Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Choice of Paths

The castle hall was bathed in the soft flickering of candlelight, which danced across the intricate patterns of the tapestries hanging on the walls. The long table was cluttered with remnants of the feast—silverware and empty goblets—as maids moved quietly to clear the remains.

Xia Mingyu leaned back lazily against the plush velvet chair at the head of the table, while Kaelen sat ramrod straight, composed and attentive, in the seat to his left. The banquet had concluded. Once Xia Mingyu had expressed his desire for a private word with the Viscount, Elise and Danielle had offered elegant curtsies and withdrawn, leaving the two men to themselves.

*Why would His Highness want to keep me behind?* Kaelen wondered, his face still fixed in a polite, gentle smile. *Could it be that the castle’s environment is too poor for his tastes, and he intends to leave?*

Despite his outward calm, his inner turmoil was mounting; his fingers, resting on the armrests, trembled slightly. Having survived countless life-and-death encounters on blood-soaked battlefields, he had believed his nerves were tempered against any further agitation. Yet, in the presence of this young Prince, he felt as nervous as a callow youth. After all, the Prince’s status was immeasurably high—the weight of this man was the future of fourteen billion human souls, practically the weight of an entire continent.

"Viscount, I have a favor to ask. Would you be willing to assist me?" Xia Mingyu poured another glass of deep crimson wine and offered it to Kaelen.

"Your Highness, pray speak. I, Kaelen Hughes, swear by my name as the Lord of the Black Wolf Territory that I shall do everything in my power to fulfill your request!" Kaelen stood up immediately, his expression solemn. Being of service to Prince Mingyu was both his honor and his opportunity. He did not fear the Prince’s demands; he only feared having nothing to offer. As long as the Prince didn't demand his wife, Danielle, for his bed, he would gladly lay down his life to see the task through. *Though... if His Highness were willing to be the godfather to little Hayden, perhaps Danielle wouldn't mind a few nights, and I could finally give my lower back a rest...*

"My attendant, Berg, wishes to advance to become a Hunter. Do you know the requirements for such a promotion?" Xia Mingyu asked.

*Is that all?* Kaelen’s tension vanished, and his expression turned professional. "Your Highness, for a Hunter to advance to a Hunter-rank, they must consume a potion crafted from the organs of certain magical beasts. Examples include the 'Eagle Eye' potion, the 'Cat’s Tail' potion, and so on."

"Viscount, would you be able to procure a bottle of the 'Eagle Eye' potion for me?" Xia Mingyu asked after a moment of reflection. Berg’s specialty was archery; the 'Eagle Eye' potion would be the most suitable for him.

"Your Highness, while this might be a troublesome task for other nobles, for me, it is a simple matter." Kaelen’s lips curled into a confident smile. "The Bishop of the Storm Church’s southern branch was my comrade-in-arms during the War of the Dragon and Lion. We faced death together. Given our bond, a mere potion will be easily obtained."

*Heh,* Kaelen thought, *if he refuses, I’ll just go to the church and loudly recount the time during the siege when he was so desperate for a piece of black bread that he didn't hesitate to call me 'daddy' just to get a bite.*

"However..." Kaelen’s tone shifted. Just as Xia Mingyu expected him to name a price, the Viscount hesitated. "Your Highness, I actually do not recommend that your attendant pursue the path of a Hunter. The more powerful a Hunter becomes, the greater the risk of losing their sanity. They may function well as weapons of war, but as an attendant... even the Storm Church has significantly reduced the cultivation of such individuals."

"I suggest you reconsider. If you remain decided, tell me, and I shall mount my Black Abyss Wolf and set out at once to secure the potion for you," Kaelen stated solemnly.

***

When Xia Mingyu returned to his room, he found Berg waiting by the door.

"My Lord, there is a matter I wish for you to decide for me." Berg, his skin slightly reddened by the sun, knelt on one knee and bowed his head deeply.

"Speak."

"I learned from Sir Sorin about the path of a Hunter and the requirements for advancement... I wish for you to decide: should I walk the path of the Hunter, or the path of the Knight?" Berg whispered.

"Hmm..." Xia Mingyu rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought. A Hunter or a Knight? Hunters were prone to losing their sanity and, through the process of replacing their organs with those of magical beasts, would eventually become something neither human nor ghost. Knights, conversely, held loyalty and duty as their primary virtues, making them the superior profession for an attendant. From a purely utilitarian perspective, steering Berg toward the path of a Knight was the logical choice.

But...

"Look up," Xia Mingyu said in a low voice.

The boy slowly raised his head, revealing a face that was still youthful yet weathered by hardship. There were still bruises on his cheeks—souvenirs from Robert before they had left the village.

"Berg, how old are you?"

"Sixteen," Berg replied without hesitation.

Sixteen... on Earth, a boy that age would just be starting high school. Yet here, he had already been ambushing merchants alongside him. He had also heard from Robert that Berg sold the majority of his hunts to support the village, which was the only reason the village of Fruit Basket hadn't worried about food or taxes for years.

At this thought, Xia Mingyu’s gaze grew serious.

"In my homeland, there is a saying: no matter what you choose, you will eventually regret it. So, you might as well choose what you desire in the present."

"Therefore, Berg, ask your own heart: which path do you truly wish to choose?"

Xia Mingyu stepped forward and gently patted Berg’s sturdy shoulder. He chose to return the power of choice to the boy, for Berg was not merely his attendant—he was his savior. Berg had saved his life, and in return, he had saved the village of Fruit Basket. Despite the hierarchy of Lord and servant, in his heart, he viewed them as equals.

"Which path do I wish to choose?"

Berg’s expression went blank, and distant memories began to flood his mind.

*"Berg, when you grow up, you will surely be a great hunter!"* His father’s excited shout after seeing him shoot his first arrow.

*"Hunting is the most wonderful thing in the world. You gamble everything against another life; even in death, there is happiness."* His father, sitting by the river, jerking a large fish out of the water, splashing them both.

*"Why, why can I never advance..."* The memory of waking in the dead of night to see his father smoking, staring at the walls filled with trophies, sighing in despair.

*"Berg, don't cry. I am happy..."* The weak voice of a man who, during their flight, had given all his food to his son, only to have his own chest crushed by a wild boar during a hunt.

The memories ceased. The boy made his silent decision.

"My Lord, I choose..."