47.

The sky was clear, the sun was shining, and the classes were done for the day. The sun decided to stay awake for a bit longer before letting the moon take over, so Damien decided a nice nap would suit well. However, his bedroom seemed too stuffy, and there was no where around the school that seemed like a good spot, so he settled on finding somewhere outside the school but close by if one should need him. The front of the school was too bland for his liking, however, the back of school gave a much more impressive picture. A couple of hills were just behind the school, which Damien and Ember both ran up to get a good look at the picture. Once they reached the top, they saw that a dense forest about a mile out, stretched for what seemed like forever, "Now this is a view." A small boulder jutted out of the ground nearby, which proved to be a good back rest. Damien sat down with his back to the school, and his eyes fixated on the picture in front of him. Ember crawled into a ball beside him, and without a word, the two let sleep take them over. 

As the hours went by and the the Sage of Fire rested along with his canine companion, they were oblivous to their surroundings, trusting their safety to the nearby presence of the University. As the sun was starting to dip into it's afternoon cycle a tall cloaked figured moved toward the sleeping dou, stopping just shy of a few few meters of the Sapiens Ignis.

The figure shrugged and chuckled a bit at seeing the sleeping pair and nudged the sleeping Damien, "Wake up sleepy head, you found my spot. Can you believe these guys Snow?" The broad figure said to a familiar white wolf behind him.

Damien groggily woke up, and when his eyesight cleared up, he saw that Ostel and Snow were standing over him. "Oh this spot?" Damien began still half asleep, "Sorry about that, it's very nice spot though. Would you mind sharing?" Damien straightened himself up, and got into a more comfortable position to relax while patting Ember to wake up. "I'm still not used to the bustle of that many people. It's nice to get away and find some peace and quiet."

With a grin Ostel looked out to the vast plains and the setting sun as it painted the clouds many strange and exotic colors. The Sage of Light nodded his head and smiled, "I cannot blame you for that, it's a view that I'm sure many painters would pay to see." The Sapientis Lux rested his back to the rock, and Snow sat himself down beside his companion's legs before resting near Ember, the two wolfs playfully poking one another with their noses.

The Sages watched the exchange between their companions for a bit with a smile on both of their faces, for no words needed to be said. Ostel finally broke the silence with a sigh, "You worried about what kind of foes we well be facing Damien?" The Grimward asked as he crossed his arms.

Damien thought about the question for a second before answering, "Worried? A little, yes, but I think anyone would be if they were in our shoes. Either that or their foolish. I'm not worried as much as I am wondering. We at least know a few things about Bonketsu and his enforcer. It's his minions that have me thinking. They could be anything, and that I don't like. I might be worried about our enemies, but it's our group that has me worried more. I don't think you could have found a more ragtag group of heroes. It will be a long time before our team fully melds, and if we aren't when we hit the battlefield, then I'm afraid we would have already lost. How about you? Are you worried about anything?"

Ostel did not answer right away as he pushed himself from the boulder, walked a few paces away from Damien, and started to walk back and forth. All the while his shield hand rubbed his chin hair, thinking about his concerns on the matter. After a few seconds Ostel turned his head to the lycan, "Too many things worry me Damien, but I try to not think about the things outside my control. I understand your concerns as well, and they make sense. I know Jade Fist can handle himself and our mutual 'friend' Aegar can do the same. As for me I imagine I would fair just fine, I've had some fights and skirmishes under my belt."

The human then shrugged, "As to you, Summer and Calixta ... well no offense meant, I just have not seen any of you fight except for Calla. Me and her spar regularly so she can at least hold her own sine I am training her. Plus we all have our spells, and we would not be Sages if our talents were not the best now or in potentail." It was then that Ostel stopped his pacing.

And then he let out a chuckle as he grabbed a small rock, "Then again I could just be talking nonsense ... hell I never considered myself a hero anyways." Ostel said as he threw the rock high into the sky, and grinned seeing the distance he managed to get.

Damien chuckled at that last comment as well and stood up from his own spot. "Honestly, I haven't had too many tustles with other sentient races, but my father trained to be an excellent hunter and master with a bow, but it's not our physical prowess and magic skills that concern me." He let the idea sink in before continuing, "Think about it, A bastard son from one of the most powerful families in Lucerna, a former slave girl from said family, an anti-slavery outlaw, a royal commoner nymph, a demon with a past, and a revenge-seeking nomad. Many ideas, history, and races are being thrown together and told to get along to save the world. What worries me if we will be able to put our differences and pasts behind us and band together as a true team to defeat the greatest evil."

Damien then picked up his own rock and chucked it just as high as Ostel, whether Damien's went higher or lower than his comrade's was impossible to tell at the angle. "Maybe I'm putting too much thought into the matter."

Ostel tried to block out the sun and follow Damien's thrown stone, but gave up, "Good throw." When the Sage of Fire nodded with a hint of pride in his eyes Ostel then admittted, "Look I don't pretend to have all the answers Damien, but maybe there is something we can do. BUt I'll need your help." Ostel said looking his way as if expecting a reply.

Damien met Ostel's gaze, "What do you have in mind, friend?"

The Sage of Light took a deep breath and began, "We need to get the Sages together, by that I mean as a fighting force. I have some military training, and I think if we all discussed our strengths openly we can figure out how to organize ourselves in a fight.." Ostel then pointed to Damien, "From what you have said, you are a good archer, and I am more of a melee fighter. I keep them focused on me with my light spells to disoreintate and confuse them, you pick them off. That's just the two of us, which can be effective." The Grimward bastard then held both his arms out and said, "Now imagine if we can organize the whole damn group. If we master our spells, accomodate one another, train beside one another ... well then I think we can at least survive most of the encounters we will face."

Ostel then let his arms drop and chuckled as he scrathed the back of his head, "Then again I might be wrong. Hells that mean Aegar will have to be part of the group, and Summer may not be effective in combat. But .... it's something at least. What do you think?" The human asked as he watched Ember and Snow playfully wrestle on the grass.

Damien thought about Ostel's proposal for a short time before replying, "While your idea is sensible, practical, and overall a very good idea, which I fully support, that's not the point I was getting at. Physical prowess and combat skills are important, yes, but our team is composed of radically different personalities, conflicting backgrounds, and, to each person, strange cultures. The physical is not what worries me the most, it's the mental aspects that I'm afraid may be the obstacle that keeps us from completing our goal." Damien stood there, making sure he got his point across this time.

With Damien's words in mind, his friend scratched the chin hairs he had and paced around a bit, "Well, we could all sit down one evening and talk frankly, might do us some good. I could go first if need be. Do you think that might help, or do you have another idea?" He asked as he stopped to listen to his fellow Sages response.

"While that's a viable option, maybe what we could do is combine both of our points. We could have ourselves and the other sages spar one on one, and possibly have the others observing. After the session, we could discuss what could be done to improve ourselves and in-between, talk about our inate differences." What say you, Ostel?

To that Ostel nodded his head and smiled to the Sapiens Ignis, "Sunds like a plan Damien. Come tomorrow let us both talk to the others. Hopefully they will see the wisdom in this as well." 

Then suddenly Ostel gave him a hard look, "By the way, what are your thoughts on Summer?" He asked simply, with his sudden cold tone implying more than then he was letting on.

Damien cleared his throat at the question, " Summer is a fine girl. She may have much to learn in the way of magic and combat, but I'm sure she will come into her own light." While Damien may have given a simple and literal answer, he knew what Ostel was getting at. He let out a sigh before continuing. " Summer is a sweet girl, we may not have everything in common, but there are a few similarities. I've helped her through her first change, and when she has night terrors. I'm sure one day she will help me. I will be honest with you, I do feel like I have feelings for her. I'm not fully aware of your own relationship with her. If there is something between you two, let me know and I will back off, if not then I would like your blessing seeing as you freed her."

With a sigh Ostel looked off to the setting sun in the distance and shoke his head, "I wish I could say that it is Summer's choice Damien, but there is a reason I am asking. I am sure she has told you about what has happened to her and what would of happened to her had I not acted." When Damien nodded his understanding Ostel put his hands on his hips and his gaze fell to the ground, "Look as long as you care for her, then I guess I'm alright with it. But keep in mind, if you hurt her, then you answer to me. No need to think about it, but let's pray we never come to blows, because it seems like the world has enough troubles without the Sages fighting each other over love."

The Grimward bastard smiled and looked up to his fellow sage and nodded, "You have my blessing, don't abuse it, please?" He added the last bit with a bit of a joking tone.

Damien turned his gaze towards the setting sun and nodded a few times. "You have my word, friend, and I wouldn't have it any other way." He then outstretched his hand for Ostel to shake, who grabbed and shook firmly. "Now, I think it's about time we got ready for supper. What say you, Ostel?" 

"Agreed." The two then did an about face and gingerly walked back to the school with their pets right by their owners' sides.