For a moment, all Anastasia can do is sit in silence, gazing intently at the flicker of Grace in front of her upon the floor. But strangely she finds Renna's words bringing her a measure of... peace is not the right word, but confidence, perhaps? Comfort at the very least. Strangely, although there is so very much she doesn't know about the doll in front of her, it's comforting to know there's another who at least seems to hope this battle isn't in vain. And then finally, after a silence that seems to last an eternity, she pushes herself out of her shoddy chair and back to her feet, taking a deep breath as if to steady herself. Truthfully words fail her, she knows what she must do but to simply walk off in silence seems... rude? Tactless?
... but sincerity hasn't failed her yet. So even underneath her helmet, her gaze turns directly towards Renna even if she knows her smile likely won't reach her. "... I suppose I'm stalling at this point, it cannot be put off forever. Not if I want to live up to my little speech just now." A brief pause, and then realizing she truthfully does not know the outcome of this coming battle- "I realize this may sound odd, but... thank you. You helped me earlier, did you not? And even now you've come to check up on me. I don't know your motives, or why you're doing what you're doing, but..."
She trails off, finding herself struggling to put her thoughts, her feelings into words. But after a second she speaks again. "It's nice to not feel like I'm alone." Simple, straight to the point. On the cusp of a duel with someone who bears the title of Demigod, it seems perhaps the best time to simply be honest with how she feels, how terribly alone she's been, even as she's dug deep to find her reason to stand yet against everything. Reaching up to briefly adjust her helmet, then down to her sword belt as if to also adjust that, she gives herself a brief nod. "... before I try and unravel any mysteries, I still need to prove that I even can. Prove it to the people I claim to stand for, prove it to myself..." One could almost hear the slight upturn of her mouth, the tiniest of smirks gracing her features under her helmet. "And I suppose prove it to you too. By your leave..."
Finally she turns away, her gaze settling upon the one doorway she'd yet to explore, the hallway she knew would lead further in- and almost certainly to Godrick. There was little left of Stormveil she hadn't set foot in, he was near and she knew it. "... I guess we'll see if I'm just going to be another bump in history's road. My only request, if I somehow do pull this off and live to tell the tale-" Should she even say something like this? Part of her knows full well she's about to march off to something that by all right should be her end, but if she yet prevails, if there's still truly a spark of hope here to nurture and grow into something more...
It's been WAY TOO LONG but finally life at least calms down a little time to dust off a PSL-
... but sincerity hasn't failed her yet. So even underneath her helmet, her gaze turns directly towards Renna even if she knows her smile likely won't reach her. "... I suppose I'm stalling at this point, it cannot be put off forever. Not if I want to live up to my little speech just now." A brief pause, and then realizing she truthfully does not know the outcome of this coming battle- "I realize this may sound odd, but... thank you. You helped me earlier, did you not? And even now you've come to check up on me. I don't know your motives, or why you're doing what you're doing, but..."
She trails off, finding herself struggling to put her thoughts, her feelings into words. But after a second she speaks again. "It's nice to not feel like I'm alone." Simple, straight to the point. On the cusp of a duel with someone who bears the title of Demigod, it seems perhaps the best time to simply be honest with how she feels, how terribly alone she's been, even as she's dug deep to find her reason to stand yet against everything. Reaching up to briefly adjust her helmet, then down to her sword belt as if to also adjust that, she gives herself a brief nod. "... before I try and unravel any mysteries, I still need to prove that I even can. Prove it to the people I claim to stand for, prove it to myself..." One could almost hear the slight upturn of her mouth, the tiniest of smirks gracing her features under her helmet. "And I suppose prove it to you too. By your leave..."
Finally she turns away, her gaze settling upon the one doorway she'd yet to explore, the hallway she knew would lead further in- and almost certainly to Godrick. There was little left of Stormveil she hadn't set foot in, he was near and she knew it. "... I guess we'll see if I'm just going to be another bump in history's road. My only request, if I somehow do pull this off and live to tell the tale-" Should she even say something like this? Part of her knows full well she's about to march off to something that by all right should be her end, but if she yet prevails, if there's still truly a spark of hope here to nurture and grow into something more...
"-may we meet once again, when the dust settles?"