Food Collection

Alec got up bright and early the next day, ready for his job.

Following the instructions from the older disciple that had briefed him yesterday, Alec headed towards the medicinal division's dining hall.

He was on the medicinal division's peak, but he didn't know where to go.

There were sprawling fields with various herbs that he saw growing around. Alec eyed them and itched to get nearer to take a closer look, but he didn't think that would be taken to kindly.

Finally, he spotted a disciple that was carrying a large bucket of water, struggling as he walked on the beaten footpath beneath his feet.

With light green hair and dark blue eyes, the disciple looked serene as he hummed lightly in the darkness.

There was hardly anyone around, and the only reason why the darkness of the sky didn't cause him any trouble was the fact that he had Awakened his vision recently, thus allowing him to see perfectly fine with the aid of the moonlight and the clouds.

The same, however, could not be said for any other disciples that had come out this early.

That was why, when Alec approached the disciple in the near darkness, calling out, "Senior brother, where is the dining hall?" Alec's habitually silent footsteps worked against him then, because the elder disciple cried out an upended the entire bucket that had been clutched in his hands all over himself.

"Venom Flying Bats!" the disciple blurted out as a curse, his heart beating a mile a minute.

The older disciple, who now clutched a very empty bucket of water looked very waterlogged, freezing.

Alec felt embarrassed since he forgot to alert the other to his presence. He forgot that his night vision was a lot better than a normal person's.

"Ah, my apologies," Alec said, pulling out a large towel and handing it to the older disciple. He also handed over a change of clothes from his spatial dimension.

Alec flicked an array that he'd already mastered at the poor disciple, which dried him off – well, mostly dried him off.

The disciple clutched the towel, stunned.

"May I inquire where the dining hall is?" Alec said, injecting a bit of urgency in his voice so that the disciple would be more inclined to respond.

Still out of sorts, the older disciple pointed in the direction of a building, and Alec hastily thanked him before fleeing.

The disciple, who had been absentmindedly wiping himself dry, only to realize that he was already dry, then wondered if he'd been hallucinating because he was tired. He stopped, angrily chucking the towel on the ground before frowning and picking it back up.

"Who was that!" Leon's face darkened. Someone had seen him do something so embarrassing, and he didn't even manage to catch a glimpse of their face!

Alec took in the sight of the dining hall. Unlike the other wooden buildings that seemed to populate the rest of the sect, the dining hall was crafted of stone of sorts, and the doors were no doors. In fact, it was more of a pavilion. A giant, long-stretched pavilion.

Stepping in, Alec was hit in the face with the warm air was contained inside the place, as compared to the breezy coolness of the peak outside.

Interesting.

Though there was barely anyone inside besides a few early risers, the dining hall was already well-lit and filled with a fragrant scent that drifted through the hall.

Alec's eyes drifted around. There were four tables that stretched from one end to the other, and benches on both sides.

Alec headed to the back, where he saw a few cooks puttering around with their pots and pans.

"Good morning," Alec said politely.

One cook turned around, surprised to see such a young disciple that was already up and ready to eat.

"Good morning. What would you like?"

Alec smiled and declined. "Ah, no. I'm here to pick up food for the Solitary Confinement Peak. I was told to come here."

"Ah," the lady said. "Come 'round back," she said, giving him directions.

Alec thanked her and followed her instructions.

Entering a backdoor to the kitchen, the female chef smiled at him, feeling her heart ache at what those monsters at the Solitary Confinement Peak would do to this poor, gentle soul.

The chefs were all disciples of the sect. Mostly those from the outer disciples, but it gave good points, and a chance to beg for some tips from the other disciples, so they were content.

"Ready the food for the Sins!" she called out, and there was an answering chorus of agreement.

Meanwhile, she piled up a bunch of nutritious food on Alec's plate, shoving it into his hands.

Alec blinked.

"Eat up! You can't have eaten already if you're up this early."

Alec tried to decline, but that only made her put more food onto his plate, so he gave in. It'd be impolite to sneak his Viridian extract here, so he didn't.

Alec ate efficiently as the outer disciple talked to him. "It'd help if you gave us a time that you're going to pick up the food each day."

Alec thought about it. "If I could pick it up the same time as today, that would help greatly."

The female disciple/chef nodded. "We can do that," she said, making a note.

The chef put down the boxed meals that had been prepared, frowning. "You'll probably have to make a few trips since you can't carry it all."

"Thank you, I'm fine."

Alec picked up all of the boxes and stacked them up, bringing them with him as he flashed a smile at the chef.

They were so distracted seeing such a young child carry that weight that they forgot any of the advice they were going to give him since it was his first day.

Alec made his way over to Solitary Confinement Peak without any delays. It was early enough in the morning that he didn't have any eyes on him, and still dark out that no one could see him.

Marc was straight up lying on the ground, snoring away, baffling Alec. Did they not have anyone else guarding this place, or what? Why was this older disciple here all the time?

Alec ignored him, bringing in the breakfast for the twelve stuck in solitary confinement.

He wondered just what they were like, and why they were stuck in solitary confinement. He still didn't have a good grasp on the sect's stance on punishment, so he couldn't tell how harsh solitary confinement was supposed to be.

Entering the cave, Alec banged on the first door before placing his hand on the door, which opened based on his magical signature, entering and leaving the meal since the person inside was clearly unresponsive.

He did so for the rest until he reached the last door, which was, coincidentally, the door that was the furthest in and contained the potential Main Character. The [Main Character Radar] was going crazy with the increased proximity.

Like the other doors, Alec knocked and entered.

The screen that popped up let him know the Main Character's name.

[Dominique Falren]

[Potential: 9]

[Intelligence: 10]

[Luck: 8]

[Determination: 10]

Alec's eyebrows shot up. Those were the highest stats he'd seen yet!