As the couple returned to the living room, they noticed a shift in the atmosphere. George sprang up from his armchair, a piece of paper clutched tightly in his hand. His eyes sparkled with excitent.
"Adrian! Sophia!" George called out eagerly, gesturing them over to look at sothing. "You won’t believe what just arrived!"
"Arrived?" Adrian frowned, taking the papers from George. "I thought you guys found a guild for us to join."
"Not everything revolves around the guilds," he declared, a grin spreading across his face. "It’s sothing even better!"
"A dungeon permit!?" Adrian exclaid, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Already?"
Sophia leaned in, peering over Adrian’s shoulder to get a better look.
"This is incredible," she mumbled, a smile spreading across her lips. "I don’t think anyone would have received a request so soon. Executive Director must have been impressed by you."
"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let’s gear up and head out. Adventure awaits!" George punched the air. He was more excited than all of them combined, but Adrian had to rain on his parade.
"Hold your horses, dumbass," Adrian shook his head, pointing at the date. "The request is for tomorrow, not tonight. Besides, there’s sowhere I need to visit, so there’s that."
A’Mile smiled when she heard that. Vesper had been asking to et Adrian for a while now. But Adrian wasn’t ready to face her, but it seed he had changed his mind.
It wouldn’t be easy for him, but he knew nothing would change between them if he kept waiting.
"And how are you planning to leave? Take a cab?" George comnted.
"Nah, I’m taking your car."
"Tsk, I already told you. You’ll need a driving licence for that-"
Then, Adrian took sothing from his pocket and placed it on the table. George’s smile faded when he realised what it was.
"How did you-?"
"You’ll be surprised to know that the DRA regional HQ also runs simulated driving tests," Adrian replied with a crazy smile. "and I passed with flying colours, so... the keys, please?"
With shaking hands, George fished the key out of his pockets and gave it to Adrian. He turned to leave without a word, stopping to pet Fenris, who was fast asleep on the bed George had gotten for her.
"George, you good?" Sophia asked.
"Y-Yeah... I’m good," he replied, collapsing on the sofa. "I’ll prepare a funeral for my car."
"Oh, co on, it won’t be that bad," Seraphina shrugged. "Adrian won’t crash the car-"
"Oh, I know... He’ll do sothing much worse."
The girls were confused until George explained what he had done to Adrian’s car once. It was during the height of their prank wars, and George’s girlfriend at the ti ca up with an excellent idea for him to end it all, or so he thought.
As planned, he filled it with trash just a day before Adrian’s first date with Emma. Adrian was supposed to freak out, but George would have lent his car to him.
However, the date was cancelled, and Ava, Adrian’s mom, who was working as a nurse then, had to take it as her car wouldn’t start. It was a ss, and Ava almost got fired from her job because of it, and Adrian barely forgave George for that.
"Ever since that day, he had been demanding keys for my car..." George concluded, but the girls didn’t know whether to laugh or not.
"I’m sure Adrian wouldn’t do sothing like that—" Seraphina tried reassuring George, but he knew Adrian better than anyone.
"We also had a pact," George let out a defeated sigh. "All pranks must be paid back in double, and we never officially ended the prank war."
"...let’s keep a mont of silence for your car," Sophia mumbled. "for it shall never remain the sa."
***
Adrian hesitated at the door, his hand hovering over the handle as he took a deep breath. Even the Super Rookie couldn’t help but get nervous at that mont.
Gathering all his courage, he peeked into the room. His heart sank upon seeing his beloved teacher wrapped up in bandages.
Her eyes, usually bright and full of life, now looked dim with pain. But despite it all, she still managed a small smile as she gazed out of the window, lost in the beauty of the night sky.
"Here goes nothing," Taking another breath to steady himself, Adrian stepped into the room.
"Hey, Teach..." Adrian mumbled and tried to smile back, but the weight of his guilt made it difficult.
Vesper turned her head towards him, her smile widening as soon as she saw him.
"About damn ti you showed up," Vesper replied, fighting back her tears. "Don’t just stand there like so stranger!"
Adrian smiled back and crossed the room to her bedside. He pulled up a chair and sat down, his eyes never leaving her face.
"I’m sorry, Teach," Adrian mumbled, letting out a massive sigh. "I should have protected you. I should have... I should have been quicker-"
Vesper reached out a hand and placed it gently on Adrian’s cheek, gently caressing his cheek.
"Hey, none of that," she said firmly, lifting his face. "You did everything you could, Adrian. You saved , rember? Even fought an army based on what the girls told ."
She continued, "Soone as brave as you doesn’t need to apologise. Besides, I’m alive and safe! What more could I ask for?"
"But you wouldn’t have needed saving if it wasn’t for ," he muttered.
"Oh, little brother," she said fondly, flicking his forehead. "you always were too hard on yourself. None of this is your fault. I wanted to save you from them as much as you wanted to fight by my side."
She continued, "The way I see it, I’m as much at fault as you are. Do you want to start blaming myself like you are?"
Adrian shook his head, feeling pathetic that she was the one consoling him even in her condition.
"Thanks... Teach," Adrian replied, a weight lifting off his shoulders. "You don’t know how much it ans to ."
"Of course I do, you idiot. After all, I’m your sister," Vesper smiled, pulling him in for a hug. "I also saw you in the news, Mr Super Rookie. Mind telling what that’s all about?"
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