Alexander immediately entered the forest to go to his shelter, carrying the supply box in his hands. Having such a treasure and being inside the slums was the same as being a sheep in a den of wolves.
In a short time he entered the forest and returned to his shelter. Alexander noticed that Joseph was training. His body was surrounded by a faint aura of mana that was trying to enter his body.
Alexander set the box of supplies on the ground before approaching his partner.
Alexander saw that Joseph had a painful expression and decided to wake him up from his trance state. "Stop."
Joseph felt a hand on his shoulder and eventually lost all concentration, abandoning his meditative state as a result.
The bluish aura around him disappeared in an instant.
Joseph's body was covered in sweat and he felt sore. He looked at the hand on his shoulder that belonged to his teacher.
"You are close to directing the mana to your body, but at the last moment you feel pressured which makes this process difficult." Alexander sat across from him as he explained what had happened.
Blackie saw Alexander sit down and decided to change cushions.
"Explain to me the three main stages of awakening a core."
Joseph took a few seconds to regain his energy before nodding. "The first stage is to feel the mana in our surroundings. "Once you become in tune with this energy in our environment, you will be able to advance to the second stage."
Alexander nodded at this explanation as he motioned for her to continue.
"The second stage is about manipulating this energy around us to direct it to our body, where with the help of it, mana channels will be created throughout our system. Once this stage is finished, the third and final stage will be next. "The consolidation of our core."
Joseph was about to continue his explanation when Alexander stopped him. "It's enough. You have logic behind your actions, but before reaching the second stage you have a mental block. I'm right?"
Joseph nodded.
"It is common among people who are close to creating their mana channels to have this mental block. The main causes are stress, anxiety, frustration among other reasons. I want you to increase your attunement to mana these days and for your mind to be in a state of tranquility. For now, let's take a break to train your combat skills."
Alexander stood up from the ground and motioned for Joseph to do the same.
"Position your body as I teach you." Alexander got into the same defensive stance when he fought against Izaro and his group.
Joseph followed his actions, but he looked too rough. The opposite of Alexander.
Alexander ignored this as it was not easy for a beginner to get used to. "Just focus on dodging."
With those words, Alexander launched his first attack in the direction of Joseph's face.
Seeing the fist approaching, Joseph decided to crouch as his first option, but he was too slow and his fist stopped just before touching his forehead.
"Never do such a thing against opponents of equal size like you, unless you are faster." Alexander quickly told her his mistake as he lightly slapped her forehead.
"I understand…" Joseph sighed a little sadly.
After that, they went back to training.
It was mainly Alexander attacking Joseph as the latter made mistakes that were quickly reprimanded.
After almost two hours of training, Joseph fell to the ground exhausted.
"Is enough for today. We will have lunch." Alexander headed to the supply box he had left on the ground earlier.
He administered the food to last as long as possible and distributed it among the group for their lunch.
Alexander and Joseph talked about the training they had. Joseph spoke about the problems he suffered when creating his mana channels and Alexander responded patiently.
After the conversation dragged on for another half hour, Alexander decided it was time to collect water.
The group left the shelter with some food in a wooden basket that Alexander carried on his back.
After covering their shelter with bushes and branches they found in the surrounding area, they headed into the forest.
Alexander and Joseph each carried two buckets of mental in each hand for what was three full hours.
Every now and then they took time to rest and regain their energy a little. Blackie had long since tired and Alexander was carrying him on his back into the basket.
When the sun was at its highest point, Alexander and Joseph stopped in front of a natural stream of water.
As soon as he saw this, Joseph dropped the buckets and threw himself into the small stream. "This feels amazing."
Alexander ignored Joseph who seemed to be in heaven and also stepped into the stream to wash his body.
The dirt left his body with each touch. Seeing his teacher, Joseph also washed his body.
Blackie backed away silently as she watched them, but she was too scared when Alexander's eyes landed on him.
Before he could escape, Alexander quickly grabbed him and put him into the stream to bathe him.
Surprisingly, although Blackie on the surface looked quite white, there was tons of dirt on his skin.
After a few minutes, the group seemed to be new people.
With their bodies now clean, Alexander told Joseph to collect water, which he immediately did. Alexander also joined him.
For five minutes they washed the dirty metal buckets before collecting water with them.
Alexander, Joseph and Blackie set out from the small natural stream after completing their goal for the day. The trip was more exhausting than before and it took them five hours to return.
When it was afternoon they were back in their shelter.
Alexander ordered Joseph to leave the water in a corner before telling him to go and collect any kind of useful items in the forest with Blackie.
The duo happily went on a treasure hunt, meanwhile, Alexander lit the campfire with dry branches and leaves in the center of the shelter.
With a little trick of two stones, the campfire was lit immediately. Alexander threw more branches to make the fire bigger before placing the buckets of water on top.
In a matter of approximately 20 minutes, the water began to boil.
Alexander waited patiently for a few minutes before removing the bucket from the campfire and placing it on the ground with the help of some small thick rags.
After this process to eliminate any danger in the stream water, Alexander did the same with the remaining three buckets.
Joseph and Blackie had already returned a while ago and had in their hands branches, dried leaves, and any other useful trash they had found.
Seeing that Alexander was purifying the water, Joseph decided to clean the shelter a little. Once this was done he just dedicated himself to playing with Blackie for the remaining time.
Time flew quickly and it was already night.
The group ate dinner peacefully in the silence of the night. Alexander told Joseph about how little he knew about the universe while the latter listened attentively.
Joseph had been born on this planet and knowledge of him was non-existent when it came to what was outside his small town.
So he listened with expectation to every word of Alexander, who was not from this planet.
"Listen carefully, Joseph. In the universe there are 12 different races; five belonging to low races, three intermediate, two advanced and the remaining two ancient races.
The ancient races are the most powerful in the universe and those that have survived the passage of time.
Although there were many more powerful races in the history of the universe, they became extinct due to constant wars or simply disappeared from one moment to the next. The causes? They remain unknown.
Each race had solar systems under its government. The higher your rank, the more territory you could have.
Humans, the race to which you and I belong, are a low-ranking race with three conquered solar systems. The Porska, the lizardmen I explained to you before, have five, and we are currently on one of their planets."
"What happens to the other races?" Joseph asked out of curiosity.
Alexander shook his head since he didn't know much. "I am not aware of that information."
Joseph was a little disappointed, but that didn't discourage him in the least. Alexander continued with his explanation.
"Although the Porska race has more solar systems, they are at the same or lower level than humans. Their less advanced technology says a lot about them. Currently most races are at war with each other. The superior races have allies who support them in this war.
The ancient races have the advanced ones, the advanced ones have the intermediate ones, and so on. We humans are in alliance with the Mulla race. Blue-skinned humanoid beings with vast knowledge.
Their race was characterized by its incessant search for knowledge. Perhaps for that reason they felt in sync with us, who partly have the same objective.
Meanwhile, the Porska are allied with the dragon race, a former ancient race that lost its position after losing two great wars."
Alexander decided to end that explanation after seeing that it was very late and Joseph was starting to feel sleepy.
"It's enough. "Let's go to sleep now." Alexander ordered as he stood up from the ground.
Joseph followed him reluctantly. Blackie had fallen asleep a long time ago.
Joseph picked up Blackie who looked like a sack of potatoes and placed him on his bed before lying down on his own.
The group fell asleep immediately after a day of relentless work.