The world swam into focus, a blurry kaleidoscope of unfamiliar shapes and colors. Aric blinked, his eyes struggling to make sense of the ornate ceiling above him. Gilt-edged moldings traced intricate patterns, a far cry from the rough-hewn beams of his family's modest home.
Home.
The word sent a jolt through him, memories crashing back like a tidal wave. Blood. Screams. Emily's face contorted in terror. Aric's chest tightened and a choked sob escaping his lips. Tears welled up, hot and stinging.
*Was it all just a nightmare?*
The dull ache permeating his body answered that question. This was real. All of it.
Gritting his teeth, Aric attempted to sit up. His muscles protested, weak and uncooperative. He reached for a nearby jug of water, desperate to quench his parched throat. His fingers, clumsy and uncoordinated, knocked against a delicate cup. It teetered for a heart-stopping moment before crashing to the floor.
The sound of shattering ceramic was still echoing when the door burst open. A woman rushed in, worry etched across her familiar features.
"Aric!" His mother's voice, thick with emotion. "Oh, my boy..."
Elara was at his side in an instant, helping him sit up. She pressed the jug to his lips, and Aric gulped greedily. The cool water was a blessing, soothing his raw throat.
"What... what happened?" Aric croaked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Elara's face crumpled, a mix of relief and sorrow. "The village... it was attacked by a beast hoard. So many of them." She shuddered. "I found Emily. She's... she's okay, just... different. And you..." Her voice broke. "You were in a pool of blood, but there wasn't a single scratch on you."
Aric's hand instinctively went to his chest, phantom pain lancing through him as he remembered the ogre's spike. The discomfort must have shown on his face because Elara's brow furrowed with concern.
"There was a system," Aric muttered, more to himself than to her. As if summoned by his words, a translucent screen flickered into existence before his eyes. He jerked back, startled.
Repair Notification:
[SYSTEM INITIATING REPAIR... ESTIMATED TIME: 5 YEARS]
[REPAIR PROGRESS: 2% - Daily quests Restored]
[Status]
Name: Aric
Level: 1
Race: Half Dragon
Primary Ability: None
Title: None
HP: 100/100
MP: 50/50
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Vitality: 10
Perception: 10
Intelligence: 10
Endurance: 10
Points Remaining: 0
[SKILL TREE UNAVAILABLE]
"Aric?" Elara's voice was laced with worry. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."
He blinked, gesturing at the empty air. "Can't you see all this?"
Elara's frown deepened. "See what, honey? There's nothing there. You must still be confused. You've been unconscious for seven days."
"Seven days?!" Aric's shock momentarily overrode everything else. His mind reeled, trying to process the information. A week. He'd lost an entire week. The thought made him nauseous, his stomach churning with a mix of disbelief and fear. How much had changed in all that time?
"What about Bran? And Lily?" Aric asked with desperation
"They survived," Elara said, relief evident in her voice. "They've been moved to another town for safety."
It suddenly occurred to Aric that he had no idea where he was. The room was far too luxurious to be anywhere in Rustic Hollow. "Where are we?"
"Your grandfather's place. The Silverthorn residence."
Aric's breath got caught in his throat. Grandfather. The word conjured images of a stern-faced old man with eyes like chips of ice. Unbidden, a memory surfaced - the sharp sting of a hand against his backside.
The old man didn't even hold back, even as Aric's wails echoed through the manor.
A shiver ran down his spine. "Damn," he muttered. "Old man's probably itching to tan my hide again." Then, with a rueful shake of his head, "I mean, yeah, I was wrong to break the family's heirloom, but in my defence. It was shiny and I was only four."
Elara's lips twitched, caught between amusement and sympathy. "Oh, Aric," she sighed, reaching out to smooth his hair. "Your grandfather... he's a complicated man. Stern, yes, but he loves you in his own way.
Aric scoffed, a bitter edge to his voice. "Love? I don't think that old man loves anyone but himself." He turned away, his jaw clenching. "And maybe his precious heirlooms."
"Well," she said, her voice taking on a mock-serious tone, "try not to break another priceless family heirloom while you're here, hmm? I don't think your behind could take another of your grandfather's 'lessons.'"
Aric's head snapped back towards her, eyes widening in mock horror. "Another?" he sputtered, a reluctant grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Gods, Mom, don't even joke about that. I think I still have bruises from the last time." He rubbed his backside dramatically, wincing for effect.
She reached out, ruffling Aric's hair affectionately again. "Just focus on getting more rest for now. We can worry about navigating your grandfather's... unique parenting style later."
"After all you would need all your strength before seeing your grandfather again." She said with a smile as she gently eased him back onto the pillows.
As the door closed behind her, Aric was left alone with his thoughts. The reality of everything that had happened settled over him like a suffocating blanket. It wasn't a dream. The attack, the deaths, Emily... all of it was real.
And this system. Whatever it was, it had saved his life. But why could only he see it?
One thing was clear â he'd come far too close to death. The memory of that spiked arm bursting through his chest sent a shudder through him. Never again. He needed to get stronger, fast.
Survival. That had to be his priority now. For himself, for Emily, for everyone who was left. The world could burn for all he cared, as long as he could keep his loved ones safe.
With a grunt of effort, Aric pulled himself upright again. The translucent screen shimmered into view once more.
Repair Notification:
[SYSTEM INITIATING REPAIR... ESTIMATED TIME: 5 YEARS]
[REPAIR PROGRESS: 2% - Daily quests Restored]
[Status]
Name: Aric
Level: 1
Race: Half Dragon
Primary Ability: None
Title: None
HP: 100/100
MP: 50/50
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Vitality: 10
Perception: 10
Intelligence: 10
Endurance: 10
Points Remaining: 0
[SKILL TREE UNAVAILABLE]
"Five years?!" Aric muttered incredulously. "To repair? I mean, yeah, you saved my life and all, but come on!" His eyes then narrowed as he scanned the remaining information. "Half Dragon? Not human but a Half Dragon. Are dragons even real?"
The words stared back at him, unchanging. Then the implications hit him like a physical blow, leaving him breathless. If he was half dragon, then that meant... His thoughts raced, piecing together a puzzle he hadn't known existed.
"If I'm half dragon, then my father must be..." The thought fizzled out, replaced by a strange blankness. It was as if his mind had suddenly skipped a track, leaving him disoriented. When he tried to focus on his father, all he could summon were some vague, rehearsed sentiment.
"He was a strong and brave man," Aric heard himself say, the words feeling hollow and disconnected. "Unfortunately, he was taken too soon by beasts."
The statement hung in the air, and Aric frowned. Why did that feel so... scripted? He shook his head, trying to clear the fog. There was something there, just out of reach, but every time he grasped for it, it slipped away like smoke.
Before he could ponder further, a new message popped up:
[DAILY QUEST ACTIVATED]
Objectives:
Consume food: 2000g [0/2000]
Hydrate: 3liters [0/3]
Push-ups: 100 [0/100]
Sit-ups: 100 [0/100]
Squats: 100 [0/100]
Run: 10km [0/10]
Time Remaining: 8:50:23
WARNING: Failure to complete all objectives would trigger the Reckoning Protocol.
"You've got to be kidding me," Aric groaned. "What the hell is the Reckoning Protocol?"
The system's response was immediate and distinctly unhelpful:
<"The Reckoning Protocol is a series of randomly selected punishments for the player if unable to complete the daily tasks.">
With a sigh, Aric swung his legs over the side of the bed. He managed a few shaky push-ups before collapsing back onto the mattress, panting. Curiosity getting the better of him, he called up the daily quest screen again.
[DAILY TASK ACTIVATED]
Objectives:
Consume food: 2000g [0/2000]
Hydrate: 3liters [0/3]
Push-ups: 100 [3/100]
Sit-ups: 100 [0/100]
Squats: 100 [0/100]
Run: 10km [0/10]
Aric's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Huh, it actually counted those," he muttered, a mix of amusement and resignation in his voice. He flopped back onto the bed, his muscles already protesting the minimal effort. "I mean, what's the worst that could happen?" he mumbled, eyes drifting closed. "Probably just... turn me into a frog or something..."
As sleep began to claim him, a small part of his mind whispered that he might regret those words come morning. But exhaustion won out, and Aric slipped into a deep, dreamless slumber.