The next morning before the sun had even risen Alrin was training trying to keep his mind occupied since he felt on edge since arriving at the town. Currently he was shirtless in a horse stance wearing two rings that were designed to increase the gravity by several times on his body. Over the years Alrin had come to enjoy training his body due to the fact that while training he was thinking of nothing other than exercise he was doing at that moment. Next Alrin summoned his sword and began swinging it.
He had already been training for over an hour at this point and once he was done he turned around to head back inside. To his surprise once he did turn around he his eyes met with Alara's who then smiled at him.
"Did you need something?" Alrin asked.
"No, I saw that you were out here training alone so I thought I'd keep you company so if you're done how about you put on a shirt and join me." She said having summoned another chair for him.
Alrin looked at Alara who was still in her disguise for a moment before doing as she said.
"Sunrises have always been my favorite time of day." She said this despite the freezing cold since she could easily keep herself warm.
"I can't say I feel the same."
"Well maybe I'm biased from my childhood it was the only truly peaceful time of day." She said thinking back to a time where she was less than nothing.
Hearing that Alrin turned to look at her and saw her lit up by the morning rays of light, "I guess you can say I am too when things are too peaceful it does not feel right."
"Is that so? I guess I have a new mission for when we return to the sect which reminds me. I never asked what made you come join the sect?" She asked to which she saw a very subtle emotional reaction from Alrin that she was still learning he had.
When Alara saw Alrin's reaction she wanted to smack herself for being so foolish as she remembered why she never asked. When she was overseeing Alrin's trial she had also seen the part that used his memories. She knew he came from a family of cultivators and even if she didn't know the exact reason he to come join another sect alone she could guess it wasn't for a happy reason.
After staring off into space for a second Alrin replied, "I chose it because I lack the talent and Star Sect is the only great sect that tests for a strong will."
"Were you not worried about failing?" She said having already committed.
"No I may not be talented but if their is one thing I'm confident I can do better than any other it's endure."
"Enduring… do you regret going down the path of a body cultivator?"
"No, If I regret anything its not starting sooner."
"Well then as your friend the least I can do is help you. I don't need any resources for cultivation so I'll keep giving you mine."
"Thanks, I appreciate that." Hearing that Alrin's pride made him want to decline but he just needed far too many resources.
"It's nice to see her so happy." Vera thought to herself as she watched the two of them from inside.
She had not shown it but she was quite frustrated at the situation. She was currently debating on how she should proceed on dealing with the fiend. If she tried to evacuate the town the cultivator backed into a corner could activate the formation killing at the very least most of the people of the town. Even if she got the sect involved the immortals of the sect would never get involved with mortal affairs at most they would send more disciples.
If she could just bait out the demonic cultivator this would be a much better situation but being the one pressed for time was causing her stress.
An hour later Alrin was making breakfast with Kor on his head while Vera was gathering everyone which was mostly just Rex who was still asleep to discuss their plans.
Sitting at the table Alrin had made omelettes out of the eggs of a firebird one of the many dishes he learned or more accurately self-learned to make for Kor.
"I believe the fiend has sealed his cultivation and is hiding among the mortals. Because of that finding him will be difficult so I think we need to find and destroy the source of his ritual." Vera said after the meal was finished.
"Is it not possible they fled as soon as he noticed our arrival?" Edwards asked.
"I believe its unlikely they left since his ritual is so close to completion especially since they should still be injured." Vera replied.
"It's unfortunate that we don't know the type of ritual and can only wait for Rex's master to reply." Alara said.
While they were discussing Kor was happily digging into his meal not a care in the world.
"We should just evacuate the people even if it cost some lives so what." Edward said.
"About half are already beyond the point of no return if it activates now they will die instantly." Alrin said.
"We also don't know its purpose in the worst case if causes some type of descent even I will have some difficulties." Alara added.
Just as Kor finished eating and was going to go take a nap in the sun his aura suddenly changed causing everyone to look at him, "Hahhh, to be so young and inexperienced all of you are over complicating this."
"Explain." Alrin said not surprised seeing Kor become lucid.
"Fine fine, first off their is around a thousand lives to be sacrificed and at your level it doesn't matter what it does you will at best only be able to flee if your lucky. Second fiends are best at hiding even she won't be able to find one if they are truly hiding you need to force them to come to you." He said the last part looking towards Alara while they were all still shocked by the change in aura. "Third you believe in the worst case scenario you could just evacuate the town but that would not be possible as at that point it could be forcibly activated even if the effects are diminished still resulting in everyone death. Fourth most importantly you've been too focused on the cause not the effect of the ritual. These types are rarely used despite being the most effective because of how slow they are, so instead of focusing on the ridding the cause which would be the formation focus on the effect of it by purifying the Sencia instead."
"My formation abilities are more suited towards combat not purifying things." Rex said.
Hearing this Kor shook his head, "At the peak of formations everything converges so a true formation path cultivator needs to be all encompassing. If you can't understand something so simple then immortality will be your limit even if your talented." Hearing that Rex's mind was left reeling as he began to question everything he had been taught since he had always felt his path was incomplete.
"What is your solution then?" Vera asked.
"Do you really not know or are you merely pretending?" He asked Alara with a look of contempt.
"What don't I know?" Alara asked genuinely confused.
"You are truly blessed if not for Alrin I would have left you completely ignorant. As someone who is loved and blessed by the world you have the natural ability to purify Sencia. To purify is simply to return something to its natural form… seems I'm out of time figure out the rest yourself." Kor said suddenly returning to a slumber.
Now that Kor was asleep once again Alrin grabbed him and put him into his ring.
"Alrin?" Alara said.
"Don't ask this happens on occasion I don't know anything about his origins but he has never been wrong when he's become like this." Alrin explained giving only a partial truth.
"Okay, then that begs the question Alara are you actually cable of purifying the area?" Vera asked shifting the subject.
"I've never thought to try but it is as possible then I can do it."Alara confidently said.
Hearing that Vera smiled, "Arrogant as always but still believable."
After hearing Kor's words Vera's approach changed having felt like she had been preached too by her master. Vera, Rex, and Edward would be going around the town placing formation to slow the effect of the formation. On the other hand Alrin would stay with Alara to guard her as his abilities to detect would contrast well with the formation and Alara's own abilities. This was important because while she was focused on trying to learn a new ability her guard would be almost completely down leaving her vulnerable.
Although she was unsure what would happen Vera was now feeling much more confident.