Four times.
It was barely afternoon, and he had already experienced four near-death situations.
A serious case, if you asked anyone. And yet, a certain aide remained smiling through it all.
Why?
Because nothing could possibly faze Riley today.
Not the boss's sarcastic tone, fighting clans, or the escaped beasts and sudden emerging potholes from god knows where.
Because today was the day.
Riley Hale even bothered to comb his hair and chose a nice suit and tie.
Because today, as he turned 25, he was going to attempt what no sane aide before him ever dared to do.
Armed only with a tray of his usual coffee and biscuits, Riley stood tall, with his shoulders squared, as he marched into the Dragon Lord's office, and greeted with the most radiant smile he could muster:
"Your afternoon snack, my Lord," Riley said, voice a bit too cheerful for anyone working in this company.
He placed the tray down with a flourish. Then he smiled. Not the usual tired, polite one.
No. This was full-teeth. Sparkling. Suspicious.
Kael narrowed one eye. His golden gaze flicked between the snacks and the grinning mortal in front of him.
"I see teeth," Kael said, referring to that shady smile he's had since he entered.
"I do that sometimes," Riley replied, smoothing his sleeves. He was practically humming.
"Spit it out."
It was a command, but Riley didn't even flinch. Not today.
"Well, my Lord, that's because today's a good day."
He straightened up and beamed.
"Today's the day I officially resign."
Yes, resign. Riley placed his formal notice gently.
Resign from working for this unhinged, petty, but rich slave driver who had tormented him for five whole years right after his graduation!
Gaaaah!
The poor aide shivered at the memory. Even now, he still had nightmares about that day.
But maybe, just maybe, if he scheduled more therapy sessions, he'd be able to get through this.
After all, he had managed to save a decent amount of money over the years.
Although if he were being honest, it was more like, he had no chance to spend any of it while working 24-hour days at the beck and call of the land's mightiest but micromanaging lizard: Dragon Lord Kael Dravaryn.
Ah, ah! But not anymore after today!
No more surprise errands in the middle of the night. No more exotic food searches and boring events to attend.
Riley can now spend his time and small fortune on himself and his family.
And that was exactly why the spring in his step couldn't be hidden, and the normally sleep-deprived, coffee-fueled aide looked far more serene than on any other day.
Up until he heard his boss's reaction.
"No."
No.
"?"
"!!!"
What?
Utter shock.
And just like that, the spark inside him flickered and died.
In that instant, Riley froze like the monument across the street. He wanted to shout and run. Break a few things. But found that his body couldn't even move.
In his mind, he saw it: Lord Kael Dravaryn, standing tall, arms crossed, eyes shimmering with anger, hair standing atop his annoyingly smooth forehead as he crushed his soul into bits.
Was he really a dragon instead of a demon? It had to be a mistake, right?
But it felt like that. It really did because the sound that he heard sounded so much like a "No."
Surely…surely he just misheard?
After all, he's been warned that hallucinations could happen to people who barely get any rest.
Right. He's probably just tired.
Because surely his boss didn't just say no like Riley had casually asked for an extension on his lunch break and not, you know, his life back?
But oh, it was all real.
Because that was exactly the look Lord Kael gave to anyone he found annoying. Be it a clan that does not meet the quota or an unassuming bug.
"Sir, I beg your pardon?" Riley tried once more, his voice practically climbing a few octaves into polite desperation.
"Today marks the end of my five-year service. According to what I was told—"
"No."
Again. Sharp. Unyielding. Like the universe personally rejecting his exit plan.
"My Lord, is it because I still have to finish today's work? If so, I—"
"You're quitting? Says who?"
Riley's mouth opened. Closed.
"My Lord," he tried patiently, trying not to hyperventilate, "My employment. Wasn't the length of my service supposed to be…five years?"
There was a pause. Then the Dragon Lord tilted his head slightly, expression pinched in mild disgust as if Riley had just claimed two plus two equaled seventeen.
"Five?"
It came out like a curse. Like the very idea of a number that offended him.
Riley, meanwhile, blinked. Once. Twice. Because something in the back of his mind stirred.
"My father—" he began, nearly screeching, then stopped.
His breath caught. Eyes widened.
Wait.
Had he…ever seen the actual contract?
The memory of his "appointment" came back in glorious, traumatizing detail. He was shoved into a car, handed a bag of lunch and a pen, and told:
"Don't worry, son."
"It's only five years. You'll be back home before you know it."
And then the door locked behind him.
Famous last words. He scoffed inwardly.
Riley's smile faltered; the memory had stayed fresh ever since that day.
And yet how could he have missed something this important?!
"Sir," Riley said, smiling through the sudden tightness in his chest as frustration started eating up his original confidence.
"Just for formality's sake…could I take a quick look at my employment contract?"
Lord Kael didn't answer right away, and each second felt like an eternity to Riley, who did not foresee this situation.
Meanwhile, the stoic threat before him blinked once, slow and lazy, like a lizard sunbathing on a pile of someone else's bad decisions.
And only then did he finally say, "Sure."
"!!!"
Riley turned on his heel, one foot already out the door.
"But where," Kael's voice cut through his remaining defenses, "do you think you're going?"
Riley stopped. Slowly turned back around. "I…was going to HR?"
Kael stared at him with those golden, ancient eyes that always looked like they knew how you'd die.
"It's not with HR," he said calmly.
Riley blinked. "Huh?"
Kael's gaze sharpened. He leaned forward just a little.
"You're not employed by the company," he said.
"???"
"My Lord?" Riley asked, now sweating in places he didn't know could sweat.
"You were never employed by the company," Kael repeated.
There was a pause.
Then, very casually, Kael added, "Your life contract has always been with me."
And then a bright light filled the room.
Riley covered his eyes.
And screamed.