Training and work summed up the next following weeks of Samuel's life. Working long days as hard as he could. While training swordsmanship on a more advanced level during his evenings. The weird thing was that he could almost swear that his mentor Faleah was starting to enjoy herself. Smiling more often whenever they trained.
She had certainly become more open over time. Now whenever they sparred Samuel had enough control over the blade that they trained with real blades. While she also taught him how to maintain different types of equipement. Even going so far as how to repair blades that became too damaged.
The weeks went on and he was having so much fun he forgot all about the pain of the past. Every day he soaked as much knowledge as he could. Both from the lessons and from his books that he continued reading at the local library.
One day during practice he noticed they had a secret spectator. He looked at Faleah and nodded in the direction of the onlooker. Faleah took a look as well before shrugging.
"If someone wants to spectate then let them spectate." Was all she said with a slight smile before adding. "If its a girl you should practice without a shirt on!" She did not miss him dropping his guard and instantly put him faceplanting into the ground. She took several steps back and laughed at him so hard she fell on her ass.
Samuel lay there for a few moments just groaning in annoyance. Before looking up at the woman having fun at his experience. But he also heard giggling from the spectator. He started patting the dirt off himself as soon as he stood up. Thankfully it had been a bit of a dry weather period meaning he missed an opportunity to get muddy at the very least. "Haha! Keep laughing at my expense!" He sneered.
"Sometimes you are just too innocent!" Faleah said with a laughing sigh as she got back up on her feet. "Come on now one last round before we enjoy some food!" She said and quickly pivoted forward while he was still semi off guard.
'Here I go getting my ass kicked again' Sam thought to himself as time seemed to slow down.
As Faleah slowly approached him in slow motion, all Samuel could wonder is what was going on. This had happened once before when the bandit had almost killed him, back then he thought it was just because he was about to die. But why does time seem to slow down now?
His mind became a mess as it was trying to progress what was happening as she whacked him on the side of his head knocking him down again and ending the slow motion effect.
"Oh come on, this time you didn't even try?!" Faleah exclaimed, disappointed in her apprentice. She raised both eyebrows at him as he lay there on the ground looking at the sky.
"Sorry I guess I dreamed myself away again..." his voice started wandering off. Making Faleah get a worried expression on her face. 'Did I hit him too hard?' She wondered, offering him her hand to help pull him up. Which he accepted and got dragged back up on his feet. "Come one now one last time and proper form this time!" She said loudly to give him a few seconds to get into position.
"Alright yeah!" Samuel exclaimed. "Ready!" He got into a fighting position. To his disappointment the slow motion effect did not happen this time. But at least he lasted a few seconds this time. Much to Faleah's joy. As she took a few breaths of relief. "You're getting better and better. Soon enough you might just be a proper challenge for this ol' lady." She laughed at his expense one last time before they headed back to the tavern for a meal.
But not before leaving a small package with money for the orphans of the town. That was quickly retrieved by the 'Thief-girl' while Faleah smiled about it. Happy to help those that needed it.
Faleah and Samuel had a nice meal at the tavern. Over the last few weeks the news had spread of a pink haired shield maiden of the Forever Watchers paladin order that had helped save a small village. It was one of the current talks of the town. All details glossed over the soldiers that had been there defending the village with their lives as the news of rare heroes saving people at incredible odds instead.
It certainly gave the bards their due money and ability to spread good tales. "Doesn't it bother you Faleah?" Samuel asked. Faleah simply shrugged. "I dont care much for any tales of heroism. For me and the soldiers its just about doing our job. Some of the younger lads might be bothered by it... or soldiers with a boot far up their ass!" She laughed the last sentace out loud.
She swirled around her mug looking at the ale inside twirling like a whirlpool. "Younger me would have bothered, but now I just prefer being left alone! Also those poor paladins can take their due credit. They dont take payment for doing it... for them its simply charity! The Brassfists of the Forever Watchers order are mostly comprised of good hearted paladins and clerics!" Faleah smiled as she seemed to recall memories from her youth.
After helping his drunk mentor to bed. Samuel went outside for a breath of fresh air. He decided to go back behind the old church which was their usual training spot. To enjoy the nice calm night sky. Taking his sword with him just to be safe. He never went anywhere without it these days.
When he closed in on the old church he started hearing talking. The old church was run down and broken. It was mostly half a church. Half the front of it still stood, while the backside of the church was completely open and looked out over the small valley and river. They usualy trained in the open space there.
He imagined it was probably some poor soul who was just going to spend their night in the church so he ignored it and walked a bit further and sat down in the grass close to their training spot. Looking at the stars and the valley both under the slight moonlight from the 3 moons covering the sky.