"My knightly creed? I don't know how to love myself properly?"
Noelle froze for a moment, seemingly unsure how to interpret those two remarks.
Ellin nodded gently.
"Yes. Let's start with your knightly creed."
"A creed is a conviction that guides someone throughout their life. A knightly creed is the conviction behind becoming a knight."
"But... but becoming a knight is my lifelong conviction!" Noelle said, puzzled.
"That's only your goal, not your conviction!"
"Once people achieve their goals, they can lose their way if they have no convictions."
"Let me ask you this: have you ever thought about what you'll do after becoming a knight? What else will you be able to do?"
"If becoming a knight is your lifelong goal, then what happens after you achieve it? What will you live for?"
"That's why it's only your goal, not your knightly creed."
"Let me give you an example. Acting Grand Master Jean's knightly creed-her conviction-is to protect Mondstadt forever. It's precisely that conviction that lets her shoulder such a heavy burden without wavering."
"Amber, Eula, and Kaeya all have convictions of their own. Those convictions are what keep them from losing their way after becoming knights."
"But you only want to become a knight. You don't have a conviction behind that desire."
Ellin's words left Noelle silent.
But Ellin didn't stop talking. She shifted, leaning sideways into Noelle's arms, and continued.
"Then there's the fact that you haven't learned to love yourself."
"Once, you climbed Dragonspine alone to rescue an adventurer trapped there. Although you succeeded in rescuing them, you developed a high fever and lay unconscious for several days."
"When the Dragon Disaster struck, you also strapped on your greatsword and wanted to defeat Dvalin all by yourself, didn't you?"
"You're always sacrificing your own time to