2 – Something greater than yourself

Aiden sat alone on his couch, his eyes blankly staring ahead. His frustration had been building for days, and it had finally reached its boiling point. Without warning, he picked up an empty glass cup and threw it across the living area, shattering it into a million pieces.

The sound echoed through the house, causing the servants inside to look curiously at their master. Aiden didn't care; he was too consumed by his anger to worry about their opinions.

The door opened, and Raymond stepped forward, wearing black leather gloves over his hands. The other hand held a briefcase wrapped securely under his arm.

Looking down at the broken shards scattered along the carpet, he walked closer and kicked on a shard sticking halfway out of the wood frame beneath the coffee table. It snapped free, easily falling apart into two pieces.

"What a temper you got there, young lad!" said Raymond, his tone light-hearted.

Aiden's eyes flickered towards Raymond before returning to his blank stare, "Why should I care anyway? I am stuck here."

Raymond raised an eyebrow, looking around the large mansion, "You consider all this your form of 'stuck here'?"

He pointed to the grand piano standing tall near the fireplace, and several instruments lined neatly next to its side.

Rolling his eyes, Aiden answered sarcastically, "Yeah sure, whatever helps you sleep better tonight knowing someone else has it worse than you."

Raymond smirked, "Well, let us see, shall we?"

Taking a seat, he pulled open the case containing two items – a blue envelope and a green card.

Raymond chuckled at the sight of Aiden's gaze focused on the green card, "You don't even hide the fact that you had been shut out completely, huh, kiddo? No matter how much wealth you possess, nothing matters unless you use it wisely. That goes double for those who inherit fortunes – they must also understand the value behind using said assets properly."

Aiden stared intently at the card, not saying anything further. After taking another sip of his drink from its bottle, he finally asked, "So why did father send these, to begin with?"

Raymond looked at Aiden with a serious expression, his voice low and measured. "Your father wanted to make certain you knew exactly what kind of man he really was."

Aiden sat up straight, his eyes fixed on the lawyer. He had always known his father was successful, but he never truly understood the extent of his wealth and power.

Pulling off his glove, Raymond placed it gently atop the tabletop. With a heavy sigh, he opened the envelope and removed a single sheet of paper. "Dear son," he began, his voice clear and steady, "if you ever get to listen to my final wishes, it would mean you had grown mentally capable to handle being responsible for something greater than yourself..."

Aiden felt a knot form in his stomach as he listened to his father's words. He had always felt like he was living in his father's shadow, never quite measuring up to his expectations. But now, with his father gone, the weight of those expectations felt even heavier.

Raymond paused momentarily, letting the meaning sink deeply within Aiden's heart. Then he continued reading, "…the most important thing anyone could do is learn to control themselves rather than others. You need to find balance in life, otherwise, you'll never reach true happiness because people always want more. When you have learned to manage each side of humanity, you might become successful someday despite having inherited billions of dollars worth of property and possessions. If you haven't yet figured out how to live well beyond materialism, please take heed now…"

Aiden listened intently, his mind racing with the weight of his father's words. He knew that his father had always been focused on success, but he had never really understood why. Now, with these words, he felt like he was beginning to understand.

Raymond stopped again, waiting patiently for Aiden to finish listening. When silence lingered between both men, he resumed speaking once more. "...and remember one simple rule–never forget about us! Your parents love you dearly, do good work, and know that every day spent working hard means fewer days wasted indulging yourself like some spoiled brat."

Aiden leaned back in his chair, his mind racing with a mix of emotions. He missed his parents terribly, and the weight of their expectations felt overwhelming. But he also knew that he had been given an incredible opportunity, and he didn't want to waste it.

As he tried to process his thoughts, Raymond reached into his pocket, pulling out a blue velvet handkerchief. He got to his feet, walked over, and stretched it out to Aiden. "Maybe their spirits aren't far anymore, perhaps somewhere nearby watching everything unfold."

Aiden took the handkerchief, his eyes filling with tears. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of emotions, unable to fully comprehend everything that was happening.

Raymond returned to his briefcase, picking up a small green card. He turned back towards Aiden with a grim look on his features. "Would you like to prove yourself resourceful?" he asked, his voice serious.

Aiden furrowed his brows in confusion, unsure of what Raymond was asking. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"You have a year ahead of you to show your ability to do this. This should give you ample opportunity to figure out whether you've got what it takes to succeed here or not..." Raymond said, handing over the card. "There will be a designated amount of cash sent directly into that card weekly—no exceptions!"

Aiden's eyes widened as he took the card. He felt a rush of excitement and fear as he realized that this was his chance to prove himself. "It can't be that bad, right?" he said.

"It all depends on you, young lad." Raymond responded in his mind, his voice deep and wise.

Aiden examined the card closely, noticing its holographic design depicting three dragons flying above a mountain range. There were also four words written below: Dragon's Den Credit Card. He had never seen anything like it before. He had almost said the words written behind, but he was stopped by Raymond interrupting first.

"Young lad, remember what your father had said in the letter," Raymond said, his voice echoing in Aiden's mind. "You can explore the card later on. We will meet again soon."

Aiden looked up from the card, staring at Raymond in confusion. "What do you mean?" he asked aloud, his voice echoing in the small room.

Raymond stepped closer to Aiden, his imposing figure casting a long shadow across the floor. "Your father left this card for you, Aiden. It is a gift, but also a responsibility," he said, his voice lowering in tone. "You must use it wisely."

Aiden nodded slowly, still unsure of what to make of the strange card in his hand. "But what is it for? What can I do with it?" he asked, turning the card over in his hand.

Aiden's mind was racing with questions, but before he could ask any more, Raymond interrupted him. "I must go, Aiden. But remember, the card is a tool, and it all depends on you how you use it," he said, before turning and heading towards the elevator shaft.

Aiden watched as Raymond disappeared down the elevator, still clutching the strange card in his hand. He didn't know what to make of it, but he had a feeling that his life was about to change forever.

As he walked out of the room, Aiden couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. He felt a shiver run down his spine, and he quickened his pace, eager to get out of the dimly lit hallway.

–––––––––––

When Aiden enters his room, he discovers a number of messages waiting for him, including calls made earlier today by his friends inquiring whether anything had occurred since last night.

"Tch—gold diggers!" Aiden laughs.

He picks up the credit card while lying flat on top of the bed and gives it a close look. He eventually makes the decision to call out what he had observed behind after reading off some numbers printed along the side. "Pair up with me."

Ding!

Aiden jumps slightly when the entire room emits an electronic chime, but there is nothing out of the ordinary when he carefully scans the area.

[Pairing is ongoing]

[.... 10% loading]

[45%.... 75%.... 100%]

[Pairing complete]

"What the fuck did I agree to?" Aiden couldn't help but utter as he stared in astonishment at the green screen that was hovering in front of him.

[Greetings, host. I'm happy to introduce myself as one of the numerous dragon companions that are accessible in our realm. I'm called Lyris. You could need some help during these difficult moments, as I've learned via our pairing. Would you be interested in finding out how I can help you?]