A Mission Well Done - Part 4

As they entered the large office room they were met with several gazes. Sitting assembled around a long table were at least 16 High Masters, some of the most powerful and most influential mages in the entire nation.

They all held the highest of seats in the mage council. Only the 8 Archmages were above them, one of them being Vazal who was the Archon. In total there were about 32 High Masters, their number and positions rarely saw any change during most times.

But with the recent turbulent times, things were indeed changing for everyone. Tere'he and Bregane looked slightly worried but found strenght in eachother, so Bregane seized the opportunity to loudly repeat his report to everyone that were gathered in the room.

Samuel saw that there were a few other people inside the room except for the High Masters, but they were all sitting near the corners or other seats nearby. One of them was Alsian who nodded at Samuel when he spotted him.

Seeing the faces of many of the mages when the report was retold some of them looked at him in disbelief or seemed quite unimpressed with the story. But the majority seemed to listen with interest instead of anything else.

When Bregane was finished with his report Vazal quickly got up from his seat and walked over to his daughter where he inspected her face before clapping her shoulders looking like a very proud father.

He sighed and nodded as one of the High Masters spoke, "So you mean to tell me that a second year candidate took out an adult ice dragon on his own?" The man laughed looking at his colleagues. "No matter how you put it, thats just absurd!" Some of the other high masters smiled and some chuckled.

About half of them remained quiet instead and looked at Samuel with intrigue, one spoke, "So you mean to tell me the report is fake and he is just lying to brag about his apprentice? All of you laughing mean to tell me you are throwing this disconcerning report out the window out of spite?" Samuel was a bit surprised to see it was High Master Gelger that spoke.

When their eyes met he gave Samuel a nod. "No that is not at all what I am saying, of course the report is concerning and I have no reason to believe it is a lie, especially since we will just send a second team. I just think that perhaps the student didn't bring down the dragon on his own!"

"No offense of course, but even many of us would struggle against an adult dragon. But I have no doubt that we would win in the end. To me it sounds like the fight lasted for no more than a minute or two."

"Sounds about the right amount of time!" Alsian's voice suddenly perked up from the corner, all the high masters grew quiet. "Perhaps if they were a genius like yourself lord Alsian then yes!" Another high master spoke this time.

Alsian ignored it and looked directly at Samuel, "You did good little cousin, keep on going like this!" When he said the word cousin all the expressions of the high masters changed, they probably had enough duties outside to not even know who he was.

"Cousin?" An elven woman among the high masters questioned with a smile. "Yes, he is my relative, not that it really matters. If a candidate is strong enough to take out a dragon then thats just simply how it is." Alsian's voice was filled with spite and annoyance that silenced all the high masters.

"None the less, you have all done a great job, a mission well done!" Vazal spoke with a grin. "You should take a day or two to relax before going back to studies." He said while guiding them out the door by opening it to them.

"Thank you for your great report, I will look into it the best I can!" He said to Bregane and Tere'he while they all had come outside. "Take care of yourselves and keep going forward!" He aimed those words at the students.

He gave them one last nod before promptly closing the door to go back to his meeting. But one of the figures came out of the room just a few seconds after the door had been closed. He was fully armored in a fancy plate that looked like a mixture of ceremonial and warrior suit.

His face was completely hidden by the helmet he wore and he closed the door after him. "I wish to thank you all for your good work personally! You neutralized two evil threats to our nation and potential dangers to the world!"

The man looked at the group that seemed a bit confused. "Ah right!" The man's tone became apologetic and he gave them a quick bow with his head. "My name is Martallum! Martallum Duggan. I am the martial commander of the Dawnkeepers and an old friend of lady Gillfall!" He said while looking specifically at Samuel.

"I hope that one day, some of you young ones will join our cause of protecting this world!" The man grabbed the pommel of his sword and gave them a bow before taking his leave. His red mantle swooping above the floor as he moved away.

"Ok! So that guy was a bit weird!" Sonya said after she was certain he had gotten far away. Erica just flicked her finger at Sonya's face which made her roll her eyes and shrug. "Fine! He wasn't that weird! Happy now!" She mockingly asked Erica.

"A little bit!" Erica replied with a happy smile. "So who wants to go get something to eat?" Samuel asked, realizing he was quite hungry. "Oh boy do I!" Sarmah exclaimed loudly and everyone couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm when she seemed to realize to have said it outloud.

"Ahahahhhh I mean, I could get something to eat yeah!" She tried to save it but failed spectacularly. Soon enough the group found themselves in the canteen eating their bellies full of all kinds of good food.

They were going on and on about the mission and how cool and amazing seeing eachother in action had been, Samuel rolled his eyes several times because it felt like they were overexaggerating his actions several times. "It was a team effort!" Samuel complained several times.

"Hey, you were the one who spoke about not holding back! So don't be too humble either!" Tere'he spoke, it sounded like perfect smacktalk. Everyone looked at her in surprise until she burst out laughing really loudly.

She laughed for quite a few minutes joined in by everyone else. Samuel held up his hands, "Alright I promise. I will be a bit more arrogant, but just make sure I don't become like a stuck up asshole because of it!" He asked and specifically looked at Sonya and Erica who both nodded.

"Yeaaaassssh sir, I don't want no assholes in my house!" Sonya said while her face was full of pancake. The mentors found some peace again, in fact everyone found some peace again. This mission had been exactly what the group needed to come out stronger than ever before and it helped them all move forward.

The group spent quite some time just staying and chatting that they hardly noticed how fast the day passed by. It was already dark outside when they decided to split up, the mentors all went to their own living quarters leaving the three students alone as they also walked back to their house.

"Thank you Night, for all the help thus far!" Samuel spoke to her via their link.

"It was my pleasure!" she replied, "Besides I have already sworn myself to you!" she snorted out with a chuckle. "Everything we do and experience is so much fun you know! I just love it, this feeling of freedom compared to the old dark place!" She almost sounded sad to Samuel who could do nothing more than remain quiet. He didn't know what it had been like so he wouldn't pretend to do so either.

"I am glad I could help then!" Is what he replied instead of saying some inspiring uplifting bullcrap. He was broken out of their conversation only when Sonya suddenly screamed out. "Oh what the fuck!" She had stopped a few steps ahead of him and looked at something.

When Samuel saw it, it made him also grow quite annoyed. They had arrived at their house, their house that was covered in all kinds of rotten food and big letters written in blood.

'Principals Privileged Kids' 'Cheaters Will Pay In Blood' among many other things written. Samuel sighed already thinking of a few people capable of doing this and he snapped his fingers a few times and portion by portion everything thrown or painted on the house quickly turned into ash as it decomposed extremely fast or was washed clean.

"Fixed it!" Samuel gave them a smile. "Let's save the killing for another day huh?" He said when he noticed both of the girls looked extremely pissed off and not enjoying the moment one bit. They both looked at him, Erica slowly sighed and nodded but Sonya kept clenching her teeth.

"Come now big dragoness, you can pummel them when you find them, but I hardly think you want to run about now to do so, it can wait!" Samuel tried to assure her and she quickly exhaled through her nose and stomped inside the house.

With both his teammates gone inside the house he turned to look about a bit. "Say Night, you have no problem sleeping during the day, if you wanted to keep an eye out... I am pretty sure the culprits will come back to recreate their art during the night." He said this with a wry smile that looked quite evil.

But Night just smiled in an evil dragon grin herself as she sat on his shoulder. "It will be my pleasure!" She said with mischief tucked away not so well. But Samuel didn't mind. "Just make sure to wake me up!" He said which made Night sigh, "Fine!"

"You can still spook them though!" Samuel added which made Night cheer and giggle as they walked inside the house so Samuel could get some rest.