Blue Archive - An Otherworldly Sensei

As the morning sun slowly crept over Sjel Blad Castle, many of the castle's residents were already up and moving about taking care of their usual rounds. Ja'vassa had long since gotten himself ready for the coming adventure; dressed in his old Archmage's robes, armored boots, gauntlets, along with an enchanted circlet resting on his head. Seeing as it was still rather early; breakfast wasn't ready nor were his students awake. He wasn't particularly hungry, so he swung by the kitchen and picked up a few green apples to snack on while he relaxed outside. As expected, it was a relatively cold morning as Ja'vassa rested along the walls of the bridge that connected Sjel Blad Castle to the ancient stairs that led up to High Hrothgar. Overlooking the landscape that stretched beyond the horizons, he seemed to be in a relatively good mood. There wasn't a cloud in sight, and despite the cold wind blowing harshly and the vampiric blood coursing through his veins, the rays of sunlight that washed over him felt refreshing. The crisp, tart taste of the fresh apples, the inviting sunlight, and the promise of a grand adventure with his beloved students; it had been a long time since he had awoken with so much energy within. "I feel younger than I have in centuries... must be those kids rubbing off on me." Ja'vassa chuckled softly as he tossed one of the apple cores into the ravine beneath him. A few hours had gone by and Ja'vassa remained in the same spot, overlooking the land beneath him as dawn's early light continued to brighten; bathing the skies in various shades of blue. Meanwhile, back inside the castle, activity had increased. The castle cooks were preparing breakfast, his Council and students had long since awakened; getting themselves dressed and ready for the day's activities. Fuuka was the first to step out of their room with the other girls following close behind her. "I wonder where Sensei is? I figured he'd be here to greet us." Fuuka said, shaking her head slightly. Soon after they stepped out of the rooms and approached the foyer, they bumped into another Council member. The Redguard woman glanced towards them, studying them for a brief moment before speaking up. "Ah, you must be my Lord's precious students. Serica mentioned you recently, but I haven't had a chance to introduce myself to you yet. My name is Kara, it's a pleasure to meet you." She greeted; her warm smile betraying the piercing gaze in her olive green eyes. "It's good to meet you, too." Hifumi replied, returning the warm smile. "Are you going to join us for breakfast?" She paused, a sheepish laugh escaping her. "Well... we'll be heading towards the mess hall as soon as we find Sensei. Have you seen him?" Kara nodded in response. "Yes, I have some errands I need to run down to Falkreath. A good meal might make that easier. Last I checked, Ja'vassa had stepped outside. He's probably meditating as he normally would at this time." She replied, motioning for them to follow her. Momiji looked towards the Council member, a shy smile appearing on her face. "I've noticed all the Council members have different roles... Maribelle's an alchemist, Mordan's a blacksmith, Relumara and Serica seem to be Sensei's main advisors. What's your role within the Castle, Kara?" She asked, walking close behind her. "I suppose I'm one of the primary messengers for the Castle. I deliver important messages across Skyrim and occasionally I venture in Cyrodiil when necessary. I've got some documents Relumara wanted delivered to the Jarl of Falkreath, claiming he wanted to repurpose some old fortress near the southern border." Kara explained, crossing her arms slightly as they stepped into the mess hall. "Is that a good idea? Sensei mentioned that relations between the Castle and the Empire are shaky at best." Serina questioned, clearly just as curious. "Maybe not a great idea, but the old fortress Relumara mentioned is incredibly isolated. I'm not sure what they want with it, but I'd suspect he likely wants to use it for magical experiments that might draw too much attention if we perform them here. From what he's told me, it's home to a clan of vampires, so it's likely the Empire wants nothing to do with it." Kara sighed softly, not particularly looking forward to the coming trip. Soon after arriving in the mess hall, breakfast was served. The morning meal consisted of freshly made pancakes, sliced fruits, sausage links, and orange juice along with an apple-cinnamon syrup to coat the pancakes with. Fuuka's eyes sparkled as the fresh aroma of the meal hit her nose. "It all looks incredible... I might have to come here to learn from the castle cooks." Fuuka said cheerfully as she watched the sticky syrup flow over the pancakes on her plate. "Where do you get all your ingredients, Kara? Everything looks and tastes as if it was harvested this morning." Kara beamed with pride as she sipped on her glass of juice. "Everything's grown right here within the castle. We've taken some notes on the steam pipelines seen in Dwemer ruins, and with a little bit of magical prowess courtesy of Serica and Rianra, our gardens boast perfect conditions for growing food you wouldn't be able to get in Skyrim otherwise. We also have hunters who routinely gather wild game and fish, while raising chickens, cows, and goats here for meat." Fuuka beamed in return, absorbing the information given to her like a sponge. "We have a small garden at Gehenna. We grow most of our fruits and vegetables, though none of the meat we use is ever this fresh. Your cooks here are incredible..." She giggled happily as she gladly continued to eat. A short while had passed and breakfast had come to an end, and as the castle servants cleared away the empty dishes, the group had shuffled back into the foyer. Kara released a content sigh; with the delicious meal behind them, she and the students had stepped into the armory, wanting to continue their conversation as she prepared herself for her trip down south. Picking up her scimitar and shield, Kara took a few moments to make sure her equipment was in good shape. "It's a bit cold out, but that's normal. I haven't seen any clouds yet, so hopefully that means I won't deal with the usual thunderstorms Falkreath gets." With her weapon and shield properly equipped, she turned to face the girls for a moment. "Come on, let's see if we can't find your teacher before I have to leave for the day." After exiting the armory, it was Serina's turn to ask a question. "How did you and Sensei meet, Kara?" She asked, wearing a bright smile. "I was an apprentice of his when I first came to the castle; I was formerly part of the Imperial Legion, but I didn't feel as if I was learning as much as I really wanted. I met Ja'vassa to deliver a message; worked up the courage, and asked him about the potential of becoming an apprentice of his. To my surprise, he took me in without many questions and since then, I worked my way up and became the last member of the Inner Council." Kara wore a somewhat nostalgic smile as she recalled her first meeting with him. "Ja'vassa tries so hard to come off as this harsh, cold leader, but he's a big softie on the inside." Hifumi giggled, nodding in agreement. "Yeah.. but, that's what we love about him. He's been good to us." Kara chuckled softly, crossing her arms. "Of course he loves you. Who wouldn't adore such cute students, after all?" She asked teasingly, Momiji blushed softly, but laughed heartily at the tease. "So, that's all it takes to win a vampire's heart? Just being cute and sweet?" She asked in response. "The warm smile of a beautiful girl is often more help than you might realize. Those smiles of yours are likely what won him over in the first place." Kara glanced towards them for a moment, a fond smile on her face as she gazed upon them. "I'm glad he has you in his life. After all he's been through, I'm glad he has someone to make him smile." As they walked and talked throughout the castle, they'd eventually step outside to reveal Skyrim's vividly blue skies, hardly a cloud in sight. Only now did they really get an idea of how large the castle really was; it was almost intimidating to see how it towered over nearly everything aside from the mountain it was built into. After getting over just how massive it was, they had the opportunity to gaze upon the incredible views on either side of the bridge. The lush forests and towering mountains offered a sense of serenity they hadn't experienced back in Kivotos, and the ancient staircase leading further up the mountain gave them a sense of intrigue and wonder. Though they marveled at the scenery, the harsh winds blew hard; Skyrim's infamous cold weather became immediately noticeable. Even with their heavy coats, it was difficult to ignore the nip in the air. Had they been wearing their usual uniforms, they likely would've been freezing the moment they stepped outside. Following Kara along the bridge, they'd finally find Ja'vassa in the same spot as he was when he first stepped out. "Sensei! There you are." Fuuka greeted, approaching the spot he was perched on. "How long have you been out here?" She asked, a warm expression glued to her face. "A few hours, I suppose. It was a beautiful morning, I felt it'd be a waste to be holed up inside." Ja'vassa replied, glancing towards them for a moment. "How was your first night in the castle? I hope you've been enjoying your time here so far." Momoi nodded excitedly, her smile matching the energy in her steps. "It's been great! Everyone's been so friendly to us and the food has been incredible. I'm glad we came here.. we're excited for the coming adventure, too." Momiji had approached him next, leaning against him slightly. "Skyrim really is beautiful.. it's easy to see why you're so attached to it." She paused, reaching into her coat pocket to pull out a map she had found before she stepped out of the guest rooms. "Sensei... can we make a request? We want to see as much of this land as we can. I found a map in our rooms and... we wanted to see if we could take the long route I marked here." Ja'vassa was silent, studying the route she marked on the map. "So.. you want us to go through Eastmarch, then to the Pale, Hjaalmarch, and finally into Haafingar before we set sail for Solstheim..." He mused, nodding in approval. "That's about a day's journey so long as nothing goes wrong, but unfortunately, we're likely to get distracted, so perhaps it'll take a bit longer. But, I don't mind. So long as you don't mind my rambling about a few locations." A wide smile crossed Momiji's face as she pocketed the map. "I'd expect nothing less from you, Sensei. We want to learn everything about the place that made you who you are now." She replied cheerfully, tugging on his arm excitedly. "Come on! Let's get going!" Ja'vassa chuckled softly as he stood up, stretching as he'd begun to walk with them. "Stay close to me as we descend the mountain. I usually haven't had to deal with much beyond the occasional bear or wolf, but these slopes can be slippery. I'd rather none of you fall off the mountain; I intend to return to Kivotos with all of you." Nodding in response, the six of them kept close to him as they began to climb down the mountain; taking in all of the sights and sounds. Midori glanced back towards the stairs that led further up the mountain. "Sensei, I noticed those steps led further up. What's at the end of them?" She asked curiously. "High Hrothgar, home of the Greybeards; masters of the Way of the Voice. It's where I learned what it meant to be Dragonborn. Sjel Blad Castle's location on the mountain is so I can remain close to them, and keep High Hrothgar safe." Ja'vassa explained, wrapping his arms behind his back. "I'm afraid you won't be able to visit, their doors are open only to those they've summoned." Midori nodded in response, though she was slightly disappointed to hear it was off limits to them, she understood that Skyrim's traditions should be respected. Their journey continued down to the base of the mountain, they hadn't faced any trouble nor did any of them slip off the mountain, and as they arrived at the small settlement at the base, Ja'vassa released a sigh of relief. "Here we are; Ivarstead. Even in the centuries since my first visit, it hasn't changed all that much. It's a little bigger than it was when I first came to Skyrim, but that's the only difference I've noticed." Ja'vassa seemed to wear a somewhat nostalgic smile as they wandered through the village as their journey towards Eastmarch had begun. The winding road was long and steep, but mostly free of trouble. There was the occasional wolf that tried to nip at them, but the echoing sounds of the firearms often scared them away. As they crossed the border from the Rift and into Eastmarch, the change in landscape was dramatic; turning from the long, mountainous roads surrounded by dense forests into the craggy landscape dominated by various hot springs. In the distance, along the large mountains to the east, large golden doors could be seen. It was a confusing sight, it didn't seem to connect to any ruins, but rather just looked to be built into the mountainside. "Sensei, what's with those doors? Do you know if there's anything behind it?" Serina asked, tilting her head slightly. Ja'vassa glanced towards the direction Serina pointed out, taking several moments to answer; his tone softer than usual. "That is the entrance to Sadrith Kagran, an old Dunmer settlement built into the Velothi Mountains." He explained, his ears flattening against his head. "...Sensei? Is everything alright?" Serina asked, now slightly concerned about him. "Does it have something to do with that settlement?" Nodding in response, Ja'vassa sighed softly. "I spent a little over a year as a slave in Sadrith Kagran. Caught off guard, bound in chains like some wild animal; forced to serve an insane scholar." He explained, shame flickering over his expression. The revelation was a shock to them, they stared at Ja'vassa in silence, unsure of how to properly respond for a few moments. "How'd... how'd you end up escaping it, Sensei?" Momiji asked; it was clear it was a hard subject for him, but her curiosity was getting the best of her. There was a long pause, Ja'vassa clearly hesitated, but after a while, he spoke up. "It took a while, but I earned their trust. They had suspicions of my master, believing he was planning something terrible for the settlement. They gave me my freedom and in response, I attacked them. I was bound to my master through strange magic and unable to attack him as I wanted to, but once that amulet was removed, my anger took over and I slaughtered them. Killing every person I could find, not even the ones who gave me my freedom were spared. I hunted them down like wild beasts, went after those who tried to escape." Ja'vassa's gaze was firmly on the ground beneath him; there was clear anger and shame in his eyes, though the anger clearly seemed to be aimed towards himself. "I thought I was justified in my actions. Slavery is a detestable action and I was carrying out my duty as an Imperial officer, but I was wrong. It was senseless slaughter and revenge, considering that perhaps some of the citizens I killed were innocent." His admission was met with horrified stares, the students falling into silence as they processed the information given to him. It was difficult to believe that the gentle, even affectionate teacher they've grown to adore was capable of such horrific brutality. Perhaps his captors deserved it, but the fact that potentially innocent people weren't even spared added to the unpleasant thoughts. None of them knew how to respond and stood there, frozen with uncertainty. "...you've been through a lot, haven't you, Sensei?" Serina asked as she took a few steps closer. She reached up, her fingers brushing against his cheek; softly rubbing against the scars she felt. "I... I can't say I ever expected to hear those words from you, but it's obvious you regret it. You can lean on us for support when you need it, Sensei. Our arms are opened to you just as yours are for us." Ja'vassa sighed softly at the gentle touch on his face, he didn't respond right away and instead softly held Serina's hand. "I'm your teacher, I shouldn't be unloading on my students.. but, thank you, Serina." A light smile crossed his face as he spoke. Momoi shook her head, reaching out to wrap Ja'vassa in a soft embrace. "You're always there to support us, it's only fair we do the same in return. Besides, your job will be easier if you're smiling.. we'll do all we can to make sure you keep smiling." She promised, looking up to him with a cheerful expression. One by one, the other students had followed Momoi's example, gathering for a large group hug. The unexpected gesture struck him in the heart; the sincerity in their words and the warmth of their touch caused a few subtle tears to form in the corners of his eyes. After a moment, Ja'vassa returned the hug; holding them close to him. "I... I'm not sure what I deserved to have students like you." He whispered, a genuine smile crossing his face. "Thank you, truly. I'm glad to have you in my life." Hifumi smiled brightly, snuggling into his chest a bit more. "The feeling's mutual, Sensei. We're glad you came to Kivotos." A content sigh escaped him as he gave them one last squeeze. "I'm not sure where we went wrong in the experiment, but I've never been happier to have made a mistake." Ja'vassa replied softly, lightly caressing Hifumi's cheek. "As nice as this is, let's continue on the road. There's plenty more for you to see along the way." There was some hesitancy among all of them as the impromptu group hug broke up, with the arms separated, their journey towards Solitude would continue. As they wandered down the road, Ja'vassa had occasionally pointed out various landmarks along the way; explaining much of their history, and his own experience with them. His students listened with fascination; they weren't likely to use any of this knowledge when they'd return to their respective academies, but it was fascinating nonetheless. The ancient feeling of Skyrim clashed with their modern day life in Kivotos in more ways than one, and yet, every word their teacher spoke felt them with a sense of awe and wonder. After a while, they arrived at the ruined gates of Helgen. Despite centuries having gone by since Alduin's destruction of the village, the ruins remained the same. Untouched, no effort to rebuild the settlement has ever been undertaken. Midori was the first to speak up, her mind filled with questions. "What happened to this place, Sensei? It looks like it might've been a thriving village at one point..." Ja'vassa sighed softly, a mixture of nostalgia and sorrow washing over his face. "This was Helgen, it was often used for Imperial business generations ago, but it was destroyed by Alduin.. marking the beginning of the Dragon Crisis." He explained, leading them into the ruined village. He was silent for a bit until he'd approached a small block sitting in front of a ruined tower, kneeling besides it. "This is where I was to be executed.. and I would've been killed had Alduin not interrupted." Ja'vassa chuckled softly, his fingers brushing against the small stone brick. "Ironic, isn't it? Alduin could've avoided his own destruction had he waited a few moments to attack Helgen." Midori let out a surprised gasp, knowing that her teacher could've been killed here wasn't what she expected to hear. "Were you a criminal in your past? I can't believe you were sentenced to death..." Another soft laugh escaped him, though he'd shake his head. "Not really a criminal, but I was caught up in an Imperial ambush. They captured me and a few Stormcloaks, and carted us off here. They didn't care who I was and were intent on making sure I never left this place." Ja'vassa replied, his gaze moving towards the top of the great tower. "I still remember the anticipation I felt as I awaited for the headsman's axe... and the terror I felt when Alduin first arrived." Momiji's gaze wandered about the area, glancing towards Ja'vassa and then back towards the tower. "Who was Alduin? From the way you're talking about him, it sounds like he wasn't pleasant..." Ja'vassa nodded in agreement, returning to his feet after a moment. "Alduin was known as the World-Eater, a powerful dragon destined to bring about the end of the world. I don't believe he was inherently evil, but rather, just following his inborn nature. Regardless, it was my duty as Dragonborn to do battle with him. Had I been killed, Skyrim as we know it now likely wouldn't exist... but, here I am, traveling with you now." With sparkles in her eyes, Momiji listened in fascination. "These battles you talk about... they sound like something right out of a fantasy story." She laughed heartily, moving closer to him. "Your battle happened a long time ago, right? Why didn't they rebuild Helgen?" For a moment, Ja'vassa was silent; it wasn't really something he had thought of. For as long as he could remember, the ruined village has been in the same state, often being used as a safe haven for occasional bandit tribes. "I... I don't know, Momiji. Sometimes I wonder if they just thought it wasn't worth the efforts with the ongoing conflicts, or perhaps left it alone in an effort to respect the fallen. Perhaps they wanted it to serve as a reminder to future generations of the Dragon Crisis.. I'm not sure." His answer filled the girl with even more questions, but she knew she likely wasn't going to get much more from him. "Before it was destroyed... what was it like?" Momiji asked, beginning to follow behind him as he resumed their journey. "I couldn't tell you, my unplanned execution was the first and only time I had visited Helgen before its destruction. Though, an old friend of mine mentioned some sweet mead and a beautiful woman he was close to here." Ja'vassa explained, opening up the ruined gates on the other side of the settlement. After leaving Helgen, their journey continued westward and like before, Ja'vassa continued to point out various landmarks to his students, discussing as much as he could. Bleak Falls Barrow, Silent Moons Camp, Labyrinthian, and so many others; the students that followed him listened intently, absorbing every bit of information given to them. Much to his own surprise, the journey was largely uneventful. For once, he didn't have to worry about bandits or rogue mages trying to cause them trouble, it was a strange feeling, but not entirely unpleasant. As they finally arrived at Solitude, the city's famous windmill was immediately noticeable. Serina's cheerful smile widened as she approached it, taking in the scents of the calm waters near the docks and all of the fresh produce being grown on the nearby farm. "This place feels peaceful... it almost feels like I can take a nap right along the docks." Ja'vassa laughed softly as he'd led them down to where his ship rested. "I'll admit to having frequently taken naps here when I lived in Solitude. The sounds of the water always soothed me, and this is one of the few places in Skyrim that isn't always freezing cold." He admitted as they'd approach his ship. "Here we are, my beautiful vessel." Gazing upon the ship with great pride in his eyes, he'd gladly invite them onboard. "Does it have a name, Sensei?" Fuuka asked as she'd follow him up the steps. The ship, in fact, did not have a name. It wasn't something Ja'vassa had considered or cared to think about. A sheepish laugh escaped him as he rubbed the back of his head. "I'm... I'm afraid it doesn't have a name. I'm not that creative when it comes to names, admittedly..." Fuuka couldn't help but roll her eyes as she listened to him. "You're hopeless, Sensei.. but, I suppose it is a beautiful ship, even without a name." As she spoke, she glanced around the ship's deck, noting the lack of any steering mechanisms anywhere. "Uh... how do you intend to move this thing, Sensei? I don't even see a wheel..." Ja'vassa grinned in response, a deep green light forming in his hands. "Sjel Blad Castle is known as the center of magical innovation for a reason, Fuuka. In order to prevent thieves or pirates from boarding and making off with our ships, we use specialized magics to navigate them. It'll be about a few hours before we reach Raven Rock, I'd suggest you get comfortable." The students nodded, taking a seat around the bolted down table in the center of the ship, watching as Ja'vassa invoked the magic needed to move the ship. This was their first time riding on such a large vessel, the excitement was palpable in the air as they began to leave the Solitude docks. The salty sea air, chilling winds, and the sounds of the water rushing around them provided for an unexpectedly calming and relaxing atmosphere; this was only the first day of their grand adventure, and it was already an unforgettable experience. Seeing the ancient ruins that dotted the landscape, learning about their history and their teacher's own experience with them, it was like living in a history documentary. They'd have to return to Kivotos eventually, but none of them seemed particularly eager to return home anytime soon. Hours had gone by and the bright blue skies slowly darkened, being replaced with the vivid auroras and glittering stars that graced Skyrim's night skies. Seeing the twinkling stars above them mingle with the gorgeous colors of the auroras caused the students to look upon it in amazement. The starry skies of Kivotos were beautiful, but this was different. Thousands upon thousands of stars shimmered, the light of the moons dancing upon the waters surrounding the ship. "It's hard to believe a night sky like this could exist. I've never seen so many stars in one place, it almost feels like I could reach out and touch them." Hifumi said breathlessly, his gaze moving towards the approaching island. Even the spewing ash in the distant volcano added to the immense beauty of the colorful night skies, even if it made her feel a little nervous. "Are we approaching Solstheim, Sensei?" Ja'vassa nodded, carefully navigating the ship towards the Raven Rock docks. "Yes.. it's been quite some time since I've last visited here. Just remember, this is Morrowind, not Skyrim. While we're here, you'll be expected to abide by their laws. But, don't worry too much. So long as we stay out of trouble, you'll be fine." As the ship came to a stop, the group had stepped off the ship and onto the docks. In comparison to Sjel Blad Castle, Raven Rock seemed incredibly quiet and isolated. Ruined buildings were a common sight and the buildings that were intact clearly needed some serious maintenance. Momoi frowned slightly as she stepped onto the ash covered ground. "Sensei.. has this village always been like this? It seems... depressing." She admitted quietly. "For as long as I can remember, it's been like this. It's not entirely their fault. Frequent ash storms from the Red Mountain, being abandoned by the East Empire Company, and the mainland hardly pays attention to it. Life out here on the frontier is difficult, but the villagers that call it home are strong, stubborn, and hardy." Ja'vassa explained as he'd lead them up to his home on the island. "I lived out for a time after I dealt with Miraak.. despite the harshness of the island, I grew attached to the people here." Momiji perked up slightly as he mentioned Miraak, she looked towards him curiously. "Who's Miraak? Another foe of yours?" She asked. "He was my predecessor. The First Dragonborn; he was trapped in Apocrypha for many long centuries, serving Hermaeus Mora as his Champion. During that time, Miraak was attempting to gather as much power as he could to return to Tamriel in the hopes of taking over the land." Ja'vassa explained, unlocking the door to Severin Manor. "My first encounter with his servants was shortly after the Skyrim Civil War; though we had the Thalmor to worry about, Miraak's return to the mortal realm would've been bad news for both sides, so he had to be dealt with. I traveled all over Solstheim, and eventually traveled into Apocrypha for one last showdown with him." Absorbing the information, Momiji listened intently with a cheerful smile. "It must've been incredible to do battle with the Dragonborn that came before you." Ja'vassa nodded in agreement, chuckling softly. "I would've been killed had Hermaeus Mora not intervened. To this day, I'm not sure why he stepped in to save me, but after Miraak had been killed, I was named Hermaeus Mora's new Champion and I still serve him as loyally as I did then." Despite the topic, Midori giggled softly. "You seem to have a lot of near death experiences, Sensei." She said teasingly. "They say Khajiit have nine lives, I'd suspect I'm probably on life number five or six by now." Ja'vassa replied jokingly, stepping towards the firepit to prepare supper for the group. "Though, experiences like that simply come with my title. Dealing with Alduin, Miraak, the Civil War.. I'd suspect another experience will come in the future, whether here in Tamriel or Kivotos, I am uncertain, but it'll come." Momoi had taken a seat beside the fire, watching as Ja'vassa prepared their meal. "Isn't it exhausting being in constant battle, though? Have you considered retiring, Sensei? Maybe settling down and starting a family?" She asked, leaning towards him slightly. "I'm not that old, Momoi... well, maybe I am." Ja'vassa replied jokingly. "I had a family centuries ago. Married with a wife, even had several children... but, they've long since passed away. I've tried moving on, but I find it difficult to do so. I haven't been able to find someone to take Armani's place in my heart. Constant battle may be exhausting, but it keeps me from dwelling on the past." A pang of guilt shot through Momoi's heart as she listened to him, feeling somewhat guilty for bringing up a heavy subject. "I'm sorry, Sensei.. I didn't mean to bring up poor memories." Waving off the apology, Ja'vassa gave her a warm smile. "Don't apologize, Momoi. You didn't know; besides, it's been centuries since I lost her. I'm able to move forward by clinging to her memory; I promised that I'd keep going, that I'd hold strong for her and I've held onto that promise." As he set the food to warm up over the fire, he'd step over; reaching out to softly cup Momoi's cheek for a brief moment. "It hasn't been easy, but the road has led me to meeting you and the others. I'd say it's been worth it." Ja'vassa said softly, his hand lingering on her cheek. "The past has been painful, but.. if it meant being right here with you now, I'd do it all over again." Momoi leaned into his touch, holding his hand against her cheek. "Sensei..." She muttered, her voice barely audible. "You really are cheesy... but, I'm happy you feel that way." After a moment, Ja'vassa pulled his hand away, much to the girl's disappointment in order to finish cooking dinner. It wasn't as extravagant as what they'd get at the castle, but it'd be enough to send them bed satisfied. Gathering at the dining room table, they gladly indulged in the warm meal and discussed the plans for the next day. The hunt for Haknir Death-Brand's armor and the treasure he left behind, perhaps visiting Castle Karstaag, maybe finishing his hunt for the resonance gems, there was so much for them to do and plenty of time to do it in. With supper completed, Ja'vassa led them into the guest room of the manor, smiling softly as they'd set their things down besides their beds. "Get some rest, we've got a long day tomorrow. I'll be in the other room if you need anything during the night." Hifumi yawned as she curled up beneath the covers. "Thank you, Sensei. Goodnight, and we'll see you in the morning." Taking one last look at them, Ja'vassa stepped out of the room and into his own. Exhausted from the long journey, he quickly changed out of his traveling gear and flopped into bed. Within minutes, he was out like a light. The morning couldn't come quick enough, the promise of a grand adventure darling students filled him with a sense of excitement he hasn't felt in decades.