Kael groaned, burying his face in his hands as the now-familiar voice echoed in his head.
"Good morning, Kael. Ready to start your first day?"
He peeked out between his fingers at the glowing screen hovering before him, its fiery letters taunting him in the dim morning light.
Daily Quest:
10 Push-ups
5 Minutes of Meditation
Run 1 Kilometer
Rewards:
+1 Strength
+1 Willpower
+10 Points
"Fuck," Kael muttered, dragging his hands down his face. "You're still here?"
"Of course, I'm still here," the mark replied cheerfully. "We've got a lot of work to do and no time to waste."
Kael groaned again, flopping back onto his bed. "I thought maybe this was just some messed-up fever dream. But no, you're real, and you're still annoying."
"Annoying? I'd call it 'motivational.'"
"Motivational my ass," he muttered, swiping at the screen hovering in front of him. "How do I turn this stupid thing off?"
"You don't. It'll stay with you until you finish your quest for the day."
Kael narrowed his eyes at the screen, swiping furiously at it. When that failed, he poked at it, jabbed it, and even tried waving it away with both hands. The screen didn't budge.
"It's not going anywhere, Kael," the mark said with a hint of amusement. "So you might as well get started."
"Over my dead body," Kael shot back.
"I'd prefer to avoid that, thank you."
Before Kael could come up with a proper retort, his mother's voice called from the other room.
"Kael! Are you up? Breakfast is ready!"
He froze, glancing toward the door. The screen hovered stubbornly before him, but the smell of something warm and familiar drifted through the air. His stomach growled.
"Not dealing with this right now," he muttered, waving at the screen one last time before climbing out of bed. "Stay here or whatever. I don't care."
"I'll be right here," the mark replied, tone light and almost teasing. "But don't forget—you've got work to do, Kael."
He ignored it, brushing his hands through his hair as he headed for the door.
Kael entered the small kitchen and saw his mother bustling around the open flame. The room was modest, with scuffed wooden floors and a few mismatched chairs around a wobbly table, but it was warm and home.
"There you are," Callia said, glancing over her shoulder with a smile. "You've been sleeping a lot lately. Sit down, my little flame."
Kael rolled his eyes at the nickname but obeyed, plopping into one of the chairs. "What's for breakfast?"
"Porridge," she replied, setting a steaming bowl in front of him along with a piece of bread that looked like it had seen better days.
Kael stared at it for a moment. It wasn't much—just watery oats and a scrap of stale bread—but the smell made his chest tighten. The memory of cold, tasteless gruel from his previous life flashed in his mind, and suddenly, this simple meal felt like a feast.
"Thanks, Mom," he said, his voice softer than he intended.
Callia raised an eyebrow at him as she sat across the table. "You're being awfully polite this morning. Did something happen?"
"Nope," Kael said quickly, shoving a spoonful of porridge into his mouth. It was bland and a little watery, but he smiled anyway. Somehow, it tasted perfect.
Callia watched him for a moment before shaking her head with a small laugh. "You're a strange boy sometimes, Kael."
"Yeah, well, I get it from you," he shot back with a grin, earning a playful swat on the arm.
Scene Transition: The Quest Reminder
Kael lingered at the table after breakfast, watching his mother hum quietly as she cleaned up. The warmth of the moment felt surreal, like something out of a dream.
"It's nice, isn't it?" the mark's voice chimed in suddenly, startling him.
Kael frowned. "What now?" he muttered under his breath, glaring at the empty air.
"Your home," the mark said, ignoring his irritation. "You've been given the chance to protect it. Don't waste it."
Kael scoffed. "You're really going to lecture me right now?"
"Just a friendly reminder," it replied lightly. "You've got work to do, Kael. Even the smallest flame can grow into something unstoppable if you tend to it."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Kael muttered louder this time.
Callia, who had been scrubbing a pot nearby, turned to him with a puzzled look. "Who are you talking to?"
Kael froze, his face heating up. "Uh… no one!"
She raised an eyebrow. "You're talking to yourself now? Maybe you're spending too much time in your room."
Kael forced a laugh, waving her off. "Just thinking out loud, that's all."
Callia gave him a skeptical look but eventually shrugged. "Well, if you start answering yourself, let me know so I can call a healer."
Kael rolled his eyes, shoving his chair back. "I'm fine, Mom. Don't worry about it."
As he walked back to his room, the mark spoke again, its tone laced with amusement.
"Smooth. She definitely doesn't think you've lost it."
"Shut up," Kael muttered, though he couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips.