Pipa felt a stab of empathy for Eren, “It is strange,” she said, placing her book down on the soft cushion and sliding it to the side, “how very differently people see you when they know you’re a contestant.”  She leaned forward, her bright eyes giving the beautiful, distressed woman her earnest attention.<br/><br/><strong>I mean I guess it makes sense, we contestants have kept the entire world at peace for over three hundred years.  But, the distance... the only time one of the soldiers talked to me, she... well... she maybe..."</strong><br/><br/>“Did she scare you?” Pipa asked, “People say the craziest things about the Dungeon, but you can’t dwell on it.”<br/><br/><strong>"The soldier propositioned me, said that maybe when we break camp for the night, she and I could have some fun."  Eren covered her face with both hands and moaned softly, "I know the soldier would never do anything to risk my maidenhead of course, but she said she could help 'jumpstart' my education.  I've never been with... err... done.... well.. anything...”  </strong><br/><br/>Pipa frowned, concerned for her companion, and suddenly feeling very thankful for her tender entrance to the world of sensation and touch, lust and satisfaction.<br/><br/><strong>“Oh gods, I don't even know what I'm saying.  You must think me a silly child."</strong><br/><br/>“No. I don’t,” she crossed the cabin of the coach to to sit to the right of Eren. In this position she could speak with her without making her self conscious of her scar. She put her hand on Eren’s knee gently, in an attempt to reassure her that she wasn’t alone and with someone who didn’t want to hurt her. Though doing so made her suddenly very aware of the firm flesh beneath the dark leather. Of course, with the body and bearing this woman possessed, she had been propositioned.<br/><strong><br/>Eren looked up at Pipa and the quarterorc saw something she'd seen before, but never when someone looked at her.  She saw in Eren's eyes a mixture of jealousy and respect.  Eren's eyes were obviously noting Pipa's strong frame, attractive face, and Pipa realized that the girl thought she was inferior to Pipa.  Never in her life had anyone looked at Pipa in Oreford as if they were inferior to her. <br/></strong><br/><br/>With a self deprecating bob of her head, Pipa told the human beauty, “The thing I learned above all others in school was that the only difference between what you know now and don’t know yet, is experience and understanding. But experience without understanding isn’t learned, and understanding that lacks experience isn’t complete.”<br/><br/>“I hope we are going to experience and understand much in the coming year of preparation. Don’t judge yourself by what you know now, and have hope. I am sure that all that can be done for your scar will be. Has any mage even tried?”<br/><br/>She cleared her throat, unaccustomed to giving such long winded advice, but her heart truly panged for the insecurity Eren had shown her. The insecurity of not knowing, which they shared more than the human woman understood.<br/><br/>“If I judged myself based on my sexual experience, I would have thought very little of myself, until only yesterday. You aren’t at a disadvantage,” she added, reaching over the seat back and patting her on her left shoulder, her solid arm protective over the smaller woman’s frame.