[Kaeya Alberich wasn’t the first man to ask her for archery lessons… but he was the first one to do so who seemed serious enough about it while also being wise enough not to make the request until she was in his debt.

And in all honesty… he was not the most irritating student. For all his silver tongue could wag, he seemed willing to focus when it mattered. She could not instruct him on the longbow, her preferred weapon, it would be far too big, but the shortbow she’d selected for him at the armsdealer near the leatherworker’s was working smoothly enough…

And once she sends him to retrieve the last round of arrows she declares a short break. Pulling a small flask from the belt around her “waist” where… basically everything she owned was hanging, she takes a swig… and pauses to consider his question, one brow arched slightly.]

Far better than my last pupils.

[Another swig.]

… but they were colts under nine summers old, so do not let that compliment go to your head.