Charles walked through the Storm Clan's hallways, the clean tunic left by the nurses brushing against the bandages wrapped around his arms and chest.

His energy was still low, just 6% according to the system, but being out of the medical room gave him a sense of freedom.

Right now, he could do whatever he wanted, as long as it didn't involve leaving the clan.

A quick thought crossed his mind.

'How far could I explore the clan grounds before someone chews me out?' he thought.

But as he moved through the hallways, he noticed something odd.

Servants passing by, carrying trays of laundry or utensils, stopped when they saw him, bowing slightly with gestures of respect that caught him off guard.

An older woman with gray hair tied in a bun lowered her head and murmured a "Good morning" before continuing on.

A young man lugging a bucket of water did the same, giving a serious nod before slipping down a side corridor.

Charles frowned, confused.

'What the hell?' he thought, scratching the back of his neck.

No one had ever treated him like this before.

He'd always been the loser barely worth a glance. But after his arena victory, it seemed things were shifting.

The surprise grew when he reached the dining hall entrance.

Standing by the door was the guard who'd always treated him like dirt.

A tall, broad-shouldered man with an attitude that used to make Charles grind his teeth.

In the past, this guard had forced him to wait until the end to eat, grumbling that "a servant like him eats last" while glaring with contempt.

Sure, Charles didn't want to stir up trouble…

But bending the rules once in a while didn't hurt, right?

Today, seeing Charles in his clean tunic with visible bandages, the guard swallowed hard and looked away, pretending to adjust his belt.

'How'd this bastard climb the ranks so fast?' the guard thought.

Just days ago, he'd seen Rian queuing up with the youngest Aspirants, even mocking him inwardly for thinking he could advance after years of no results.

But now, Rian stood before him, wearing a tunic marking his Warrior rank—a rank it had taken the guard months to earn.

At this rate, it wouldn't be surprising if Rian caught up and surpassed him, maybe even becoming a Master or Grand Master.

So, the smartest move right now…

Was to play dumb!

Charles couldn't help but smirk.

"Well, well," he said, stopping in front of the guard with a mocking tone. "How's it going? Not gonna block me from eating this time? Got nothing to say?"

He crossed his arms, savoring the moment.

It was rare to have the upper hand over someone who'd always treated him like garbage.

The guard, clearly uncomfortable, let out a long sigh and scratched the back of his neck.

"Just following orders," he mumbled, keeping his voice low. "Nothing personal. You know how things work around here."

'Following orders, the go-to excuse for people dodging responsibility,' Charles thought.

He raised an eyebrow, amused.

"Orders, huh?" he said, his tone playful. "So, what do you say? Wanna spar a bit to clear the air? Just to make sure there's no bad blood."

Charles gestured with his hands, as if inviting the guard to a friendly match, though his grin made it clear he was joking.

And he hoped it stayed a joke—because if they actually fought, he'd be in deep trouble for crossing a line.

The guard's eyes widened, clearly alarmed.

"No, no, chill," he said, raising his hands. "I don't want trouble, Cole. I'm just doing my job. Besides, after what you pulled in the arena yesterday, I'm not crazy enough to mess with you."

Charles was a bit surprised to hear that.

'So the rumors really spread that fast?' he thought.

He let out a laugh, shaking his head.

"Relax, man, I'm messing with you," he said, giving the guard a light pat on the shoulder. "I'm not gonna make you fight. Just wanted to see if you were still the same jerk as always."

The guard forced a tight smile, clearly relieved, and Charles turned to enter the dining hall, feeling a bit lighter.

'This whole being respected thing isn't half bad,' he thought, a crooked grin on his face.

But before he could take another step, he felt a gentle tap on his back. He turned, expecting another servant or maybe Nora, but instead found himself face-to-face with a girl he'd never seen before.

She had long black hair tied in a loose braid and wore a fitted black tunic that hugged her figure.

Her green eyes studied him with a mix of curiosity and excitement, and before Charles could say anything, she spoke.

"Hey, Cole, you coming with us to hunt tonight?" she asked, her voice clear and direct. "You promised my friend you'd join our group, remember?"

Charles blinked, thrown off.

'Hunt…?' he thought, racking his brain.

Then he recalled a brief conversation with a girl yesterday, someone who'd mentioned something about a beast hunt.

He hadn't paid much attention at the time, too caught up with training and fights.

"Uh… sorry," he said, pointing to the bandages on his arms and chest. "I'm not exactly in hunting shape right now. Look at me."

The girl's eyes widened, scanning the bandages wrapping his body.

"Oh, by the gods," she said, covering her mouth. "I didn't realize. What happened to you? You're a mess!"

Charles forced a laugh, playing up the act of being more injured than he was.

"Yeah, well, I had a fight in the arena yesterday," he said, shrugging. "It was… intense. Hence the mummy look."

The guard, who'd been eavesdropping from his post by the door, raised an eyebrow.

His mind had been drifting to his upcoming break, picturing a plate of roasted meat with fresh-baked bread. But the mention of the arena snapped him out of it, and he glanced at Charles with curiosity.

The girl in the black tunic, meanwhile, looked skeptical.

"You actually fought in the arena?" she asked, her tone mixing surprise and doubt. "I thought you told my friend that as an excuse to skip the hunt last night. Is it true? You were really in the arena yesterday?"

Charles nodded, a bit amused by her reaction.

"Yup, true story," he said, gesturing to the bandages again. "That's why I'm wrapped up like this. I wasn't lying."

The girl stared at him, muttering to herself.

"I can't believe it…" she said, Shake her head. "Someone who just got promoted to Warrior, and they already threw you in the arena? That's… incredible. How'd you do it?"

Charles laughed, a bit uneasy.

He didn't want to get into details, especially not with a stranger.

"Let's just say I survived," he said, keeping his tone light. "It was wild, but here I am."

The girl studied him for a moment, as if trying to decide if she bought his story.

Then her expression softened, and she smiled.

"Well, guess the hunt'll have to wait," she said. "But, hey, you heading to the dining hall now? Want me to join you?"

Charles blinked, surprised by the offer.

He wasn't used to people being so forward with him, especially not someone he'd just met.

"Uh… sure, why not," he said, shrugging. "Better to eat with company than alone."

The girl grinned, clearly pleased.

"Awesome," she said, pointing to the dining hall entrance. "Let's go, then. By the way, I'm Elyse. My friend's the one who invited you to the hunt. She's gonna be jealous when I tell her I met you first."

Charles let out a laugh, following her toward the dining hall.

"Well, tell your friend not to worry," he said. "I'm not up for hunting right now, but maybe another time."

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