They could've told him.
Or they could've just sacrificed him to end the shittiest contract he's seen to date.
And that was really saying a lot considering the number of seriously dubious contracts he's seen in different languages.
But no.
No one told him. Yet maybe it was also his problem because he never asked.
And now here he was, trying to see if there was any hope for him and his family.
So, Riley left work earlier than usual.
It was rare. Almost suspiciously rare. But after today's shocking turn of events, the Dragon Lord probably realized that it would be pointless to keep a shell of a man whose spirit had been drained close by.
And so, surprisingly, he has been waved off with a strange smile that made him more nervous than relieved.
But maybe it was because the sadist knew that he succeeded.
With what, Riley wasn't sure.
Torture, maybe, or something more sinister. But he couldn't help but imagine the worst after learning about part of the truth, which had him traveling straight to the Hale family estate.
Their modest home. Quiet. Familiar. Full of memories.
And apparently, lies.
His father was still in bed, weak and thin, but smiling the moment Riley entered the room.
"Son," he greeted, his voice raspy.
Riley sat down slowly. He loved his father. He really did.
But right now? He felt betrayed by the very same man whom he idolized.
All he could think about was how to escape.
Because apparently, he hadn't signed an employment contract.
He had signed his life away.
Worse, if he were being technical, it's been signed away by someone else.
"Father, did you know," Riley said, voice calm, "that I apparently belong to a dragon now?"
His father blinked. "Oh. He finally told you?"
Riley's eye twitched.
"So, you really knew?" he asked, hands clenched tightly. "You knew and you let me think it was five years?"
His father sighed and looked away.
But Riley didn't want that. He didn't want to see that expression his father had when he didn't plan on saying anything more.
Because he really needed an explanation for why his simple life ended up like this.
All he heard earlier was a life debt.
A generational one.
One which he had no choice about since the beginning, and one that he wished he had known before he had the chance to dream.
For what was he supposed to do with all his personal aspirations?
Maybe if he'd known about this, he wouldn't have felt this betrayed.
And really, he wouldn't have felt this bad knowing that his father was just mirroring his boss for the sake of survival.
Just like now, saying words he likely didn't even mean.
"It's not that bad. The Dravaryn name is one of the best, if not the most prestigious, families out there. You were always going to be in good hands."
Riley inhaled. Counted to five.
Then ten.
Then gave up counting and imagined screaming into a void because there was probably no getting through a man who has survived the horrors of the Dragon Lord and still managed to live this long.
But he wasn't his father.
And he didn't build his life and dreams knowing that he'd end up in such a situation.
For years, he had been working on becoming an archivist, studying linguistics and history, and burying himself in research in the hope of gaining access to ancient sites.
But at this rate, he'd be buried before he even got the chance to see those artifacts. Because if he didn't die from all these beings attempting to off him, he was going to croak because of his boss and that unfair contract he just saw.
A Bloodbound Accord of Eternal Service.
Even the name of that thing sounded ominous.
But maybe it came with the nature of the agreement that had to be written with dragon fire.
Signed in the Year of Flame and Storm, and by the order of the Dravaryn House, and the oathbound hand of the House of Hale, a bond from a life debt was born.
ARTICLE I: SERVICE
The Hale Line shall serve the Dravaryn Line in eternal, uninterrupted servitude, bound by duty, honor, and legacy.
Service shall be rendered by the eldest capable child of the Hale line upon reaching their twenty-first year, or upon the Lord Dravaryn's personal summons, whichever comes first.
ARTICLE II: REPLACEMENT
No Hale shall vacate their post without express, written, and pre-approved permission granted solely by the presiding Lord or Lady of House Dravaryn.
Replacements may only be provided by the Hale family upon presentation of:
Proof of equal or greater competence, and a written petition accepted and countersigned by the Dravaryn heir, no less than three (3) months prior to the desired exchange date.
Lack of approval shall result in continued service without recourse.
In the event that the current serving Hale is deemed unfit for duty, the next of kin shall automatically be enlisted.
ARTICLE III: NON-REPAYMENT CLAUSE
The debt owed shall not be forgiven, reduced, or otherwise nullified by coin, property, or threats.
No sum of gold, gem, or kingdom shall be accepted in lieu of the debt.
ARTICLE IV: BLOOD OATH
This Accord is etched in blood and bound by ancient flame. It shall persist through all generations until the heir of House Dravaryn personally dissolves the debt through a ritual of release witnessed by sky and fire.
Should the Hale line defy this contract, consequences shall be determined solely by the Dravaryn line, including but not limited to: death.
ARTICLE V: HAZARD PAY
For the duration of service, the immediate family of the currently serving Hale shall be afforded sanctuary under the protection of House Dravaryn.
A monthly stipend shall be issued to the Hale family from the Dravaryn treasury, the amount of which shall reflect the risk level or duties undertaken and the quality of service rendered.
The serving Hale may also be granted the required abilities to fulfill the nature of work required by the current members of the Dravaryn line.
See? Utter bullshit.
And the fact that it had been signed by Kaedros Dravaryn and one of his ancient ancestors, Thaddeus Hale, wasn't of any help.
Their line may have survived to this day, but with a contract like this, one could argue that the benefits of the other option are more compelling. Extinction would've probably solved his issue.
He could still remember how he found himself on the floor after seeing that blasted contract.
But what really killed him was Lord Kael saying, "See you tomorrow."
Because that really sounded like one hell of a threat.