Two weeks passed by in the blink of an eye. Alister was so busy with all of his different classes that it made time pass swiftly, something he appreciated, though it was still quite an adjustment. As Raalin, he was never the sort for traditional schooling. Most of his learning was done on his own, or perhaps “on-the-job”. Schooling was very expensive in his time! It was more commonplace now to have some basic education, even as a commoner.

Harriet drew open the curtains to allow blinding sunlight into his room and he groaned, flipping over while pulling the pillows onto his head.

“Young Lord, it’s a special day, is it not? I half expected you’d be awake by now,” she chastised softly. Harriet was dressed as well as she ever was - he couldn’t imagine how early she must wake up to get ready like this - she had on a black dovetailed jacket and vest that matched her inky hair, and her dark clothes made her stunning white eyes stand out ever more.

Alister gave her a glare through a crack in the pillows, “I’m meant to hunt within the safety of knights and my father. It’s hardly a challenge.”

“Yet it is still worthy of note, Young Lord. You will still have to be the one to land the killing blow. Your system will be unlocked, which might I remind you, you wanted desperately to happen?”

He groaned again, voice muffled as he struggled to will himself out of bed, “I do! I do want my system. I just don’t see why it has to be so damned early!”

“Hunting in the evening would be more dangerous. Your family is only being cautious. I’d think you’d be more accustomed to this waking time. Don’t your classes normally start soon?”

“Just because it happens often doesn’t mean my body likes it, Miss Harriet.”

She chuckled and rudely yanked the blankets away, pulling them off to be laundered. Alister finally tossed the pillows away from his face and sat up in his light blue nightgown. Personally, he found it odd that people of this time wore such things to bed. He much preferred to sleep in the nude, but that wasn’t considered socially acceptable for someone of his status…

Stupid rules… there were so many of them to remember he felt like his head might burst! The last two weeks had convinced him that being a noble didn’t sound very worth it unless you were power hungry.

He was settling into his role slowly, though. Everything was overwhelming - he felt like he had said that so many times. His core was repaired now, but it had lost so much density he was back at the start. A white core. It felt like an eternity since he was last here. But he wasn’t in pain now, at least. His mana pool itself was still massive, too, even if he couldn’t use the sorts of spells he used to with a white core.

Alister was also getting more comfortable with being a child. It felt strange and awkward, yes, but he had to accept he wasn’t an adult anymore. Even if he thought he was. Once he accepted that, it had been getting easier. He wasn’t Raalin anymore. He was Alister, and that was okay. It was new and it was different but it was good. He was happy and had a real family and stuff! He could… well… he could be a kid for once in both his lives!

Clothed and awake after a bit more prodding from the butler, Alister trudged out to the dining hall to devour some breakfast. He stopped mid-step to stare at the black haired girl that was gracing their table.

“Wisteria?” He squeaked, confused. The girl had a wide grin on her face, that of someone who had won something.

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“Hello Alister!” she waved from where she was seated next to his mother, the two gossiping about who knew what… Ugh. Were they talking about him?

Sensing his question before it left his lips, his father spoke up, “She will be heading out with us on this hunt.”

“She was brave enough to seek us out,” Mother added, “The rumor you were going to be unlocking your system had spread through town, and Wisteria here had yet to unlock hers. She brought up the suggestion that she come with you as your friend and support.”

Alister’s mouth was ever so slightly ajar. This cheeky little brat!

“I’m so very honored to be able to be friends with someone as noble and high ranking as Lord Alister!” She praised, grinning still.

“The pleasure’s all mine…,” he grumbled in response, plopping down into a seat at the table, closer to his father.

Mother continued, “I’m pleased. You both had such good results with the priests, despite you both turning them all down. Wisteria here isn’t from a noble lineage, but I’m happy you’re mature enough to look past that and consider her your friend.”

Alister leveled a glare across the table at the young girl. Just how much had she buttered his mother up?? Damn brat was smart, he had to give her that. He let his jaw rest against one hand and jabbed at his food with the other - no, he hadn’t really gotten a hang of this table manners thing yet. He didn’t see why it mattered! Food was food! Raalin had no reason to hold back! Why should he care now, as Alister?

So, he shoveled down eggs and bread, pausing for the meat and then chugging down two glasses of cold water. By the end, his mother was pinching the bridge of her nose in annoyance, and his father was resisting the urge to laugh. Wisteria was only slightly more polite with her table manners than he was, but no one cared or expected her to be! Alister cleared his throat and made an effort to dab his lips clean, which broke Father.

Blas coughed and huffed into his drink, trying to hide the burbling laugher. Alliana just sighed, “Alister… please at least try.”

“Sorry Mother.”

“It’s… fine. I just hope you won’t make yourself sick with how fast you ate. You’ll be doing a lot of riding and walking today.”

“I know.”

She sighed again, covering her mouth with a napkin. Her curly red-brown hair was tied up behind her head, but as she stood up from the table, it loosened and allowed strands to come down and frame her face, “Blas, love, please be careful.”

Father gave a sweet hearted smile, “Of course my dear. When am I ever not cautious?”

“Do you want it in a list?”

He laughed again, “Don’t worry. We’re only going out to find a good target for him. At most, what? A dire bear? Even still they’ll have me right there by their sides and the knights I’m taking with us, too. We’ll all be very careful.”

“You won’t go too far out… right?” Mother said, her worry bleeding through.

Blas shrugged, “You know it might take more than a day or two. It’ll be fine. Think of this as a camping trip.”

“Yes… yes. You’re right. Alister, listen to your father. Wisteria, make sure to listen to Lord Blas’s orders. Okay? He’s much stronger than he looks-“

“Hey! I look plenty strong!”

“Darling… you’re very fit, yes… but you don’t exactly have the widest of chests. You’re slender. You look more scholarly than like most of your knights,” she grinned, a hand going to her hip.

Father huffed and stood, sidestepping so the servant could grab his plate, “More than enough for you at night.”

“EW OKAY THAT’S ENOUGH! Thanks. Scarred. I need a spell to wipe that mental image from my mind!” Alister shouted, storming off from the table, “Let’s get going, Wisteria!”

Both of the parents laughed, and Mother called out after him, “I love you! I wish you both luck!”

“At least you’re easier on him than you were with me at his age,” Blas chuckled.

“Oh you deserved it.”