In the depths of the forest, two women stood quietly, their presence guarded by two feline-like beings—one male and one female—dressed in maid and butler uniforms. These creatures, with a mix of human and feline features, had sharp, cat-like ears that twitched, listening attentively to the sounds of the forest around them as they prepared a camp for the women.
The two women, Ker and Baillie, stood a little apart from the camp, engaged in a private conversation.
Ker turned to Baillie and asked, "How is your brother's training progressing?"
Baillie responded with excitement, "He's improving rapidly, you know he—"
But Ker interrupted her, her tone more serious. "Stop. I don't want to hear about his improvement, but about his strength. You know that's what matters, right? He's going to join the God Academy. If he goes in with just the progress you're excited about, I'm not sure he'll survive."
Baillie's face fell into a more serious expression as she replied, "I know, Mother, but he's just a newborn god. What do you expect from him? He's progressing as well as he can."
With a troubled smile, Ker responded, "Of course, he's a newborn god, but you don't know what experiences he had before coming into contact with that fox, Walter."
"You mean Duke Walter?" Baillie questioned, her tone curious.
"Yes," Ker confirmed. "That old bastard can control emotions to some extent. When Walter introduced Ajax to me, his feelings were like a silent ocean—calm, but with the potential to turn into a tsunami. When Walter asked me to take Ajax in as my son, his emotions surged like waves crashing against the sky. If that kind of force hit a city, it would be destroyed and dissolved into him. From what I can tell, Ajax has suffered greatly in his world, and when he tries to release those emotions, something or someone must have stopped him. If those emotions burst out at the God Academy, where strength is everything, and Ajax is in a weakened state, I fear for the path he might choose. Whether he turns to good or evil is uncertain," she said, her voice filled with motherly concern, deeply worried about the future of her children.
Baillie, hearing her mother talk about her brother, felt a pang of sadness. "Yeah, I know that too. I might not have the power to sense emotions like you, but whenever I bring up the topic of family, his mood always drops. And when I ask about his previous family, he dodges the question and makes excuses. If I had known he was having trouble explaining things, I wouldn't have asked those questions during his training," she said, her voice tinged with regret. She remembered how every time she inquired about his old family, Ajax would give a worried smile, though she hadn't understood its significance at the time.
Ker, adopting a playful tone, teased, "So, my daughter, did you come here to have an adventure with your younger brother and strengthen your sibling bond, or are you looking for something a bit more... intimate?" she questioned, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Baillie, flustered, quickly responded, "No, no, no, Mother! I just wanted to see how my brother has improved, that's all!" Her tone was filled with embarrassment.
Ker sighed, the playful edge leaving her voice. "I'm not sure what kind of development you want to see in your brother, but his strength is still far weaker than those who will join the God Academy. When this little adventure of yours is over, I want you to bring him to our training room and let him train there."
Worry crept into Baillie's expression as she protested, "But Mom, he's not ready for that at all. If he trains there, his heart might shatter."
Ker chuckled softly, shaking her head. "No, my daughter, you don't understand. Your brother's craving for power is stronger than anyone else's I've seen. His suppression of emotions shows that he doesn't want to be weak. I don't know who or what made him suppress his emotions, but this time, we need to help him release them. If you take him to the training room, he'll be able to let those emotions out, and he'll start talking to us more naturally. He'll open his heart to those close to him... and maybe even make a move on someone."
Baillie's heart raced as she heard her mother's last words. Her thoughts began to swirl as she repeated to herself, "He'll open his heart and make a move on someone..." A blush spread across her face as the words echoed in her mind.
Ker watched her daughter's behavior with a soft sigh. This was the first time she had seen Baillie act like this, showing interest in someone. Ker couldn't help but find it adorable. She knew she had raised Baillie to be strong and independent, perhaps to the point of neglecting matters of the heart. But seeing her daughter like this, she couldn't help but smile. Even though Baillie and Ajax were siblings in name, they weren't blood-related, so if they ever decided to take their relationship further, Ker was ready to give them her blessing.
With a gentle smile, Ker said, "Baillie, if you and Ajax ever decide to get engaged, please inform me, okay?"
Baillie, lost in her daydreams about her and Ajax, was jolted back to reality by her mother's words. Blushing, she responded, "Okay, Mom."
Satisfied, Ker decided to leave, giving her daughter some space. She departed, leaving Baillie and the servants behind, just outside the forest.
Meanwhile, Jared, carrying an unconscious Ajax, headed straight to the city lord's mansion. The mansion was made of gleaming white stone, reflecting the soft glow of moonlight, giving it an ethereal appearance. As Jared arrived, he walked directly to the city lord's chamber, where he knelt before him.
"My lord," Jared began, "I have returned as you commanded, with a male candidate for our young miss's marriage, one who matches your description."