Times Be Changing - Part 2

"Guess you did your job diligently!" Sam gave her a few pats and she seemed very pleased although she saw sleeping. He gently got out of bed so as not to wake her, if he moved too far away she would move into his shadow anyway.

Which wouldn't disturb her sleep, it was quite a useful trait to have and as long as he wasn't in any mortal danger then she could sleep peacefully. Since they were connected so deeply they could tell when something was going terribly wrong for the other when sleeping.

That was one of the major reasons he had not been terrified when she had slept for a long time without answering or waking. He walked to the bathroom and got himself properly cleaned up, even if he could clean himself with magic to the last speck of dirt, there was just something really nice about taking a nice bath or shower.

He was in the bath and relaxed his head backwards as he looked at his new branded tattoos that covered his upper left body. Three gods created a blessing together, but if Arx the Bright God had been dead according to the dream Samuel had had.

Then someone else must have the ability to grant his blessing while he was gone. He thought back to the dream that he had seen, "The Unchained Eclipse" He whispered the name to himself and for a moment the magical lights flickered.

"Okay, maybe it is a bad idea to speak his name or something!" Samuel became a bit worried, almost expecting the red demonic creature to jump out of the nearest shadow. But the mood quickly changed back into a warmer one and he was able to finish his bath.

He also realized to be in need of a good shave and went with the five o clock morning shave. "Maybe its because I transformed into a goddamn werewolf but I feel like I have so much more hair now!" He complained out loud almost as if he was expecting someone to reply. He sighed and imagined it could also be because he was nearly twenty years old that the last things were settling in.

Using razor sharp air magic to cut off excess hair was another fine little invention that he had come up with, it was just a simple cantrip spell but it was really useful, although one had to be careful because it could be used as a razor sharp blade.

He knew how to trim his beard with a knife as well, but why use the method that takes longer when one could go with the faster one in the morning. When he was finally done in the bathroom he left and got himself dressed in his academy clothing.

He stopped in front of a mirror and snapped his fingers and gave it a smile. He became pretty disgusted with it after giving it one good look, it certainly didn't match him in his own eyes. It only managed to send shivers down his spine.

He exited his room like many times before and walked down the stairs hoping to find his teammates, which both where present eating some breakfast. Sonya looking pissed off and tired while Erica looked well rested and happy.

"So the first thing you guys did was go outside and check so that no one else had done anything stupid to our house and when you didn't find anything you became super pissed off while you became really happy!" He looked at Sonya and then Erica who both nodded.

"I just wanted another excuse to go out and punch some assholes!" Sonya yelled across the floor while Erica shrugged. "Well I am glad, because I would feel sorry for the poor bastards in that case!" Samuel smiled at her while he walked down and made himself some sandwiches.

After gobbling down his breakfast over some casual talk he decided to spend most of his day meditating atop the roof of their house. He took a break reading and writing in the middle of it, now that his 'shadow dimension' as he had come to call his storage realm, had grown larger he could store most essentials inside it.

Nothing deteriorated when left inside, it was almost like time was frozen inside it which left things in the same condition as it was put in. He couldn't allow himself to get left behind on studies after all, even if he was taking it easy after a big mission.

He spent most of his day up there, even bringing some lunch with him to eat when he got hungry and only getting down to make himself some proper dinner. Both Erica and Sonya were occupied by their own studies but they happily came and sat down when he made food.

Samuel rolled his eyes and wondered how they would ever survive without him, but he served the food with a smile nonetheless, happy that someone could enjoy what he made. Just like any proud chef would be.

When evening came about he decided to go to his specialization class of Martial Magic. It was time to earn himself a passing grade, half a year and he felt like he was already prepared to pass his first specialization.

He arrived at the specialization as per regular, one hour before anyone else would even be arriving. Students in this school seemed to enjoy whatever free time they had, while Samuel sure enjoyed taking free time he did not like mindless waiting.

There was a time and place for enjoying time with friends, now was not such a time. He was on a warpath to success, he wouldn't let anything stand in the way of his path forward.

He opened the door inside and found the Randall the Professor of Martial Magic, whom gave him a nod. "So what brings you around this early, eager to get started!" The man spoke with a cocky grin, Samuel was one of the students that had spent the least time in his class but the times he did he always arrived early.

Samuel gave him a quick bow of respect, "I have come to earn my passing grade!" His voice was sincere and the professor actually seemed to recoil, at first the professor had a big smile on his face but when he saw Samuel's sincere eyes his look turned more stern as if trying to find any hidden joke in his words.

When he found none he nodded, "Markar, wether he passes or probably not, this will be a good opportunity to watch and learn." The professor yelled outside another door, after a few seconds the huge man entered, a student just like Samuel but standing well above two meters.

"Expect this to hurt like hell, but I guess you have prepared yourself because I won't be holding back!" Randall spoke to Samuel as he motioned for him to move into position in the middle of the hall.

Samuel actually took some enjoyment in seeing another student there so early, it meant he wasn't the only hard worker of the class. He snapped out of it and walked into position, Martial magic was all about strengthening ones body by infusing it with elemental magic. It was about combining defense with offense.

In this days age the ideology of a mage being able to defend themselves in close quarters without the need of spells had started to grow. A spellcaster able to fight hand to hand combat by fusing themselves with magic was indeed dangerous.

Samuel took a few deep breaths before finding the element of earth and wind. He started fusing them into his body and his skin turned into hard steel and a small wind barrier acted as a small shield above it.

Although not literally made of steel it gave the same protection if not more. Meanwhile the teacher infused himself with every offensive element and guided it towards his arms and legs. "Defense Round!" He yelled as he rushed forward and launched several punches and kicks at high speed on Samuel.

The barrage of attacks felt like large boulders hitting him at super high speed, but raising his guard he managed to hold his ground against the first barrage, but the teacher continued with the second barrage which was even harder.

So Samuel unveiled his strength, whenever a punch or kick hit his barrier, he infused the part hit with darkness and water magic combined. Which created almost ripples in the air that absorbed plenty of the impact before it hit him.

The teacher suddenly jumped back with a smile on his face. But inwardly the teacher was thinking. 'What kind of monster am I facing, he is displaying infusing skills on par with a master!'

The teacher quickly relaxed and took a defensive pose. "Give it your all, offensive round!" He yelled and it was now Samuel's turn to go on the offensive. Markar had been watching with awe the entire time, he himself was really close to passing the course early so he had also noticed how skilled Samuel proved to be.

Samuel quickly infused himself anew and got into attack position and charged forward.