Chapter 339: Stars

Then, something suddenly occurred to him, causing his thoughts to shift toward a theory he had developed previously.

He had suspected that the Monarchs possessed some method of observing Ascenders, perhaps even examining their past after gaining access to their worlds. The Merchant had indirectly hinted at something similar, and Xithali, the alien who had conducted the First Assessment, had behaved as though someone was watching his performance, or would watch his performance.

In fact, Xithali had practically turned the entire Assessment into a stage show, which made Alex suspect that he had been performing for the Monarchs.

’If Xithali was putting on that performance for the Monarchs...’ Alex thought, feeling his trembling soul grow even colder.

’Then where exactly were those Monarchs watching from?’

Alex stared at the countless stars surrounding him, feeling a chill spread through his already trembling soul. As he recalled his earlier speculation about the Monarchs, a rather absurd possibility suddenly occurred to him.

’From above. The Monarchs... are the stars?’

The realization was so ridiculous that Alex had trouble accepting it. Everything he knew about physics suggested that such a thing should be impossible, since stars were enormous celestial bodies made of extremely hot plasma. How could something like that be alive, much less possess intelligence?

More importantly, how could someone become a star? Alex considered asking them directly, but quickly realized how dangerous that would be. He could sense that every single one of these beings possessed enough power to crush his soul without making the slightest effort.

Staying silent was obviously the safest decision. Unfortunately, Alex was a mage, and his curiosity had always been one of his greatest ’strength.’ Once something captured his interest, that curiosity would gradually overwhelm his sense of rationality.

Even though every instinct was telling him to remain quiet, Alex eventually opened his mouth.

"Are you all Monarchs?" he asked, looking toward the surrounding stars.

For a brief moment, nothing happened. Then, booming laughter echoed throughout the void, accompanied by several sighs and an unmistakable scoff. The stars were apparently amused by his question.

"What a bold child. Even after everything that happened, he still has the courage to ask us questions."

"Kriptin, how many times have we told you to stop pulling pranks like this? This child nearly died because he followed your ridiculous guide, and now he’s somehow ended up here."

"Can I take this one? He seems rather interesting, and I haven’t found anyone worth playing with in quite some time."

Alex listened to their conversation with growing discomfort. He couldn’t tell whether they were genuinely interested in him or simply treating him like an unusual animal they had discovered.

If they were merely curious about meeting someone interesting, he could accept that, but being examined like an animal in a zoo was an entirely different matter.

Before Alex could decide whether to respond, another star spoke. "I didn’t expect something like this to happen. To produce a Runesmith while still at the Adept Rank... It seems I underestimated the potential of this new universe."

Alex immediately felt the star’s attention settle on him. It had no visible eyes, yet he somehow knew it was examining him, and although it possessed no mouth, its voice reached him without any difficulty.

’Kriptin?’ Alex wondered, recalling what the other star had said.

If his assumption was correct, this was Kriptin, the King of Trotha Kingdom, one of the few places where magic was still considered a viable path to power. Meeting someone like him would ordinarily be an incredible opportunity, especially considering how much Alex wanted to learn about magic.

The star continued speaking before Alex could organize his thoughts. "It is true that my actions nearly caused your death, little one, so I suppose I owe you some compensation. How about this? I’m willing to become your Patron."

"Pat... ron?" Alex repeated, momentarily confused by the unexpected offer.

"Yes, a Patron. If you accept my patronage, I can grant you an extremely powerful Talent, a superior Physique, and several valuable items. That’s only the beginning, of course. As my protégé, you’ll have access to practically anything you need for your development."

Alex remained silent, carefully considering the implications. If this star really was Kriptin, then accepting his offer could provide Alex with an enormous advantage. The knowledge possessed by the ruler of a kingdom where magic was still practiced might allow his understanding of Runes and spells to advance by leaps and bounds.

However, there was one problem with the offer. Nothing in this world was free, and Alex had no idea what Kriptin would eventually demand in exchange for his generosity.

Moreover, Alex didn’t want to work under someone else, if he could help it. He wanted to the master of his own life, and not let it be dictated by someone else.

’Then the answer is obvious. I should refuse,’ Alex concluded.

Unfortunately, refusing wasn’t necessarily safe either. He had no idea how someone as powerful as Kriptin would react to rejection, and there was nothing Alex could do if the Monarch became offended.

He considered his options several times before eventually sighing. Both accepting and refusing carried risks, so he might as well choose the option that seemed better for his future.

"I appreciate your offer, but I’m afraid I’ll have to refuse," Alex said, trying to keep his voice steady.

Silence followed his response, but it didn’t last long. Several stars burst into laughter, while others chuckled or released astonished sighs.

Surprisingly, Kriptin seemed to find Alex’s refusal more amusing than anyone else.

"Hahahaha! You really are quite a gem, child. I sincerely hope you never change," Kriptin said, gradually bringing his laughter under control.

Alex frowned slightly, confused by the unexpected reaction.

"What exactly do you mean by that?" he asked.

Kriptin remained silent for a moment before speaking again, this time in a noticeably more serious tone. "Remember this, child. The Path of Magic is arduous, although it is also wonderful and beautiful in ways you cannot yet imagine. There will be countless people who extend their hands toward you, offering assistance that seems impossible to refuse."

The star paused briefly before continuing. "Never accept those hands. The moment you begin relying on someone else’s power to artificially accelerate your progress, your Path of Magic will be cut short. You might become powerful, perhaps even extraordinarily so, but you will never reach the end of that path or discover what lies beyond it."

..

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