"Th... th' right thing, huh?" Chachanji repeated, his violet orbs gazing into his mentor's own deep blues. He listened quietly to her words, intently even, soaking up her explanation even as Avenger trilled lightly under her ministrations. The bird had gotten to run and jump and revel in his rider's excitement at the end, along with getting head scritchies afterward, so it was content. The young Chocobo wasn't quite so worried about the underlying tones and currents of the race, and perhaps he was the better for it.
It seemed to be a running theme of Paladinhood for the young Lalafell - doing the right thing, listening to one's gut and heart to guide the way. He already did some of that, of course; it was why he spent so much time around Ul'dah doing all the various odd jobs and grunt work that most would turn their noses up at. It was why he had approached Aiden when he found the Hyur distraught on the stairs of the Quicksand. It had been why, even after entering on accident, he had steeled himself at the Grindstone to remove the injured Koporo before he could hurt himself further. Even if he found the older Lalafellan Sultansworn annoying and abrasive more often than not, it just seemed like the right thing to do.
Hearing it again from his Mentor of the Heart, of all people, only cemented that belief further into the core of Chachanji's very being. He didn't like the idea of his honing of such an equivocal skill taking more time - waiting had always been a bit of an issue with him - but he nodded in understanding at Roen's mention of it nonetheless. He had heard it often enough, and if Ms. Roen of all people said as such, it had to be true. He wouldn't be a good pupil if he tossed away such advice and wisdom out of hand for something as abstract as its intangible concepts. Especially when such lessons resulted in mad ups, which was obviously the most important part to remember about the race.
The sidelong glance didn't escape the eager student's shimmering violet eyes either, noting how the Hyur's thoughts seemed to turn introspective as well. She did that often enough in their lessons, Chachanji had noted, though he made a point to not mention it. Knowing his teacher as he thought he did, it was most likely something soulful and important. She always seemed to be dwelling on much more important things than he did, which just made her seem all the more wise and impressive to the little Lalafell. So, when Roen cast away her musings with a shake of her head and turned her attentions back outward and upon her waiting student, the youngest Gegenji had a childish smile ready and waiting to match her own.
Her praise only added to its lumocity.
"Akay, Ms. Roen," he affirmed simply to her words, giving a small nod to add a little extra added weight to his response. And Chachanji did feel really proud about his accomplishments, if his squeeing over the jump wasn't obvious enough evidence of that. The entire race had been quite fun, even despite its hiccups here and there. Sure, he might've been bummed out a bit if he had lost, but it still would've been an overall positive experience. Winning just added an extra little bit to it, whether it was fully under the Lalafell's own merits or not.
Yet something was still nagging at him, reminding him there was something still missing. He tried to quell it and focus on absorbing the wisdom being imparted on him, on the feelgood tingle from both the race and the praise he had been showered with by Roen, but it continued to fight back with his own childish stubbornness. Demanding that it be heard.
You have to ask her. Ask her why she became a Paladin. Was it to help someone, to protect someone she cared about, like Ser Warren? Because it was the "right thing"? You need to ask her.
We need to know; both for Ser Crofte's Trial... and for ourselves.
Chachanji turned his gaze away from his mentor then, his amethyst orbs falling again upon the looming form of the Sultantree. Their ultimate destination, their finish line in the day's events. And the place where he would ask her the question that gnawed at him, begged to be asked.
"We should go rest," the little Lalafell suggested, turning his attentions back on his mentor, though he gave his mount a quick glance and a pat on the neck before he continued. "Both th' birds deserve it after such a good run, right?"
It seemed to be a running theme of Paladinhood for the young Lalafell - doing the right thing, listening to one's gut and heart to guide the way. He already did some of that, of course; it was why he spent so much time around Ul'dah doing all the various odd jobs and grunt work that most would turn their noses up at. It was why he had approached Aiden when he found the Hyur distraught on the stairs of the Quicksand. It had been why, even after entering on accident, he had steeled himself at the Grindstone to remove the injured Koporo before he could hurt himself further. Even if he found the older Lalafellan Sultansworn annoying and abrasive more often than not, it just seemed like the right thing to do.
Hearing it again from his Mentor of the Heart, of all people, only cemented that belief further into the core of Chachanji's very being. He didn't like the idea of his honing of such an equivocal skill taking more time - waiting had always been a bit of an issue with him - but he nodded in understanding at Roen's mention of it nonetheless. He had heard it often enough, and if Ms. Roen of all people said as such, it had to be true. He wouldn't be a good pupil if he tossed away such advice and wisdom out of hand for something as abstract as its intangible concepts. Especially when such lessons resulted in mad ups, which was obviously the most important part to remember about the race.
The sidelong glance didn't escape the eager student's shimmering violet eyes either, noting how the Hyur's thoughts seemed to turn introspective as well. She did that often enough in their lessons, Chachanji had noted, though he made a point to not mention it. Knowing his teacher as he thought he did, it was most likely something soulful and important. She always seemed to be dwelling on much more important things than he did, which just made her seem all the more wise and impressive to the little Lalafell. So, when Roen cast away her musings with a shake of her head and turned her attentions back outward and upon her waiting student, the youngest Gegenji had a childish smile ready and waiting to match her own.
Her praise only added to its lumocity.
"Akay, Ms. Roen," he affirmed simply to her words, giving a small nod to add a little extra added weight to his response. And Chachanji did feel really proud about his accomplishments, if his squeeing over the jump wasn't obvious enough evidence of that. The entire race had been quite fun, even despite its hiccups here and there. Sure, he might've been bummed out a bit if he had lost, but it still would've been an overall positive experience. Winning just added an extra little bit to it, whether it was fully under the Lalafell's own merits or not.
Yet something was still nagging at him, reminding him there was something still missing. He tried to quell it and focus on absorbing the wisdom being imparted on him, on the feelgood tingle from both the race and the praise he had been showered with by Roen, but it continued to fight back with his own childish stubbornness. Demanding that it be heard.
You have to ask her. Ask her why she became a Paladin. Was it to help someone, to protect someone she cared about, like Ser Warren? Because it was the "right thing"? You need to ask her.
We need to know; both for Ser Crofte's Trial... and for ourselves.
Chachanji turned his gaze away from his mentor then, his amethyst orbs falling again upon the looming form of the Sultantree. Their ultimate destination, their finish line in the day's events. And the place where he would ask her the question that gnawed at him, begged to be asked.
"We should go rest," the little Lalafell suggested, turning his attentions back on his mentor, though he gave his mount a quick glance and a pat on the neck before he continued. "Both th' birds deserve it after such a good run, right?"
~