I woke to the sound of muffled shouting. In my house, this was less a warning sign and more a fact of life like gravity or emotional neglect. Sunlight barely squeezed through the tiny crack in my grimy window, making everything in my room look like it belonged in a painting titled "Still Life with Regret." I lay there for a moment, nestled in my fortress of scratchy blankets, letting the warmth seep into my bones.
For once, my stomach wasn't growling. Instead, it purred like a satisfied cat. Last night's rabbit barbecue still lingered in my memory, a golden moment of actual contentment. I stretched, groaning as sore muscles reminded me of yesterday's push-up apocalypse and rabbit chase. Still, my limbs felt heavier in a good way like they were mine, strong and solid. Maybe there was hope for this useless body after all.
A faint chime. Blue light flickered above my head. The system was awake, and unfortunately, so was I.
[Good morning, Host. Ready to begin your first round of Daily Quests?]
I yawned. "Do I get a badge if I finish them all? Or just the satisfaction of disappointing my family in new ways?"
[Both. But mostly the badge. Let's review today's quests:]
The blue window rolled down like a cosmic scroll:
[Daily Quests]
Walk 1,000 steps
Practice magic for 5 minutes
Find something that makes you laugh
Eat a full meal
Insult Riven creatively
"Perfect," I muttered, grinning. "Looks like we're starting with dessert."
I slid off the bed and tiptoed to the door, my heartbeat quickening. In the hallway, the shouting was clearer my mother berating someone (probably Riven) about the dangers of "bad luck" and "hair loss." I snickered and, emboldened by sleep and hunger, opened my door and stepped out.
There he was, standing in the kitchen like a statue of teenage angst, clutching a burnt slice of toast. His hair, which yesterday had shone like a shampoo commercial, was limp and slightly singed at the tips. Oh, sweet justice.
He turned and sneered the moment he saw me. "What are you looking at, grease rat?"
I didn't even have to think. "Just admiring your commitment to mediocrity. Did you style your hair with a candle again or is that new 'scorched pigeon' look trending among losers this year?"
He blinked, mouth open, caught between outrage and confusion. "What "
I held up a finger. "No, no, don't speak. It's too early to lose more brain cells listening to you."
A chime rang in my head.
[Daily Quest: Insult Riven Creatively Complete!]
+10 EXP, +1 Wit
I smirked at him, victory tasting sweeter than roast rabbit.
He scowled. "You think you're so funny, don't you?"
"I don't have to think," I replied, already walking past. "I know."
I wandered outside, crossing the cold stone threshold, and let the morning air slap me awake. The village was already alive. Sunlight caught on dewy rooftops. Children shrieked as they played tag around the well. The old baker's cat prowled the fence, eyeing me as if to say, You're still here? Impressive. For the first time in ages, the world didn't feel like it was suffocating me.
Step after step, I meandered through the main lane, past the market, the fields, even the stables where two kids were trying and failing to saddle a donkey. My legs loosened up as I counted quietly, "One… two… three…" all the way to one thousand. The system beeped when I reached it.
[Daily Quest: Walk 1,000 Steps Complete!]
+10 EXP, +1 Agility
Not bad for a morning stroll. If only my family could see me now. (Actually, if they did, they'd probably complain that I was walking incorrectly.)
Next up: magic practice.
I found a spot behind the bakery, out of sight of my family and the ever-watchful Mrs. Lorn who ran the gossip circuit. I extended my hand, feeling the faint tingle in my palm, and focused.
"Okay, fire," I whispered, picturing a tiny spark, something safe.
A flame flickered to life, barely bigger than a match. Sweat dripped down my brow as I held it steady, feeding it my meager reserves of MP.
One minute. Two. Three.
On the fourth, the flame danced, turning from orange to blue for a second. By the fifth, my hand shook, but I managed to shape the fire into something almost round my first magical sphere. I grinned in triumph.
[Daily Quest: Practice magic for 5 minutes Complete!]
+10 EXP, +2 MP
A sudden voice made me jump.
"Is that… fire? Did you just make that with magic?"
I nearly dropped the flame on my foot. I spun around to see a little girl Mira, the blacksmith's youngest staring at me wide-eyed, her messy braids swinging.
I shrugged, tucking my hands behind my back. "Nope, just… sunbeams. Very special ones."
She frowned. "Looks like magic to me."
I winked. "Shh. Let's keep it a secret."
She giggled and darted away, and just like that, I'd completed another quest.
[Daily Quest: Find something that makes you laugh Complete!]
+10 EXP, +1 Luck
By the time the sun was overhead, my stomach rumbled again. I eyed the bakery, but decided to save my coins. Instead, I returned to my room and dug into a stale piece of bread I'd smuggled from last night's rabbit-fest, savoring every crumb.
[Daily Quest: Eat a full meal Complete!]
+10 EXP, +1 Vitality
I lay on my bed afterward, full for the second day in a row, and felt something new: satisfaction. Not the smug, empty sort my brother wore like cologne, but a deep, bone-deep pride. I was living. I was changing. And for the first time, I was collecting wins, even if no one else saw them.
The system chimed with a grand flourish:
[All Daily Quests Completed! Bonus Reward: +15 EXP, +1 Skill Point]
"Skill point?" I asked aloud.
[Use it to boost any attribute or unlock a beginner perk. Choose wisely. You're leveling up faster than a houseplant on Miracle-Gro.]
I laughed. "I'll think about it. Maybe I'll put it all into 'Sarcasm'."
[Already maxed out, Host.]