"You'd be surprised. I've spent my entire life failing and somehow I made it to Champion and not a hermit in the woods." He patted her on the shoulder. Amazing how saying it in a joking tone covered up how painfully true those words were.
He let his hands fall to his lap again. It seemed like she was in a somewhat better mood or more willing to fight than before.
"You're stronger than you feel right now. I promise you that." He knew that, could see that in her. She had a spark that couldn't be put out by the darkness. "Speaking from personal experience."