"Maybe I should have included a note," Dust said, more to himself than to her. "You earned that sword. It's not just -- something I got you because it was nice. I got it for you because you deserve it, with how hard you've worked in training and how good you've become. Because you've impressed me, and earned my respect there. That's not... It's not about how nice it is, though I wanted you to have a nice one. It's something that -- that comes from me. To you."

He wasn't explaining this well. He wasn't even sure what to say. Hadn't he said what he needed to -- that he liked her gifts?

Something more. What could he say? How could he explain it?

"...You're the greatest gift I could ask for anyway."

...Was. Was that right?

He wished, at this moment, that he was better with words.