Specialized Medicine

Laeta had been as gracious as ever in her polite dismissal of his apology. She understood far better than he expected anyone to what he was facing, what stresses and worries he was staring down the barrel of on a daily basis. Sometimes he felt that no one in the pack truly understood what it meant to lead the Hallows, though he would never begrudge anyone that fact. It was his goal, after all, to make sure that everyone in the Hallows had an easy life, cared for and provided for in every conceivable way. If they didn't know the struggles he faced, then that meant he was doing his job successfully. Laeta comforted his nerves, assuring him that what he was feeling was normal and reasonable. He was facing a tremendous life-altering event! What first-time father wouldn't be nervous about raising a new bundle of life? This was a daunting task for anyone, one that he had never experienced before.

But Laeta surprised him with the kindness and sincerity of her words. She assured him that he would be a wonderful father, citing his qualities that made him a good leader as the reasons why. Artorias did not know what to say at first, struck dumb and mute while he listened to Laeta speak. The monochromatic woman put all of her faith in him. Maybe he needed to start seeing himself through the eyes of those that saw him the most rather than through his own critical lens. Artorias had been so focused on his inexperience, the fact that he had grown up without a father in his life to model himself after, that he doubted his own value. Laeta didn't though—no one in the Hallows did. Blinking in quick succession, Art didn't realize that a mist had begun to gather in his eyes, blinked away quickly before they could manifest into true tears. "Thank you, Laeta," he replied, his voice soft with emotion and a smile touching the corners of his lips. "Your counsel is exactly what I'd needed, even if I hadn't known it."

Could the Aegis ever truly show how much he valued the surprising woman of the Hallows? There was one way he could consider. "You've made tremendous strides in your skills since taking the rank of Scholar. Your story is one to be admired and made an example of. If I offered you the rank of Specialist, would you take it?" Artorias asked, leading on to explain further, "You'd be a mentor to all those who wish to follow the path of an Intellect. I think you could do some tremendous work being a role model to our novice members—and to any of my children that show an aptitude for the craft."

"Artorias" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Eira" | "Argent"