Jayden stared at Penelope. Not in anger. Not in awe. Just... confusion. A tangled storm of thoughts he couldn’t untie.
"Why?" he asked softly, eyes still locked on hers.
Penelope didn’t flinch. Didn’t look away. She chuckled light, almost airy, as if he’d just asked sothing adorably naive.
"Because I know you’re not normal, Jayden."
Her voice was steady, low, like silk stretched over steel.
"I haven’t seen anyone your age with the kind of strength you showed back there. Even your aura... it’s off. Wild."
Her gaze returned to the road, city lights flickering in her eyes like stardust.
"I’ve known since the first day we t."
She paused, then added:
"But I needed to see. Just how strong you were."
Jayden’s brows knit, his mouth a flat line.
"And?" he asked, cautious but curious.
She turned slightly, just enough to et his gaze. There was sothing there.. admiration, maybe even sothing deeper, before she faced forward again.
"And... I think you’re incredible, Jayden." She said it like a confession. "You might not have an elental ability like your mother, but your physical stat.. It’s terrifying. And your control over telekinesis is extrely refined."
Jayden gave a dry, crooked smile, the kind that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Thanks... I guess. But please... can you keep the telekinesis part a secret?"
His voice dipped lower, more serious.
"I think I have more than one ability, and I’m pretty sure the EVA wouldn’t like that. Not until I understand what’s going on inside . I can’t take any chances."
He looked at her fully now, his expression open, vulnerable. Which was rare for him.
"I promise I’ll tell you more when the ti is right."
Penelope didn’t answer imdiately. The hum of the car filled the silence. Wind whispered around them. The city flew by beneath their floating path like a dream.
Finally, she nodded. "Okay, Jayden. I won’t tell anyone."
She glanced at him. Her smile was soft. Trusting. "And you don’t need to explain anything. I trust you. Maybe it sounds strange.. but I do. Your mother would’ve wanted to."
Jayden’s chest lightened, like a burden had been unhooked and tossed out the window. He knew Penelope would be involved in his life from that day... heck she’d already been involved his life for a long ti now.
He knew he had to earn her trust and also learn to trust her. But he didn’t think the first part would be so easy. He exhaled a small laugh, relief curling into his words.
"Thank you, Miss Isley."
Penelope raised a brow. "Still calling that, huh? Even after our little ’bonding’ tonight?"
Her lips twisted into a teasing pout. But behind the mischief... sadness glimred. Just for a second.
Jayden scratched the back of his head. "Um... well..."
"Hahaha! I’m just ssing with you." Penelope burst into laughter, the tension popping like a balloon.
Then, her voice took a sharp turn.. excited, deliberate. "But you know.. there was another reason I tested your strength tonight."
Jayden’s brow quirked.
She turned her full gaze on him this ti, her grin widening. "I want you to be Cassandra’s bodyguard."
Jayden blinked. He blinked again. He leaned forward slightly, looking stunned. He didn’t expect that at all.
Penelope gave a long, dramatic sigh. "Co on, Jayden. I thought you’d be more excited than this."
Jayden chuckled nervously. "Sorry. I thought you were joking." He leaned back, arms crossed. "Wait.. aren’t you joking?"
"Nope." She popped the p and smiled like she’d just handed him the winning lottery ticket. "I want you to be her personal bodyguard. Just until she hits level 25. You’d accompany her during outings. Keep her safe."
Jayden stared at her like she’d grown a second head. "Wait.. what?!" he said. "You actually want to be her bodyguard?"
Penolope nodded.
"But... why ?" he asked slowly.
Penelope rested her hands on the wheel, her tone growing more serious. "Because Cassandra’s stubborn. Dangerously stubborn. She’s chased off every other bodyguard I hired. Either by staging her own kidnapping... or beating them half to death."
Jayden choked back a laugh. "Sounds about right."
"Exactly. But.. she likes you." Her smile turned cheeky. "Plus, this way you two can have so good bonding ti together. And don’t worry, she doesn’t go out too often."
Jayden exhaled slowly. His fingers tapped his thigh.
"I get it. I just... don’t think I’m the right fit. I an, you said it yourself.. I’m just as strong as her. How am I supposed to guard soone just as powerful as ?"
Penelope’s laughter danced through the cabin like wind chis. "Cassandra is strong, yes. But you and i both know even she can’t take on eight powerful n on her own."
Jayden frowned. "You said my aura was like... level 17 or sothing, right?"
She waved her hand. "That was back when we first t. When you ca to my place on Tuesday... I felt it. You’d gotten stronger. And after tonight.. It’s undeniable. When you were fighting those n, i confird it."
Penelope looked at him, her voice dipped into sothing almost reverent. "Jayden, your current aura output has the sa strength as soone who’s at least... level 45."
Jayden’s eyes widened. "W-what?!" he exclaid. His heart thudded louder. "But how? I an.. i didn’t even realize I was that strong."
Penelope chuckled, her tone philosophical. "That’s the beauty of power, Jayden. You grow into it without realizing... and suddenly, you forget your own strength."
Jayden’s mind reeled. All this ti, he had just been killing beasts and levelling up with the system. He didn’t bother to know what level he was on normal terms. He thought he’d be on mid-tier at best. Level 15, maybe 20. But forty-five... that was too incredible.
He swallowed hard.
"You shouldn’t worry about it." Penelope continued. "People like us don’t have limited growth in power like the others. It’s called talent. Our strength just keeps growing. And the best thing to do is embrace it. Own it."
Jayden sighed deeply. "I know. I’m just... worried. About the EVA. If they find out there’s a kid out there at level 45..."
"You’ll be the center of every radar." Penelope finished softly.
Jayden nodded. "Exactly. And i can’t have that. Not yet." he muttered, clenching his fist.
She smiled warmly. "Then don’t take the assessnt yet. Wait until you’re strong enough to not care. And when the tournant season cos and they demand a level check... co to . I’ll make sure it’s handled discreetly."
Jayden looked at her, gratitude welling up in his chest. "Thank you. Thank you so much for this. Seriously. I don’t even know how to repay you."
Penelope laughed gently. "I don’t need repaynt, Jayden. Just grow stronger. Make your mother proud."
He nodded.
Then, with a glint in her eye, she continued.
"Sooo... how about that bodyguard offer now?"
Jayden sighed, caught like a wolf pup in a velvet snare. He had been cornered. She was just saying she didn’t want repaynt... but the timing was so perfect. It definitely felt like she was asking for it.
And as much as he wanted to say yes, he couldn’t. He had to say no.
It wasn’t like he didn’t want to hang out with Cassandra, or be her bodyguard. He was just really busy. He was already strong, but that only ant he would soon beco a target for the other powerhouses. He knew the only thing he could now, was to get stronger. He didn’t want to rely on Penelope, or Kate... or the mysterious man watching over him.
"I..." he started, scratching his neck. "Thing is—"
"I’ll pay you," Penelope cut in smoothly.
Jayden blinked. "Huh?"
"I’ll pay you, Jayden." she repeated, a sly smile stretching across her lips. "Not in credits, but in crystals. Beast crystals."
That made his heart skip.
"Beast crystals?" he asked to confirm if he was hearing correctly.
"Mhm." She looked so smug about it.
"Sothing tells you’d prefer that to credits."
Jayden tried to act cool—but he almost squealed. Prefer? No, he didn’t just prefer beast crystals. It was all he wanted.
"I... yes, i do." he muttered.
"Thought so." Penelope leaned back, clearly pleased. "So how about this? I’ll give you ten beast crystals. Any type you want. For every week of service."
Jayden felt a war break out in his chest. It was such a good deal. With her resources, he could easily get specific beasts crystals.
Instead of going around looking for ten or twenty of the sa type of beast.
But still... sothing held him back.
"Can I think about it?" he asked.
Penelope nodded without hesitation. "Of course. When you’re ready to say yes, you know where to find ."
They sat in silence for a while. The city shimred below them like a sea of diamonds.
Then, casually, Jayden turned to her, trying to bring up another topic. "Um... if you don’t mind asking... how old are you?"
Penelope paused for a while. Then, a slow smile crept across her face.
"Why do you ask?"
Jayden gave a nervous laugh. "I was just... curious."
"Mhm." She raised a brow. "You sure it’s not because you wanted to know if I’m too old for you?"
Jayden’s cheeks flushed. "No! I an.. well, I’m just curious. That’s all."
Penelope giggled, low and sultry. "Relax, Jayden. Age is just a number. And I won’t stab you for asking." She winked.
Jayden chuckled awkwardly. "I’ll keep that in mind." he muttered with a smile. He wanted to ask her so more questions about herself, but he decided against it. He didn’t want to be the next person to crawl ho with a spear made of fire in his thigh.
Penelope noticed the twitch in his fingers. The curiosity in his eyes. "Go on," she teased. "Ask what you really want to ask. I won’t bite."
Jayden smiled nervously, he’d already decided not to ask anything about her for the ti being. But since, she requested, he decided to ask her sothing else. He took a breath, then asked the question that had been scratching at his mind for so ti.
"I was wondering... have you ever heard of sothing... or soone... called the Beastlord?"
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