During lunch Samuel suddenly thought of something and asked. "Dave how could the arrows were unable to penetrate your skin deepl?. It was stuck as if it had hit a dead-end"
Dave felt awkward and looked at the boys who shrugged.
"Have you heard of Iron Body Transformation technique?" Fredrick, Victor and Samuel noded their head to Dave's question. "Its a technique called "Iron Body Technique." In this you basically train your body to be as hard a Iron."
"What!!!! You all had undergone the Iron Body Technique, training!!!?" Samuel asked standing up from his chair suddenly in horror.
Dave smiled solemnly and noded his head in agreement.
Samuel sat down slowly after a few seconds. "How could..... , how could master harry put you all through such a cruel training method?"
Fredrick who also had heard about it was looking at the boys in awe!!!! " How can you all survive that kind of training and not have any mental breakdown?"
"I think we all are thick skinned, which helped us survive, your grace." Dave joked it off.
After lunch, they talked about casual things and their plan of going to the university in the capital once they turn 20.
Unlike the academy at the Winden city which accepted students between 12 and 13 years only. The university had a bit of leniency, which would accept students from 19 years upto 22 years.
"In that case you can meet Roderick, Irene's brother at the university. He will be back here, taking a break from his studies by next year. And hopefully he might also join you people in your journey towards the university." Fredrick said happily.
Irene was extatic to here this news, Roderick was the only closest person around her age while growing up and they were pretty close. Almost as close as the boys are with Lilly and Rose.
To everyone's delight, Alan even revealed that Irene would invoke here abilities to use mana soon.
Irene had planned to stay with her family till the time they leave for Green Town.
The boys and the two girls went back to Heathrow's estate after dinner.
Four days passed in the blink of an eye. On the fifth day morning, a carriage arrived at the Heathrow's estate even before they had their breakfast.
As soon as they came to know that the carriage was from Duke's castle, all the Heathrow's went to meet them.
Samuel, Lillian and even The duke Frederick himself had came with Irene, who looked embarrassed.
Greeting your grace, everyone bowed. After exchanging few pleasantries they all went to the dining hall for the breakfast.
"We are sorry for the sudden and unannounced visit everyone, but we were unable to handle Irene's torture." Frederick said with a helpless smile.
The Heathrow's looked puzzled.
" Oh, its nothing serious, it's just that, she never stopped talking about the kids. He is like this, she is like that.... I had never seen Irene so existed and happy about anything or anyone." Frederick laughed happily.
"By the way, where are the kids?" Samuel asked looking around.
"They are in the training room and should arrive any moment now." George said smiling.
A voice came from behind them. "look who's here!!!"
Everyone turned, to see all the kids enter the dining hall with a broad smile. Their cloths clung to their body due to the sweat.
They all bowed to the duke and others. Irene's face split into two with a wide grin.
Frederick and othere also smiled.
"Who said 5 days?" Dave asked to the group, Rose raised her hand beaming. "Aaahhhh.... I lost the bet. Ok princess, I will buy you the sweets tomorrow while going for academy's entrance test." Dave sighed in defeat.
Irene felt embarrassed and looked offende at the same time. "You guys had a bet on me? "
"Aaha...." Lilly noded, "we knew you would return earlier than initially planned. So we took a bet. Infact we were also missing you Irene." The smile on everyone's face told how happy they were to see her again. Even though it was just 4 days, they all understood that they are fated to be friends and be together as long as they can be.
Fredrick, his wife and Simon laughed heartily and Irene's face turned beet red with embarrassment.
After they settled down for breakfast, Fredrick noticed the change in Irene's body language and behaviour. She gelled into the group effortlessly. They all looked like pieces of a puzzle, perfectly fitting with each other, feeling complete when together.
Irene was so restless, irritated and talked only about the group all these four days. Now she seemed so involved, calm and happy.
Samuel informed about the identity of the attacker. To there surprise, they found that, it was Walton who had prepared this before his death. It was his backup plan.
"Damn it." Dave cursed.
After the breakfast the Duke's family left and Irene stayed.
To her own surprise she didn't feel any sadness watching her parents go. Instead she felt elated to be united with her friends again.