Despite her best efforts to maintain her composure, Nera's face twisted with a hint of what could only be described as bewilderment.
"Bladed... fans?" she asked. The doctor raised an eyebrow at the girl standing across from her. "That's really what you want your weapon to be?"
Gale gave a silent, eager nod in response. Usually, the young maiden was timid and oftentimes unsure of herself. But this time, she was certain of the answer she had given her caretaker.
Nera pressed her lips together for a moment. "My dear, in a few years time I plan to send you off to Atlas Academy of all places. Wouldn't you prefer something a little more... practical for combat?" With a flick of her wrist, the thin blade of her dagger elongated to form her distinct elegant rapier, which she used to slash repeatedly at the training dummy in front of her. Upon thrusting the blade into its torso, the doctor's other dagger quickly transformed into its pistol form, and in two shots there were soon bullet punctures in both the head and the chest. The doctor then returned her attention to Gale, tilting her head towards the object she'd just performed her quick demonstration on. "Così?"
There was silence as Gale continued to stare at the woman. For a moment, nothing about her seemed to change, before she shook her head in response.
With a sigh, Nera let her weapons turn back into daggers. After setting them down on the table, she made her way over to Gale and knelt down to gaze into the young girl's blue eyes.
"Gale." She spoke with a mother's sweetness, brows furrowing slightly with concern. "Do you remember what I've told you?" Gently, she brushed the girl's cheek with a gloved hand. "The world is a very dangerous place." Her rat tail twitched underneath her cloak as she tucked some of the maiden's pale blue locks behind her ears. "I want my precious bambina delle nevi to be safe."
At those words, Gale lowered her head, expression unreadable. She silently wrapped her arms around Nera, burying her face in the woman's neck.
"I have... you..." the snowy owl murmured.
"You won't forever." Closing her eyes, Nera gently began to pet the back of the girl's head. "You'll have to leave the nest at some point, my dear. And when you do, I want you to make me proud. I want the general to see you soar."