The next day just before noon Alrin arrived at an expensive looking restaurant that was completely empty. Yesterday after they watched the play Alara sent Alrin the mission details and where to meet up at. Seeing the mission reward Alrin knew it was a good choice to ask Alara for help as it would be almost enough for the Art he wanted.
Entering the restaurant Alrin was immediately greeted by a receptionist.
"I'm sorry all the tables are already reserved today." The man politely said after looking at Alrin's red star.
"I know, I'm on the reservation Alrin Sunsetter." Alrin plainly said.
"Ah of course please follow me." That man quickly said.
The receptionist him guided him to an outdoor table on the 2nd floor where he was faced with four faces had not seen before.
The first that stood out to him was a woman seated next to the last remaining empty seat on his right. She was a beautiful woman with black hair and gray eyes that had a familiar scent that he had smelled quite a lot recently.
"Alara?" He asked.
"How did you instantly see through my disguise?" She asked full of surprise.
"We've been spending a lot of time together recently and while you masked everything including your energy you didn't mask your familiar scent." He explained how he had seen through her disguise while taking the last remaining seat next to her.
"Not bad." The violet haired woman said who was seated next to Alara who was trying to see if she could smell what Alrin had mentioned. "Since Alara's little joke failed let us introduce ourselves." She continued with a smile.
"I'm Vera Violet I cultivate the path of alchemy at the 6th core and also core disciple." Vera is a short woman with Violet hair and green eyes and wore simple green alchemist robes.
"He's Edward Edwins he cultivates the path of the sword at the 5th core and an inner disciple." Edward is a tall man with black hair and red eyes wearing completely white robes and kept a simple looking sword at his waist.
"And this is Rex Renge who cultivates the path of formations also at the 5th core also an inner disciple." Rex is of average height, bald and has brown eyes with formation tattoos all over his body.
"Now would you like to introduce yourself. "
"Alrin Sunsetter 4th core body cultivator outer disciple." He had now broken through to the 4th core after taking the gifted pill the prior night.
"Alara spoke highly of you so feel free to speak casually. Now why don't we order" As soon as she said those words almost like a spell Kor appeared on Alrin's head to everyone's surprise naturally excluding Alrin who was used to it.
"Why do you always forget me Alrin!? All I ask for is 3 gourmet meals a day not even half what I ate in my prime."
"Wh-" Alara tried to speak but was interrupted
"HAHAHA what a funny beast!" Rex said with a boisterous laugh
"WHAT! I'm no mere beast to dare refer to me as something so lowly you have eye—"
Before Kor could finish Alrin grabbed him stopping him from continuing, "If you want food stop talking."
"Alrin you have a Sen beast?" Alara asked.
Hearing himself be refereed to as a beast again Kor was about to began complaining again but was stopped by Alrin's glare mumbling something about Alrin being lucky he was hungry.
"…Yes, Kor he was a gift from my parents but he won't be of help in battle." Alrin said.
"That's fine he seems like he will be great company." Alara said trying to reach over to pet him but unfortunately he pecked at her to her dismay. "Shall we order then it seems that Kor is eager to eat." Alara suggested trying a different approach.
"Yes lets do that, feel free to order whatever you want for yourself and Kor it's my treat." Vera said to Alrin.
"You're so much better than Alrin if only I wasn't stuck with him." Kor lamented after hearing Vera.
After the meal Vera took them to the battle grounds where she would explain the mission.
"The mission is simple a few weeks ago a rogue fiend was injured after almost destroying a village. Despite their injures they did manage to escape and have been in hiding since but the sect recently found traces as to where they went into hiding. While it is likely that he has yet to fully heal from his wounds it was estimated he was at the 7th core so while I'm confident in our ability to deal with him I would like to know your strength." She explained with the last part directed at Alrin.
Hearing this Alrin was unsurprised nor did he mind showcasing his strength having gained confidence in his abilities over his journey.
"I have no complaints." He said
"I'll spar with him." Edward suddenly spoke up. Out of everyone here he was the one that enjoyed battles the most and body refiners are opponents he rarely got to fight against.
"Good since this is only a spar we will use activate the formation to prevent any accidents." Vera said.
"No need a spar without the formation will be much better right?" Alara said to the two of them.
"Do as you wish I don't believe I'll lose." Alrin said.
In response Edward summoned an unassuming silver sword and held it ready to begin at any time.
"Don't take it too far." Vera said
After a few moments of staring at each other Alrin made the first move. In an instant he arrived in front of Edward attempting to punch him but Edward was able to effortlessly sidestep such a straightforward attack and slash at Alrin. Seeing the slash coming Alrin used his strengths as a body refiner and blocked it with his right arm. Although it cut deep it Edwards sword was now stuck in Alrin's arm and Alrin used this chance throw another punch with his left hand aiming for his chest.
Unfortunately the sword that Alrin had used his arm to trap had been unsummoned and summoned in front of Alrin's fist preventing him from getting a direct hit but the force of the attack still sent Edward crashing into the barrier formation around the arena.
Edward recovered quickly after hitting the formation but it was slightly slow and Alrin was already in front of him once again with the fist of his still injured right arm heading for his face. Realizing he would be too late he gathered as much Sencia in his face as he could and used it to defend. Although Edward was still hit causing a visible injury to his face he was prepared and used this time to counterattack. Infusing his sword with Sencia it now had a faint azure glow as he performed a slash far faster than his last and sent Alrin flying back with a slash wound across his arms as he had blocked just in time.
As he was flying towards the formation wall Alrin spun around landing on it with his feet and using his Sencia he was able to stay attached to it instead of falling to the floor. Looking at Edward who now had a smile on his face Alrin also grew more excited. Despite the fact Alrin couldn't use external arts he could still fire pure Sencia even if it was normally considered a waste of energy it was still a tool to be used.
Pointing his right palm at Edward he gathered Sencia and shot a golden blast at him. Seeing the energy about reach him Edwards neither chose to dodge nor block the attack. Instead covering the flat side of the sword with an azure aura he redirected Alrin's Sencia using his own back at him. Alrin who had been following behind the attack only intending to use it as a distraction so he could close in was caught off guard by the fact Edward redirected back at hinm.
Seeing his own energy about to hit him Alrin chose to use the strengths of his cultivation and fired another beam of energy causing an explosion in the arena hitting both him and Edward.
Edward swung his sword slicing through the explosion while Alrin taking advantage of the strength of his body chose to power through it giving him the chance to get in close. Edward slightly underestimate the force of the explosion and while blocked the force of it his sword was pushed back was now pointing towards the sky but he did not lose his grip on the sword.
Alrin not wanting to miss this large opening finished closing in while Edwards seeing how close Alrin was decided to swing his Azure glowing sword as quickly as he could while at the same time retreating.
Unfortunately Alrin was as insane as all body cultivators were known to be and did not mind a little pain so he caught the rushed swing with his left hand. Although it was rushed it cut deeply into his hand and with a little more force would have sliced through but it didn't and Alrin would use this chance to get a good hit in.
With his left hand tightly gripping Edward's sword Alrin swung his right hand straight into Edward's gut and despite his best attempts to protect himself the with a barrier again it was shattered and punch landed sending him flying into the barrier formation.
Although he began coughing up blood from being hit so hard Edward quickly recovered as the hit was weakened just enough to prevent it from hindering him and took this chance to summon another sword. The blade of this sword was black with a red hue with a simple white hilt but Alrin felt a change in the air around him when it appeared.
Seeing Edward hold the new sword Alrin responded in kind and summoned his black great sword and just as the battle was about to resume Alara appeared stopping them both.
"Time to stop there this was only a spar." She said looking at Edwards sword that she knew he only used in a serious battle.
"Sorry, I haven't been able to have a good fight in a while." Edward said slightly embarrassed.
"Satisfied?" Alrin asked turning to face Vera.
"Very." She said tossing him a pill that would heal his hand.
"He's insane you shouldn't encourage him." Kor said sitting on Vera's head after taking a liking to her since she bought him good food.
"It would be stranger if a body cultivator wasn't insane." Rex said with a laugh.
Hearing the response Kor could only shake his head since they didn't understand.
"Okay, last thing we will meeting tomorrow at noon at the teleportation array. Since we have Alrin and Alara joining us now I'm confident in being able to handle this quickly but make sure to stay prepared the only foolish fiend is a dead one so make sure you are well prepared for tomorrow." Vera said before they all left.
With everyone going their own way Alara walked to Alrin's to check on him and his injuries.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine my injuries will heal soon even without this." He said about the pill in his hand before storing it in his space ring.
"Even if something will heal on its own with time doesn't mean you should let it be because you can endure it." She said grabbing his injured hand.
Holding his left hand with her own she placed the palm of her right hand over the injury. A faint white glow appeared over Alrin as his injuries began to visibly heal and after about 10 seconds they were completely gone.
"All better now." She said with a smile letting go of his hand.
"Thank you." Alrin said feeling a bit embarrassed about her genuine concern for him.
***
Later that night Lilith was having a conversation with the current sect master over drinks.
"I'm surprised you let Alara leave on a mission with him." Spoke the current master of the sect who had brown eyes and had let his once black hair gray. Despite being immortal he took on an older appearance looking to be around 40 years old.
"I never expected her to be so innocent but that is fine she found someone with potential." Lilith said.
"Yes, I took a look at his trial but those with such strong wills either die young becoming a great motivator for her or rise like a carp into a dragon and become a suitable match." He said thinking it wouldn't be a loss either way.
"Speaking from your experience?" Lilith said jokingly.