Alisia slowly closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
'This time, it'll be different.'
Amidst utter and almost thick darkness, she focused once again, gradually entering a half-trance state.
Nearby, Vincent clearly observed the scene as if it was outside.
'If she succeeds, then I'll be able to begin my session with a calm heart.'
Several minutes later, as Vincent observed the same scene from before when Alisia's body gradually became hotter and hotter. But this time she was relatively calm.
'Keep it up and don't lose focus. If you fail again right after the first one, the backlash will be stronger,' he inwardly recalled his previous words before she began.
Vincent advised her to wait several more hours before attempting another session, but she insisted on doing it now as she felt much better.
He didn't force her.
After another several minutes, Alisia's body already reached a critically high temperature. Though Vincent can see that she was somewhat struggling, her expression stood relatively calm.
'She had successfully passed her previous struggle and begun the distribution of energy from the chest to other parts of the body.'
Another few seconds later.
Alisia suddenly opened her eyes and started to gasp for air. Her face still flushed red from inner heat, but a smile replaced the previous weakness.
"Congtatulations. Though you are still far away from completion, you've successfully arrived on the right path towards the first stage," Vincent gently spoke as he supported her.
"Thank you. It wouldn't be possible without you," Alisia spoke, still smiling.
Vincent didn't reply and led her outside of the mine.
As she weakly followed him by holding his arm, she recalled the previous feeling.
Though she only managed to partially redirect the energy from her chest before the seed became too hot, from now on, with enough time, she will be able to gradually cover her entire body.
So far, she only managed to spread the heat just to the beginning of her shoulder.
She doesn't know if this speed was decent, but if it remains the same, to fully complete the distribution to the rest of the body, it'll take her around a week or two.
By that time, she should also get the ability to see in the dark as Vincent so he wouldn't need to waste his time to bring her in and out every time.
This alone is already a good progression as she doesn't want to take away his free time that he can use for his own training.
Alisia looked at Vincent in absolute admiration.
Not because he was with her all this time, but how strong he was in the matter of cultivation after she experienced how hard and dangerous this was even after all of his guidance, yet he did it all by himself without external assistance, though with the knowledge from The Threefold Origin, but that hardly counted as one as it will not heal your wounds or point where you went wrong, nor mentally support you to not drop out from it.
As they left the narrow dark entrance, Vincent led her to a nearby tree to take a rest.
Taking a seat beside the tree, she leaned back at the tree. Her heart was still racing.
"I'm going to start my own session. It will be much longer than yours and I can't be disturbed at this time."
"You can stay here and enter mine again after you rest or go back to the town and continue, the choice is yours."
"You already know the location so you can come at any time."
"Moreover, you already successfully passed the biggest hurdle in the session towards 1st stage, so you don't need my help anymore."
"Now I can begin on my own session without worries."
As he spoke, he then brought something from his pocket and passed it to her, "Be careful not to crush them. They are very fragile."
"What is this? she asked as she carefully held 2 little dark-green things that reminded beans.
"My little creations. I can't leave you defenceless in my absence."
"I am able to make only 2 of them after several hours of testing. They cannot kill and they last only around 3 weeks before falling apart."
"When you will be in a dangerous situation, throw one at the target and it'll explode, realising green mist which is very irritating to be around, especially if it touches eyes so be careful to not be affected by it."
"Depending on the situation, either run away or use the short moment of the target's shock to launch the attack."
Vincent then took out a small but sharp knife and pointed at his body.
"If you decide to attack, hit in the heart, ear, eyes or the neck. Never give your target a single chance to turn the table and end it with your first hit."
"Do not show any mercy and never hesitate, not even for a second."
"Remember once and for all that showing mercy to your enemy is being cruel to yourself."
"You don't want to see that exact enemy come back and kill you in your sleep or murder your loved ones, right? If so, never hesitate, regardless of who they are, young or old. End them when you can."
Vincent put the knife in the little scabbard and then gave it to her, "Hide it somewhere where it can be taken out quickly if need arrives."
Alisia's heart started beating hard when the topic changed to this.
She wasn't even 17 yet and had zero fighting experience. It was quite frightening to her knowing that she might have to fight someone for her life.
But she also wasn't naive or deluded to think that Vincent will constantly be beside her to protect her all the time.
Though deep down she hoped for this, since she decided to walk beside this dangerous world, she has to learn how to protect herself.
With a heavy heart, she decisively nodded and hid the knife in the tight crevice in between her chest.
Vincent saw where she hid the knife and nodded after he was unable to notice the hidden knife.
As he was prepared to turn around and enter the mine though another entrance, his hand was abruptly pulled forward.
Alisia gently wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
The kiss lasted only a few seconds before she moved back.
"Go and do your training, but… don't forget that I'm here."
Vincent briefly but deeply looked at her before turning around and entering through a different entrance.
Alisia gazed as he vanished in the darkness.
Her heart couldn't help but become tense as she knew that his training sessions are much more dangerous than hers and she will not be able to help him if something goes wrong.
'I wish you success.'