For the third time, Vince stood on top of the cliff.
The second time, he had been out of the water after 48 seconds.
Raine was standing in the same spot, smiling at him and encouraging him to do better. Meanwhile, it was Fiona who had carried him back to the top of the cliff. He was really surprised to discover that Fiona could carry a person because, setting aside the bat wings and red eyes, she just looked like an average cat.
"Master Vince, with your lousy swimming skills, you won't achieve the seven-second time limit until sunset, and poor me will be exhausted. Can you try to remember things, please? You are a good swimmer, but without your memory, you are an utter fool."
Vince glared at the cat standing beside him on the cliff. He was getting ready to jump again.
"You're really boosting my morale here," he said.
He took a deep breath and jumped off the cliff.
The third time took him 45 seconds, just a 2-second difference from the second time.
"Even though it's just a 2-second difference, at least you were a little faster," Raine smirked.
"Do I really have to keep jumping and swimming, Raine? I mean, I thought you would train me in combat because that's the main point of being a city guardian, right? Being a good fighter."
"To be a good fighter, you need to start at the lowest point, Vince."
She looked at him with a smile, but her eyes were serious, as if she wanted him to remember everything she was about to say.
"You've read the book I gave you. What is the key to leveling up one's power class? It's cultivating your soul force. Although your body seems to be in good shape, your soul force is weak and, for some reason, has been stagnant."
Vince remained attentive.
"Swimming improves a variety of physical and mental aspects. It enhances your muscle strength and endurance, your flexibility, your body's coordination and balance, your mental focus, your breathing control, and the flow of soul force in your body. Looking at you, you've got poor performance in all of those. Improving them is the key to growing your soul force and becoming an awakened, which will put you in better shape to train as a fighter."
Vince understood what Raine meant. He hadn't thought about it that way and had gotten ahead of himself.
"You need to be in the best shape first before we level up your training. Trust me, Vince darling, I know what I'm doing."
He nodded. "I trust you."
Who else was there to trust in this world, anyway?
No matter what Raine's reason was for picking him in the Selection, she was treating him well and helping him awaken his dormant power core. If there was one person he could rely on in this world, it was her.
Vince jumped off the cliff for the fourth time.
Then the fifth.
Sixth.
Seventh.
Eighth.
Ninth.
Tenth.
Vince panted after getting out of the water after his eleventh try, which lasted for 32 seconds.
If he were human, he would have been freezing to death by now, or his body would have gone numb. But with his demon physique, he was a bit more durable, and although tired, he didn't feel like passing out—at least, not yet.
Sitting on a rock, Raine threw an apple at Vince, which he caught with one hand.
"I thought you might need a little snack."
"Thanks," he said, sitting on the rock next to Raine.
Fiona was on a bigger rock, eating her own apple.
"I suggest you keep your body as horizontal and streamlined as possible to reduce drag. This involves keeping your head aligned with your spine and avoiding excessive movement. You're improving with every swim, so you're doing a good job, Vince."
Vince smirked, feeling a little proud and happy at the compliment from Raine. To be honest, he still thought it was impossible for him to cover the 20-meter distance in just 7 seconds, including the fall from the cliff.
But he realized that jumping off the cliff the first time and doing it after ten times were different experiences. Doing it multiple times lessened the fear, and he kept becoming more at ease with each try, allowing him to have better mental focus once he was in the water.
After his twenty-fifth try, jumping off the high cliff was no longer scary.
His body was more relaxed, his posture better, and he was no longer panicking against the current. At some point, he even started to enjoy it.
He kept his body as straight as possible during the dive. As soon as he hit the water, he began swimming downstream with powerful strokes, away from the waterfall's base, where the water was calmer. The goal was to get out of the zone where the water was falling and creating strong downward currents.
Vince was glad that he was finally getting the hang of it.
"27 seconds. Not bad," Raine said, holding her golden pocket watch.
"You're getting more relaxed with each try. You just need to level up your speed and control your breathing efficiently so it won't slow you down."
Vince noticed Raine's eyes lower to his torso. He looked down and realized that his white shirt was stuck to his skin, revealing his abs and muscles. His long-sleeved linen shirt was rolled up to his elbows.
The silver-haired demon's eyes turned mischievous, as if she had seen a delectable prey.
The cat sitting on a nearby rock narrowed her eyes.
'Looks like Lady Raine wants to eat my master alive. I only hope she doesn't end up killing him, or I'd be homeless.'
Vince smirked while looking at Raine.
"Should I take off my shirt so you can stare at it better, Raine?"
Raine brought her gaze back to Vince's eyes. Her smile was charming but playful.
"That is tempting, but no. Taking off your shirt would mean you have less weight to carry while swimming. That's why I never asked you to take off anything, not even your boots."
Her gaze turned seductive. "But how about you offer that in my room?"
She chuckled when she noticed how Vince's ears turned red.
Fiona shook her head. 'My master is getting a crazy wife, I'm afraid.'
"Now, stop seducing me and continue with your training."
Vince scoffed in disbelief.
"I'm seducing you??? You're the one giving me seductive looks!"
"Are you seduced, though?"
He couldn't say anything, but his lips curled into a smile as he turned to Fiona.
"Hey kitty, bring me back to the cliff."
The grumpy cat shot him a deadly glare. Vince still felt wary around Fiona, but he was getting used to her lethal red eyes.