Reinforcement

Alexis could only stare at Ekero for a moment in complete bewilderment.

But she did heed the silent request and translated his declaration for her friends.

Then she turned back to the tinkerer turned axe-wielder, shaking her head and a crooked smile tugging at her lips.

“And I guess you want the added drama of siding with the doomed underdog?”

She chuckled.

“You are more than welcome. It’s your funeral.”

In truth she wasn’t as surprised as she should be. Ekero hadn’t always been a farmer after all. As much as she could agree with trying not to be chained by one’s past, she felt it was unwise to deny its importance. Because it did shape you in who you are today.
She’d imagine if she had gone full farmer, she might have been just as quick to pick up weapons again.
Your past just had a way to catch up with you.

“Not gonna lie. I’m very glad to have you on our side of the battlefield.”

She definitely hadn’t forgotten Ekero’s demonstration of his more aggressive inventions.

Alexis raised her gaze and looked over to the little trading town contemplatively.

“Let us have a last look at the stalls. Still a ways to go, and we won’t get another chance to equip ourselves.”

Personally, she hoped to supplement her more specialised kits. And maybe for a decent bow. She could build one herself, she supposed, but a little less improvisation would be nice.
And… huh. Throwing knives. She had kinda just added those to her usual arsenal somewhere along the way, hadn’t she?

~Well, Jyin. Who’d have thought those lessons of yours would pay off so much in the end? Thank you, wherever you are.~