Arriving downstairs Dave was met with the sight of his mother cooking breakfast
"oh honey, you're awake, come sit down, I'm making pancakes" she said with an energetic voice
"thanks mom" he replied "is there anything or anywhere that I need to go today" he asked
"not that I can think of, it's the summer holidays for your school and I wouldn't want you going back to school until I'm 100% sure that you've recovered"
"mom I'm fine, trust me, if anything I feel better than ever and have so much energy I want to go outside and run around" Dave said trying to rid his mom of her worries
"well... I suppose if you eat all of your breakfast, you keep to the garden and you stay in my sights at all times I could let you go outside" Sapphire said thinking deeply "and no pushing yourself to hard or I'll drag you back to your room myself"
"ok mom" Dave replied, his stomach grumbling "now about that breakfast" he exclaimed excitedly
"it seems like at the very least I can be sure you've recovered enough that your appetite hasn't been affected" she giggled as she placed a plate of pancakes with honey drizzled on them in front of him
"are those pancakes that I can smell" came the voice of Richard from down the hall as he walked into the kitchen
"morning dear" Sapphire said kissing his cheek "I thought I'd make something special thsi morning to celebrate Dave's recovery" she told him looking over at Dave who was tearing through the stack of pancakes like a hungry ghost "and it seems like Dave is thouroughly enjoying them, give me a minute and I'll make you some as well"
"thanks honey" Richard said sitting down "so, did you have a look through that book I gave you" he asked
"yeah and it certainly worked" replied Dave between bites "although it takes quite a while to actually have an effect, I was meditating pretty much all day yesterday and there was only the tiniest increase in my magic"
"that's to be expected son" Richard laughed "it's the bottom of the barrel technique that is given out to everyone, using the most basic of the basic methods to increase your magic but the plus side is that it works for everyone and it can build a good foundation even if it takes a long time" he explained
"is there any way that we can get our hands on a better training method" Dave asked hopefully
"unfortunately not" replied his dad shaking his head "the only places that have proper magical training techniques are magical schools, it makes it so that only the most talented get the resources to become proper magicians, it's why even though your mother and I can use magic it's only the most basic kind as we weren't able to get into magic school" he sighed
"but hey, look at the bright side, if one of us had got in we would never have met and I wouldn't have got to marry such a beautiful young woman" he says as Sapphire places a stack of pancakes in front of him "and is also an amazing cook too" he says digging in
"alright that's enough flattery for breakfast" Sapphire claimed, lovingly bonking him on the head with a spoon while blushing due to his words
"now then sweetie, if you're finished eating go brush your teeth and wash your face then we can go outside and we'll find out just how much you have recovered and I'll decide whether I'll let you stay outside or whether I'll make you come back inside to rest more" she told Dave
"ok, thanks mom, this was delicious" he said jumping off of his chair and heading to the bathroom to prepare for the day ahead