"Ah, you sly one, trying to change the subject?" — I thought and stared at him intently:

— You don't want to be sent to the front lines, do you?

He faltered, looked at the ground, and said quietly:

— Yes…

— Edward, do you have a family?

— A little sister. We're all that's left of us. I'm raising her.

"That's good. There's someone to fight for," — I thought.

— What? — he asked.

Apparently, I said it out loud:

— Being afraid is normal. Only fools aren't afraid.

He looked at me and smiled:

— Even the Princess of Swords?

Oh god, that stupid nickname again! I gave him a light shove in the side and giggled:

— You're the princess yourself!

And he, still smiling:

— I'd actually be glad to be a princess: just sit there and bat your eyes, — and he batted his eyes at me.

I couldn't hold back my laughter. How could I, with someone this funny!

And he went on:

— But I just don't have the face for it.

We laughed.

"Ah, he made me laugh again." And he continued:

— I'll have to remember that: "Only fools aren't afraid." Good text for a gravestone, huh?

I smirked:

— Sure, let them write it. Maybe at least the demons will smile.

We laughed. I tilted my head and looked at him:

— You know, Edward, you're… not like everyone else.

He shrugged:

— If I were like everyone else, you wouldn't be laughing right now.

"God, why does he keep joking? And the stupidest part is—I just can't stop smiling. Get a hold of yourself, Aria."

— Fear isn't weakness. It's… fuel. If you know how to use it.

He crossed his arms over his chest:

— Fuel for what? To run faster?

My lips treacherously curled upward again. "Alright, I need to go train, or else… Forget it, Aria, nonsense. Training is what matters," — I thought and stood up:

— And Edward, for the future: don't hold back so obviously in training. Someone might figure it out.

And I headed to the barracks.

"What an unusual one…"