"Huh?" Alex mumbled, still groggy from sleep.
"You've been out most of the morning. Figured I'd let you rest a little longer after the night you had," Bartlow chuckled, standing by the tent's entrance. "It'd take a lot out of anyone."
"I'm sorry, Master," Alex said, rubbing his eyes. "I'll help the guards pack the wagon." He was still shaking off the remnants of his dream—a replay of the previous day, now feeling more like a nightmare. A bead of sweat formed on his brow as the memory lingered.
Bartlow waved it off. "No need to apologize. The butlers have it covered. In the meantime, get dressed and follow me. There are some… interesting people I want you to meet." His tone carried a hint of sarcasm as he left the tent.
With a sigh of relief, Alex stood up, wincing slightly. His body was still sore from the mountain lion attack just hours earlier. He glanced down at his bandaged side.
"Hmm, it looks fine," he muttered to himself, gently touching the wound. "Still tender, but all in one piece. If I didn't have the system… I wouldn't have made it."
Alex paused, his thoughts turning inward. System, are you there? he asked silently, testing the presence that had saved his life.
In response, a translucent screen appeared before his eyes, displaying the Divine God System.
"I wonder if anyone else can see this," Alex mused. "Or if it's something only I can access. I'll have to test it in front of Master Bartlow, though I can't risk anyone thinking I've gone mad… But where did this system come from? Why me?"
Before he could dwell too deeply on the thought, Bartlow's voice cut through his internal dialogue.
"Are you all right in there? You don't need help getting dressed, do you? Because if you do, I'll warn you now—you're in for a rude awakening when training starts!" Bartlow's sarcasm was impossible to miss.
Alex chuckled to himself, the brief moment of humor grounding him as he pulled on his clothes, mentally preparing for whatever was coming next.
After quickly dressing, Alex stepped out of the tent to see Bartlow smiling at him, motioning him over to the campfire where the guards, who had been on night duty, were now enjoying a late breakfast.
One of the guards, who had been speaking to Bartlow, looked up as Alex approached. "Thanks again for covering second and third shift last night, Bartlow. We're grateful for the extra sleep. Heaven knows we've been run ragged trying to keep up with the young master and his antics this past week."
Bartlow laughed heartily, waving off the gratitude. "No problem. Young Master Lucas Mane has the spirit of a warrior, no doubt about it. But he's upset the beasts in these woods are too dangerous for him to handle on his own. He's itching for his first kill of a starred beast."
At the mention of beasts, Bartlow turned to the group and proudly introduced Alex. "Speaking of which, everyone, this is my student, Sir Alex."
One of the guards, his mouth full of bread, grinned. "So this is the young man we can thank for adding a little variety to our meals today, huh?"
Alex, startled by the warm welcome but comforted by the jovial atmosphere, replied respectfully, though hesitantly. "Yes, sir. I had the… unfortunate fate of running into that mountain lion last night."
Another guard, who had been listening quietly, raised an eyebrow. "Well, Bartlow, this one's young for sure. How old is he exactly?"
Curiosity lingered in the air as they considered how rare it was for someone of Alex's age and level to take down a starred beast. Starred beasts, after all, were equivalent to a cultivator's strength, from one star to six, and even a beginner cultivator would find the task formidable.
"I'm fifteen," Alex answered, feeling a bit shy under their gaze. Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "Well… sixteen starting today, actually."
The camp fell silent for a moment as the guards absorbed what he had just said. A sixteen-year-old, taking down a starred beast? It was no small feat. Their expressions shifted from surprise to quiet respect.
Bartlow, sensing the shift in the air, clapped Alex on the back. "Don't let his age fool you. This kid's got potential."
Bartlow grinned wryly as the atmosphere lightened. One of the guards spoke up proudly, "I can see why you took him on as a student, Bartlow. If the higher nobles found out about his cultivation level and potential, they'd be lining up to snatch him away."
Alex, still confused by the sudden attention, gave a polite smile and thanked the guards for their praise. His gaze shifted to Bartlow, silently asking for guidance on what to do next.
Seeing his student's uncertainty, Bartlow chuckled softly. "Go ahead and have a seat, Alex," he said, gesturing to a spot by the fire. "I already ate earlier. I need to check on Lucas and Emily Mane, make sure they're ready to leave soon." Glancing at the guards, Bartlow added with a playful shrug, "Take it easy on him, alright? He's still a young man, after all."
With that, Bartlow left to fetch the young nobles, Lucas and Emily, from their tents. As soon as he was out of earshot, the guards' curiosity seemed to spill over. They began questioning Alex, eager to know more about him. It felt like they were welcoming a new brother-in-arms, wanting to get to know him before returning to the Mane manor.
"How'd you manage to get that lion, kid?" one of them asked, leaning forward with interest.
"Was it your first time taking down a starred beast?" another added.
"Do you plan on joining the Mane family's guard?" a third chimed in, his voice laced with genuine curiosity.
The questions came one after another, a mix of admiration and friendly interest. Though Alex felt a bit overwhelmed, the camaraderie of the guards made it easier for him to relax and answer their questions. For the first time in a while, the sense of being part of something bigger—part of a group that respected and valued him—began to settle in.
Feeling overwhelmed by the barrage of questions, Alex decided to answer honestly, his voice shaking slightly as he recalled the harrowing experience. "I was gathering firewood when the mountain lion came out of nowhere. I managed to find a sharp stone and hit it in the eye. When it had me pinned, I used everything I had left to drive the stone into its skull." His hand instinctively touched his side, the memory of the struggle still fresh in his mind. "It was my first time killing a starred beast, but… I didn't even know what a star beast was until Master Bartlow explained it to me."
The guards listened in silence, their expressions a mixture of respect and curiosity. Alex took a breath, continuing, "As for joining the Mane family guard… I'm not sure yet. I still need permission from the Mane household before I can even think about that." His voice grew more uncertain, the fear of what awaited him at the manor weighing heavily on his mind. He had no idea how the family would react to his presence, let alone his request for such a significant role.
One of the guards, sensing Alex's unease, clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't worry too much about that, lad. If Bartlow's taken you under his wing, you've already got a foot in the door. The Manes will see what you're made of soon enough."
Another guard nodded in agreement. "And after hearing what you did last night, they'd be fools not to consider you for the clan. Just give it time. You've got more potential than you know."
The words were reassuring, but Alex couldn't shake the tension that lingered beneath the surface. While the guards' warm reception eased his immediate fears, the looming encounter with the Mane family still left him feeling uncertain.
One of the guards, hesitating but clearly asking what everyone else was thinking, finally broke the silence. "I don't mean to intrude, but Bartlow mentioned you've been in these woods for some time... and that your family isn't in this world anymore. If it's not too much to ask, could you tell us a bit about your history? It'd help us understand you better, where you're coming from."
Alex, though taken aback, wasn't entirely surprised by the question. He had known it would come sooner or later. Sighing deeply, he glanced down at the fire, the flickering flames mirroring the heaviness he felt inside. "I never knew my father," he began, his voice low. "He left my mother and me when I was born. She didn't talk about him much, only that he was… quite the character."
His breath hitched as he continued. "My mother… she died not too long ago, in a fire. I managed to escape, but she and my friends… they didn't make it. The house collapsed before they could get out."
The air around the campfire grew still. The crackling of the flames was the only sound as the guards absorbed his words. The weight of his loss hung in the silence, and though none of the men spoke immediately, the atmosphere was filled with a deep sense of understanding and sympathy.
One of the older guards, his expression softened by years of experience, finally broke the silence. "I'm sorry for your loss, lad. No one should have to go through that, especially not at your age."
Another nodded, his voice low. "You've been through more than most grown men could bear. It's no wonder Bartlow saw something in you."
The words were kind, but they didn't lift the heaviness that had settled over Alex. He simply nodded in response, thankful for their understanding but still carrying the weight of his grief. The fire crackled on, and for a while, no one said anything, allowing the quiet moment to stretch as they all shared in the silent respect for what Alex had endured.
"That will do, gentlemen," Bartlow's voice rang out, cutting through the heavy silence. "Let's give the young man some air and get ready to head out."
The guards, sensing Bartlow's return and hearing all that Alex had shared, nodded respectfully. To lighten the mood, they gave Alex a hearty cheer, praising his accomplishment of slaying the starred beast. Their good-natured encouragement brought a faint smile to Alex's face, though the weight of his story still lingered.
Bartlow approached Alex, meeting his gaze. "Take your time," he said softly, understanding that Alex needed a moment. "When you're ready, come to the wagon. You'll be riding with me and the young masters, Lucas and Emily Mane."
Alex's eyes widened in shock. He hadn't expected to be riding with the heirs of the Mane household. Seeing his surprise, Bartlow smirked wryly. "I told you," he added with a teasing glint in his eyes, "I've got some interesting people for you to meet."
As Bartlow walked off toward the wagon, he glanced back over his shoulder. "Don't take too long—we'll be waiting."
Still processing the whirlwind of the last few minutes, Alex took a deep breath. Riding with the young masters? He hadn't even considered what that might mean for him, but it seemed Bartlow had plans for him far beyond what he'd imagined. With a nod to himself, Alex gathered his thoughts, knowing he'd soon be stepping into a new world.