Now that he had finished his training and adapted to his newfound strength, Alex was starving.
Leaving the room, he headed straight toward Sylvana's office. After knocking and hearing a soft "Come in," he entered and found her seated behind an elegantly decorated desk, focused on a stack of documents.
"Hello. I finished my training. Is the hospital thing still available?" Alex asked.
"Of course. Give me a day or two to get in contact with the people in charge and I'll reach back to you," Sylvana replied.
Healers were the rarest kind of mages—not only was the element difficult to train, but it also had its own restrictions on advancement, adding to the already-existing ones. Because of that, the few healers that existed were spread thin, mostly assigned to hospitals. And while the palace had priority for treatment, having a healer tied directly to them was a luxury.
And Alex wasn't only a healer—he was also a talented alchemist. His value had skyrocketed overnight.
'The moment he reaches Master, he'll be invaluable,' Sylvana thought. She needed a way to tie him permanently to the palace.
While she pondered, a small splash of water hit her face. She blinked and looked up.
"What has you thinking so much?" Alex asked. Sylvana had been staring into space for a while.
"Ah, nothing. Sorry," she said quickly. If she spoke her real thoughts, Alex would run for his life.
"Okay…" Alex said, clearly not interested in pressing further.
"Say, have you eaten?" Sylvana asked.
"Not really. I was about to leave and get something on the way back."
"Then why don't you eat here? The maids are about to start cooking. You can join us."
"No, I'd rather cook myself," Alex replied.
"You don't want the maids cooking for you? Why?" Sylvana asked.
"I don't like it. I've never been fond of servants as a job," Alex said.
"Why?"
"I feel places that use servants are abusing their need for money."
"Hmm… I think you're quite wrong, Alex. That's how life works—everyone exploits someone else's needs for money. You do as well."
Alex tilted his head, confused.
"You sell potions, right? So you're exploiting people's need for potions. Restaurants exploit people's need for food," Sylvana explained patiently. "Servants are people who get paid to do what they'd normally do unpaid—maintaining a place. Most of them don't have many skills. If not for these jobs, they'd be starving."
She continued, "For many, working here is a blessing."
Alex thought about her words and found them reasonable. 'As expected of someone who lived this long—she's wise.'
"I've never thought about it that way… thank you. But I still prefer cooking myself; it helps me clear my mind."
"You're welcome. And if that's the case, do as you wish. But I'm tasting whatever you make, so cook extra—and count Vanessa in. Knowing her, she'll want some too." Sylvana waved her hand and called for a maid. "Take him to the kitchen and show him around. He'll be cooking for himself."
The maid nodded and guided Alex out.
Once they were gone, Sylvana summoned another maid and instructed her to inform Vanessa. She was already looking forward to the meal.
As Alex followed his guide, he thought back to his conversation and asked, "Mind if I ask something a bit personal?"
"Of course. Go ahead," the maid replied politely.
"Are you all treated well here? Were any of you forced into servitude?"
"The short answer is yes and no," she said.
"And the long one?"
"Every member of the royal family treats us well. They provide us housing, food, and protection for our loved ones—free of charge—and still pay us a decent salary."
She continued, "Working here is the dream of many commoners. Unlike you, most of us couldn't enter the path of magic or might. We lacked resources or talent. Many servants arrive here illiterate, and the palace teaches us to read, write, and even trains us in martial arts so we can reach at least the novice realm. For many—including me—this place is heaven."
"I see… that's good to hear," Alex said. Relief washed over him.
"What about you? How did you reach the position you're in? Sorry if I'm prying, but rumors say you hate nobles, so I was curious."
"Don't worry. I asked a personal question first, so it's only fair," Alex said. "My way of being comes from long ago."
He paused, then continued, "I wasn't born on this continent. I was born in Tessara, abandoned as an infant. I was found and raised in an orphanage."
He told her about the events that eventually led the kids to the abandoned mansion.
"We were desperate. Not fit for any kind of work. So we stole from an abandoned noble estate." He explained it all, not skipping any detail.
"After the jungle… I was rescued by the woman who became my adoptive mother. Since I was already a mage, I learned alchemy from a shop owner, saved money, and entered a magic academy."
He skipped Tessa entirely and ended his story with Marc's death.
"His brutal death—for such a minor reason—is what turned me into what I am now. The day I buried him, I buried any goodwill I had left towards nobles together with him."
By the time he finished, the maid had wiped away several tears. His youth was devastating.
"I see… Then your hatred has a good reason for existing," she whispered.
Alex didn't respond.
Back in her office, Sylvana wore a thoughtful expression.
She had listened to the entire exchange—very little in the palace could escape her senses if she wished.
Many things suddenly made sense, and she finally understood the tremendous effort Alex was making just to interact with them.
'Healing him will be harder than we thought,' she concluded.
How could they erase a year of constant harassment and the brutal murder of his only friend quickly? It was impossible.
'I'll need to talk to Vanessa and adjust our approach,' she decided.
Then she stood up and teleported toward her niece. They needed to talk.