Even after an explanation, the request comes as a surprise to Athos. While well aware that Allison is doing whatever she can to get into his good graces - including some rather blatant flattery - her interest seems genuine, and her obvious eagerness to learn makes her a tempting student.

“So you would like me to teach you the sword.” He does his best to appear unaffected by her praise of his skill. Letting the silence stretch, he finally adds, “Then you might want to disabuse yourself of the notion that perfection is possible. There is always more to learn, and always room for improvement. Arrogance will only stand in our way."