Sam slowly found his way back to the carriage and saw everyone resting neat the bonfire. "Wow! Look at them all lazing around. These guy didn't even realize I was lost", Sam was a little disappointed but he didn't minded it and sat near the fire.
Looking at his roughed up condition Mia raised her left eyebrow, "I thought you went to bath". "I did took one", Sam replied with an irked smile. "Then explain to me why are you more dirtier than before", Mia asked.
"This is a new trend that leaves with glowing skin", Sam replied in annoyed tone. "Something must have happened", commented Haru. That night Sam left his tent when everyone was asleep and went deeper in the forest where there was some open space. He wanted to know more about the skill that the dragon granted him.
He took of his chest and there on his chest just above his heart was a small tattoo which resembled a shield with wings. "How do I activate the ability. Maybe if I say the skill name". He took a deep breathe and yelled, "Activate my Ultimate Defensive Skill, Angel Shield. Heavenly Shield. Shield of the Heavenly Angel. Winged Shield. Heavenly Defence".
Only sound of the wind could be heard.
Even after yelling so many names nothing happened, Sam was utterly disappointed and knelt on the ground, "Isn't this skill like super worthless. Why was I reincarnated", Sam was crying at his luck.
[Maybe it activates under certain circumstances. I have heard of skills that activate only when certain conditions are met], Sei comforted Sam. "Not knowing when it will activate makes it only worthless", Sam was adamant on his reasoning. [Can't argue with that].
"Okay, for now I will forget this skill and focus on my training", Sam felt that because of everything that happened he was lagging behind his training and decided to train. He already had basics down and all that was left to master by continuing practicing. His master had already left on his own journey giving Sam his last assignment to master everything he had been taught. Once he comes back he will test Sam.
Mia saw Sam leave his tent and go into the forest and decided to follow her. She had always find his personality odd and wanted to know what Sam was hiding. She saw him talking to himself, shouting about some skill and then despairing.
But now that she saw him practice under the moonlight, she could only be captivated by him. His movements were smooth like water but sharp like blade. Now she understood that him winning the championship was no fluke and that he had practiced hard to become strong. She smiled and went back to the tent. Sam on the other hand continued practicing until dawn.
"Here, you should eat more", Mia gave Sam her portion of rice and meat. "Thank you", Sam hesitated a little but took it with a smile. For some reasons she was behaving differently and Sam found it odd.
Before arriving here, they were ambushed by small bandit gang and the horses got injured in the ensuing scuffle making them stay in the same place for few days. Mia grabbed this chance and asked Sam to teach her sword.
"You want to learn sword. Weren't you trained in the palace?", Sam asked Mia. Mia nodded and said, "I was taught just the basic of sword fighting. What I want to learn is how to fight those monsters".
Sam pondered for a few minutes but decided it would be better for everyone if she could look after herself. Not to mention Mia's persistent attempt to make Sam accept her proposal which Sam was slowly starting to get annoyed of.
For the next five days during there stay there, Sam trained Mia to his best abilities and took her to some real monster hunting. When she killed her first monster Mia jumped happily and yelled in excitement. "The slime is the weakest of all monsters", Sam pointed out the reality to Mia. But Mia was till grateful that she fought one monster.
"I am having fun at these monster slaying", Mia told everyone how she was feeling after hunting a goblin. Everyone was happy at her achievements and felt relief at the same time. Now they had less burden of watching over her.
Sam and his crew continued their journey all the way back to Sett while continuing to overcome many dangers. Mia actively participated and gained various experience and skills. Till they reached Sett, two months had passed and they were very tired from all the journey and immediately hit an inn reaching the city.
"Good to see you, my room", Sam got nostalgic seeing his room. Luckily his room was kept as it is by the owner but he had accumulated quite the tab on himself. Not to mention the money he spend while on the journey. Now he was left with only thousand coins from the original three thousand.
'Looks like I have to continue working for some time if I want to live a decent life', saying this Sam hit his bed and fell asleep.