[center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/WbB6nZmm/373e0ca06a44ee67c49939abb2f77c34.png[/img][hr][h2][color=#EDC700]Breathe[/color][/h2][/center][hr]

A deep breath. A sense of tightness -- of weight -- built within her chest, and with it came an old, familiar ache. Pulsing deep within, spreading outward -- a chill that wasn't cold and a heat that brought no warmth. Something unseen was pressing down upon her lungs, forcing out the air again and again, making her body feel unbearably heavy even as her head felt so light it seemed as though it would fly off.

Another deep breath. It was alright. His words might have stung, but it wasn't as though she'd lost everything -- or even lost anything yet. She just needed to stay calm, and smile, and do her best in the days ahead. The Prince had complimented her, right? Well, it wasn't exactly a compliment, but he'd seemed supportive enough when Nathaniel was trying to goad her into a fight just a moment prior, so she could probably go without forcing the issue. And her squadmates seemed nice enough, too, her roommate notwithstanding! Signar had been a little rude about her size, but she hadn't forgotten the way he had tried his best to reassure her. Right... He'd already noticed her panicking before, and had gone out of his way to comfort her. If she kept this up, he'd think she was pathetic, right? A boy might let his feelings show so easily, but Julian Baker wasn't supposed to be a boy -- "he" was supposed to be a man among men!

That was why she couldn't afford to show an unsightly face now. It was [i]fine.[/i] Everything was fine. Her disguise, her [i]future[/i], rested on being accepted as one of them -- and that would never happen if she let herself get rattled so easily. So, she just needed to breathe. [i]Breathe.[/i]

The phantom pain in her chest disappeared as quickly as it had come, and slowly, she drew out her lips into a smile. The hand she'd clenched over her heart loosened its grip, and slowly, calmly, lowered to her side. One more deep breath, and then she started to turn around. Her face looked perfectly normal -- she was sure of it. She'd just go on and get some lunch like nothing out of the ordinary had happened--

...

Why was there a hand on her shoulder?!

She twitched with a slight start, and spun about, already reaching down to her belt on instinct with her dominant left hand to draw a weapon that wasn't even there, even as she reached up with her right to shake off the assailant's grip -- Only to stop when she came face to face with the enigmatic blue-haired boy, who gave some sort of cryptic comment before quickly stepping back and letting her go. She took a step back, too, on instinct, and stared him down with the momentary look of someone sizing up an enemy before a fight, before suddenly remembering that she needed to [i]smile,[/i] and snapping her face back into its usual grin in a heartbeat.

[color=#EDC700]"Ehehehe~,"[/color] She chuckled nervously, raising the hand that had gone to her belt in search of a knife on instinct to scratch her cheek absentmindedly, and hopefully cover up her rather embarrassing reaction. [color=#EDC700]"I appreciate the sentiment, but... I think there's more to being a knight than [i]just[/i] fighting, you know?"[/color]

Stuff like dreams, and honor, and protecting the innocent... Not just blindly fighting whatever enemy stood before you, and seeking victory without knowing the cause. A knight was supposed to be more... hero-like!

...Of course, all these thoughts ran through her head without the slightest sense of irony, but she did realize a moment later that he'd probably been trying to console her. But, well, there was no reason for that, because Julian Baker definitely wouldn't be hurt by mere words! Definitely not.

...A loud rumble broke the awkward silence between them, and she averted her gaze, rubbing her stomach. Right. Food. That thing she hadn't been able to have for the last several days. Probably should get on that.

[color=#EDC700]"Right, well, uh... I dunno about you, but I'm half-starved, so how about we go along with this whole lunch idea and get some grub, yeah?"[/color]

She gave another chuckle and another awkward grin, then hastily shuffled past Kai and out into the common room where the others were gathering. It wasn't that she hadn't appreciated his gesture, it was just... something about him felt strange. The way he'd managed to sneak up on her without making even the slightest sound, or the way those wild red-bronze eyes of his had been sizing her up just now. His hair, bearing, and manner all felt just the slightest bit uncanny, and she couldn't help but wonder just how much he'd seen through...