[TOW] Encouragement

Ingo was walking around when she caught the faint sound of sobbing coming from a den. She felt concerned, deciding to go investigate, and she stumbled upon Aelfric with his face buried in his paws. Ingo, getting a bit more nosy than she should have, asked him what was wrong.

He ranted to her immediately in between sobs, how he fumbled his tournament match and put on a weak show and how his sister would be so mad at him. Ingo lowered her ears - Garen had made quick work with him and Aelfric only managed to hit the voliel once, Ingo was there for the match.

"Okay, slow down a bit" Ingo said. Aelfric had stood up and paced but he stopped and took a shaky breath, "what about someone being angry at you?"

"I-if my sister were alive she'd be so mad at me for f-fumbling it... i at least put up a fight last time!" Aelfric said.

"...hey, listen." Ingo said, now realizing why Aelfric was so upset - he must have still been grieving his sister's loss if this were the case - he was always so stoic and emotionless otherwise. "I wouldn't say your sister would be angry. I saw the fight and you fought so well. She would be very proud of you if she were here - I'm sure of it."

There was a bit of an awkward silence. Ingo smiled sheepishly. "I know my words won't like, instantly cure you of your grief, but i just want you to think about that."

"...I'm sorry. You're right." Aelfric said "I just- i lost her during the flood and... i just wanted to gain the title of champion for her. Its what she always wanted to do."

"That's very noble of you..." Ingo wished she was that dedicated to her own siblings... but she barely had a relationship with Gudrun anymore and well, the others were at home where Ingo was not allowed to return to. "You said theres a next time, yes?"

"Inja's tournament happens every year." He responded.

"Then take your time to grieve your loss, and next year you can come back to the tournament without the weight of the flood on your shoulders." Ingo said, "I'm counting on you for sure."

"Thank you.... Ingo, was it?" Aelfric asked.

"Yes." Ingo said. "I should leave you alone, i'm sorry for just barging in, it was rude of me but i just wanted to make sure you were doing alright."

"I'm fine now, thanks to you... its no issue." Aelfric said.

Ingo turned to leave, but Aelfric had one thing more to say.

"Ingo - good luck in the tournament. I heard you were participating." Aelfric said.

Ingo smiled "I'll fight as hard as i can, this champion role sounds fun."

Prompt: You don't need to impress everyone

Ingo overhears Aelfric crying into his paws over his loss in the tournament, feeling like his sister would be angry at him for performing so badly in his eyes. Ingo tries her best to give words of encouragement and reassure Aelfric that if his sister were here she would surely be proud of him - and to her surprise it works as Aelfric knows she is right. The two exchange a few more words and Aelfric wishes Ingo luck in the tournament.

I have never drawn and written something so fucking fast holy crap. I need this piece out the door right now due to some developments i have... i will not elaborate you will just have to wait for the next upload. I think these two have a good friendship ahead of them though. Sorry if the lit's a bit sloppy since i did write it pretty quickly but i think it gets the point across in that Ingo is giving Aelfric some words of encouragement and he knows that she's speaking the truth because if Aesa were still around she'd be hugging and telling Aelfric he did great despite getting his butt whopped