"Are you alright, son?" A deep voice interrupted Alex as he devoured the burnt mountain lion meat. Startled, Alex looked up to see a tall man—about 6'2", with graying hair and clad in plate armor—standing nearby.
Alex panicked. He hadn't seen or heard the man approach. "Who are you? I don't want any trouble, sir!" His own voice surprised him. After a breath to calm himself, he repeated, "Who are you?"
The man contemplated for a moment before answering. "I'm John Barlow, head guard of the Elouise Mane household."
He paused briefly before continuing. "My men and I are accompanying the young master of the Mane family on a hunting expedition. I saw the smoke from your campfire and thought I should check who else might be out in the Vana Woods this late."
John took a step closer, examining Alex with keen eyes. "You seem to be in a rough spot. Do you live in these woods? Is there any family you need to get back to?"
Alex stiffened. "I don't live out here," he said firmly, "and I'm not your son. My family… isn't in this world anymore. I'm not looking for company."
John sighed sympathetically. "I'm sorry to hear that. But I wouldn't feel right leaving you here, alone and injured. These woods are dangerous. My group has a healer. If you're willing to come with me, I'd be glad to have him take a look at you. You killed this mountain lion, right? Looks like a mid- to peak-level one-star beast."
Alex glanced at the dead lion, unsure of how to respond. "Thanks for the offer," he said cautiously, "but I don't believe in free meals or kindness from strangers. I just want to eat in peace and get some rest. It's been a long night."
John studied him for a moment, seeing the stubbornness in Alex's eyes. The young man clearly didn't trust easily.
"I don't mean to intrude," John continued, "but you can't be older than sixteen. If you really did kill that beast by yourself, you've got talent. I don't come across many people your age who could pull off something like that."
He shifted slightly before offering, "If you're interested, I could put in a word with the head of the Mane household. You'd make an excellent addition as a butler—or perhaps more."
Alex tensed at the suggestion. "What could I possibly gain from serving a bunch of nobles? People like them just order others around and pass off the real work."
John chuckled. "You're not wrong about that, but I've got a proposition for you. I'm looking for a student to train, someone with potential. And I see that in you. There's something special about you—your eyes, in particular."
Alex's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Your eyes," John said, "one blue, the other red. It's rare. People with blue eyes often have deep reserves of spirit energy, while red eyes are linked to mana. If you trained properly, you'd be a formidable cultivator."
Alex's shock was apparent. His eyes had always been a source of fear and superstition back in his village. The red eye especially—the one that many believed marked him as cursed, tied to the demon lord. It had brought him nothing but grief, yet John was suggesting it had power.
Noticing Alex's confusion, John continued. "I won't force you into anything. But if you agree to become my student, I'll sponsor you, train you, and help you cultivate your abilities. You've got potential—enough to become something far greater than you are now."
Alex's mind raced. Cultivation was the path to strength in this world—the ability to manipulate spirit and mana to alter reality. The chance to train under someone like John, who clearly saw more in him than most ever had, was tempting. But Alex wasn't sure he could trust it.
"I've never heard of the Mane family in Vana," Alex said abruptly, still wary. "I don't get along with nobles, and they wouldn't accept me. My reputation with people like that… isn't great."
John smiled softly. "We're not from Vana. My household is based in the city of Gorin, nearby. You ever been?"
The thought of Gorin—a different city—eased Alex's tension a bit. Perhaps the Mane family wasn't like the nobles he had known back in Vana. Still, he couldn't shake his skepticism.
"If I agreed to serve your family," Alex asked, "what would I gain from it? What's in it for me?"
John chuckled. "Well, for starters, safety. Security. The world isn't kind, and you'd have the protection of the Mane household. Plus, you'd have the chance to grow as a cultivator. You've already shown some skill. Imagine how much stronger you could become with proper training."
Alex was stunned. Could John tell he was a cultivator just from looking at him? That shouldn't have been possible.
"How did you know?" Alex asked. "Even I'm not sure if I am one."
John grinned. "Observation. A beast like that would be a challenge for anyone who wasn't at least a beginner cultivator. You've got a healed wound—it's rough, but it's definitely a healing skill. And the burns on your hand? That's fire magic. All signs point to someone who's learning the ropes of cultivation. Does that make sense?"
Alex nodded, though he was still amazed at John's keen perception.
After a moment of thought, Alex finally stood. The half-cooked lion meat sat forgotten as he extended his hand to John. "Alright. I'll accept your offer. But what are you getting out of this?"
John stood as well, clasping Alex's hand firmly. "I get to mentor a talented young cultivator and help shape you into something great. And my family gains a valuable protector in return."
Alex could understand that. Nobles always sought to strengthen their households by surrounding themselves with capable people. This was no different.
After a pause, Alex met John's gaze. "If your house accepts me and gives me the chance to grow, then I'll do it."
John smiled. "Good. Let's get you to our healer first. Maybe some fresh clothes and a wash at the river, too. You can rest in my tent tonight."
The warmth in John's voice was a new experience for Alex, who had spent his life as an outcast. The kindness felt foreign, but he was starting to believe that perhaps John's intentions were genuine.