Samuel opened his eyes feeling quite well rested and saw his Ulma still sleeping next to him lightly, she was probably going to wake up the minute he moved so he carefully looked towards the window and realized it was after midday already in the early afternoon.
With a smile he relaxed his head back on the pillow and realized someone was staring at him so he turned his head and gave her a gentle morning smile which she returned and snuggled closer. "So I know about the tragedy that befell you and your people. Which makes me wonder... what is your goal with learning magic?" Samuel asked after a minute of silence to let her wake up a little better. "I actually don't know!" She replied.
Samuel turned his head again and looked her in the eyes. "But after you told me about what happened to you, It helped form an idea at least, because at first I was just going here to get a better life and become knowledgeable about the changed world, this is a lot like a second life - a second chance for me." She sighed and started stroking Samuels chest scar.
"I am really good at healing and you want to help innocent from suffering cruelty. I want the same, but I can help them in a different way than fighting." She innocently pouted her lips a little. "But I also want to know if there is anything left of my people and I want to know what actually happened that day so long ago. Thanks to you! I have several ideas for my future." She stretched her body before sitting up. Leaving her entire backside exposed Samuel quickly tickled her a little bit which made her jump up with a giggle.
"Pervert!" She said as she noticed him checking her out when she jumped up and turned around. "I just hope I have the strength to accept the answers when I find them." She quickly sighed and didn't mind being checked out as she started getting dressed.
"Steel your resolve, steel your muscle, and strengthen yourself in any manner you can imagine." Samuel smiled and quickly explained that it was his old mentor Faleahs quote when she had started training him. "There are many ways to grow strong according to Faleah, and so far I have yet to see her being wrong." Samuel smiled as he got up from the bed and started getting dressed himself.
When both were dressed they ventured downstairs to find both of their teammates still sleeping on a couch each. Not wanting to disturb them, Sam and Ul went for a quick walk around the neighborhood to get some fresh air and give space. When they returned almost half an hour later Samuel decided to make food for everyone, so he made a nice curry like stew with potatoes. He also took out plenty of bread to fill with the deliciousness.
When it was getting close to being completed Sonya and Ericas hunger and noses went off and they both woke up to the delicious smell. They both stood up and walked towards the kitchen with awkward faces, especially heated when Ulma jumped toward them and hugged them both tightly. Making all others shocked, Samuel quickly served the food to which they all gobbled down without any tact, all of them too hungry to care about manners. Sonya was the first to sit back with a loud burp, which normally would make her blush, but this time she simply did not care and just sat there with a satisfied smile.
"We owe you an apology Sam!" Erica was the first to speak after a while, but Samuel just raised his eyebrows in confusion. "You don't owe me anything, we are friends aren't we?" He quickly replied still confused while Erica and Sonya looked at eachother. "We must have been pretty bad friends to not notice that you literally took on almost all the burden for the mission then." Sonya said while trying but failing to meet his gaze.
Samuel was shocked, "No no! I should have been the better friend to notice all of you guys distress!" Samuel was quick to retort, but it only made Erica and Sonya more flustered. "I was so focused on doing the mission that I completely disregarded many things." Samuel took a deep breath. "I am the one who should be sorry! I have never been good at the whole 'friend' thing, I never really had any friends when I grew up, so you guys are like... my first actual friends."
"Can we just all agree on being sorry, and that we all made mistakes?" Ulma quickly joined the conversation and everyone took a few moments to think back on their mission.
"Yes!" Everyone else said at the same time finally reaching a consensus. The mood quickly took a turn for the better after that, they started talking about all kinds of random things from clothes to magic.
"We should really ask what our teachers were thinking though!" Samuel said after a good moment had passed. "I mean we have been students for like 6 weeks, sure we may have had previous training with our mentors and had to pass all kinds of things. But a few weeks is nowhere close to actually working together as a team. We may have done a good job at improvising teamwork, but in reality we should get good enough that we can cover eachothers backs without words right?" The girls were all surprised because Samuel was the type who had never ranted before about... anything really, so they all took a moment to snap out of their reverie before agreeing with him.
As the hours went by and evening came around there was a knock on their door before their mentors opened it and came inside. They had come to check on their apprentices hoping they would be in a better shape now.
What they had not expected was the place looking like a mess, as if someone had a lot of fun trashing the place, there were playing cards and chess pieces and pastries all over the tables. On the three couches in the living room, none were empty. Ulma lay on top of Samuels chest both asleep with a small blanket, while Sonya occupied another couch and the third couch was occupied by Erica and a dozen pillows.
They all slept soundly as if the previous days events had never even occurred. They had all moved on really well, which made Tere regret her decision even more. It had been too soon even she had realized. She would haveto live this one down, but somehow they had all come together as a team because of the experience.
Bregane gently hugged Tere once they were outside again, he saw that she needed it. "We have done good so far with these ones, so lets keep going and do better ourselves!" Bregane said with the other two both nodding as well which stunned Tere a bit since they disliked Bregane so much, but even they would agree with him now.
"We will just haveto wait and see what the next day brings along!" A voice startled them all making them instantly turn around to see who it could be. Alsian's recognizable silhouette and clothing revealed him as he stepped out of the shadows.
"Don't tell me I actually took the shadow walker by surprise by walking through shadows." Alsian said with a chuckle.
"We ain't seen you for months? Where have you been master?" Bregane was quick to ask. "I have been doing my job the same as you have been doing yours! I have found more allies thought lost to time." Alsian nodded. "Thats all I can tell you." He gave them a nod of respect and started walking toward the main building. "Samuel Fayt, he really is your relative?" Terec was the first to ask the question on everyones mind.
"Yeah, my cousins son. Didn't I tell you already Bregane?" Alsian raised an eyebrow no one could see because of his cloak and hood, but Bregane could feel it. "You did, but he never showed the same talent you did during training." Bregane almost stuttered several times.
"Thats because every member of our ancient lineage are born with different talents, abilities, skills. Call it whatever you want, I know for a fact he can learn the same magic as me... perhaps never at the same skill, but hes got other things going for him!" Alsian gave Bregane a nod.
"He is just one of many candidates, they are all special. Considering his team setup he is nothing special more so than all four of them being special, even though most teams have special people. Its up to you all to help them find what makes them special. With respect of course." Alsian gave Tere'he a deep nod to symbolise the fact that she was much older than him.
"Oh please, You are more talented than me even if you are way younger." Tere said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "But, trust me. I will do my absolute best from now on!" She smiled at him. "Now on?" Alsian asked curiosly. "Its a long story!" All mentors said at the same time which made Alsian shrug. "Well, you can all follow me to Vazals office then and explain your recent mission." Alsian chuckled and all of them inwardly froze up.
But they followed nonetheless, and a new morning eventually came over the horizon.