## chapter 7: System
Alexander and the adventurers set off towards Valewood. As they walked, he couldn't help but feel grateful for these brave souls who had not only saved his mother and other villagers but had also given him a reason to believe in the goodness of others.
Though he still harbored some anger towards the villagers of Eldenwood for their refusal to help, he knew there was no point dwelling on the past.
Back in Valewood, the villagers greeted them with tears of joy and relief. Marjorie, Alexander's mother, ran to him, embracing him tightly.
"Oh, Alexander! I was so worried about you!"
"I'm fine, Mom," Alexander said, hugging her back. "Thanks to these adventurers, we're all safe."
The villagers of Valewood gathered around, shouting their thanks to the adventurers. People clapped, cheered, and some even cried with relief. The atmosphere was electric with joy.
Marjorie clung to Alexander, her eyes red from crying. She turned to the adventurers, her voice shaking. "Thank you, thank you so much! I don't know what we would have done without you. When the bandits took us, I thought I'd never see my son again."
Elara, the healer, stepped forward, smiling softly. "We're just glad we could help."
After the clebrations and all neccsary preparations were made , the adventure decided it was time they left
As the adventurers prepared to leave, Alexander stood with them, feeling a mix of sadness and gratitude. "Thank you for everything. I won't forget what you've done for me."
Alexander wiped his tears and smiled. "I owe you guys a debt I can never repay."
Felix, the archer, knock him on the head and said. " How would a child repay us, you don't need to worry about it, Just take care of your mother and your village. That's thanks enough for us."
Elara hugged him one last time, pressing his face into her chest once more. "Take care, Alexander. And remember, if you ever need us, you can always ask for our party at the adventurer's guild."
As they spent more time together, Alexander got to know the adventurers better. Elara was a bit clueless but incredibly kind-hearted. She often worried about Alexander, checking his wounds and fussing over him.
"Are you sure you're feeling okay?" she asked for the tenth time, her hands glowing with healing magic.
Alexander laughed, feeling more at ease. "Yes, Elara. Thanks to you, I'm healed."
Elara blushed and smiled. "I'm just glad you're alright."
Alexander's face turned red, but he managed to smile. "I won't forget. Thank you."
With a final wave, the adventurers set off on their next journey, leaving Alexander.
When the adventurers left, Alexander knew he was in for a lot of questioning and scolding from his mother. She must have been worried sick about his safety.
Hours passed of Marjorie going around greeting the families of the other rescued villagers,
Alexander had refused to join her. He couldn't stand the sight of those same villagers who had ignored him when he begged for their help. He understood their fear, but he was still angry.
When they finally got inside their little home, Alexander braced himself for the scolding. He had begged the adventurers not to tell his mother about his near-death encounter with the Nightshade Prowler.
Elara had played a big part in convincing the others to keep it a secret, believing it would only add to Marjorie's worries.
As they settled inside, Marjorie cupped his face in her hands. "I'm so glad you're alright, Alex," she said, her eyes a mix of sadness and happiness.
Alexander could see how worried she had been. The thought of what his mother might have endured during those days with the bandits gnawed at him. He wanted to ask, to know if she had been harmed, but he couldn't find the words. Even though he'd been in this world for five weeks, he still felt like a scared kid sometimes.
Marjorie noticed the troubled look on his face. "What's wrong, Alex? You don't look well. Is something bothering you?"
Alexander hesitated, then blurted out, "Mom, why are you still friends with the villagers? Why did you go and congratulate people who didn't lift a finger when I asked them to help rescue you? Why are you so nice to them?"
Marjorie sighed and looked him in the eye. "Alex, sometimes in life..."
She trailed off, leaving Alexander hanging on her words, desperate for an explanation that made sense of the betrayal he felt.
Marjorie sighed and looked him in the eye. "Alex, sometimes in life, people are afraid. They don't always know how to act when things are bad. It doesn't mean they don't care. They were scared, just like you were."
Feeling the sting of anger and confusion, alexander clenched his fists, and said "But they left you and their loved ones to those bandits! They left all of you!"
"I know, Alex. And it hurt. But holding onto anger won't help anyone. We have to move forward, for our own sake." marjorie said trying to console alex who seemed to have reached a boiling point
Alexander looked away, the frustration boiling inside him. "It just doesn't seem fair."
"It's not," Marjorie said softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "But we can't change the past. We can only try to be better"
still feeling the bitterness alex finally said "I just... I don't want to lose you again."
"You won't," she said while pulling him into a tight hug. "I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere." Marjorie made a promise to herself as she cried silently, holding Alex close.
After all the ordeal, Alex decided to go into the room, a small space at the back of their rundown wooden house. It was shared by both him and Marjorie.
Marjorie still saw Alex as her baby boy. Alex had heard how the previous owner of his body had been scared of sleeping alone and always slept with her under the same woven sheet of stuffed woolen clothes.
At first, when Alex arrived in this world, he avoided sleeping near her, staying outside the woolen blanket due to awareness and other strange thoughts.
But after a few nights of being mercilessly beaten by the cold, he had to rethink his choices.
As Alex entered the room while Marjorie was outside doing some chores, he sat in the corner and stared at the lines of text that had been bothering him since he woke up from the attack of the Nightshade Prowler.
ALex had been seeing this text in 3D. At first, he was startled, but as a man of culture who had played countles RPGs, read countless web novels, light novels, manga, manhwa—you name it—he wasn't as shocked as a new isekai protagonist would be.