“Ah thank you,” she smiled, and fell into step behind him. “My name is Seir by the way,” she tilted her head as she looked him over, there was something about him that felt familiar, but she didn’t know what.

“Are you and your sister working alone at the monastery? If you would like the assistance, I am more than willing to help, I have not anything to do around here… and I do not really require much to eat so you need not worry about providing anything for me.”

He nodded as he turned to start going back the way he’d come.

“I was just wandering around,” when his posture relaxed, she lowered her hands to her side. Obviously, she knew she wouldn’t have a very easy time trying to defending herself against a pole-arm, but that didn’t stop the instinct to at least try. 

“I have been taking shelter in the Abyss for some time now, I’m only out this far because I was bored,” she admitted with a dry laugh. “My plan was to get to the monastery, but once I heard that it had been attacked by the Empire, I decided to stay here,” she looked around then turned back to him, her expression a little sheepish. “And, perhaps I am a bit lost now that you mention it.”

He finally let go of it completely and stood up straight to face her.

“It is not safe up there, no,” he said with a shake of his head.  “My- sister and I have been trying to get it back to working order, but even now, the attack has crippled it.”

She was advised not to go wandering by herself through the tunnels that weaved beneath the monastery, but Seir was terribly curious, and admittedly a little bored. 

So when she heard the voice that called out around the corner, she gasped in surprise. “I mean no harm,” she replied, though held her hands up in fists in case it was a bandit around the corner.

Cautiously, she peeked her head around the wall to get a look at who was there. 

He still had his hand on the spear he was carrying, but his shoulders relaxed.  Was it just a citizen of Abyss who’d managed to wander this far?  Who knew, but perhaps he was just a bit jumpy lately.  He was always waiting for the Empire’s troupes to find and invade this place, even though they hadn’t much touched the monastery since the initial invasion.

Even though they had been working to keep the monastery afloat during all of this, Seteth and Flayn had been spending more and more of their time down in Abyss.  It had been where they escaped after the battle, and the residents, despite them being part of the church, had been welcoming with how Edelgard’s army was after anyone even tangentially with the church.

That and well, Seteth was actually familiar with the tunnels and had been able to help navigate the more complicated ones.  No one asked why he knew.

“I mean, sorta.  Maybe the better phrasing is that your neutral scowl is lighter than it has been.”  You’re not helping things, Roxy.

“Well I’m not sure how decent of a teacher I am, but I’m happy to share something I’m passionate about. Especially to someone willing to listen.”

“Are you looking to become a rider?”

“I think I’m starting to see why your brother worries over you.” She shook her head with a sigh. “If you can’t even figure out that much, no way you’re going to pick up any subtle hints. Some guys like to dance around actually saying what they want.”

Geeze, this girl must have been super sheltered. “What did you think they were hoping for? Those are some pretty basic signs Flayn.”

“Right, right, well he’s also a big protective worry wort so he’s got his radar on high alert. All men are threats.” Which was made even worse by the fact he was her dad. 

“I think if these… young men were after more than a chaste relationship they would be pretty obvious about it. Asking you on dates, giving you gifts, saying terrible pick up lines.”