This time, Alex and Vanessa lasted almost twenty minutes.
"I'd say that's an improvement," Sylvana stated. The duo still didn't manage to land a hit on her, but their cooperation had improved a little bit.
"Alex, in stressful situations, you still revert to your usual loner fighting style. I'm not saying you should get rid of it, but when you fight alongside someone else, you need to change your mindset." Sylvana advised.
"It's hard," Alex said. He tried, but when one could only react, muscle memory took the lead, and his instincts always pushed him toward solitary action.
"I know, so take it step by step," Sylvana replied. Then she looked at her niece, who lay on the ground, huffing.
She had been beaten harder for being late, and while Alex had healed her, she was still sore all over.
"Vanessa, on the other hand, you improved greatly compared to yesterday—you committed fewer mistakes. But you still get triggered by words, which makes you predictable."
After they finished the training, Vanessa stood and walked closer to Sylvana, and then they both looked at Alex.
"What?" Alex said, seeing both ladies staring at him.
"Where do you go when you flee from the shadow guard?" Sylvana asked.
"Why do you care?" Alex replied, unamused.
"Alex, you know your record, and since you are contracted by us, anything you do can reflect on us, your contractors. So, forgive our intrusion, but we need to know," Vanessa said. By now, she knew that Alex could only be convinced by logical arguments.
Alex looked at them silently.
His anger was growing, but before letting it out, he decided to view it from their point of view.
'I guess they think I'm still going around hunting nobles,' he thought.
In his opinion, it was a fair thought, so he relaxed a little.
After a bit, he opened his mouth. "Okay, I'll take you there tomorrow. It's actually not what you think. Where I go is my secret lab, where I test new potions or develop new spells."
Vanessa looked visibly more relaxed, and Sylvana let out a sigh.
"Why the secrecy, then? Couldn't you come to the palace? We have rooms for that," Vanessa said.
"Sorry for being blunt, but while I get along with you both, I don't trust the palace at all, including your parents," Alex said, looking at Vanessa.
"Oh, I see…" she replied. They didn't know each other for that long, so he couldn't possibly know how the palace treated outsiders, but still, the comment stung a little bit.
Sylvana, on the other hand, took his reasoning better. 'I wouldn't trust someone I just met so easily either. He probably told us this since he and Vanessa are bound by a magical contract.'
"Okay, it's settled then. Tomorrow we go after the spar. Now, didn't you also have something to say?" Sylvana asked, changing topics.
"Yes, actually, I have three favors to ask you. They are important to me and shouldn't be difficult for you."
"Okay, go on," Vanessa said, intrigued.
"I was hoping for a map of the world, or at least from Aurethia; for the plants written on this paper; and lastly—and most important—for a recommendation on a good magic academy for Evelyn, my sister."
The last favor caught Sylvana's attention. As an old fox, she immediately saw the opportunity to gain trust from that—especially knowing what Alex had gone through.
'If we excel in that favor, he will certainly see us in a much better way,' she thought.
"For what do you need these plants?" Vanessa asked, not picking up the same implications Sylvana did.
"To heal my mana leakage syndrome," Alex replied.
"You know a recipe to heal that?" Sylvana asked, astonished.
"Well, yes… Why? Is it supposed to be incurable?" Alex asked.
"No, but the alchemists who know how to heal it keep their recipes secret with their lives, and they ask an insane amount of gold for the potion," Sylvana replied.
"How do you know such a recipe?" Vanessa asked, she also knew about the potion
"Secret. But that's one of the reasons I teleport to my lab. I have my recipe book there—it's probably worth millions. I also have a very good herbology book that I've been writing for the last five years. That one's worth a lot too. So I understand why others keep such knowledge to themselves," Alex said.
Sylvana and Vanessa had vastly different thoughts.
Vanessa was curious to death about the lab, wanting to go now instead of waiting until tomorrow.
"Sure, we can help you get these," Vanessa replied, looking at the list of plants.
Sylvana, meanwhile, was doing numbers in her head, realizing that Alex's worth was multiplying.
'Just imagining the amount of money we can earn and save just by Alex knowing that potion makes my skin crawl in anticipation,' she thought.
As a kingdom, they had to buy such potions more often than not, since their armies couldn't help but abuse mana potions when needed.
'I have to tie him to the palace, pronto. I will need to speak with Alicia about this.' What had once been a non-urgent thought, based only on Alex's potential, had now become a real matter to bring directly to the queen.
"We'll also check for a suitable academy for your sister. Rest assured," Sylvana then said, adding, "And while we have a world map, it would be better to get one from Aurethia. They're more detailed."
"That works too, thanks," Alex said.
"Now that everything is settled, I'll take my leave. I have matters to tend to. See you tomorrow," Sylvana said, then teleported away.
"Yes, I'll also take my leave. I still have to get ready for the trip." Alex then remembered, "That reminds me—" He looked at Vanessa. "At the start of next month, I'll be taking a leave. I have to gather the last ingredient for the potion, and I don't know how long I'll be gone. But I've already prepared potion quotas in advance."
"Ah, how envious I am. I sure want to leave to explore too, but my parents told me not to leave until I became a grandmaster," Vanessa said.
"You never left the confines of the capital and the castle?" Alex asked, stunned that she was still being directed like a kid.
"Yeah. Besides the casual parties, the capital, or extremely secure places to hunt, I never leave. And the reason is simple: enemies," Vanessa said.
"How many enemies can a recluse have?" Alex asked.
"Not me, but the country's enemies. They would pounce at any chance to harm us, and I happen to be an only child. So you make a guess," Vanessa said.
"Shit…" Alex said. He understood her insinuation.
"Indeed. So farewell. See you tomorrow," Vanessa said and left.
Alex also left, returning home. He had to get ready for the trip—but also for the fact that tonight, he was finally witnessing the entirety of the third dream.