[ to her credit, she stops, eyes sparkling as she awaits his answers. this is what gracia had left home to see and learn, all the wonderful things she'd never know otherwise if she had remained cooped up in her home and forced to marry.

and sages have their secrets, she knows, she's friends with one, so she nods, accepting his words as truth.

and swords...were never her weapons. she looks, stares, but she can't tell if it's a sword that belongs to someone she knows. oh, well-- it won't matter anyway! ]

Yes! I like this surprising, strange and wonderful world! [ beaming at him, she continues, ] A lot of my friends fight with swords but you're the first sword friend I've met who fights with a sword, Tsuru!