Chapter 71: Solace

As Ennio would approach the children, Harvard would still notice the cowboy's missing arm, making his way to that arm and grabbing it, as well as casting a spell to make a potion. "Hey! Mr. Morrwood! Lemme get you back your arm real quick." The boy asked, much to the surprise of the Cowboy. Figuring he wished to help, the man nodded and deactivated his spell, the grains of sand dropping down like water, pouring out into a solid pile. Harvard quickly passed the Cowboy back his arm, using the potion to coat the wound, allowing it to heal. Within a few moments, the potion's effect worked wonderfully, albeit with some strain as the process hurt a bit, like a sting from a needle in one's skin. The flesh and muscles reattached themselves, as well as any bones that were removed to piece them back together. Once Ennio's arm was back, he'd grab his shoulder and allowed that new arm to loosen up, moving it in a circular motion so it would be easier to work with. "Ta-daaah! Told yah I'd get it back!"

"Heh, so it did, kid. So it did..." The man would give a smile as he'd get back his face mask, looking up at the sky. The fight took longer than he'd expect, as he'd look towards all four of them. "Alright, let's go home. I'll make some gumbo for you all if you want." He'd state, walking back to his office. The children followed quickly, yet calmly.

"Your potions can DO THAT!?" Stolas asked, shocked if anything at the result.

"E-yep! Pretty cool, huh?" Harvard answered with a similar smirk.

"And you never bothered to give us some becaaaaaaaaaause?" Solomon would question.

"Well it still costs energy to do that, plus, In my defense, I didn't expect you guys to have a big problem with your mission." Harvard answered, to which Solomon retorted quickly.

"And you could've still GIVEN us that in case. Y'now.....to make sure we don't DIE!? Seriously, the mission WE were in dealt with someone that uses snake venom. Do you have ANY IDEA how quick it would've been had we got those potions, dude?"

"Well, again, I didn't expect you guys to struggle that much. Then again, we kinda went the hard way in going about this, huh? Hehe.."

"The heck are you on about?" Solomon asked, raising an eyebrow, with his shadow starting to take notice of the conversation.

"Well, WE were fighting in the docks, right? Last time I checked, you had a big flood spell that could use the river itself. Had we swapped places, we probably could've done our missions faster!" The boy, much to the annoyance of Solomon, had a point.

"Not to mention, we'd probably have an answer to whatever magic they were doing anyway. Which reminds me, what were you guys up against?" Zazel asked, quickly adding on to Harvard's answer, while also being confused what their opposition was like.

"OH! They're SUPER good! One was a big guy that had Steel magic..." Harvard would state, before Stolas would interrupt and finish his sentence.

"....And the other was a lady with Gun stuff! Just like Papa!"

"Just like me, huh? Must've been a wild one, eh?" Ennio would ask, as he'd reach his destination, opening the door and letting the kids in.

"Oh yeah! We even blew up a bunch of ships when we're fighting!"

"You what???" Stolas' nonchalant answer took Ennio aback. Since when was there such a big explosion? A question for another day. As the kids entered in the office, Stolas would instantly run towards his room, grabbing himself what looked to be a board game, setting it up and allowing the others to play along. Ennio, meanwhile would be making the food, heating up the pot to a medium high, adding some olive oil, and having the pot's bottom be battered, while also gathering the other ingredients: Chicken, Spices, Vegetables, Flour, Herbs, and Andouille, whilst a shadow-like figure would creep up by the cowboy's side and snag some stock. As he would make his way to season some chicken using the spices, the shadow would speak. 

"Oi, think this is gonna be a handful?" It would ask. Ennio recognized it as Shady due to the length and where it came from.

"Nah, I've got this one." He'd respond.

"Aaaalright then. Just askin'. You ARE a Veteran after all, what with needing to lie down and-"

"Shady, relax. I'm not gonna disappear overnight. Besides, we made a deal. IF by any means I'm gone, You'd watch over. Yeah?" Shady would sigh as he hears Ennio's response. It could recall that moment well. The moment where Solomon was wandering the dunes, somehow getting himself in the equivalent of a battlefield, with Stolas taking the lead. Solomon quickly tried to follow, which is what bumped him with his father, being taken in after recognizing he was alone.

"Yeah, I will. I wanna add one more condition to that promise though."

"That bein'...?" Ennio raised an eyebrow as he'd make the Roux and Browned the chicken.

"If you're somehow gone.....Find a way to come back. Murder the Devil if you have to. I ain't wanting those kids to think you're gone for good."

Ennio couldn't help but smile softly. "A'ight. I promise." With that, the Cowboy continued cooking, whilst Shady went back to Solomon to watch over them on their game night. Letting the meat simmer as he adds it in, as well as the vegetables, he'd serve it up and had the kids chow down, enjoying such a meal. Right as the night was young, and right after they were finished, Ennio would make sure they'd brush their teeth and head to bed, letting them sleep and regain their energy, whilst the Cowboy kept watch on the living room. Even still, even he got caught dozing, resting soundly at said couch, with the cool night winds blowing softly, putting him at ease. The night was truly a special one, as they'd all drift to sleep peacefully.

A Peaceful evening indeed.