kcfgogbfalgfl
— You've really gotten down in the dumps, — sighed Stefania, then hugged Silvatika. — And here I thought I was the one prone to melancholy...
The Knight of Wind scratched her head, trying to digest what she had heard. She quickly tried to recall anything about Silvatika's relatives, close ones, or friends, but she couldn't. Either the Knight of Wild Flowers was too secretive, or the girl truly wasn't exaggerating.
— You're not useless at all, — Stefania tried to encourage her companion. — On the contrary, you're wonderful! How would we manage without your healing skills? And especially those cups of excellent coffee?
Stefania paused briefly again, then added:
— You know what? Let's try to get out of this hole together after all! And when we get home, I promise I'll be among those who always await your return from a mission. And not just for the tasty coffee. Simply because you're a good person and we know each other... — the girl was about to state the duration of their acquaintance, but stopped short when she realized she couldn't remember how long it had been. — By the way, how many years have we been in the same boat?
Silvatika hugged Stefania back, which helped the latter notice the absence of physical signs of anxiety in the former — after all, she was primarily worried about others rather than herself.
- I've never thought about the passage of time, I need to check with His Majesty... Ah. You see, long ago my parents left me in the forest near Makiat, and I lived there for many years, until one day our noble lord undertook an exploration of the territories around Ikazkan, I came across him, and he, seeing potential in me, ordered me to be brought back to civilization and taught everything a Knight of Gildaria should know. Come to think of it, if it weren't for that expedition, I'd still be living alone. - The girl smiled barely noticeably, but still warmly enough. - Alright, let's survive this, Stefania!