“Hello! I’m here to …” Alex began politely only to get interrupted.

“Scram!” The guard shouted.

Alex pretended to not hear him and said, “I’m sorry, I was sent by Caden …”

“I said, scram!” The same guard shouted and his partner took a step towards Alex in a threatening manner. The street behind him was full of people, but apart from a curious glance everyone ignored the event.

‘I really must look worn out from the long travel.’ Alex sighed to himself.

But out loud he almost shouted, “I’m here with the message from Caden Isa! I need to see mister Isa!”

“Uncle Caden?” Before guards pulled out their swords, a youthful voice exclaimed behind Alex in surprise.

Alex turned around and saw a boy, probably around the age of twelve, dressed in a red robe embroidered with gold. If one ignored the oversized drumstick he was chewing on, the most remarkable about him was his size – the boy looked like a large barrel. He was obviously Caden’s relative. There was a bodyguard standing on each of his sides, wearing similar uniforms to the two guards at the gate.

‘I wonder if he’s physically as fit as Caden.’ Alex thought, but then noticed the slight protrusion in the middle of the boy’s forehead above the eyebrows.

“What are you staring at? Am I really so handsome?” The boy said with a greasy grin, “But you have bad luck, buddy – I’m only interested in women!”

“Don’t you mean – toys? You’re just a kid!” Alex laughed back.

“I’m almost thirteen!” The boy said ignoring the teasing, proudly raising his chin, “Why did uncle Caden sent you?”

“I’m here to deliver a letter.” Alex said.

“So? Where is it?” The boy stretched out his hand.

“I’m sorry, I have to pass it directly to mister Zahir Isa.” Alex said. Only god knows what would happen to the letter if it landed up in those greasy fingers.

“I’m his son, you can give it to me!” The boy flickered his fingers but Alex shook his head.

“Young master, do you want us to teach him a lesson?” One of the bodyguards said in a sweet voice that crept Alex out, probably trying to please the future saint.

“It’s fine!” The boy waved his hand, “I’m in a good mood today. Let’s go! Follow me!”

Alex shrugged and under the angry stares of both gate guards followed. The two bodyguards ‘made’ him keep the distance from the rich boy as if Alex was a potential threat, but he noticed a casually dressed man who followed them right after – most likely the real bodyguard.

The Isa estate was as large as the governor’s mansion in Haldenburg. After walking for several minutes through different hallways they finally arrived at a large door. Guard on duty let them in after receiving permission and Alex finally met Caden’s brother.

Except for the slightly similar facial features, the two people had nothing in common. The thin and tall middle aged man in front of Alex was well mannered, wore similar clothing to his son, albeit it was probably the other way around, and spoke in a low, articulate voice.

“You have a letter from my brother?” Zahir Isa said and Alex immediately passed the letter over.

Zahir unsealed it, quickly read a couple of times then sat in back his big chair behind a large desk with furrowed brows and said in a displeased voice, “First I don’t hear from that fat bastard for thirteen years and now he sends me his lovechild to take care of? What do you want?”

Alex surprised by the sudden change in his bearing, but apparently these two brothers were not close at all.

He said, “There must be a misunderstanding, sir. I’m not sure what Caden wrote in the letter, but he promised that there was someone in Tabulan who could help me to settle down. If my presence is a burden, I’ll take my leave.”

It was time for Zahir to be caught by surprise. He pondered for a moment and then pushed the letter towards Alex.

“Explain!” he said.

Alex picked up the letter and read it. Half way through he began to laugh loudly.

It said, ‘Dear brother, long time no see. Please take care of him as if it was your own kid. Much love, Caden.’

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

“Sorry!” Alex said trying to suppress his laughter, “That fat bastard pulled a fast one on me, probably as a reminder to not cause trouble. The thing is, after our ship sunk, I kind of saved his life by digging him out from a heap of sand and was introduced to you as repaying the favor.”

“Then what do you want? Money?” Zahir still had displeasure written all over the face.

“No, you misunderstood, sir.” Alex said with a smile, “I came here to join the academy and was wondering if you could give me a bit more information on Tabulan. And maybe point out to an inn where I could stay for a reasonable price. I don’t actually need anything from you.”

Zahir thought for a moment while tapping his fingers on the table and then said, “No one is allowed to think that Isas are ungrateful. What’s your name?”

“Alex Collins.” Alex said. This was the first time in many lifetimes he used his first, real name and saying it out loud felt slightly strange. Seeing Zahir furrowing his brows again, he explained, “I’m from the north.”

“Doesn’t matter. You can stay here for now.” Zahir said, “Jamil, bring him to one of the guestrooms in the western wing. The look at Balava mountain range is fabulous there. Afterwards join us for dinner, we can talk more then.”

“Thank you, sir.” Alex nodded and turned to the young fatty who all this time was patiently waiting, “Shall we?”

Just as he was stepping out of the room, Zahir asked in a low voice, “How is he?”

Alex paused for a second and said, “Not bad, considering the circumstances. Still fat, but has become a surprisingly strong Qi warrior. He loves the navy, but I think he misses his family. My bet is that in ten or so years he’ll come in person.”

“Hmph!” Zahir snorted and softly murmured under his nose, “He wouldn’t dare … that fat bastard!”

“Did you really save uncle Caden’s life?” Jamil, Zahir’s son excitedly asked when the door closed behind them.

It was obvious he barely held back his curiosity in there.

“Mhm.” Alex nodded, “I didn’t know they disliked each other so much otherwise I wouldn’t have …”

“No, no!” Jamil interrupted him, “They have their difficulties, but it’s just a bickering between brothers. Don’t mind it. Father probably can’t forgive uncle Caden something that he did thirteen years ago. Back then he even ran away from home, but it was ages ago and can’t be that bad.”

‘Seriously?’ Alex looked back at the boy in confusion, ‘You even look like a smaller version of Caden! It’s obvious he did your mother and had to run! Zahir probably married her because of some stupid noble principles or something.’

“When did your trikuta start bulging out?” Alex asked trying to verify his theory.

“It was like that already when I was born!” Jamil proudly said pointing at his forehead, “It’s only a matter of time until I become a saint so you better behave yourself! Hahaha!”

‘There you go! After you were born Zahir basically had no choice but to accept you. You probably also are one of the reasons for the rapid raise of Isa family as well!’ Alex inwardly grinned, but since it didn’t have anything to do with him, the topic was quickly forgotten.

Jamil turned out to be surprisingly friendly and couldn’t maintain the initial snobbish attitude. He explained that it was his attempt to look and behave more noble since all aristocrats in the capital acted like that. Regarding the last part Alex didn’t have any illusions after his experience in Haldenburg, but it was not important since he already didn’t intend to socialize much, but concentrate on studying and cultivation.

Turns out Jamil also intended to join academy this year. He had a private tutor who trained him both in cultivation and combat techniques, but he disliked both. On Alex’s question ‘why become saint at all?’, he said – it was ‘all for the ladies’.

After hearing it Alex stared at the boy in disbelief, but then realized that if he didn’t have almost a century of experience behind him, there was no telling how he would act if he suddenly gained superhuman abilities. And from his own unnaturally quick growth he understood that the hormones in that twelve-year-old’s blood could be causing a storm too difficult for a child to handle. In addition, it was another proof that made Alex certain Jamil was Caden’s son and the skirt-chasing was inherited.

Thinking about these things made the prospects of studying in the academy worse, but then again, Alex had the mindset of a grownup, if not an elder, therefore he couldn’t be bothered with what children did as long as they left him alone.

Good news where that the academy would open its doors next month and Alex had a bit of time to prepare. Turns out they accepted new students only once every five years and there was an actual entrance exam. This was probably the reason why saintess Dalia rushed to groom Robert Hansen in addition to the fact that the age of the new students could not exceed fourteen.

Obviously Alex was not clear how youths of such different ages could learn in one class, because the physical and mental capabilities differed greatly comparing a ten year old child to a youth at the age of fourteen, but at least he was not worried about himself.

Jamil had no doubts he would be accepted to the Academy because of his future prospects as a saint alone, to not speak about him being a noble, but looked skeptically at Alex seeing his confident attitude. Only after witnessing how much Alex actually practiced during the following days, Jamil began to believe he actually might have a chance.

Of course, Alex never told his true age or the actual family background, but luckily Jamil accepted him as his peer and decided to take this foreigner ‘under his wing’. He even educated Alex about the processes and unwritten laws of the capital and forced him to dress as a ‘proper’ noble.

There was a downside to it – against his will Alex had to to meet the ‘other important people’ who just turned out to be boys from noble families, also with signs of awakening their trikutas. They were of a similar age to Jamil and had the exquisite snobbish attitude Jamil displayed during their first meeting at the gate.

Since Alex was a guest, the young nobles were relatively polite towards him, but since he didn’t have symptoms of trikuta appearing any time soon, it was more like ‘giving face’ to Jamil. One had to note, that the youths who already became saints never hung out with this bunch, but the kids didn’t mind – they looked down on those without bumps on their foreheads just like the ones with opened trikutas looked down on them. In addition, their favorite topic was to discuss how it will be when they would become saints one day and Alex was perplexed how would that be ever possible since they talked way more than actually practiced. From the looks of it, an empty chatter was a good training replacement.

Of course, getting to know the influential people in the future was a perk and even though Alex didn’t want to, he accompanied Jamil to these childish meetings almost every other day. He spent most of the time at the side focusing on his soul particles the count of which few days before the entrance exams reached seven.

Unfortunately no one discussed cultivation with him and he was not allowed to join Jamil during the private lessons. At first Alex was slightly saddened by the fact, but then he realized that during meetings none of the noble youths discussed any details of their cultivation techniques. He asked Jamil and turned out every family held tight to their own cultivation secrets and Alex became suspicious if there were actual techniques allowing one to open and cultivate trikuta. But answer to this as well as many other questions had to wait until he got in the academy.