Knight and Squire (Helle/Freyja)

"You do enough by continuing your service, Freyja. How many lives have you saved? How many men have you inspired? Do not fret over a spilled container of water, for its trickle harms none. You attention is waning on what's important, dear."

Helle must reprimand Freyja for her wayward outlook on the current events. Her subordinate has become far too focused on a singular thing that is irrelevant to the big picture around them. Helle can understand why everyone worries, but that is exactly why she must work. Their worry for her means that she must worry for the weak while they cannot.

"Do not let a minor hiccup that does not stop the machine from running damper your spirits. Yes. We all found ourselves sullied by life, but now we must move to correct our errors. This is simply how I will find my peace, even if it is full of strife. If you wish for me to relax, then continue serving at your utmost capabilities. Once we've saved the world, then will I find it appropriate to drop my pen."

Freyja found herself rendered speechless by her superior's heartfelt words. A sullen expression had threatened to set in against her pale features, but her unwavering stance on the matter had cut through any sense of doubt that had threatened to seep in. For months, she'd felt like an utter failure. The crippling weight of defeat had dulled her happiness. The disheartening isolation away from her peers had allowed self-doubt to suffuse her spirit.

For a woman who was rarely perturbed, she had started to lose sight of the pride she held in her capabilities. The promise of a life where Helle is not working herself into constant exhaustion has reinvigorated Freyja's spirits. Lifting her head away from the desk to gaze at the woman, a soft exhale follows as a smile once again curves across her lips.

"...Thank you, Lady Helle. Forgive me for speaking out of turn. These last few months left me feeling doubtful about my ability, but listening to you speak with such purpose fills me with a sense of motivation. If the path to forcing your hand must be attained by giving my utmost to our case, then let it be so. I will not disappoint you."