I Received System to Become Dragonborn

His mother leaned back in her chair, looking at Erend with a calm but attentive gaze.

"If there's something on your mind, Erend, you can talk to us," she said gently.

Arty, sitting just beside her, turned toward him and nodded.

"Yeah," she added softly. "You don't have to carry everything alone."

Erend went quiet. The breeze rustled the leaves above them while he stared out across the backyard, thinking.

There was a lot on his mind—more than he could ever say. Most of it was too risky to share, too steeped in the chaos of other worlds. He didn't know if even mentioning certain things could bring danger to their doorstep. Better, maybe, to keep it all buried.

But staying silent too long had its own weight. The more he held back, the more it felt like he was building a wall between himself and his family—isolating them from his life. He didn't want that.

So he took a breath, choosing his words carefully.

"Actually... I've been a little worried about something," Erend finally said. "It's about my relationship with Aurdis."

Both his mother and Arty looked up instantly.

He hesitated, then continued, "I know we love each other, but... I don't think her father really approves of me. I don't think he wants me to be with her."

Arty's eyes widened. "Wait—what?" she blurted, clearly stunned. "I thought your relationship with that beautiful Elf sister was going smooth!"

Their mother looked equally surprised, though she kept her composure. "Have you tried speaking with her father directly about it?"

Erend exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Not about this specifically. I've wanted to. I think this is the kind of thing that needs a private, serious conversation. But the problem is... there's just never been a good moment. Things have been chaotic in the Elven kingdom lately. And the king... he's injured right now. Pretty bad."

Both Arty and their mother exchanged another look—shocked again, but this time more somber. The idea that the Elven king was hurt, and that there was no time for a talk as important as this, made it clear just how overwhelming things had become.

"…Then it really sounds like you've been holding this in for a while," their mother said gently.

Erend gave a small, sad smile. "Yeah. I guess I have."

Arty gazed out toward the horizon, her eyes distant as her thoughts wandered. The golden sunlight painted the sky, casting shadows across the backyard.

"The relationship between humans is already complicated," she mused aloud, her voice light and almost dreamy, "and now we have a human with Dragon power... and an Elf princess."

Erend shot her a flat look. "Yeah. Thanks for pointing that out, little sister."

Arty turned to him with a small, sad smile and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Erend. It'll be alright. If you can't convince her father, just kidnap her and bring her here. What can they do when you've got Dragon power?"

Their mother blinked, clearly stunned. "Arty, that's not something good to say. When did you get so... evil?"

Arty chuckled, shrugging. "I'm just saying that as a last resort."

Erend sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Not even considering that option," he muttered. If Eccar were here, he was pretty sure his old friend would've thrown out the same ridiculous idea without hesitation. But Erend wasn't about to abuse his power like that, not even for love. Probably.

They continued talking for a while longer, their conversation shifting into lighter topics. Laughter returned, soft and familiar, until the sky dimmed and evening crept in.

Eventually, they all made their way back inside, the warmth of the house welcoming them as twilight turned to night.

Later, as the stars began to bloom in the darkened sky, two familiar figures arrived at the front door. Billy and Adrien stepping into the porch light of Erend's front door.

Erend opened the front door and found his friend—and superior from the military—standing there.

"Hello there!" Billy greeted with his usual wide grin, eyes sparkling with mischief.

"You good, Drake?" Adrien added with a calm smile, his tone casual but warm.

Erend stepped aside and motioned them in. "Come in."

They walked through the house and headed straight into the backyard, where the quiet evening breeze still lingered in the air.

As they passed, Billy and Adrien greeted Arty and his mother. Billy even reached out to ruffle Arty's hair playfully. Arty immediately glared at him in response, but Billy only laughed, clearly enjoying her reaction.

They took their seats around the backyard chairs, the group quickly falling into light conversation. Familiar banter and laughter passed between them as the stars slowly blinked into view above.

Then, Adrien's tone shifted. His smile faded and his posture straightened as he looked toward Erend.

"General Lennard asked me to pass a message," he said. "He wants you back on duty. Time to get back to work as a soldier."

Erend's expression sobered. He leaned forward slightly, meeting Adrien's eyes. "Is something wrong?"

Adrien shook his head. "Nothing serious, no. It's just…" He gave a small shrug. "You're still enlisted. And the General says you haven't shown up to work in... well, quite a while. He understands you've been handling major things in another world, but even so, he says it's important to keep to your role here too."

Erend sighed and rubbed his face with one hand. "You're right."

Billy leaned back, arms crossed behind his head. "To be fair, the General's not really pushing hard. He knows your power. He knows what you've done for our world." He chuckled. "It's not like he can really force you back."

Erend gave a tired smile. "Yeah, I figured."

Erend leaned back in his chair, staring at the stars for a moment before his mind began working. He thought about his duties—both as a soldier here and as a Dragonborn protector in other worlds. Balancing both had always been hard. But perhaps… there was a solution.

With enough focus, he could create a clone. It wouldn't be capable of fighting great battles or wielding all his strength, but it could do simple tasks. It would look like him, move like him, follow orders. That way, if he had to leave again, something—or someone—would still be present on this side.

Still, that wasn't needed yet. He was here now.

"I'll go in tomorrow," Erend said, looking back at Adrien and Billy. "To the base."

Adrien nodded once, approving. "Good. That'll make the General happy."

Then Adrien leaned forward slightly, more personal now. "Is everything okay… over there?"

"It's okay," Erend replied with a calm nod. "There are some things going on, but nothing I can't handle. At least… nothing that needs my full power yet."

---

Meanwhile, in another world…

A quiet tavern sat tucked in a crooked corner of a town, its wooden walls worn from age but still standing strong. Mark pushed through the front door without a word, nodding briefly to the bartender who gave him no second glance.

He moved through the dim common room, then slipped into a small private chamber in the back.

Inside, three people were already waiting.

Two women and a man.

The first woman wore a dark hood, her golden eyes glinting like a predator's from beneath the shadows. The second woman leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, a faint glow tracing along her fingertips. The man sat with his legs stretched out and a wine bottle in hand.

"We got a job. From the king himself," Mark said.

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