[Byleth wasn't really surprised to hear Shez's confession that he wished to be 'more like you', because it was an oft expressed desire from many of Byleth's mercenary acquaintences. It was normally said with much more frustration or naked jealousy, though, almost venomous, and accompanied with an accusing stare, like Byleth had somehow cheated his way to strength.
It had rankled. Byleth's strength had been hard-earned. Yes, he had the advantage of having Jeralt as his teacher, but Byleth had put in the work, the dedication, the training, to achieve his level of skill in both magic and blade. That was why when Sothis had bestowed her strange powers upon him, he refused to touch them unless strictly necessary.
That was a cheat in his eyes. The ability to stop time, to sidle in close to his enemy and end them while they couldn't even lift their weapon in defence... what an unfair skill. What a cheat.
But there was none of that resentment or accusation in Shez's voice of expression. Maybe there would've been, if this had been in the nascent days of their alliance, but now, after fighting alongside each other in the war, after- after Byleth fell and Shez had avenged him, in his own way...]
Yeah... you're right.
[And, the thing was:]
To be honest, I've always admired you as well, Shez. Your determination and hardwork is inspiring, and, admittedly, I wanted to be more like you too. When I first joined Dimitri's army, I was jealous of you.
[Jealous of how Shez so easily made friends, despite being an outsider mercenary like himself. Jeralt had found the whole thing very amusing, nudged him to approach Shez and ask him for tips... but maybe his father knew that Byleth just needed to reach out to Shez to make a friend. Jeralt had good instincts for such things.]
Now, of course, I realise how stupid I was being. I don't need to be like you, just like you don't need to be like me. We compliment each other as is... you with your battle instinct, myself with my strategy...
[Sigh.]
I just wish it didn't take us personally failing the Oracle's trial to realise this.
no subject
It had rankled. Byleth's strength had been hard-earned. Yes, he had the advantage of having Jeralt as his teacher, but Byleth had put in the work, the dedication, the training, to achieve his level of skill in both magic and blade. That was why when Sothis had bestowed her strange powers upon him, he refused to touch them unless strictly necessary.
That was a cheat in his eyes. The ability to stop time, to sidle in close to his enemy and end them while they couldn't even lift their weapon in defence... what an unfair skill. What a cheat.
But there was none of that resentment or accusation in Shez's voice of expression. Maybe there would've been, if this had been in the nascent days of their alliance, but now, after fighting alongside each other in the war, after- after Byleth fell and Shez had avenged him, in his own way...]
Yeah... you're right.
[And, the thing was:]
To be honest, I've always admired you as well, Shez. Your determination and hardwork is inspiring, and, admittedly, I wanted to be more like you too. When I first joined Dimitri's army, I was jealous of you.
[Jealous of how Shez so easily made friends, despite being an outsider mercenary like himself. Jeralt had found the whole thing very amusing, nudged him to approach Shez and ask him for tips... but maybe his father knew that Byleth just needed to reach out to Shez to make a friend. Jeralt had good instincts for such things.]
Now, of course, I realise how stupid I was being. I don't need to be like you, just like you don't need to be like me. We compliment each other as is... you with your battle instinct, myself with my strategy...
[Sigh.]
I just wish it didn't take us personally failing the Oracle's trial to realise this.