Forged Destiny [Book 7: Ch. 10]

"I always knew I'd be at risk, but…" Lisa's mask cracked. She didn't cry, but she did hide her face in her knees. "I thought I'd be able to face death. I thought I'd be braver…"

"It's not brave to face something like that and not be afraid. Bravery is in being afraid and doing what you have to anyway." I could see that my words weren't getting through to her. The last thing I wanted was for her to break down crying. "You know, I was terrified when I faced my first Grimm." No response. "It was on my First Quest, right after I lied to get into Beacon. I'd read all those stories about being a Hero and thought I was ready. I had my sword, my shield and a full suit of armour I'd made especially for Beacon. But that first time… I'd have died if it wasn't for someone saving my life."

"That's different."

"Is it? I was faced with something stronger than me, same as you. Those guards might as well have been Grimm for all that you'd have been able to stand up to them. My point is, even after everything that happened to me, I never stopped being afraid. I just found new things to be afraid of and stopped being afraid of other things." I kept my voice calm, even. "Fear is normal. It keeps you alive."

"But I'm supposed to lead New Dawn. I can't afford to be afraid."

"You can't afford to show fear," I argued, "At least to the masses. No one says you can't feel it. And even if dying a martyr helps your cause, there's no reason to look forward to it. You can be afraid here if you want. I won't tell anyone, and I'm not going to judge. No one is."

It wasn't what I'd expected, or how to help, but Lisa began to weep. Great, big, frightened tears that she'd refused to let show the night before, refused to shed.

I pretended not to notice. Instead, I cooked some meat over a pit of charcoals I'd set beside the fire, handing her a strip once I was done. Lisa took it with a watery smile, wiping her eyes with one hand as she bit into the tender meat.

"Thank you." She whispered, not just for the food.

—Forged Destiny [Book 7: Ch. 10]