Days passed, turning into weeks. Turning into months. Soon Samuel's 17th birthday was coming about. His days of work went as usual. Nothing to complain about for him.
At this point he had studied most of the things the library had to teach him though. He needed a bigger place with more books to actually study useful things at this point. So instead he turned that free time into more training with Faleah.
Faleah had happily accepted when he had asked about more time training how to fight. At this point she didn't even care about any payment anymore, she simply had a great time training the young man. Who now had the build of a proper fighter. Tall and strong with properly trained muscles all over his body. He was too thick at understanding why so many young women talked to him with interest however.
He thought it to be bothersome at all the unwanted attention and wished for nothing more than they leaving him alone, although he never said that directly. They always giggled at his stoic nature.
It was at that point that Faleah had started teaching him the final parts of becoming an expert fighter with the blade. She drove into Samuel everything she herself knew. It made her both sad and happy at the same time, because when the time came she would have nothing left to teach him. Although there was still plenty of time left since Samuel proved to be a quick learned but hard time putting the expertise field into experience.
He was always off by a little bit, which was fine and all against untrained opponents or beginners. But other well trained people would immeadiately notice such easy mistakes. She got to pound into his head several times the importance of doing it proper.
The weeks passed by and he started getting better and better. Until it was finally his 17th birthday.
When arriving at the practice for the evening, Faleah had normal clothing on instead of training clothes. "Happy birthday! You are considered an adult now!" She said in a happy voice while giving him a hug.
Samuel had completely forgotten about his own birthday. But it was one of the rare days when all the three moons stood in full moon together. It only happened 4 times a year. "Thank you master Faleah!" He said with a smile.
"I had somthing special delivered!" She said with a proud motherly smile. She took a package that was wrapped in leather that had been left leaning towards a nearby wall, and brought it out to Samuel. "Go ahead and open it." She started almost bouncing out of excitement.
Samuel opened the leather and found a sword in a hilt. "Thank you master! I know how much you stress having a spare sword." Samuel said with genuine happiness and gratitude while giving Faleah a deep bow.
"I see all that reading has paid off in etiquette for courts." She sighed. "Draw the sword instead you silly child!" She chuckled. After she said that Samuel realized even the hilt of the sword was extra beautiful. He drew a sword that was masterfully crafted with rune carvings along the blade.
"Its beautiful!" He exclaimed! Faleah turned around with a sigh as if looking at the sword brought her pain. "It was meant to be a gift to my son when he came of age.." She silently said while turning back to Samuel with a sad look.
"Now it finally achieves the purpose it was made for." Faleah smiled at Samuel while tears streaked down her cheeks. Before finally walking forward and giving Samuel a big hug. "Happy birthday." She said while Samuel returned the hug.
Faleah finally got to say goodbye to a past piece of herself she had held onto for so long, while opening the path for the future.
"Soon the time will come when you continue your journey. But no matter what you will always have a home here with me! If you would accept me as your guardian if you truly want to enter a mage school!" She said with a smile.
Samuel was flabbergasted... "Wait how did you know?" Was the first thing he asked. "My old compatriot Alsian told me what I needed to know." She gave him a sad smile.
"In that case I would be honored to have you as my guardian!" Samuel quickly replied. Making Faleah smile even more. "But first I intend to stay here for a few months extra and really become an expert at swordsmanship... Im going to need it!" Samuel nodded at her.
"Well in that case I would be happy to hold onto you for a while longer." Faleah laughed and packed her things down. "Now for my second gift." She picked up a leather strap and put it around Samuels back. Motioning for him to give her his two swords.
After attatching them to his back, he now had both of the swords on his back. "When you get a third spare sword, I suggest putting it at your hip like regular. To keep all motions free." She said while patting him down a bit like a proud mother would.
"You really gotta stop growing." She chuckled realizing that he now stood 1.90 meters tall. Just slightly taller than her. "If you are staying here for a few extra months how are you going to do with your work?" She quickly asked to change subject.
"Well, the master is so happy with me that he almost started crying when he realized I was quitting soon. But when I asked if I could stay a few extra months he cried out of happiness instead." Samuel laughed at the memory while they started walking to the tavern.
Faleah laughed as well when they had finally packed their things again. "Lets go eating and drinking! Tonight is my treat and now I will finally allow you to drink stronger drinks if thats what you want!" She said with an impish smile.
"Anything to celebrate a proper 17th birthday for someone who really deserves it." Faleah sighed in relief as her heart was becoming unburdened more and more by the past. She could finally move on thanks to the young boy that had come and rescued her from the darkness.
'Perhaps I can finally move back home again.' She thought to herself, but decided not to push her luck so fast. For now she was going to continue pounding into her apprentice all she could to turn him into a good fighter.
Samuel was truly happy, he had found happiness again thanks to his mentor. Together they had healed eachothers broken shell. Although some things wont heal easily. Things that one repress for a long time. But he was slowly repairing pieces of himself, and it felt amazing to him.
He was allowed to be happy again. Even getting his ass beaten was enjoyable to some extent.
Together the two enjoyed a night of plenty of good food. Even though Samuel decked out quite quick from drinking too much. The regulars of the tavern had partaken in the celebration as well, after a year of knowing them they were all good tavern friends.
It was the first time of many experiences. Samuel learned he did not have a strong resistance to alcohol and beverages. As he woke up with a strong hangover making his following day almost unbearable. But he gritted his teeth through it anyway.
And so life went on for several more months. Getting his ass beat as usual, until the fateful final day of his apprenticeship with Faleah. For several days he had getting closer and closer actually beating his master. The day was finally nigh for him to try his best at beating her with everything he had. He had gone there training with the same feeling in his gut for the last month and every time he felt the same thing.
But now finally he felt like it was the day, he woke up feeling great in the morning. Worked through his daily work like it was nothing, ate some good food had a nice drink. Felt really great about it. So when he finally arrived there she was already waiting ready for him. Unlike the other times she sported her full original gear. Almost as if she could tell by a feeling in the air that today is the day where I haveto give my all without holding anything back.
"So you think you gon beat me today eh?" She cockily asked her words filled with challenge. As she got into a combat stance. While Samuel did the same with his regular sword. "Oh you know it master!" He replied in an equally cocky voice.
They started circling eachother like two wolves fighting for life and death. Everything Samuel had learned up until now to finally be able to beat the master. The first clash happened instantly. Their swords going back and forth in an amazing endless exchange of blows.
Samuel easily dodged the legendary sweep and pivot attack that followed when that failed. He got confused when she took an unusual combat stance though. One he had never seen her use before, so he did the same. Adding some improvisation was the only way to improve existing techniques to beat his mentor.
What he failed to see though was the double feint followed by another feint. He simply couldnt see through her perfect movements, like a snake ready to strike. He fell for the bait, and she reared back ready to strike at Samuel's open guard.
Thats when it finally happened again, slow vision triggered and in one masterful movement he brought his blade back and parried with such strength that Faleah's blade went flying into the grass and she lost her footing from the lightning fast movement. Where samuel took the advantage and knocked her down finally after more than a whole year of landing on his own ass.
"Why have you never done that before?" She asked almost in shock. "That was a move worthy of a blademaster, that lightning speed!" She smiled waiting for an answer. "Well its something that I cant really do often I guess?" Samuel phrased it like a question making Faleah confused.
"Its like really hard to gain the correct focus to be able to do it? I guess?" Samuel said again like a question. "Well in that case you should really find a blade master when you apply to one of the academies!" Faleah said with a smile.
"If you learn to master such lightning reflexes you can become one of the best. For sure!" She said while extending her hand. Which Samuel took. "The student has become a master... of one swordsmanship expertise at least." Faleah said with a snicker.
"Every technique has weaknesses, which is why many learn several techniques. The stance I took for the final strike is a technique which easily counters my own. Which is why I learned its basics as well. To improve myself!" She proclaimed proudly. Making Samuel sigh at the realization that the physical lesson was over but he still had a lot to learn about technique and sat down for a history lesson with a small smile.