Morning.
Arion took Keal and Liora into the forest. They walked far from the house until they reached a quiet place near the river.
Arion: Stop here.
Keal: Why did we come this far?
Arion: Less noise. Better for practice.
Arion looked at both of them.
Arion: Kneel.
Keal and Liora looked confused but still knelt.
Arion: Bow three times.
Keal: Why bow?
Arion: Just do it.
They both bowed three times.
Arion took out two small pills from his sleeve and gave one to each.
Arion: Eat.
Liora: What is this?
Keal: Medicine?
Arion: Purification pills. They will help your body accept spiritual energy.
Keal nodded and swallowed his pill. Liora hesitated for a second then swallowed hers too.
They waited.
Nothing happened for a few moments.
Then a bad smell slowly came from their bodies.
Liora: Kael… do you smell that?
Keal sniffed his arm and made a face.
Keal: It's coming from us.
Dark sticky dirt started appearing on their skin.
Liora: This is disgusting…
Arion: Good. Your body is pushing out impurities.
Keal stood up quickly.
Keal: We need to clean ourselves now.
Arion: River is ahead. Go wash.
They ran to the river and jumped in. Both of them scrubbed their arms and faces again and again until the smell was gone.
After washing, they felt lighter.
Keal caught two small fish with his hands.
They roasted them near the river and ate quietly.
After eating, Arion sat on a rock.
Arion: Sit.
Keal and Liora sat in front of him.
Arion: Close your eyes.
They closed their eyes.
Arion: Calm your mind. Don't think about anything.
Focus only on your head.
Try to feel the spiritual energy inside your head. Gather it at one point.
Silence.
Only river sound.
Keal stayed still and focused. After some time, he felt something faint inside his head. Like a cool point forming slowly.
Liora sat quietly beside him doing the same.
Time passed.
Arion: Open your eyes.
They opened their eyes.
Keal blinked.
Keal: My vision… feels clearer.
Liora looked around.
Liora: I can hear more clearly too…
Arion smiled slightly.
Arion: That's normal. This is just the beginning.
Keal: Beginning of what?
Arion: Cultivation.
Keal leaned forward.
Keal: How do we become strong?
Arion: Two ways.
Alchemy path… or body refinement path.
Liora listened silently.
Arion: Alchemy needs soul power and knowledge.
Body refinement is painful and slow.
No need to rush. First learn to control spiritual energy in your head.
They stood up and started walking back. On the way, Keal picked some herbs like usual.
By evening they reached home and ate dinner together.
After some silence…
Arion: I will leave tomorrow.
Keal stopped eating.
Keal: Leave? Why?
Liora looked worried.
Liora: You're going?
Arion gave a small smile.
Arion: Don't worry. I'll come back.
Keal stayed quiet for a moment.
Keal: Then come back soon.
Arion nodded and continued eating.