"A smarter boy isn't necessarily inferior," Ella mumbled, moving to curl up beside Marken, "I bet your grades more exemplary than anyone else. & do you know how long it's been since a man has been able to keep up with me in conversation? If you ask me, cleverness is more formidable than physical prowess. You know how to turn an opponent's strength against them."

Gently grasping one of Marken's hands, she gently ran her fingers over it & studied the lines on his fingers. He wasn't a soldier, but they were a little calloused, & also stronger than her own. It wasn't like Marken was unfit, or particularly weak. His strengths just so happened to not be physical.

"After all," Ella murmured, "These hands protected me just fine earlier. There is no one else that I want beside me in a fight but you..."