Andrea couldn't have said how long she sat there against the gate, under the umbrella shielding her from the downpour around her, just watching the Wood Wailers practicing with their lances. Time flew for her, and before she knew it the Wailers were being dismissed and each went their own separate way, simply leaving her there with an active, racing mind, and a couple of intriguing thoughts bouncing around her head. She remained still for a moment longer before becoming restless. Deciding a small walk around the city might help her think, she pushed off of the fence and just let her feet carry her forward while her mind traveled elsewhere.
The first thing Andrea thought of, was that she'd realized she hadn't seen anyone using those lances while on the back of a chocobo, and she couldn't figure out why. It seemed to her like something that would be incredibly effective, especially with a rider and bird trained well enough together. The second thought she had was that the lance didn't seem all that much different from a pitchfork. It was a long pole, with a metal head on one end. She'd had plenty of practice with them, using them to better clean the straw in chocobo stables. So, she figured, she was already at least somewhat familiar with the weapon.
The third thought she had was that she could do both of those things. She could learn to use a lance, and she could learn to use it while riding her destrier. It would be something tailored to her, to encompass both her love for chocobos, and her lack of skill with other weapons. It would be a fighting style that she could make her own, instead of having to rely on what other people told her should be how she should work. These thoughts left her practically shaking with giddiness and excitement as she imagined the many different opportunities that would open up for her, if she could become acquainted enough with the weapon. No longer would she struggle with funds, or have to worry about being bullied into things she was scared to do, or went against her own moral standing. If she did well enough, she began to realize that she'd even be able to start traveling, and see much more of the world that was still foreign to her.
Time sped by once more as she let her feet take her wherever they wished to go through the awe-inspiring city, until finally she found herself back at the lancer's guild, and the gate back to the ferry docks. She silently looked between the two directions, torn between simply going home, or heading inside to ask about joining. Finally deciding that nothing better was waiting for her back in the Lavender Beds, Andrea moved to enter the guild so she could join, a feeling of slight anxiousness and uncertainty hidden beneath her excitement to hear what all it would take for her to become like one of those soldiers she had seen an hour or two before.
The first thing Andrea thought of, was that she'd realized she hadn't seen anyone using those lances while on the back of a chocobo, and she couldn't figure out why. It seemed to her like something that would be incredibly effective, especially with a rider and bird trained well enough together. The second thought she had was that the lance didn't seem all that much different from a pitchfork. It was a long pole, with a metal head on one end. She'd had plenty of practice with them, using them to better clean the straw in chocobo stables. So, she figured, she was already at least somewhat familiar with the weapon.
The third thought she had was that she could do both of those things. She could learn to use a lance, and she could learn to use it while riding her destrier. It would be something tailored to her, to encompass both her love for chocobos, and her lack of skill with other weapons. It would be a fighting style that she could make her own, instead of having to rely on what other people told her should be how she should work. These thoughts left her practically shaking with giddiness and excitement as she imagined the many different opportunities that would open up for her, if she could become acquainted enough with the weapon. No longer would she struggle with funds, or have to worry about being bullied into things she was scared to do, or went against her own moral standing. If she did well enough, she began to realize that she'd even be able to start traveling, and see much more of the world that was still foreign to her.
Time sped by once more as she let her feet take her wherever they wished to go through the awe-inspiring city, until finally she found herself back at the lancer's guild, and the gate back to the ferry docks. She silently looked between the two directions, torn between simply going home, or heading inside to ask about joining. Finally deciding that nothing better was waiting for her back in the Lavender Beds, Andrea moved to enter the guild so she could join, a feeling of slight anxiousness and uncertainty hidden beneath her excitement to hear what all it would take for her to become like one of those soldiers she had seen an hour or two before.
