costadeleoâ:
âHell noâŠAlphinaud tried to make us something more official and that ended up with betrayal, and a huuuuuuuuuuuuuge dragon. According to Yuyu, that whole situation made her want to pull her hair out. Nah, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn kindaâŠhmm, I guess you could say weâre somethinâ like a Free Company? We arenât exactly beholden to any one nation, and because of that, weâre free to go about wherever we please and help those who need it.â
Junko was just in the middle of gathering her thoughts in an attempt to try and explain herself better, but as soon as Tamiko started going off about Yuyu, she couldnât help but to laugh a bit.
âDonât feel too bad, Yuyu can fight, but at the end of the day, sheâs still a Lalafell. Thereâs only so much damage her body can take. Thereâs also the little fact that the both of us started practicing for this kind of life pretty early on. So, take that as you will⊠Either way though, when she comes back from where she is now, Iâll let her know youâd like to meet her Tamiko.â
âSo this is what a motherâs love looks likeâŠyou really do worry too muchâŠâ Yet again, Junko gently rubbed Tamikoâs head. She didnât want to sound like she was undermining her intentions, far from it. Nor could she fully grasp how the other woman was feeling as a whole. She at least wanted to try and comfort her if at all possible.
âIâm not the best person to give their opinion on this⊠Honestly, I probably shouldnât at all⊠But, if you feel like you canât on your own, no shame in reaching out to your friends, rightâŠ? Stronger in a group than we are all alone, and all thatâŠâ
 There were some strange names sheâd never heard of; but hearing the words betrayal and dragon in the same sentence sent a shiver down Tamikoâs spine. Despite having no experience with either, she knew for a fact that they were both incredibly bad news.Â
 Though a bit more of a silver lining, hearing they were more like the popular free companies over the three grand companies that sheâd learnt about (albeit from a very rude librarian). Despite the fact that would come with more consistent dangers, that meant help was more readily available; or so she hoped.
âIs that so? I know Iâm a late bloomer, but I canât let that keep me down, not forever. I either start now or I donât start at all.â
 Junkoâs words caused the (was she older? Tamiko really couldnât tell) older woman to blush, hand coming up to cover her face at hearing about a mothers love. Did Junko not get this sort of treatment?
 But she was right; Tamiko did worry too much. There was no way any skills picked up here would translate back home; and even if they did, why would she need to use them? There was no point in trying so hard, so...
 Why did she? What pushed her forwards to want to protect Jubei so much? Was it the fear of being useless that drove her forwards, or the fear of dying here that set her off? Tamiko knew sheâd need time to ponder this, though now wasnât the right time.Â
âItâs nothing quite like youâre thinking, Iâm sure. I just donât want Jubei growing up without any family...â
 Her blush quickly calmed down, her head still lightly spinning as she heard about fighting with friends; Tamiko really didnât have anyone sheâd consider watching her back with, though Junko had been nice-enough to talk to her this long...
âThe only friend I have here is Kâalian, though; and sheâs off... Well, somewhere; you said either in a forest or in a Miqoâte village...â
 Her words only dawned on her after sheâd finished her sentence, blush rising back up across her cheeks.
âTh-though I appreciate you talking to me too! If youâd like, we can be friends! Itâd be an honor to fight with someone as strong as you!â












