The Singing Bone [Erchanhardt/Yugiri]

"You are a good woman, Yugiri."

Erchanhardt returned his gaze to her, and smiled a little more as he did so. He did not especially wish to ruin this mood, and he reminded himself once more that to put more weight upon her was antithetical to his current aim, to help her in the ways he never had his other students.

"Then we will set that aside for now, I think. But do not think this is simply because I do not trust you with this knowledge. I doubt there is anyone else in the world with whom I would feel more confident sharing that tale. It would, however, be best not to spend all day simply talking about mistakes, hm? Lest we simply be overwhelmed by them, and fall prey to the Will."

Reaching over, then, he gave her a small pat on the head, a gesture he had hardly offered to anyone in centuries. It was short, but quite genuine in its meaning.

"If I may, however. Having met you has certainly been far greater than the mere sounding of a single harp string."

"And I quite enjoy having you here."

Standing up then, Erchanhardt dusted himself off briefly before holding his hand out to assist Yugiri. Obviously she did not need the help, but he quite liked to assist a friend.

"The world is filled with many things that are rather surprisingly worthwhile, I have found. Do not forget that, while life is suffering, it is also filled with joys such as these. Perhaps searching together will make finding them a bit easier, hm?"