"We finally have some shelter and a lot of clean water," said Serph.

"Yeah," said Akiza. "We can also have a small fire here to stay warm when needed."

"Then the only thing we have to do now is get food and stay hidden," said Serph.

The two of them covered most of the entrance with nearby rocks and plants. It now looked like the side of a hill for the most part, but they could both crawl into the cave. This would reduce the likelihood that someone would find them.

"I never thought I'd be stuck in a forest again," said Akiza. "I was really hoping to spend more time with other people."

"You can spend a lot more time with me," said Serph.

"It's not like I have any other choice," said Akiza. "But I guess it's not that bad. It's good to have a friend and someone to talk to."

"You didn't have any friends?" asked Serph.

"No," replied Akiza. "I was always moving around with my parents when I was young, then I lived in a forest by myself. It was hard to make friends living like that."

"I spent most of my free time working on my dad's farm," said Serph. "You're my only friend too."

The two of them spent more time talking to each other before sleeping. It helped them relax. They were going to be stuck here for a while.

The next day, the two decided to train. Akiza focused on meditating while Serph focused on learning to detect Internal Energy with the help of Akiza.

Akiza took out several medicinal plants. "You need to feel the types of energy present in these plants."

"How?" asked Serph.

"With your heart, body, and mind," Akiza replied.

Serph continued to focus, but he had difficulties. Meanwhile, Akiza would absorb as much Internal Energy as she could from the Immortal Realm. It was much richer in Internal Energy due to the properties and it allowed her to acquire a lot of Internal Energy fast. The monsters in the envrionment released a huge amount of Internal Energy when they fought as well, making the land even richer. "That was probably how this land became so rich in Internal Energy," Akiza thought.

One day, Akiza decided to go out on her own. Serph was still practicing to sense Internal Energy, but Akiza was already excellent at it. By now, she had memorized the strength and feeling of Serph's Internal Energy. Even if she got lost, she could still sense Serph to get back.

"I'm heading out," said Akiza. "We're going to need more food soon."

"Stay safe," said Serph. "I will have mastered sensing Internal Energy when you get back."

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"You better or else I will hit you upside the head," said Akiza.

Akiza looked around and headed toward nearby sources of Internal Energy. She found a lot more plants. The best one she found was a flower that radiated with fire and ice. It contained a strong amount of Fire and Water energy. "These plants will be priceless," she thought to herself.

"Have you ever thought about using any of them for yourself?" asked Akira.

"I will, but I don't have the means to refine them here," said Akiza.

"As long as you're not only thinking about money," said Akira. "I just wanted to make sure."

Out in the distance, Akiza saw a glow of orange light. She headed towards it. Whatever it was, there was an intense amount of Internal Energy being released. "It must be another fight between powerful monsters," she thought.

As Akiza went closer to the area, something was strange. She only felt one source of Internal Energy. "If there's a fight shouldn't there be two?" she thought to herself. Making her way through the trees and brushes, she got close enough to see the fight.

There was a man in a green and white robe. "Someone from West Wind Academy? They should have all gone back," she thought. However, the man's robes were different from the Masters, Seniors, or any of the Disciples.

The dragon flew into the sky and blew fire at the man, but the man deflected it. It spread out around him. It had hit everything else, but the man was unharmed. The man made his way towards the dragon. He was flying, but he had no wings. With a single blow, he knocked the dragon straight into the ground. BOOM. The ground shook and Akiza felt a the force of the blow even from where she was hiding. The man stabbed his hand into the chest of the dragon and ripped out its Spirit Core.

"So powerful," Akiza thought.

"You can come out now," said the man.

"Did he know I was here?" Akiza thought.

"If you come out, I'll give you this," the man said waving the Spirit Core.

Akiza waited for him to leave. She did not know who he was and she did not know if he was safe or dangerous. She could not feel any source of Internal Energy from the man, but it was clear the man was very strong.

"Or I could always come to you!" shouted the man.

Akiza felt the release of a terrifying killing intent. The man was indeed strong despite his lack of Internal Energy.