Pietro had instinctively clasped Calanthe's upper arms as she ran into him, keeping them both from stumbling more than necessary though he was pretty sure he'd be the one most likely to tumble between the two of them. She quickly invited him along to join her as he let go of her arms and he couldn't help but wonder if she was just trying to be nice.

"Oh, I, uh, don't want to be in the way..." he began but decided that in case her invitation would genuine he'd add, "Would I have to participate or could I watch?" he asked. He knew he should practice more but combat had never been his strong suit. Nor had anything else for that matter.

Pietro's best trait, so he believed, was the way he was so devoted to his sisters. They all outshined him but 'jealous' was not a term that he associated himself with. 'Beaming with pride' was far more accurate. He encouraged each of them in their various endeavors and was their biggest cheerleader.

He did feel a sense of relief though that Calanthe was trying to force him to participate though he did chuckle with her sentiment on their very skilled Aunt. "Alright then, I could watch," he said, moving his hand to rest on top of hers as she looped it through his arm. He let her guide the way to where they were going and found his thoughts quickly drifting to times they had all spent with their father. If he really was gone then that would mean that he and his sisters were orphans...the title of such a thing made his stomach twist. But surely their father would return. Really could be any day now.

Pietro chuckled and his cheeks turned a soft shade of pink at her suggestion, "Perhaps, I guess we'll have to see," he said, knowing full well that should he decide to join he would be just as clumsy as he always was. Still, if he could let go out of that, it could be fun.

"Not bad, same ole, same ole," he said with a little shrug. "My tutor Jorge is getting sick of me," he said rubbing the back of his neck. "I wouldn't be surprised if he drops me." I wouldn't be the first time it had happened. He'd already had at least seven or eight tutors and hard started to lose count. "Anyway, how has yours been?"

Pietro appreciated his sister's kind words, blaming the instructor than him. Maybe she was right, though that was hard for him to believe, too many years of self-deprecation being cemented into his mind. He had, of course, heard about Hernacules. He was said to be one of the best and if he'd offered Calanthe a spot then he wasn't remotely surprised. She was brilliant.

"Yeah, maybe that would be a better option," he said with an almost shy, grateful smile. His whole face lit up though when she changed the subject.

"Really!?! What's the project!?" he asked enthusiastically.

(Sooooo sorry for the long wait!)

Pietro was floored and overwhelmingly proud. "Two projects!? And one with the Prince?!" He beamed at her with admiration. "It's not fair to tease me like that, Calanthe," he said with a laugh as she broke away from him, skipping ahead. She was so lovely and he knew that if anyone ever caught her attention romantically that they would be very lucky indeed. He just hoped that no one took away her spark and passion for enchanting, what a shame that would be to all of Arynn Frey.

When she mentioned their father he felt his chest tighten, all that happened on that front flooding through his mind like a wave on the shore. "Good," he said after a second. "I'm glad. You deserve to let go and move forward. Though I'm not surprised. I feel there is very little that could truly hold you back."

With that he smiled and jogged to catch up to her with a grin. "Now please, you simply must give me some kind of hint on your top secret projects. I swear I won't tell a soul," he said as he made a zip and lock motion against his lips.