The next day Alrin and Alara were talking while Alrin was making food out of the mammoths meat. Alara had realized she had been a bit foolish when they tried to use the immortal beast meat she got and realized they couldn't use it because it was too powerful for them to do anything too.
"I wish I could have saved more people." Alara said thinking back the the previous day. She saw as disciples were being dug out of pits and only some of those were still alive. Others were missing limbs as they were carried within the branch. Many bodies were even being dug out of the stomachs of beasts and many more would never be found.
"By stopping those beasts you saved everyone still alive." Alrin said.
Hearing that she felt a bit better, "What about you Alrin do you not feel sad about this."
"Why would I be sad you are still here." He replied because his belief was that this was simply life and as long as he could save those close to him he would be satisfied.
"You're right I'll just be happy we all made it through this together." She said that but actually feeling that way was a different story. She was a good person who simply wanted more people to live.
The two continued talking while Alrin was still cooking. Alrin knew that Alara was unlike himself and was trying to distract her from her thoughts because after synchronizing the two had grown much closer to each other.
After eating the two were heading to check on Vera and Edward but Alara did have one thing to say to Alrin before doing so, "Alrin if you get yourself killed by doing something like blowing yourself up I will go to hell bring you back and kill you again understood?" Alara calmly said. She really did not like that he did that just because he could heal.
"I'll avoid doing that from now on." He replied under gaze of course for now that would mainly only apply to when she was around.
"Good." She said opening the door.
Opening the door to the room three people were happily chatting away.
"You're awake!" Alara said running to hug Vera.
While those two were chatting away Alrin walked over to Edward to see how he was doing.
"How are you feeling?" Alrin asked.
"Good thanks I owe you one." Edward awkwardly said only because Vera had instructed him to make sure he thanked Alrin for his help.
"No need Alara is the one who did the real work of saving you." He replied.
"Wait how did you help Alara save him?" Rex said realizing he never asked.
"I showed her what was wrong was wrong with him through synchronization." Alrin plainly explained.
"What! You dual cultivated!?" Rex shouted in complete shock getting everyone's attention.
"It was only for the purpose of saving Edward." Alrin said.
"Alara you already know you can come to me for anything but Alrin you can too. As your friend if you ever need my help in the future feel free to ask." She said grateful for his help in saving Edward.
"Saving a friends life is what should be done no need for anything extra." He meant that but unknowingly he had a smile on his face from her words.
"More importantly when is the wedding?" Rex interrupted.
"Between… who?" Vera carefully asked although she was unsure if she wanted to know.
"Obviously those two even married couples might not dual cultivate and they did." Rex started joking.
"Edward smack Rex for me." Vera said to Edward.
Edward promptly smacked him on the back of the head causing Rex to get mad at him causing some laughter from the rest even Alrin.
***
In another part of the branch Silvia was having a conversation with Elaine.
"Looks like you will be getting a good reward soon." Elaine said.
"Hmm?"
"You caught the perfect escort for those guys going to check on the Divine beast situation.
"You don't mean me do you?" The rat spoke fearfully.
"I suppose we should should pass it to Sarah she will be thrilled to have him."
"Shouldn't you be a bit more greedy and try to get some reward first?" Elaine questioned her.
"I have no particular item I am in need of."
"Even still you should be preparing for the future you never know when you might need something." Elaine criticized her for her lack of greed.
"Fine I will pass it through the sect leader first."
"Much better."
"How much longer will you be here?" Silvia questioned her.
"Until you'd be sad to see me leave?" She replied with a questioning answer.
***
A couple hours later Vera and Edward were left alone in the room to rest more.
"Edward."
"Vera."
"I'll be honest I never thought of you to be sacrificial so why didn't you save yourself? Vera asked a question she could not help but wonder.
"I couldn't let you die who else would I go to for advice" Edward said to Vera
"That's it?"
"What more do you need you were worse off than me and would have died instantly and I can't flash while carrying another."
"You've really changed since we first me." Vera said reminiscing about the past.
"Have I?"
"Do you remember when we first met?"
Edward though hard trying to remember that moment, "I can't say I do."
"Well I do it was the day your master first brought you to the sect. My master brought me over to meet you since their friends but I ran away as soon as I saw you." She said thinking back to when she was twelve.
"I don't recall doing anything to make you runaway?" He asked confused.
"Of course you wouldn't." She said with a small laugh. "At the time you had just been taken away from bandits, you were heavily injured, and your killing path was leaking how could I not have been terrified of you?"
"My killing path was leaking? I should have been better than that." He said trying to remember but missing the point she was trying to make.
"Fool, that wasn't the point the point is you've been changed a lot since then. You've become more human would be the best way to put it."
Hearing that Edward simply stayed silence. It was something he never expected to hear but it was also something he could still not understand the meaning behind.
From birth Edward was one of many that was cultivated to be a perfect emotionless killing machine. If not for a fortuitous encounter with his master discovering his overwhelming talent he would still be back there nothing as nothing more than a puppet.
***
"Have you all made your preparations?" The sect leader asked.
"Of course I would have left already if you didn't trap me!" Sasha loudly complained.
"Is she okay to go with us?" Daer questioned not having spoken much with her before.
"She's capable but far too interested in beasts." Warren spoke.
"I see…" Daer said no longer wanting to look at her.
"Elaine will be returning tonight with an escort."
"An escort was she not supposed to be aiding Silvia?" Daer asked.
"Silvia performed admirably and managed to capture a phantom rat that fled from the poison overlord."
"WHAT! LET ME GO SEE!" Sasha shouted but was still unable to leave.
"Impressive." Warren spoke as they all ignored Sasha.
"Indeed she is a rare talent." Daer said.
Later that night Elaine returned with the phantom rat and the five left to capture a divine beast.