Sigman and Ursula had a rather quiet conversation.

There was no yelling.

Ursula wasn’t overly aggressive. It seemed even she noticed the absence of his presence.

"So, what do you want to talk about?" Zach asked.

"You know what."

Roe responded.

"Let’s take it outside," Roe said.

"Outside? Does he want to...? There’s no way, right?"

Zach assumed Roe wanted a match. One where he would prove to all that he was the superior.

It wasn’t that.

"Wind talent," he chanted.

"Woah, slow your horses, my guy. I just want to talk," Roe responded.

"Are you for real?" Zach asked.

He looked shocked at the same time.

"Dude, I want to hate you. I really do. But there’s no point to that."

"I’ll give you a quick rundown of my story."

"Isn’t that going to be all long and well..."

Roe cut him off mid-sentence.

"No. It won’t be."

"Maybe a little."

"Okay, maybe a lot."

"This is what matters right now. Treat it like it does," Roe added.

"You see, you’re like me now. A student of Merlin like the rest of us, but like me, you’re also one of the pillars that will hold the line."

"We are the new foundation."

"Not to sound bleak or anything, but Merlin’s time is gone. We are the new-age abnormalities. We are the exception to the norm."

"I called you out to advise you. Solomon already did for me what I’m about to do for you."

"Wow, how far I’ve come," he said.

"Oh please," Zach cut in.

"You see, there are people we’ll meet in the outside world who will mean to use us."

"Merlin has overridden a lot of rules. He’s stepped on a lot of toes and, as a result, he’s gained a lot of enemies."

"Some of these enemies may attempt to recruit you or me."

"They need strong allies to influence decisions. Strong allies. That’s you and me, Zach."

"You’re talking about the council, aren’t you?" Zach asked.

"Well, them. But they’re not alone. There are many out there who’d go far to attain their goals. The only thing stopping them is power. Again, that’s you and me."

"Don’t get it wrong. We are strong, but our strength is only potential. We aren’t actually anything right now."

"In a year or two, maybe."

"Hell, maybe in a couple of months."

"But right now, we’re merely noobs. Rookies."

"I said I’ll tell you about my past. I think now’s a good time."

"I did research. I thought—no, I believed—I was going to be the one to awaken the God-Tier System."

"Well, I didn’t."

"But that drive... well, that drive resulted in awakening something different in me."

"It was never exactly my goal, but now I’m an SSS-rank mage with the potential to rival the great Merlin."

"I’ve still not settled into my position yet, but I’m working on it."

"I lost my friend. I made a promise to him that I would obtain the system."

"I failed him."

"I guess what I’m trying to say is that I won’t fail you."

"I’ll get you to where you need to go. I’ll support you as I would have my friend."

"You don’t owe me anything. It’s just the right thing to do."

"There’s a reason you’re the one with the system."

"Humanity needs you."

"Those rifts aren’t going anywhere."

"We’ll stop it all together. The monsters, everything."

"I can’t have the wielder of the God-Tier System dying on me."

"No. Forget all I said."

"Yeah, forget all that."

"Just know I’ll back you up until you’ve mastered the system."

"I want to see it at full power. Fully evolved."

"I want to get a crack at the system only then," Roe ended.

"Only then? So you do want a fight."

"Well, when it happens, it’ll be less of a fight and more of a friendly spar."

"So, what do you say? Friends?"

He reached out his hand.

Another handshake.

This one making up for the last missed opportunity.

Zach responded in kind.

Both shook on it.

"Friends," Zach responded.

"Now let’s go back to the party."

There was no music, but the snacks more than made up for it.

There was a crunch they made.

The beer helped sell the illusion.

They mostly didn’t notice they were dancing to no song.

There was sound; it just wasn’t a melody.

Roe finally took a bite.

"Hey, where have you two been?" Sigman asked.

"I could ask the same of you. I noticed you’re just having something to eat as well."

"Well, I can’t answer that, my friend," Sigman said.

"I guess I can’t give a response as well," Roe retaliated.

Solomon noticed it was getting late.

He wasn’t staying back anymore.

He would address them the next day.

There were already a few who were drunk. If he addressed them now, then he would have to address them again tomorrow.

The masters were also celebrating.

Training was over.

They could go back to handling real missions.

He too took his leave unannounced.

The next day would come with hangovers.

They were all feeling it.

Before they could dress or get cleaned up, they were all now outside the tower. Whole bodies on the grass for some and, for the few early sleepers, just their feet on the ground.

"Alright, let’s go. We are heading out."

"This realm has served its purpose for you guys in particular."

"You’ll now be leaving," Solomon said as he summoned a massive portal.

They sluggishly walked through it.

Zach turned to experience the view one last time.

They didn’t know when next they would venture in.

Roe was the last to walk through the portal.

"I have to ask."

"What happened to Modred?"

Solomon smiled.

He appreciated his concern.

His smile wasn’t affirming anything.

He looked more worried than positive, but he did give a response.

"Lot and I are working on something."

Roe was fine with that.

This just meant there existed a chance.

A possibility.

This was fine.

He didn’t even look back one final time like Zach.

"I think I’ve had enough of this place for a while," he said as he walked through the portal.

They were back at the Temple of Merlin.

"I’m all light. It’s scary."

"I guess that’s an effect of adapting to such a mana-dense region," he said.

"Okay. Go get cleaned up."

"I’ll assign you to your leader."

"I’ll address you this once."

"You’ll be on TV, and then you’ll take your first mission."

"Is that clear?"

"All that’s scheduled for today?"Roe wondered.