Zade remained in the bed, in the same position he was left in by the people who fed him the poison. He was basically playing dead, and he instantly tensed up when the door was suddenly pushed open.
He subtly peaked an eye open and took in who it was that just showed up. He instantly recognized the person.
It was this side character's uncle.
Zade vividly remembers him. He was a good character, and the only character in the novel that genuinely liked this side character and the only one that cried over his death.
His uncle in this world is completely unaware that his younger sister actually poisoned his nephew, and he believes the child died because it was finally his time to go.
He was crying as he slowly approached the bed and crouched by it, and Zade quickly let his eyes fall close.
Max wasn't normally fond of children, but since his younger sister returned home with this miracle child one day, he instantly took a liking to him. The child was so smart, so lively, and as the child grew up, Max sometimes preferred to hang out with the child compared to dumb grown ups.
The child had a promising future and a very bright potential… till a foreign illness unexpectedly came over him, rendering him disabled and bedridden since then.
Max knew the likelihood of this child surviving the rare sickness was nonexistent, but he still always hoped. He doesn't live in this house, but he comes over too frequently to check on the kid even though the kid couldn't see or hear him.
When he arrived here minutes ago and his weeping sister revealed to him that the kid had died in his sleep last night, Max had refused to believe his ears, which was why he was here right now, to confirm it himself.
Tears dripped down his cheeks as he gently brushed the child's curls, feeling beyond dejected when the kid didn't stir like normal. He put a finger beneath his nose, and when he didn't feel any breath, the pain tripled within him and he cried harder.
Zade's mind was reeling with plenty of possibilities right now. He was contemplating revealing that he wasn't dead to uncle Max.
This man clearly cared about him. It's safe to believe that he'd protect and keep him safe, right?
And besides, this man was the only option he had in this situation.
Which was why he slowly opened his eyes and carefully cleared his throat.
His uncle's eyes flew wide open, then he staggered while regarding Zade like he had just seen a ghost.
Max struggled to speak, eyes still wide. "Y- you're alive and can see me?!!"
Zade nodded as he sat up. He first contemplated pretending to still be blind, dumb and lame, but if he wanted this man to help him register for the exam coming up in two days, then he had to drop every act.
"It's a long story… but when I woke up a while ago, I could suddenly see, and now I feel okay." He revealed and Max was too stunned to speak. He kept on gaping at Zade till he snapped out of it and shrugged forward to hug him tightly.
When he broke the hug, he was frantic and bewildered. "I can't believe this! You really are a miracle child! I have to go tell my sister right now!"
Zade quickly held his hand before he could move, already panicked on the inside. "You can't!"
Max frowned in confusion. "But why? She was crying when she broke the news of your death to me. I'm certain she'd be extremely happy to hear the news. They all would be."
Zade resisted the urge to snort, if only uncle Max knew his sister only put on that act for him and some other clueless people.
He couldn't possibly tell uncle Max that he was poisoned by her many years ago, which rendered him paralyzed and bedridden, and she's still the one who poisoned him a few hours ago. He had no proof of his claims, so he'd just be regarded like he was suddenly mad.
So he held his tongue and used a different tactic.
"I don't want her or anyone to know yet, because I want to surprise them." He began and Max's frown changed to confusion.
"Since they all believe I'm dead, I'm certain they'd be happy to discover that I'm not. But, I wanna add a little flare to it, to make it hit harder. In two days, I'd like to enroll into the annual path finder exam, and on the morning of that day when I'd be about to leave for the exam, you'd just reveal me to them like a little surprise."
Zade finished speaking and was glad to see his uncle seriously considering it.
"You want to participate in the exam? Didn't you just wake up? Are you sure you're strong enough for that?" He asked and Zade eagerly nodded.
"Yes, a hundred percent."
"And you know that you don't have magic like the other kids… do you think that's a good idea?" He asked and Zade nodded again.
Uncle Max sighed sadly. He never thought this far ahead because he never believed the kid could ever wake up. But now that the kid was speaking about participating in the exam, he was a little unsure because he felt like the weakness of his body, combined with his lack of magic might hinder him in the exam, and he wouldn't want him to start feeling dejected and depressed after the exam, days after miraculously being hale and healthy.
"Why don't you want a year before enrolling? You'd have been able to actually prepare for the exam so you'd be aware of what to expect. You'd also have developed your physical strength properly." Max suggested.
Zade understood uncle max perfectly, and he knew the man was only looking out for him. But he had read the novel, and he knew what to expect in the exams. Sure, this body was very weak, but in the next two days, he'd train it hard in preparation for the exam.
"I'd still like to enroll this year. If I fail, at least I'll know I tried. That's what you always tell me, remember?" Zade purposely added the last part till Uncle Max gave a reluctant nod.
Max still feels conflicted about this despite agreeing. The kid barely ate while bedridden, he was extremely bony and weak looking. Max felt very protective of him, and wouldn't want him to face lots of ridicule at the exam from his peers, especially because it's been almost a decade since the kid had an interaction with other kids, so he might have forgotten how cruel kids can get and how much their words can hurt.
But the kid looked determined, and that's a vigor Max liked.
As he got to his feet, he briefly wondered if it was fine to keep the news of the kid now being awake from his sister and her family. She had been grieving when he arrived and he'd like to put her out of her misery fast.
Perhaps he should still go ahead and tell them the news right now?
He ends up deciding against that. He looked at the situation from the kid's perspective, and could understand why he wanted to surprise his family.
He guessed he could just keep it a secret for the next two days. What could it hurt?
~~~
"How does it feel to tame beasts, uncle?" Zade asked quietly from his spot on the ground. He has been here in his uncle's room for the past two days. His uncle doesn't live here, but whenever he was over, he permanently had a room here.
Apparently, his uncle told his family he took care of the body and they even thanked him for that. Zade knew his uncle was looking forward to witnessing the reveal tomorrow, but Zade wasn't, because he was certain an argument would undoubtedly break out.
His uncle had reluctantly entered his name into this year's exam's participants, and had even gotten Zade the outfit he'd wear that day. Zade was beyond thankful to his uncle and was genuinely excited and couldn't wait for the d-day.
His uncle was a D-rank beast tamer.
"Honestly? It feels very fulfilling and because of it, I can live comfortably and afford whatever I want." He revealed with a proud grin and Zade leaned forward, his eyes sparkling in excitement.
"How does it feel to actually tame the beasts?" Zade rephrased and his uncle laughed fondly.
"I can only summon one beast, kid. All beast tamers can only summon one beast. Whatever beast is in the egg they'd select on the exam day and successfully bring to the finish line, is the one they'd be bonded with, and the only one they'll be able to summon till eternity. But they can develop their beast and tame it further so it rises to a higher level. For example, I'm a D-rank beast tamer, but my beast is on level two, in the D-rank."
As Max spoke, Zade realized he had forgotten about all that when reading the novel, because is only focus is usually the protagonist—- who could summon more than one beast.
That made him mix that up with the other beast tamers.
That made him realize that if he passed the exam and became a beast tamer, like other beast tamers in this book, he might only be able to summon just one beast.
That realization bummed him a little, but he quickly reminded himself that beggars couldn't be choosers.
If he passes the exam and gets bonded to one beast, he'd try his best to cultivate his beast and help it emerge into its full potential.
In this world, beast tamers rankings went by:
S-rank.
A-rank.
B-rank.
C-rank.
D-rank.
E-rank.
F-rank.
Under each rank, there are three breakdowns: level 1, 2 and 3… which is based on the strength of the beast.
After a beast awakens, whatever rank it falls in, if cultivated right, it can evolve and grow stronger till it's at the highest level of a certain rank. Most beasts tend to be unable to evolve to a higher rank than the one they awaken in, but a few lucky ones are able to do that.
"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" Uncle Max suddenly asked.
Zade shook his head. "A little, but I'm mostly excited."
He was actually way nervous than he let on, because he knew that despite all this planning, this side character's parents might refuse to let him leave tomorrow, and he couldn't possibly ask his uncle to sneak him out of the house because it would be impossible
"I'm certain you'll ace the exam, magic or no magic, and remember that whatever the end result is, I'll always love you and would always be here to always cheer you on." Uncle Max said this time, and Zade's eyes stung a little as he got consumed with so much emotions.
This was something he desperately craved in his past life, someone to support him emotionally, but he never got it. Even after getting adopted, everyone was still distant to him.
That made him realize if it was the reason he stayed with Sera even during times she treated him like he was stupid.
He quickly shoved the bitter thoughts of sera away.
"Thank you, uncle. I'm genuinely glad I have you." Zade meant those words and he was more grateful that he was letting on. If uncle Max hadn't agreed to hide him in here, he was certain his mother would have succeeded in killing him before now.
At least, if he successfully leaves the house tomorrow, and manages to ace the exam, he'll not have to live here with this family anymore, so that was something to look forward to.
Zade wasn't sure of what awaited him tomorrow, but he was beyond excited and also couldn't wait.