"Son, how were you able to sleep the whole night on top of the water!? I know, Master Bulan likes to do it often but he never did it daily." Simon asked his son sitting infront of the fire at midnight.
" I don't know father. I just feel relaxing and content when I sleep like that. Father, had you observed the movements and felt like someone following us the entire day?"
"Yes, I did. Not only today but they are following you since almost an year now. However they had not entered the inner area or the academy, they had always kept an eye on you when you went outside the Academy Town." Simon's face hardened when he spoke.
"Oh, is it! Well then, let us give them a helping hand and meet them tomorrow. Poor souls,they had wasted almost an year because of me." A wry smile was forming on Phoenix's face. Simon however sighed in defeat. "For their own sake, I hope they won't confront us tomorrow." He then bade his son good night and went to take some rest.
Early morning next day, all seven of the teens did their stretches together 20 times and took a swim in the pond.
Simon was surprised to see the stretching exercises which his Master had taught him performed by all the kids. Phoenix explained to him and the others about the significance of the exercise.
" Damn it. Kid let us do it together tomorrow. I want to learn it and practice it daily. If not for an increase in my mana pool, I want to keep a flexible body." Richards told in a somewhat admiring look. Both Martha and Fiona also nodded in agreement.
"Is this the reason both Simon and Martha looks younger than me?" Richards all of a suddenly asked.
" No uncle, it's because of this herbal tea. My master gave showed me how to brew this." Phoenix served everyone a cup of hot and steamy tea. Simon nodding his head.
After emptying their cups, everyone felt refreshed and full of energy
"You bas... Ahm... Ahm.... You kept this tea a secret from me so that Martha wpuld stary attracted to you if look older. It's not fair you guys" Richards started shouting at Simon, looking somewhat frustrated.
After a brief silence, both Martha and Simon started to roar in laughter followed by everyone else.
"Phoenix, lad make me the herbal tea to last for an year. Better may it to last for 2 years. I am ready to give you father a run for his money." Richards announced proudly.
Shaking his head in disbelief, Martha started to walk beside him and held his hand. "Don't you worry my loving brother. You will always be my favourite. No matter how old we grow."
Laughing heartily, Richards ruffled her hair looking smug at Simon, who sighed in defeat and raised his hands in peace.
" See kids, the hero accepted his defeat infront of me. I am invincible." Richards struck a victory pose and was kicked in his bottom by simon. Making him yelp and rub his buttocks.
Hard laughter echoed through the woods. The bond between these 3 gave a new perspective to the teens. That day they understood that there are more than just physical attraction between a man and a women.
All seven of them looked at each other and there saw a kind of kinship began to form unknowingly.
Suddenly, Simon raised his hand looking serious making everyone stop and fell silent. Richards drew his sword and stood shoulder to shoulder with Simon and aked" How many?"
"Atleast 30. Will you be able to handle it son or do you need a hand?" Simon put on a face mask and looked at his son.
"No need father. I can handle it by myself." Phoenix cracked his knuckles and started to walk forward.
" Wait lad. Kids, had anyone of you faced a true fight? A life and death match with a human before?" Simon asked the other 6 teens curiously.
Both Victor and Fred raised their hands looking low, their head hanging low. Everyone else looked at them in shock.
Richards looked shocked and simply said "Hmmmmmm..."
"Fred had tears in his hand. I am extremely sorry father. I had to kill Three men a few months ago, who had abducted a six year old child and were raping her in a remote corner of an alley. I was enraged beyond anything. I never thought I would have it in me to kill other person. But, he looked up at his father determination in his eyes and said. I killed all three of them on the spot and I am not sorry for what I did."
After a minute of silence. Richards spoke. " Is that the cute girl you brought home three months ago and begged me to take her in as and treat her as a family member?"
Fred nodded his head tears filling his eyes but defying to roll down. All the girls and Martha sobbed and one by one hugged him praising him for his bravery and kindness.
Simon, Phoenix and Richards were grinning ear to ear feeling proud.
Then everyone looked at Victor expecting another tale of awe. " Don't look at me like that. I am not a hero like Fred. I just took care of a few bandits who were looting an old couple. I wanted to disable them and tak3 the old couple away but those bastard turned out to be their relatives who had killed their son and daughter-in-law for the land and riches. So I had to end their dog life to make the old couple atleast to have a happy and peacefull life " Victor looked embarrassed.
"My hero... After saying that Niki ran towards him and hugged him followed by all other girls making Victor blush to the root of his hairs.