"Come on in, young Alex," Bartlow said, gesturing for him to enter the wagon.
"Good morning, Sir Lucas, Lady Emily," Alex greeted nervously as he stepped inside, trying to steady himself for the interaction.
Bartlow noticed Alex's unease, particularly as his eyes lingered on Emily, who smiled softly, and he decided to help. "Sir Alex, as you know, these are my master's son and daughter. We came out here to give Sir Lucas some experience, while Lady Emily wanted to study the wildlife and plants of the Vana Woods."
Emily, blushing slightly as she looked at Alex, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir Alex," she said quietly, her voice soft yet genuine. "Sir Bartlow has told us he's taken you on as his student. You must be excited… learning from the greatest cultivator the Mane family has."
Alex, startled by her attention and the idea of Bartlow being so significant, gave a quick nod. "Yes… I'm honored." He made a mental note to ask Bartlow more about his background when they had a moment alone.
Lucas, however, was far less welcoming, looking at Alex with mild disdain. "I hear you were the one who killed the lion beast," he said, his voice dripping with skepticism. "Bartlow, are you sure it was a star beast and not just a regular lion?"
Bartlow sighed heavily, already anticipating Lucas's reaction. "Yes, Sir Lucas. Alex killed the star beast. When I found him, the spirit residue indicated it was a mid- to peak-level one-star beast."
Emily's eyes widened with genuine surprise and admiration, her gaze flickering to Alex's face with a bit more intensity. Someone her age killing a starred beast, and one of that level, seemed almost unreal. She bit her lower lip as if trying to suppress the awe she felt.
Lucas, on the other hand, scoffed. "I could've taken that beast myself if you hadn't imposed all those restrictions," he muttered, glaring at Bartlow. "There's no way someone like him"—he nodded at Alex—"could have killed a beast when I didn't even get the chance."
"Sir Lucas," Bartlow said calmly, "with your current mortal-level cultivation, that beast would have overwhelmed you. It's not about experience with swords—it's about the raw strength of a star beast. They are as powerful as cultivators of their respective levels."
Lucas frowned, leaning back, clearly unconvinced.
Bartlow turned to Alex, his voice carrying an edge of apology. "I'm sorry for the young master's behavior. He's very passionate about his cultivation."
Alex nodded, choosing not to escalate the situation. "It's an honor to meet both of you," he said with measured respect. "I look forward to serving the Mane family and learning from Master Bartlow."
Bartlow, once again impressed by Alex's poise, nodded approvingly. He glanced at Emily, who was watching Alex closely. Her expression softened when Alex spoke, and she smiled faintly, almost shyly, when their eyes met.
Emily, clearly curious, asked quietly, "Your eyes… they're unique, Sir Alex." She paused, then added in a rush, "Not that there's anything wrong with them! I've just heard myths about… well, eyes like yours."
Alex, sensing her nervousness, smiled slightly. "I know the stories. My mother told me I inherited my red eye from my father and the blue one from her. If my father was a demon, I wouldn't know—I never met him. But I don't have any special abilities like demons do, so I'm fairly sure I'm not one."
Emily's eyes brightened slightly at his response, a flicker of relief crossing her face as if she'd been holding her breath. "I see," she murmured, her voice soft.
Lucas, still disinterested in the conversation, cut in sharply. "If you want to join the Mane family, we need to know more about your past. Since we've got time before we reach Gorin, why don't you share your story?"
Bartlow, catching Lucas's intention, intervened. "The only person who needs to know Alex's past is your mother, Lady Mane."
But Alex, realizing that avoiding the conversation now might lead to worse friction later, decided to share his story. "It's all right, Master Bartlow," he said with a sigh. "I understand their curiosity."
Taking a breath, Alex spoke evenly. "I never knew my father. My mother and I lived in the Vana orphanage. She worked there as an assistant. A few days ago, the orphanage caught fire. My mother and my friends didn't make it. I escaped by chance, but after that… I didn't think I could stay in Vana. The people there weren't welcoming to someone like me, so I made my way into the woods."
Emily's gaze softened as Alex spoke, her expression filled with sympathy. Her hands clasped in her lap as if resisting the urge to offer more comfort. Lucas, meanwhile, remained silent, but the tension in his posture eased slightly.
After a moment, Lucas spoke again. "What's your goal in joining the Mane family guard? You don't expect special treatment just because Bartlow's taken you on, do you?"
"My goal is to get stronger," Alex replied without hesitation. "I want to protect those I care about and make sure those who've hurt me pay for it. I know I'll have to work for it. I don't expect special treatment—I'm here to learn."
Lucas, seemingly satisfied with the answer, leaned back, a smirk playing at his lips. "Good answer. We'll see if you can keep up."
Emily smiled softly, clearly impressed by Alex's resolve, though she kept her gaze down, her cheeks warming. She tucked her hair behind her ear again, a nervous habit Alex had noticed.
"Do you know how joining a noble family's guard works?" Lucas asked.
Alex shook his head. "No, but I'm willing to learn."
Emily, glancing up from under her lashes, spoke up. "First, you'd start as a butler," she explained gently. "You'd learn the customs and courtesies of noble life, and in your free time, you can train with the guards. Once you're deemed ready, you can decide whether to stay as a butler or join the official guard."
"That sounds… flexible," Alex said, a bit surprised.
Bartlow chuckled. "Not all nobles are the same, Alex. Each kingdom has its own way of doing things. In some places, nobles rule like tyrants, but those places tend to fall apart."
Alex nodded, though inside he felt a surge of anger toward the nobles of Vana, who hadn't lived up to what Bartlow described.
Lucas chimed in, "Once I graduate from Gorin's cultivation academy, our family will rise to the rank of viscount. That's how it works—cultivation and achievement elevate your status."
Curious, Alex asked, "Is every noble a cultivator, or does your status grow with your cultivation level?"
Lucas looked at Alex, clearly annoyed by the question. "You're almost there. There are standards and requirements for nobility—it's not just about cultivation."
Emily, sensing the tension between the two, leaned in slightly. "Most nobles earned their ranks during the last war," she explained gently, "either through cultivation or service. But now, in times of peace, cultivation and politics matter more. There's a challengers' event each year, where nobles and commoners duel to maintain or gain rank. If you lose, the emperor decides if you keep your title."
Alex nodded, grateful for her clear explanation. "Thank you, Lady Emily."
Bartlow added with a smirk, "And it's not just for nobles. Non-nobles can also enter the trials. If you're worthy, you can gain status and even become a noble yourself."
Alex, surprised, asked, "Is that common knowledge?"
Bartlow sighed. "It should be, but some cities—like Vana—hide it from their citizens. I take it you weren't aware?"
Alex nodded, anger flashing in his eyes.
After a pause, Alex spoke with newfound determination. "I think I know what I want to do."
Bartlow raised an eyebrow. "And what's that?"
"I want to enter the noble trials," Alex said, his voice steady. "I want to earn the right to become a noble. I want to be someone my mother would be proud of."
Bartlow smiled, impressed by Alex's conviction. "That's a big goal, but it won't be easy. You'll be tested in every way."
"I'm ready," Alex said. "I'll do whatever it takes to grow into the cultivator I need to be."
Lucas grinned, his competitive side showing. "Don't think it'll be easy. If you want to be a noble, you'll have to face me. And I plan on out-ranking you."
Emily, her voice soft but sincere, spoke up again. "If you ever have free time, I'd be happy to teach you about noble customs and politics. You'll need more than strength to succeed."
Alex, touched by her offer, smiled. "Thank you, Lady Emily. I'd be honored to learn from you."
Emily blushed slightly, her eyes lingering on Alex for a moment longer before she smiled back. "Then it's settled."
Bartlow, noticing Emily's blush, raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting curiously to Alex. After a brief moment of thought, he cleared his throat. "We should get some rest," he said, his voice a little more serious. "We have a few hours before we reach the Mane estate. If you're tired, take this time to rest—especially you, Alex. Once we finish our introductions with Lady Mane, I'll escort you to our healer for an evaluation. After she clears you, I'll take you to the butler's lodgings, where you can settle in and get a good night's rest."
Bartlow's tone shifted, more intense now. "Because I promise you, once you're cleared for duty, I will train you until I get tired of looking at you."
Alex, sensing both the seriousness and care in Bartlow's words, nodded, mentally preparing himself for what was to come. Lucas and Emily, in agreement, simply nodded as well and leaned back to rest for the remainder of the trip.
Bartlow, exhausted from taking the last two night watches and dealing with the young masters' antics, sighed deeply. As he closed his eyes, a thought lingered. I'll have to keep an eye on Alex and Emily. Young Alex may not realize it yet, but it seems he's got an admirer. A troubling one at that.