Ingrid Brandl Galatea

"Then we shall give them quite the standard to look up to!

Though rest is also isn't unimportant either. Shall we get ourselves cleaned up now? I think you've done enough for the moment."

"I simply always keep myself to a strict regimen from dawn to dusk, one must always think of oneself as regressing every moment you are not improving." Though it's not like she kept to it perfectly, especially the diet. "It won't be easy, soreness is not something that you'll grow unfamiliar with.."

"Oh I wouldn't say that much..." Though, there was more than one time she recalled besting their professor, she would admit. "I never knew we put on such a show, certainly not one that compared much to spells flying about the air."

"I'd be delighted to take you under my wing, I always thought you had just as much potential with a weapon as you do magic..." She can't help but chuckle at the little noise, patting the top of her head instinctively.

"My thoughts exactly." Helping her to her feet, she's already using a small cloth to wipe the sweat from Annette's brow, brushing the dust off her clothes too. "That and your control, but I'm always here if you need a little help with those, of course."

The knight knelt down, a gloved hand outstretched with a subtle smile.

"Do not be too hard in yourself, I told you I would not hold back. Are you alright?"

She wasn't allowed even the moment to rest. In the mere instance she stopped swinging, Ingrid had closed the gap in a single leap, flanking her while she was probably still dizzy.

"Impressive." It was the right idea for sure, redirecting momentum instead of letting it control you.

That was if she could land a blow...or stop for that matter. Each miss only had Ingrid sliding further and further away, along with keeping the ginger spinning like a top.

She had barely moved as she caught the blow with her lance, it looked like a twig stopping a boulder.

"Hammers require much more finesse than you might think, strength is little without proper-"

A single shove was enough to reverse Annette's weight, followed by a sweep of her feet.

"Balance!"

"Then show me everything you have, I won't let it take anything less!" She flips the weapon down, seeming to take her stance in a single fluid motion.

Her eyes were serious and patient, standing all but still. Perhaps she actually was holding back, seeming to yield the first swing.

"Are you sure you can keep up Annette? I never can hold back all too well." The blonde teased, leaning on her training spear with a slightly sly look.

"You know I never let up on my training either."

"Then I look forward to your guidance!"

"I suppose I have been neglecting it in favor of my lance as of late...

It would be an honor, I can tell you have much to teach."

"Well, I suppose I am still a noble above that, but it is what I strive for."

"Bravery is essential to knighthood, after all."

"Something like that.

Er...I mean; I try to be."

"...I did not mind that much..."

"O-oh...truly?"

She lets out a relieved breath, the tension visibly leaving her.

"Moments ago you had no issue with me admiring essentially a part of you.

I-is it truly so wrong to have been doing the same with the rest of you too?!"

"T-that's...!"

She was cornered now, glancing away with flushed cheeks.

"That's none of your concern..."

"W-well...

I'm not sure if they're things I should say in public..."

"A-ah...

She swallows hard.

"I do think I may need a few things..."

Ingrid took one back, another would have her against a wall.

"N-nonsense!"

"Oh, I see.

As far as nobles go, money and freedom are actually things I quite lack..."

"Me? Not at all!

.........."

Gods, she was always such a bad liar.

"Such things are not common for nobility where I am from...but I will not say I am not curious..."

"Truly? It's magnificent..."

She mentally kicked herself for not paying it more attention sooner, no matter how...distracting everything else was.

I...

I should probably not speak on this matter. 💦

Gods, she'd gotten lost in her own head! Her eyes went wide, flincing with a quiet 'Eep!'.

"O-oh...nothing! Just admiring your...sword is all. Ahaha... 💦"

"O-oh...fascinating..."