“Come now, boy, we’ve known each other too long to be keeping secrets. What’s bothering you?”
“... what if I’m unworthy, Balgus?”
“‘Unworthy’? Pfha! You’ve come a long way since robbing travelers in the woods, Allen. Your as fine a swordsman as I’ve ever mentored. You will do fine in the tournament. Or do you have such little faith in my teaching?”
“No, of course not! Its not my skills that I doubt. You told me I had to hone myself. I’m not sure I’m ready in my heart.”
“Allen, only you can answer that for yourself. But believe me when I tell you, I wouldn’t have suggested you participate in this tournament if I didn’t think you were ready. And you won’t know if you don’t try. So go on, and believe in yourself. Because even if you don’t, I believe in you.”
My gift to @pikafwance for @esca-ss 2020! They indicated that they liked character interaction, so I decided to make a quasi-comic piece with Allen and Balgus. I imagined this is before Allen enters the tournament in Asturia where his prowess will grant him membership into the Knights Caeli.
Full disclosure, the town seen in panel 1 is traced from a screencap from episode 6; that’s the bridge where Dilandau almost sniped Van! This is probably one of my most ambitious drawings in terms of complexity, what with the multiple panels, angles, and the horses. I’ll be honest, it was a lot of detail, which was why I skipped properly inking the page and just refining the sketch... which probably ended up hurting the finished product. And I think the coloring is a bit of a mess too. But hey! it was a good challenge, and a learning experience.
I hope you like it , Pika!
