Ren barely slept.
He lay in his small room in the servants' quarters of the Duskbane compound, staring at the ceiling as his mind raced. Every few minutes, he would whisper "Status" under his breath, half-convinced he had imagined the entire thing.
But the translucent screen appeared each time, floating in his vision with those impossible words.
[HOST STATUS]
Name: Ren Duskbane
Age: 16
Bloodline: Primordial Dragon (Dormant - 0.01% Purity)
Cultivation: None
Physical Condition: Malnourished, Weak Constitution
Combat Power: 5
When dawn finally broke, Ren dragged himself out of bed feeling more exhausted than when he'd laid down. His reflection in the small mirror looked the same as always—thin face, tired eyes, unremarkable in every way. If not for the system screen that appeared when he focused, he could almost believe last night had been a fever dream.
But the warmth in his chest was real. And the hunger—that constant, gnawing sensation that hadn't been there before—was definitely real.
A knock at his door made him jump.
"Ren?" A woman's voice called. "Are you awake?"
He recognized Martha, one of the older servants who had always been kind to him. She was probably the closest thing to family he had in this place.
"Coming," he called back, quickly dismissing the system screen.
Martha waited in the hallway with a sympathetic expression. "I heard about yesterday," she said gently. "I'm sorry, dear. I know you had hopes."
Ren nodded, playing his expected role. "It's fine. I knew it was unlikely."
"Your uncle wants to see you in his study," she continued. "He asked me to fetch you as soon as you woke."
Of course he did. Ren had been dreading this conversation since yesterday's ceremony. Uncle Gareth would want to discuss his "future"—which likely meant finding him some menial job in the city or shipping him off to distant relatives who might take pity on him.
"I'll be right there," Ren said.
Martha hesitated. "Don't let him be too harsh, dear. You're still young. There are other paths in life besides cultivation."
If only she knew, Ren thought as he watched her walk away. He dressed quickly in his cleanest robes—still plain and worn, but at least not stained—and made his way through the compound toward his uncle's study.
The Duskbane estate felt even more hollow in the morning light. Servants moved quietly through halls that should have bustled with activity. Gardens that should have been perfectly maintained showed signs of neglect. Everything spoke of a family in decline, holding onto past glory with increasingly desperate fingers.
Ren paused outside his uncle's study, taking a deep breath. He could hear voices inside—his uncle Gareth, his aunt Lydia, and what sounded like his cousin Marcus.
"—complete waste of resources," Marcus was saying. "We've fed and housed him for sixteen years for nothing."
"He's still family," Lydia replied, though her tone was more dutiful than caring. "We can't just throw him out."
"Can't we?" Gareth's voice was tired. "The boy has no prospects, no abilities, no value to the family name. Every day he stays here is another reminder of how far we've fallen."
Ren's hands clenched into fists. The words shouldn't hurt—he'd heard variations of them his entire life. But somehow, with the warmth of potential stirring in his chest, they cut deeper than before.
He knocked on the door.
"Enter," Gareth called.
Ren stepped inside to find exactly the scene he'd expected. His uncle sat behind a large wooden desk covered in ledgers and correspondence. Aunt Lydia occupied a chair nearby, her face carefully neutral. Marcus leaned against the wall, his arms crossed and his expression openly hostile.
"Ah, Ren," Gareth said without looking up from his papers. "I trust you slept well despite yesterday's... disappointment?"
"Well enough, uncle."
"Good, good." Gareth finally raised his eyes, and Ren was struck by how old his uncle looked. The man was only in his forties, but stress and financial worries had carved deep lines in his face. "I suppose you know why I called you here."
"To discuss my future," Ren said carefully.
"Indeed. Your lack of awakening presents certain... challenges for the family. As you know, we can no longer afford to support non-contributing members indefinitely."
Marcus snorted. "Just tell him plainly, father. We're broke, and he's dead weight."
"Marcus," Lydia chided, but without real heat.
"It's true, mother. The family debts grow larger every month. We need marriage alliances, business partnerships, students who can attend the academies and bring honor to our name. Instead, we have him." Marcus gestured dismissively at Ren.
The old Ren would have wilted under such open contempt. But something had changed last night. The dragon bloodline might be dormant, might be barely a trace, but it was there. And dragons, according to the system, were apex predators.
"I understand the family's position," Ren said, his voice steadier than it had been yesterday. "What did you have in mind?"
Gareth seemed surprised by his calm response. "Well... there's a merchant in the outer districts who owes us a favor. He's agreed to take you on as an apprentice. The work is hard, but honest. You'd have a roof over your head and meals."
"Essentially a servant," Marcus added with satisfaction. "Which is fitting, considering where you've been living."
Ren felt that strange warmth pulse in his chest. For a moment, his vision flickered, and he could swear he saw something beyond the ordinary. His uncle's spiritual pressure, weak but present. His aunt's nervous energy. His cousin's smugness hiding deeper insecurities.
[ANALYSIS ABILITY DETECTED]
The system text appeared briefly, then faded. Ren blinked, but the moment of enhanced perception was gone.
"When would I start?" he asked.
"As soon as possible," Gareth replied. "Today, if you're willing. I know this isn't the future you dreamed of, but—"
"Actually," Ren interrupted, "I'd like to request a few days to consider the offer."
The room went silent. Marcus straightened, his eyes narrowing.
"Consider it?" Gareth repeated. "Ren, I'm not sure you understand. This isn't really a negotiation. The family can't—"
"I understand perfectly," Ren said, and there was something in his tone that made all three relatives pause. "But I'd still like a few days. Surely that's not unreasonable?"
He could see the confusion in their faces. This wasn't how these conversations usually went. Typically, he would accept whatever scraps they offered with grateful submission.
But he wasn't the same person who had failed the awakening ceremony yesterday.
"Three days," he continued. "If my circumstances haven't changed by then, I'll accept the merchant position gladly."
"Changed how?" Marcus demanded. "You failed your awakening. Nothing's going to—"
"Three days," Ren repeated, meeting his cousin's glare without flinching.
The silence stretched uncomfortably. Finally, Gareth nodded slowly.
"Very well. Three days. But Ren... don't hold onto false hope. Yesterday's ceremony was final. Whatever you're planning, whatever you think might happen—"
"I understand, uncle. Thank you for your patience."
Ren bowed formally and left the study, feeling three pairs of confused eyes watching his retreat.
Once he was alone in the hallway, he allowed himself a small smile. Three days. It wasn't much, but it was enough time to start understanding what the system could really do.
And if the gnawing hunger in his chest was any indication, those three days were going to be very interesting indeed.
[QUEST GENERATED: PROVE YOUR WORTH]
[OBJECTIVE: Demonstrate value to family within 72 hours]
[REWARD: Increased respect, continued family support]
[FAILURE: Exile from Duskbane compound]
[NOTE: Host has shown unexpected backbone. Dragon instincts beginning to manifest.]
Ren's smile widened. The system had noticed his behavior too.
Time to find out what a dragon candidate could really accomplish in three days.
⚡ End of Chapter 2 ⚡