Daily Rewards! Transmigrating into a novel as a side-character!

"Adrian! Sweetie, you're back already! Do you miss us that much? You have to be punctual at the academy, what if you... wait, your power..."

My mother was by no means weak - she was Transcendent rank, so she could easily sense that I had solidified my position at Elite rank.

I chuckled softly at the barrage of questions and concerns before saying, "You fired off multiple questions at once, Mother. Which one would you like me to answer first?"

Before she could respond, I heard my father's footsteps coming down the stairs. He had sensed my arrival as well.

He greeted me warmly before commenting on my stabilized Elite rank status. I nodded and explained that I'd had a fortuitus encounter in the forest while hunting that had pushed my abilities to solidify at this level.

My father looked pleased but cautioned me to be more careful in the future. I assured him he didn't need to worry.

We settled into the living room, and my father's expression grew more serious as he addressed the matter I knew was coming.

"The guards informed me about an unconscious boy you brought back," he said, his tone measured but clearly expecting a full explanation. "They said he appeared to be injured and malnourished. What exactly happened out there, Adrian?"

I had prepared for this question during my walk back to the estate.

"I found him in the forest, seemingly attacked by a beast. He was unconscious and bleeding from a head wound. I couldn't just leave a child to die in the wilderness."

My mother's expression softened with concern. "The poor thing. Is he badly hurt?"

"He should recover with proper care," I said. "Though he'll need time and attention. He appears to have been living rough for some time."

My father nodded his head. He didn't seem to have any issue with me taking responsibility over Kael.

"Alright. We will take care of him until he wakes up. Then we'll need to determine what's best for him."

After my dad finished speaking, my communication crystal began ringing. I excused my self before answering it.

"Young Master," came the voice of one of our estate healers, "the boy you brought in has awakened. His wounds have been treated and he appears to be in stable condition, though he seems quite distressed and confused about his surroundings."

"I see," I replied. "How is his overall condition?"

"The head injury has healed completely. He's physically well, but he appears frightened and won't speak to any of us. He keeps asking where he is and looking around as if expecting danger."

My parents exchanged glances, clearly picking up on the conversation despite only hearing my side.

"I'll be there shortly," I said, ending the communication.

My father raised an eyebrow. "The boy is awake already?"

I nodded my head before standing up. "He must be tougher than he appeared, I should go see him. He'll probably be more comfortable seeing a familiar face."

My mother looked concerned. "The poor child must be terrified waking up in a strange place. Be gentle with him, Adrian."

"Of course, Mother," I replied, making my way toward the room where Kael was being cared for.

Arriving at the room where Kael was temporarily residing, I knocked on the door three times. Kael answered shortly after with a cautious tone.

"Come in."

Inside, Kael was still in bed, covered by a white blanket. The room was one of our guest chambers, it was really well-appointed but not overly luxurious like our main rooms, with warm lighting and comfortable furnishings.

Walking inside, I took a seat in the chair beside his bed.

Seeing Kael looking visibly tense, I offered a warm smile. Despite being roughly my age, the effects of malnutrition were clearly evident in his smaller, more fragile frame.

"How are you feeling?" I asked calmly.

"I'm alright, thank you," Kael replied, though his voice carried underlying uncertainty.

"May I ask... where am I?" His silver eyes met mine directly, and I could see his shoulders remained rigid with tension.

"You are currently residing in the house of the Blackwood's," I explained calmly. "I was training in the forest when I found you injured in the forest. Then, I brought you here for treatment. Our healers have taken care of your wounds."

Kael's eyes widened slightly at the mention of the noble family name. Even orphans knew of the four Great Ducal Houses.

"The Blackwood..." he repeated quietly, processing this information. "Why would you help me? I'm nobody important."

His tone carried years of being told he was unwanted, that his existence was a burden. The pain in those few words revealed just how deeply the orphanage's treatment had affected him.

"Everyone deserves help when they're hurt. You don't need to be 'important' for your life to have value."

"What's your name? Also, do you have family that I can take you to?" I asked, despite knowing the answer would be no. I couldn't reveal that I already knew details about his background.

I could still see the wariness in his silver eyes as he studied my face, trying to determine my true intentions.

Kael shook his head slowly. "My name is Kael. As for the second question...I don't have anyone left in this world. My family died during a beast attack years ago."

Kael's voice had a flat tone, as if he had accepted this painful reality long ago. There was no self-pity in his words, just a truthful statement that revealed the depth of his isolation.

"I see. In that case, would you like to stay here? At least until you decide what you want to do next." I said gently.

Kael's eyes widened with surprise and suspicion. "Stay here? In a duke's house? Why would you offer that to someone like me?" His hands moved uncomfortably under the blanket.

The question revealed his deep-seated belief that he was unworthy of kindness or consideration. Years of being called a cursed demon child had clearly taken their toll on his self-perception.

"Because you need somewhere safe to recover, whilst you are well now, you might still be injured and because fate has brought us together. Since I brought you here, I will naturally make sure you are well before leaving. I don't like to start things without finishing them, that's how I am." I said, with a soft but firm tone.

Kael stared at me for a long moment, clearly trying to process this unexpected offer. One of his hands gripped the blanket tightly whilst the other remained hidden under.

I could see him wrestling with conflicting internal emotions. After a few seconds of contemplation, Kael quietly said. "I... I don't have anything to offer in return, I can't pay you back for this kindness."

"I'm not asking you to, sometimes people help others simply because it's the right thing to do."

He remained silent for several more seconds, his internal struggle visible on his face. The orphanage had taught him that everything came with a price, that kindness was always conditional.

Finally, he nodded slowly. "If... if you're certain it won't be a burden, I would be grateful to stay. At least until I can figure out what to do."

His acceptance was cautious and hesitant, but it was acceptance nonetheless. The first step in steering him away from the dark future that had awaited him was complete.