Nina and old people were like fish and berries. Both were superb on their own, but they couldn't mix. They refused to mix. At least, they refused to mix and make something good out of it. All one would get is a heap of... Something. Something slimy, sweet, and bitter all at once. It had the potential to gag, sicken perhaps. Such was the reason why Nina knew it was best that she steered clear of elders.

Many would wonder; why is this so? The answer was fairly simple: Nina, though she let it on or not, had a little bubble of pride in her heart, a bubble that wasn't easily popped. This bubble of pride did not like it when people commented on those odd habits of hers, mainly discriminating.

And what group of people just so happened to discriminate her the most? The old fashioned folks.

Time after time Niles had reminded Nina to listen and take advice from her elders, but as many times as he told her, they were spaced out on the plane of time. A few visits to the Deeprealms every blue moon wasn't enough to enforce this virtue on Nina. So what happened? A little pocket swelled in Nina's vulnerable heart.

This wasn't looking to be a good thing, especially when Corrin approached her the next day.

Nina was out doing her business, finally getting around to target practice with her bow. She had to say that she was in fine form that day; the eyelid of her left eye shut with just the right amount of pressure to where it didn't twitch all the time, her tongue at the perfect degree of saturation as it grazed over her lips. When she didn't get a bullseye, she was frighteningly close.

The final arrow in her quiver would be shot askew, though, for a voice sounded behind her, causing a yelp.

"You're doing well, Nina. You and your father both make it seem so easy."

Alarmed, she turned around, where she saw a man approaching her stance. Just a moment's observation calmed her, having her relax her bow.

"Hey Corrin." she nodded as she received him, giving him a slight smirk. "Thanks. The guys in the next battle won't know what hit 'em."

Corrin's red gaze softened.

"That's good to hear, since it means I can confidently assume you'll be fine without any further practice."

"You know what they say: practice makes perfect. I'd be fine without anymore, but I would always use it." her eyes opened suddenly, and they darted over to him. "Wait, what? Where are you going with this?"

The man drew just a pinch closer.

"Instead of working on your bow, Nina, I've come to tell you that it's time to work on something else of yours." he said, his tone easing to the strict side. "To be specific, I mean your 'issues.'"

She blinked, staring at him strangely as she allowed her bow-wielding arm to slap her thigh.

"H-Hang on. You said I don't have to work kitchen duty anymore..."

"That doesn't mean I don't have a job for you elsewhere."

Though it was unnoticeable in the brightness of the sunlight, she paled.

"Um... Okay..."

"Good to see you're cooperative. Go get your arrows and follow me, please."

Initially, Nina had no idea what she was about to get herself into. Had she known, she probably would have made a run for it as she had before she got thrown in the prison. Ironically, had she fled, she probably would have gotten away with it, seeing that her father was no where in sight.

That Corrin sure was smart not to tell her where it was he was taking her. In fact, he even went one step further and lied to her about it, fearing she would run even after. Such an example would be when they were walking amongst the castle grounds, down the dirt path which led to the commercial district. Several faces from the army waved at them, namely the man next to her, and some went as far as to report items they'd found on the ground; Corrin took it all casually as though he was used to it.

Then suddenly the hairs on the back her of neck stood; unless she was losing her mind to paranoia, she'd say they were heading straight for the smithy shop. The smithy shop! Was there a more dangerous place for an inexperienced girl such as herself? Granted, Nina wasn't nearly as clumsy as someone like Felicia, but by no means did that omit her from making mistakes; one trip could have her face in a pool of molten steel.

She decided to laugh it off, then turn her gaze elsewhere in hopes of easing her anxieties. Lucky for her, there just so happened to be a hunk making his way across their path, crossing the street without noticing them. It was no problem at all to get her head away from the smithy, but all it took was one simple voice to snap her out of her fantasies.

"Nina? What are you laughing for?" Corrin asked. "Did you see something funny?"

She woke up, looking around cooly.

"Oh, I wasn't laughing at much..." she sighed. "Me and my silly imagination thought you were taking me to work at the smithy. Thank goodness I have the logic to tell me that's not going to happen."

He too laughed.

"Of course I'm not taking you to the smithy; it's too dangerous in there for someone like you. Your physique would make it difficult to pick up heavy ore and weapons, so I think you would shine in other places."

She breathed a sigh before laughing with him. Thanks to that, she could rule out the smithy as a possibility. Anywhere else wouldn't be too bad, seeing that she's worked there before. The accessory shop wasn't too shabby of a workplace, seeing that hardly anyone ever went in there. The armory may be a bit harder, but she could definitely manage. The lottery shop would be a dream come true; she would have to do nothing but spin a stupid wheel around every now and then.

Something was off though... If she wasn't mistaken, she'd say they weren't getting closer to any of these places. No... If anything, they were getting closer to the smithy.

Again, she started to laugh, drawing the attention of her neighbor.

"What now?"

"For a second, I was thinking you were lying to me back there when you said you weren't taking me to the smithy. Ha! As if you'd ever lie to me..."

Just a second later, they were at the front door, standing before it silently. Her expression grew puzzled not even a moment afterwards.

"Um..."

"Sorry Nina, I had to lie so you wouldn't run." Corrin sighed as he turned to look at her. "This is my second to last resort for you; working in the smithy with Gunter has never done someone nothing. I've been told it builds character."

"Character? Are you saying I have no character?" she burst, suddenly angry.

"No. I'm saying that some of your character is causing us undeniable issues, and it needs to be set straight."

"I don't believe this! Why, I'm starting to think I'm offended..." she turned then, considering to run.

They say the eyes are the window to the soul; however true or untrue the statement was in general, it was true for Nina. All Corrin had to do was look at her to make his face harden, and he held up his head. Immediately, all who had been around them, seeming to mind their own silly business, surrounded the pair. A wall formed from the thickness of legs and torsos; it was a wall large enough to intimidate the ever-so-confident soul of the girl. She paused then, allowing her eyes to widen, especially when her gaze fell upon that hunk she was delightfully observing earlier. Even he had turned against poor little her.

"Nina." Corrin muttered stiffly as she slowly turned to him.

"Th-This isn't fair." she whimpered. "I-I can't go in there. I'd be useless!"

Before Corrin could reply, or have her continue, a hand suddenly set itself on her shoulder. It was a particularly large hand, one whose sensation made her back jolt and beg to crawl away from it; she wouldn't make it far, for the grip had tightened. That grip, to her dismay, was a grip she simply could not struggle away from. When she finally gave up, daring to peer over her pitiful shoulder, she would find the wrinkling face of Gunter looking down at her, scowling as though he had a bone to pick with her... Which he shouldn't have. Nina made sure to never steal anything from him, that only being because she had eavesdropped on a handful of his bloody war stories. So why was this man angry with her? She couldn't figure it out.

"Punishment isn't supposed to be pleasant." he piped before beginning to drag her along. Without anything more, he shoved the door to the smithy back open; all in the meantime, Nina cried for help, only to be silenced when the door slammed shut.

Left behind, Corrin heaved a sigh, cracked an awkward smile, then turned to his crowd.

"Thanks for sticking with the deal, everyone. You'll get your money at dinner."

And everyone cheered.

Except for Nina.

Nina wasn't cheering. Nina was busy standing in the midst of a hot, musky forge, too terrified to move. She hadn't even been standing there for a few minutes and she had already begun spilling sweat; whether that was because she was nervous or hot, she wasn't exactly sure. Regardless, it was evident enough to have the old Gunter take notice of it. Of course, it wasn't exactly something that was difficult to notice anyhow; one would have to go out of their own way just to ignore how her pale skin, now shiny, glowed against the golden light of distant flames. He approached her stiffly, looking down at her.

Ooh. Nina could could see it. She could just feel it, the way he was looking down at her- not literally, but figuratively. It made her face harden as well.

"To start, young lady, you'll need to be taking off that cape of yours. It won't do you any good in here. If anything, it'll make you pass out quicker."

She looked down at what she could see of her shoulders; from them clung the straps of the said cape. She had that cape had a particularly intricate bond, whether her liked to admit it or not. In battle, it was that cape that made her feel heroic, heroic as she saved her fellow fliers from a sinister Kinshi Knight as it started to draw an arrow. Heroic as she shot down a mage before it could cast a spell towards a knight. Heroic as she plucked away enemy after enemy from the safe place of an unnoticed corner. That cape was cool. It almost defined her.

"But I'm an adventurer. I have to wear it. I can't be an adventurer when I don't have a cape."

She saw Gunter grow visibly displeased.

"What would it make you if it were to go away?"

"Not sure. I guess I'd just be a plain ol' outlaw again. I'm on too much of a roll to get demoted now, so I'm sure you'd understand, right?"

"Hmf. Too bad, I suppose. You're getting demoted today; henceforth, until Lord Corrin orders it, you're nothing more than my apprentice. Take off the cape."

Her eyes narrowed as he walked away; she couldn't admit it to herself, but she was too afraid to disobey him. Such was why she slowly lifted her hands, which undid the clasp on her shoulders. The cape hit the ground behind her with a subtle thud. Never before, she then realized, had she felt so... Terribly naked. Something felt wrong. Very wrong. And it was that wrongness that had her stiffen and have a chill rush up her spine; ironically, that chill felt quite nice in the inescapable heat which was the entire building.

Gunter was probably one of those dirty old men, trying to get a peek of young girls such as she. Having such a strong sense of justice, Nina would have none of that. She would rather die than have to lay down her dignity, unannounced but polished. She was already beginning to plan; if Corrin was going to continue to insist that she had to keep on working for this wrinkly old low-life, she really would run away. She'd hit the road with an iron fist and never look back!

When she got to thinking about it, Nina actually thought she would fair quite nicely out in the wilderness. After all, she wasn't promoted to adventurer for nothing. Being rather tolerant, she could easily live off of bland plants and berries for days, and thanks of her prowess in archery, she could get an occasional helping of meat. Maybe she would run across a random town, somehow thriving in the middle of nowhere...

"And then I'll go inside the local tavern. They'll all stop with their card games and swigging at their beer to watch the batwings swing open, allowing inside a rather stout young girl, mysterious and elegant. Her braids were crude and fraying, a sign of how true of an adventurer she was; all the work of climbing and trekking left her no time to dilly with her hair, after all. I'll make my way across that isle, calm and collected, acting as though I'm minding my own business. Then, after plopping down, I'll stake my territory on the bar and order myself a drink; not something hard, but not something light either. I'll gulp it all down in one shot and have the whole room cheering! I'll sweep 'em off their feet when I whip out my bow, then fire five consecutive arrows to the dartboard from the opposite wall. It'll hit the bullseye once, then the next arrow will split it open, then the next one will split that one open... And after everyone applauds, the most dangerous hunk in town will approach me, then take one of my hands into his... 'Nina,' he'll say, his eyes desperately delving into mine with ease. 'Please, won't you let me take you home tonight?'"

"A bad judge of character if he only chooses a woman based off how well she can shoot a bow."

Nina froze, snapping back. In front of her, once again, she would find Gunter, his face grim once more.

"W-What do you want?" her face reddened.

"I've told you to ready the coal at least five times by now." he scoffed, turning away. "Children these days."