"Congratulations on your son's recovery," Alfred said with a broad, almost boyish grin.
Across from him sat the Starfall family. Seated at the center of the couch was Ardyn Starfall, a broad-shouldered man with an imposing presence.
Beside him was his wife, Serene Starfall. She sat gracefully and elegantly, her silver-white hair framing a calm, violet gaze that locked onto the two men seated across them.
To their right sat a young man with a slender frame, silver hair, and deep blue eyes. He watched everything with a quiet, unruffled expression.
He was Thoren Starfall.
To the left sat a girl not yet nineteen, gnashing her teeth as she glared at the two men.
Her shoulder-length silvery-blue hair framed her face, and she looked ready to devour him with her eyes.
She continuously glared at her brother as if eager to turn him to ash.
"I don't know why Father and Mother go to such lengths for him," she thought, anger boiling within her.
No one cared about her simmering resentment. The two men focused their attention on Ardyn.
With a forced smile, Ardyn spoke. "Thank you. Without your organization lending us the money, we would have watched our son die before our eyes."
"Haha. It's nothing. This is why our organization was founded in the first place," Bernad replied, waving his hand dismissively.
Yet his eagle-sharp eyes locked onto the family as if they were prey, speaking volumes about his true thoughts.
"We did not come here for that. We heard your son had managed to awaken his occupation. Is that true?"
"Yes, it's true," Serene responded calmly. "A Necromancer."
Her expression remained calm and inviting, giving no hint of her private thoughts.
"So it's true! Congratulations once again." Alfred laughed. "With him awakening an occupation, it should be easy for your family to pay your debt, shouldn't it?"
When Ardyn and Serene heard Alfred mention their debt, a heavy stone seemed to weigh on their hearts, but the couple recovered quickly.
They had chosen to save their son from a life-threatening disease; they would not regret their action.
Thoren had been sick since he was little. His bones were weak, fragile, and would shatter under the slightest pressure.
Most of his time was spent at home, unlike other kids who could play and have friends. He was all alone, with only his family.
But that wasn't all. With each passing year, he grew weaker and weaker. After intensive checkups, it was discovered the disease was feeding on his life energy.
The doctors predicted his life would end soon if they did not treat the disease immediately.
But the disease was not ordinary. It was the Mana-Eating Worm.
Against awakeners, it was nothing; against ordinary people who had yet to awaken, it was a death sentence.
Unable to watch their son die before their eyes, the couple grit their teeth and took a high-interest loan from the Hallow Trust.
Alfred and Bernard were the two sharks assigned to ensure their loans were paid when due. Failure was not an option.
Everyone in North Docks knew of the infamous Hallow Trust.
The couple knew this very well.
But who would have expected that when Thoren recovered from the Mana-Eating Worm, he would awaken his occupation?
This was both a blessing and a curse.
Yet Thoren had a different thought.
To him, this was a blessing. The Thoren of the past had died a month ago, replaced by a new soul from Earth.
To avoid arousing suspicion, Felix, now Thoren—had been quiet and spoke little while trying to adapt to the new body.
He had been mediocre in his previous life, and in this new life he refused to be ordinary. When he awakened an occupation, he knew this was the chance he had waited for.
'Since I was given a new chance, I'll make sure to use it to the fullest,' he thought, his resolve firm.
In this world, families of awakeners enjoy fame and privilege that ordinary people could not dream of.
Since the Abyss appeared, their world had never been the same. Strong beast tides ravaged the land, billions perished.
It was when awakeners began appearing that humanity found hope and could venture deeper into the Abyss.
For the Starfall family, awakening an occupation was not necessarily a joyous event. Their first daughter had awakened, ventured into the Abyss, and had not returned.
Her life and death remained unknown.
And now, their second son had awakened again.
Would they lose another child?
The couple's emotions tangled in a complicated knot.
As if sensing their turmoil, Bernard flashed a cautious smile, though he did not truly care about their feelings.
All he cared about was the debt.
He spoke with a forced smile that did not reach his eyes. "For your son to have awakened, perhaps this is fate. You need not worry too much about it. Who knows? Your situation might change from here."
"I'll hold on to that, Mr. Bernard," Ardyn replied with a strained, practiced smile.
"That's the spirit," Bernard replied with a chuckle.
Alfred winked at Bernard, and the two rose to their feet simultaneously. "We must be on our way now."
"I believe your son will depart for the Abyss tomorrow, right?"
"Yes," Serene answered, creasing her brow.
"Good. We would like to see him off and hope for his glorious return."
"Ah. That would be wonderful," Ardyn replied through gritted teeth.
"Very well," Alfred and Bernard said in unison and nodded, then turned and left the room. Ardyn and Serene stood to see them off, wearing forced smiles.
When they were gone, Elara turned on Thoren with a sudden, sharp shout.
"This is all your fault!" She pointed a furious finger at him.
"Why don't you just die? Do you know how much Father and Mother have had to borrow from the loan sharks?" Her face burned with rage, veins protruding on her forehead.
"Are you not going to say something?!" she demanded, but Thoren did not bat an eyelid.
"Hmph! With your useless Necromancer occupation, it's only a matter of time before you proclaim death," she shouted.
"Elara!" Serene's voice cut cold and sharp.
Looking at her mother, Elara wore a rebellious expression. She opened her mouth to speak, but she felt her father's piercing gaze. She swallowed what she wanted to say, her anger boiling as she stormed off to her room.
"Thoren, you don't have to mind her. She did not mean it," Serene turned and looked at her son.
"I know…" Thoren replied in a low, casual voice.
Ardyn and Serene were quiet as they watched him. He had just recovered from the Mana-Eating Worm, and tomorrow he would be sent to the Abyss.
And worse—he would do so with a Necromancer's occupation that many would dismiss as useless.
But Thoren simply sat there, his gaze distant, calm as the void.
"Useless? We'll see about that," he whispered to himself, a quiet vow.
****