While I breathe, I hope

The Servant further bothered his mind on what he could do to improve the situation. Unlike her, he was someone who was always in tiding with the sort of person he wanted to become, what he was fated to become in the first place. No matter how much he struggled and although he had made several mistakes along the way, was it not her who reassured him that he is beyond the doubts that nestled within his mind? That the burden he carried as a King and how he coped with his situation didn’t diminish the kindness within his heart in the slightest? So easy it is to provide comfort to someone else, yet one is incapable of finding safety from one’s own personal thoughts. An excruciating truth.

“Ayaka,” Saber raised his hand, the back of his gauntlet lightly grating against her cheek. If words will resume to fail him, hopefully his gaze could properly convey his feelings on its stead. “For me… what you are, what you have always chosen for yourself and how you’ve lived up until now has always been more than enough. I can never force myself to not say it. It must have been quite repetitive by now, but…” he pressed his lips against the skin of her forehead. He is here. This is the girl to whom he promised himself he would protect to the ends of the world. “I will not get tired of reminding you how my life and heart have improved ever since we have met. I would rather you not change, but if you are so displeased, I will be here to help you in any way I can. We’ll figure it out together. I will not leave you to be murdered by your self-evaluation.”

         The words the Knight spoke weren’t new to her. She had heard them countless times before. So much that she would have expected Saber to grow tired of repeating himself like a broken record, and yet that was never the case.  No matter how many times he had to repeat himself, his tone held the same kindness. It was as if he truly believed in the words that came out of his mouth. Ayaka wished she could hold half the faith in herself that Saber held for her.

         Lips parted in an attempt to ask how could the knight hold so much faith in her. Wasn’t the display before him reason enough to doubt her? How could he believe in someone who failed time and time again to overcome her shortcomings? Even her own father held little faith in her becoming anything more than a blunder to the Sajyou family name. Yet her inquiries would never escape from her. As the moment she felt Saber’s lips press against her forehead her words were caught and died in her throat. 

   “ DON’T worry, I won’t.” That much Mercedes would promise the professor. She may be feeling unwell, but she was more than capable of taking care of her own health and not pushing it too hard. “You have nothing to worry about, Professor.”

   “ YOU don’t need to carry me, I’m fine.” Mercedes lied, a weak smile worn on her face to try and dissuade the professor from her worries. It wouldn’t be to Mercedes’ liking if the professor spend her time worrying over her like this. “I can walk.”

   “ PROFESSOR…” Mercedes looked over to see the professor who was now worrying over her. A weak yet awkward laugh slipped past her lips. “I suppose I fell a little under the weather. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

@solaetis

@spirospxro // continued.

“Sarcasm was not very applauded during my time,” he explained. “Though, that never truly stopped Cathbad and his clever remarks.”