At the end of 36’s quick, yet overwhelming lectures, Allan and Sarey had each different thoughts about it.
“How marvelous! Is this what the immortal world is about?” Sarey asked 36, who was not all that surprised by the normal reaction what he would expect from her.
“Tell me about it... I grew up in this environment, so of course, I understand most of it. Heheheh.” 36 replied in smug words, that could tell he must be proud of himself.
Sarey, of course, did not believe his words this time. She could tell a little lie from exaggeration. Especially when 36 is such an untrustworthy lunatic.
“I would say this will be enough for today. Since we are at it. Are you proficient with the treatment and medicines I tasked you with, Sarey?”
“What? You never taught me much, apart from those diagrams and lists of materials. You tasked me with getting them, while I long ago made medicine paste and bandages from those materials from the first batch.”
“I did not include the scrolls for the medicines? Bloody hell.. what a waste of time.” 36 cursed against his memory.
In no time, smaller pages, locked by leather fibers, appeared from 36 and flew into Sarey's lap. It came from the way, 36 could share and send things from his wooden body. Sarey rather not stand this at all, even though she found it rather interesting.
“Since Allan's progress is so fast, I wanted to get at least some head start for you, Sarey. Since you will be someone who he will rely on this.”
“Oh, so nothing new.” She smiled and grabbed the scroll. It had some chapters that 36 prepared potent medicines for Allan. It contained materials 36 knew she had a chance to get on a mortal plane. Fiery tulip, Grease Grassroots, Lesser Spirit Grass, and a few more which he did not tell her about. Some were on the pages before, but the majority are completely new.
“As for you, Allan, beware of the things beyond the second stage. If there are any mistakes or problems with this new training. Tell me, summon me, and we will deal with it.” 36 said in seriousness.
“I have a little clearer picture in my head. Thank you. I will work harder than ever before.” Allan replied with full confidence in himself.
Until now, he performed great. Much better than he ever expected himself. Considering his own history and his body, Allan has never been that keen on training, but considering what his father made him go through, this could be manageable.
He is much better than he would like to admit. Losing his world and sight affected him. It made him more reserved and angry at himself and his weak self for allowing everything in the past to happen. Clayton's training resurfaced in his mind. His words, pieces of information, hints, small lectures, and being left out in the deep forest by himself while being hunted by his father.
He remembers all of this, yet he felt no good about it. Allan missed his father and home. He would even tell him that eye to an eye if he could.
“Work hard. Don't disappoint me.” 36 added with a very steep tone.
“You too. Leave, for now,” Allan said with a mocking smile.
“Y-you...!? Hehe..” 36's laughter disappeared into the layers of light before his laughter even started. He disappeared into the book once more.
In the room, the pair of Allan and Sarey fell silent. Not telling anything for a few minutes. Allan, who broke the ice, later stopped this silence.
“What is on your mind?” He asked.
“Nothing much.”
“You think... That I was harsh on him?”
“No. I was surprised. I thought he was more of an idiot than he made it out to be. It seems like I was right as well.” Sarey answered.
“He.. is he made of wood?” Allan asked in uncertainty unbecoming of his previous acts.
Sarey was stunned upon hearing that and turned her head into his. Allan sounded way too sincere with this question, then he looked.
“Who knows...” She dodged the answer as she found it funnier than anything else. Allan sounded like a made-up villain which tried to intimidate his victim when he talked back to 36. It was a strange exchange between them that she couldn't understand. Was it some sort of play? She was unsure.
Allan kept his silent approach, his mind still in deep thought about this. He tried to play a hero, yet he was unsure about the correct answers as well.
Time moved on.
Sarey kept reading the smaller scroll in her hands, which contained some interesting and practical knowledge. Art of Medicine was the main chapter that 36 made the title. It depicted various effects of mixing ingredients and affecting the wounds. She found what 36 tasked her with.
A recipe for a mixture of medicines from the 3 ingredients. Those were the ones 36 tasked her with in the past. It depicted more detailed aspects of pastes, and the need to take care of any wounds, with ingredients that are worth it or not. In general, these are of an unquestionable quality of immortal realms.
“Hmmm. Sounds interesting, yet so blunt and dull. I will make more of them, I guess.” Sarey did not forget about the main scroll, which ended in her hands as well.
Glancing inside, there were various chapters and stages for the structure of the Unmoving technique. It was nothing like the previous pages, which were bare bones of information about medicines. For the time being, she did not go too deep into this martial manual.
For the sake of Allan, Sarey dived into the first sections, which would be his start from tomorrow's training.
“Quite similar to what 36 left out in the past summoning. It was this technique that included hitting the tree. Not like it is very important.” Sarey speculated in her mind after reading the details for the future.
Inside was a much more variety of information. From the description of training to ways of acupoint treatments with unique Diagrams. It revolved around the core of the human body. The spine.
Pinching Allan to his cheek, who is laying beside her, she asked. “How about waking up from this sleep-living?”
“W-what? I am contemplating things over my head. What is it?” Allan mumbled, after being jolted awake from his wandering mind.
“I found some interesting parts which should be interesting for you. I was kind of in a rush and went deeper than I thought, but it is still fascinating.”
“Heh... I would find it strange if it wasn't.” Allan mocked her excitement a little.
“Hmph! It is what it is. Do you want to hear it or not?”
“Yes. Pretty please,” Allan said in a pleasing tone.
“Fine. This scroll's importance is from the power of choice. The practitioner of this technique can decide by himself what part of the human body they found most important. That goes all the way from the core of the human body and outside. You can choose anything to be strong.” Sarey said, with a speck of redness in her cheeks.
“That is interesting enough. Is this why 36 asked me about it all those days ago? When he asked me about parts of the human body.”
“I guess.”
“What stage does it start with? Should I even think about it now?” Allan asked, in expectation.
“No... the start will be quite stressful for now and more about the outside influence of the training.”
“So, more training for now. Good.” Allan clenched his fist in anticipation. He already had enough of this running, but there was no way to stop it. He needed to continue with the numbers so he would not fall behind. Allan could feel his body changing. Getting stronger. He regained much more stamina and strength than he could remember prior to the time with his father.
“Yes, training... If it could be called that. Since you started this basic muscle and endurance training. It will be time for more strange methods.”
“For example?”
“I told you before. Using your body as a gathering point of power. Using your parts of the body to hit multiple different kinds of materials in a task to damage them instead of your body.”
“Oh, so.. what is it?
“Hitting rock formation is one particular one.”
“No problem. I will kick the rock's butt if I have to.” Allan said in confidence. Not like he would lose against any rock.
Sarey chuckled as she knew what was inside this new format and decided to be kind enough to let him know everything she know as well.
“Did you think about the body? This section is strange. For it to be called body forging.” Sarey asked, with some questions in mind.
“It is a general method to train the body itself. Think of it as a foundation for a house. One needs a stronger outer layer of protection to train deeper into the body. Bones and blood stages are the reason 36 was so hesitant, I guess.” Allan tried to explain his own reasoning for what he viewed to be an immortal body forging technique.
“Isn't it a guessing game for you? Although I guess you are right. Bones and blood are knit together and are part of the body as a whole. It must be quite painful to train the bones and blood itself. I can't imagine it at all.” She told, after a few glances at later parts. To her surprise, 36 copied the almost complete methods of The Unmoving technique. Such body forging method that mortal kingdoms would wage wars for them alone.
“Hmm. What do you think about what energy 36 talked about? I hardly believe it is something that he wanted to talk about, yet he did.” Allan asked, with an unsure tone.
“Don't worry about it for now. I found his reasoning good enough. Your training will circle around the method to start to feel that energy, so all you have to do is to tell me if you feel any vortex or whatnot. For now, this Unmoving technique will shake you up much more than some otherworld method of energy vortex or whatnot.” Sarey told him, while she herself knew nothing of that energy. In truth, she was expectant of reaching towards that energy as well. She even asked 36 about whether she has it as well.
“Very well. How about grabbing some meal first and then dealing with the rest of the day? The spar with Zigmund is still up, isn't it?” Allan asked.
“Right, he wouldn't forget that.” Sarey resigned and sighed at an incoming time. She agreed to his spar as well. Not like she looked forward to it or not.
Both moved to the kitchen. Sarey prepared some light meals so they would not be feeling heavy for the incoming spar.
Moving to her room afterward, Sarey closed the door behind her back. Glancing at the side table on her left side, she watched the pair of short swords Allan gifted to her.
“What to do?” She signed upon caressing the edges with her fingers. They mirrored her face. Her distinct black eyes were unsure as she save them.
“I grew up already. There is not even a chance to feel the years pass by. Rather than being a coward, I should act like Allan. So what if he is better than me? There should be some chance even for me!” She muttered as she clenched her blades in resolution.
Grabbing the robe, which resembled some sort of uniform, Sarey wore it and put the blades at the side of her hips. It had an attachment to a scabbard. All she did was find the correct knob to attach them to her hip.
Like this, she had her sword by her side, right below her hands, that could be drawn out whether she wished it.
Looking at the small mirror on her desk. There was a person she was not very familiar with. Long golden hair scattered across her shoulders and back, with a gliding section in the middle of her scalp that divided the flowing strands of hair around her face and the back. Her hair went hand to hand with her robe, which more or less made her stand out more.
She smiles a little to contact an unfamiliar person before her. She smiled back to herself, and she couldn't help but pose in a strange manner to ease her mood.
Seeking her long hair so free and shiny, that was caused by the color and material of her robe, which was gifted to her by Zigmund's friend.
Such a hairstyle would bother her, so she put her hair into a tail to prevent it from getting in her face. It would not distract her like this. Although she was used to a hood or hat to cover it. She felt like not doing it anymore. At least not in her home.