Warren's pale eyes gazed back at Chachanji's, shining bright with youthful vigor and a hint of shyness. He focused on one then the other, hesitating as he paused to draw the water skin back to his mouth before letting it slid towards the ground by the strap of it. The question was as easy as the answer, yet the words took their time forming on his lips just as they had waited in the lalafell's mind to come forth.
"I wanted to protect someone."
The words came out with a guarded tone, softer than his usual gruff teaching voice. It felt like a lifetime ago, and in many ways it had been. He could still remember sometimes, when the temperature was just right, and the scent on the breeze across Thanalan was the same as it had been back then. Bruised skin. Blood. Blue hair shifting gently in the wind, those eyes hurting and looking to him. His name, whispered without much power behind it at all.
Warren blinked, returning to the conversation. He'd no doubt had the same sort of wandering visage he'd drawn his ward from and allowed himself a small grin.
"Same as you. There's always people to protect." He continued to watch Chachanji's eyes, though, and something in them informed him that the slip of phrase hadn't gone unnoticed. Warren raised a hand after a moment and eased into his seat, getting comfortable in what little comfort a case of polished metal could provide.
"These sorts of stories always start with a girl, don't they?" His attention slipped from Chachanji and across the plains for a moment, though he spared the lalafell a knowing grin.
"I wanted to protect someone."
The words came out with a guarded tone, softer than his usual gruff teaching voice. It felt like a lifetime ago, and in many ways it had been. He could still remember sometimes, when the temperature was just right, and the scent on the breeze across Thanalan was the same as it had been back then. Bruised skin. Blood. Blue hair shifting gently in the wind, those eyes hurting and looking to him. His name, whispered without much power behind it at all.
Warren blinked, returning to the conversation. He'd no doubt had the same sort of wandering visage he'd drawn his ward from and allowed himself a small grin.
"Same as you. There's always people to protect." He continued to watch Chachanji's eyes, though, and something in them informed him that the slip of phrase hadn't gone unnoticed. Warren raised a hand after a moment and eased into his seat, getting comfortable in what little comfort a case of polished metal could provide.
"These sorts of stories always start with a girl, don't they?" His attention slipped from Chachanji and across the plains for a moment, though he spared the lalafell a knowing grin.
![[Image: yEROfKO.png]](http://i.imgur.com/yEROfKO.png)
