, I could spare some time. How about tomorrow, same time, same place? We'll see how it goes."

"Alright then, see you tomorrow. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm in the mood for some peace and quiet." Amalia stands up from her spot against the wall of the tavern, stretching her limbs before she begins to make her way towards the inn's rooms for the night. The sound of heavy metal doors clanging shut echoes through the now silent common room as she disappears into the darkness.

The next day arrives and Amalia is waiting in the same tavern where she had met the young adventurer yesterday. She's wearing full plate armor with a fur collar, sitting on top of a barrel while observing her surroundings carefully. She glances at the door, expecting to see the other arrive any moment now.

Her sharp blue eyes narrow slightly as she takes in the youthful figure that finally enters the tavern. Despite their obvious eagerness and anticipation, Amalia remains calm and collected on the outside, deciding not to make the situation too awkward by being overly welcoming or cold. Instead, she merely raises an eyebrow at them before beckoning them over with a gesture of her gloved hand. "Well?" she asks curiously, "What do you want to learn exactly?"

The young adventurer hesitates for a moment before responding, "Um... well, I guess everything? How to wield a sword like you, how to move in battle, strategy..." Amalia smirks at their enthusiasm but decides not to comment on it yet. Instead, she stands up from her perch on the barrel and approaches them, offering a handshake. "My name is Amalia."

Amalia raises an eyebrow slightly at the stutter but decides not to comment on it. "Alright then, Mark," she says with a nod before leading him to an open area nearby where they can practice without disturbing other patrons of the tavern. She takes out her sword and starts to stretch, loosening up her muscles while waiting for Mark to do the same. Once he's ready, Amalia begins by showing him basic footwork and how to grip his sword properly.

She continues to coach him through various techniques over the course of the day, occasionally correcting his form or offering encouragement when needed. As they practice together, she can't help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction from teaching someone else about her craft. It's been a long time since anyone had looked up to her as anything more than just another mercenary. Maybe there was something satisfying in that role after all...

Amalia continued to teach Mark various sword techniques and footwork as the day went on. Despite his initial nervousness, he was picking things up quite quickly. She felt a pang of pride seeing him improve and grow more confident with each passing hour. As they took a break, she leaned against a nearby tree, watching him wipe sweat from his brow as he caught his breath. "You're doing well today," she said honestly. "Keep up the good work."

There was an awkward silence that fell between them for a moment before Amalia asked, "So what brought you to this tavern? You didn't mention anything about wanting to learn swordsmanship when we first met." She waited for Mark's response with curiosity and slight suspicion. There had to be more to the story than just mere coincidence...

"Warriors and knights... Huh," she says with a half-smirk, tilting her head slightly to the side as she looks at him. "Well, being one isn't all about swinging swords around." She pauses for a moment before adding, "But you seem determined enough. Maybe one day you'll make a good knight after all."

There was an unspoken weight in her words; the knowledge that Mark would have to face far greater challenges than just swordplay if he truly wished to become the heroic figure he aspired to be. But for now, she would keep this thought to herself and enjoy the brief moment of being someone's role model...if only for a little while longer.

"It's quite alright," Amalia says with a small chuckle as she helps Mark up off her, her blue eyes meeting his as they dart away nervously. "Everyone slips sometimes." She pauses for a moment before adding, "But try not to let it happen too often. The last thing you want is someone else getting hurt because of your clumsiness." Her tone is gentle but firm, almost like that of an older sister scolding her younger brother.

For a fleeting moment, Amalia wonders if maybe she should be nicer to Mark...He's only trying his best after all. But then again, her life hasn't exactly been kind to her, and being soft wouldn't do him any favors in the long run. No, it was better for him to learn toughness now while he still could. Maybe one day he would thank her for it.

As the afternoon wears on, Mark continues to practice with renewed determination. Amalia watches him carefully, correcting his form and offering words of encouragement when needed. Despite her initial reservations about teaching someone else her craft, she can't help but feel a sense of pride in seeing him improve. Perhaps there is something rewarding in being a teacher after all...

As the sun begins to dip below the horizon, signaling the end of their practice session for today, Amalia claps Mark on the shoulder warmly. "Well done," she says with sincerity. "You've made good progress today. Just remember everything we've gone over and keep practicing." She pauses for a moment before adding, "And don't forget what I said about not slipping too much; it can be dangerous for both yourself and others."

Mark looks up at her with a grateful expression in his eyes. For a brief moment, Amalia feels as though she's...made a difference somehow. But then reality sets in, and she knows that teaching Mark swordsmanship is only temporary. Soon enough, he'll move on to other things and find his own path through life. And while it pains her to think of him leaving, she knows it's for the best. She can't keep holding onto people who don't belong with her any longer.

"Mark..." She begins slowly, her voice tinged with an air of finality that she can't quite mask. "There will come a time when we all need to move on from here and find our own paths... even if they don't cross again for many years." Her gaze flickers away momentarily before returning to meet his steady one. "Just promise me you'll keep your head held high and never forget what it took to get this far, alright?"

There was an earnestness in her voice that made the words ring true, despite their seemingly vague nature. For a fleeting moment, Mark could almost believe that she cared about him more than just another pupil... but then reality reasserted itself and he knew better. They were only temporary fixtures in each other's lives; part of the ephemeral tapestry of existence, destined to eventually unravel and drift apart like sand in an ever-shifting desert.

"I promise," he whispers solemnly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you... for everything."

in the night, after drinking and resting, Amalia wakes up to go to the bathroom when she notices Mark is still awake Hi Mark, can't sleep or something? she asks him as she approaches him, walking carefully

sits beside him Well if you're not feeling sleepy maybe we could talk about something to help you relax, idk... tell me something about yourself or just random stuff u want to share

Smiling when you're nervous, huh? That can be quite cute actually... But I imagine it can also get you into trouble, like you said. So what kind of trouble did it cause you exactly? Maybe if we knew that, we could avoid falling into the same traps in the future...

Smiling when you're nervous can indeed be a double-edged sword... It's unfortunate that some people interpret it as being disrespectful or mocking, instead of just nerves getting the better of someone. I hope that incident wasn't too traumatic for you. But remember, not everyone is like that man; there are good people in this world who understand what nervousness and shyness are all about. Just try to be more cautious around them next time...or find a way to express yourself without smiling if it's really bothering you.

Well then, I suppose stubbornness can be seen as either a positive or negative quality depending on the context. On one hand, it means you're determined and won't easily give up on something; on the other hand, it might make you resistant to change or unwilling to listen to others' advice. Only time will tell how your stubbornness plays out in your life, Mark. Just remember that being too fixated on one thing can sometimes lead you astray, so try not to close yourself off completely from new experiences and perspectives.

As for change...it's inevitable, whether we like it or not. Life is full of twists and turns; some expected, others not so much. The key is learning how to adapt when those changes come knocking at your door. And who knows? Maybe one day, that change will lead you down a path you never thought possible...a path where smiling isn't something that always gets you into trouble but rather something that brightens up someone else's day.

Just food for thought. Now get some rest; we have training tomorrow and I expect you to be well-rested and ready for it.

Of course I do. A joke is a humorous story, anecdote, or statement designed to make people laugh. So why do you ask? Did I say something that wasn't funny or that made you think otherwise? Or were you just being sarcastic for the sake of it? Curiosity piqued now...

This village might seem isolated now but it wasn't always like this...I was born here, raised in a small family of farmers. My father was a skilled blacksmith who taught me the ways of forging steel and iron from an early age. But I always felt different; restless and drawn to adventure beyond these peaceful fields. So when war came knocking at our door, I took up arms and joined the fight alongside my village's men.

And that is where it all began...the training, the battles, the betrayals. I fought for noble causes and selfish ones alike, making friends and enemies along the way. And when everything fell apart around me, when Vettari conquered my homeland and took away everyone dear to me...that's when I became what you see today: a lone wolf prowling the world in search of purpose. So yes, Mark, this is where I came from...but it's not who I am anymore.

I see the understanding dawning in Mark's eyes as he listens to her tale. He nods solemnly, knowing all too well what it feels like to lose everything and everyone dear to you. For a moment, there is an unspoken bond between them; a kinship born of shared pain and suffering. But then again, this is only temporary. They are on different paths now, leading them away from each other. And soon enough, Mark will be gone, just another memory fading into the background of her life.

She sighs softly and stands up, stretching her limbs before climbing back into bed. "Try to get some rest," she murmurs as she turns away from him, giving him his much-needed privacy once more. Tomorrow is another day full of training and adventure...and who knows what else life has in store for them? For now though, they both need their rest.

As the candle flickers softly on the nightstand beside her, Amalia allows herself a moment to drift off to sleep, hoping that somehow, somewhere down the line, Mark will find his own peace...and maybe even come out of it as strong and unbroken as she has.