"Breakfast time," Eirika called, as she did almost every day. Ephraim was mid-stretch for once, not even running some eager knight through their paces, and he smiled at her.

"One more round," he replied, and Eirika nodded. She was handed a sword as she marched across the practice field, and Ephraim met her with his lance.

Later, she would bring him letters and notes, references and books and advice. He would make it all work somehow, in the way he always did.

But first, they had this, fast and unspoken, metal against metal.

Eirika smiled in return. They both won.