Part 243: Vaike A

Lon'qu! This time I'm ready for ya, and no mistake!

After your last showing, I thought you'd be finished with duels. How many times must I defeat you before you admit failure?

I ain't a man who gives up a dream because of a setback! ...Or, uh, two.

Surely there are other candidates to be your protégé? Perhaps you can even defeat some of them.

Graagh! No, no, and no again! It has to be you, and none other! It ain't just your skill with the blade. It's the way ya fight in battle. You've got fire in ya! A warrior's passion!

I don't-

I need that passion to fuel my dream. That's the only way it'll come true.

You seem to possess more than enough passion yourself.

See, that's EXACTLY my point! We birds of a feather gotta stand together! I light the fuse, you provide the fuel, and then we kick heinie all over!

Perhaps you have a point.

Of course I do!

But we must be equals. I refuse to function as either pupil or squire.

Partners, eh? Sounds good to me!

Then why didn't you say so sooner? BEFORE we had all those fights?!

I dunno. Guess it never occurred to me. Anyway, ya wanna hear my dream?

No. So long as you can hold your own in combat, I shall be satisfied. Until the next battle... partner. (Lon'qu leaves)

W-wait! I gotta tell ya my dream! How can we be partners if I don't?