Laura descended the grand staircase of the Goldheart estate with quiet grace, a warm smile lingering on her face as she recalled breakfast with her family two days ago.
Raiden's bold declaration of his goal to break Kent's mana heart record still echoed in her mind. She chuckled softly to herself, the memory filling her with a sense of pride and excitement.
Though Laura had been hailed as a rare genius when she forged her mana heart at eight, her record didn't last long. Kent had come along, creating his mana heart a full year earlier, and his success had overshadowed her own.
His talent was undeniable, and he was celebrated as a prodigy that appeared once every five hundred years—a title that had only ever belonged to the family's second head before him.
But now, it seemed Raiden was poised to shatter Kent's record too. Laura couldn't help but look forward to it, not only because she wanted to support her little brother, but also because she was curious to see how Kent would react to having his own record broken. 'This will be good for him,' she thought with a smirk. 'A little humility might do wonders.'
Laura had recently enrolled at the prestigious BlueHeart Academy, an elite institution where the kingdom's finest young talents honed their skills.
She was due to start the new term soon, but after the registration process, she had managed to return home briefly to celebrate Raiden's third birthday. She'd missed it due to her commitments but was determined to make the most of this time with him.
'And what better way than to give him a taste of real training?' she mused as she made her way outside, certain she'd find him somewhere on the grounds. Raiden was rarely indoors—she often saw him dashing around the estate, busy with whatever mischief he could find.
As she stepped out into the open air, a sudden shout drew her attention. She spotted Raiden sprinting across the courtyard, his face twisted in what looked like pure terror as he bolted away from a large, agitated horse trotting after him.
"Ahhh!" he screamed, glancing over his shoulder, clearly panicking as he picked up speed. The horse neighed and continued after him, its pace measured but determined.
Laura sighed, crossing her arms as she shook her head. 'This little rascal is always in trouble.' In a flash, she took off, sprinting to intercept the horse. With one graceful movement, she placed herself between Raiden and the animal, calming it with a firm but gentle hand on its bridle.
"Easy, there," she murmured, stroking the horse's mane until it stilled, its head dipping as it relaxed.
Raiden, breathless and wide-eyed, came to a stop beside her. He gave her a sheepish grin, clearly relieved to be out of harm's way. "Thanks, Laura," he panted, catching his breath.
"What on earth were you doing?" she asked, an eyebrow raised as she turned to him. "Did you seriously rile up a horse?"
Raiden shrugged, his face as innocent as he could make it. "I wasn't riling it up… I was just, you know… training."
Laura blinked, surprised. "Training? Training what, exactly?"
Raiden grinned, though his face scrunched up slightly as he gave her a conspiratorial whisper. "Stamina. Gotta be ready for my future mana heart, right?"
Laura stared at him for a moment, then laughed, shaking her head. "Oh, so being chased around the courtyard by a horse was your idea of stamina training?"
Raiden's grin widened as he nodded, clearly pleased with his logic. But Laura's nose wrinkled as she caught a whiff of a peculiar odor clinging to his clothes, and her expression shifted to one of mild disgust.
"Raiden… what is that smell?" she asked, waving a hand in front of her face.
Raiden winced, scratching the back of his head. "Ah… I may have, um, borrowed a bit of animal feed. You know, for authenticity."
"Authenticity?" Laura laughed. "So, the smell of feed is why that horse was chasing you?"
"Maybe…" Raiden mumbled, his cheeks turning pink. "I was just testing a theory."
Laura chuckled, shaking her head in amused disbelief. "Well, if you're so determined to train, how about I help you?"
Raiden's eyes lit up, though his expression quickly shifted to one of suspicion. "Wait, what kind of training?"
Laura smirked, crossing her arms. "The kind that doesn't involve you getting chased by the stable animals. Come on, little brother. I'll show you what real stamina training looks like."
Raiden's shoulders slumped, but he followed her, knowing there was no getting out of it. As they walked toward the training yard, he glanced up at her, curiosity winning over his apprehension.
"So… what kind of training are we talking about?" he asked cautiously.
"Basic drills," she replied, her tone matter-of-fact. "Running laps, stretches, controlled breathing. We'll start small, but you'll feel the difference soon enough."
Raiden made a face, but he kept quiet as they reached the training yard. Laura gestured for him to stand in front of her, her expression suddenly serious.
"All right," she said, hands on her hips. "The first thing you need to learn, Raiden, is control. You have a lot of energy, which is good, but if you don't learn how to focus that energy, it'll be wasted. You want to break Kent's record, don't you?"
Raiden's face lit up with determination, and he nodded vigorously. "Of course I do!"
"Then pay attention." Laura's tone was firm but encouraging. "First, we'll work on your breathing. Proper breathing will help you control your stamina and focus. Now, stand up straight and take a deep breath, from your belly—not your chest."
Raiden did as she said, his brows furrowing as he concentrated on breathing the way she showed him. After a few tries, he looked up at her, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Am I doing it right?"
Laura nodded, a proud smile on her face. "Exactly. Now, keep that up while we start the next exercise. We're going to run a few laps around the yard. Ready?"
Raiden groaned but took off the moment she gave the signal, his small legs pumping as he raced ahead. Laura laughed and jogged behind him, calling out instructions to keep him on pace. They ran until Raiden was breathless and his legs felt like jelly, but by the end of it, his grin had returned, wider than ever.
"That… was actually kind of fun," he panted, looking up at her with a mixture of exhaustion and pride.
Laura ruffled his hair, her gaze warm. "You did great, Raiden. Remember, training isn't just about pushing yourself. It's about building strength, little by little. You'll get there."
Raiden nodded, his eyes sparkling with determination. "Thanks, Laura. I'm gonna be the best, you know. Better than Kent. Better than everyone!"
Laura smiled, pulling him into a gentle hug. "I know you will, little brother. And I'll be right here, helping you every step of the way."
As they walked back toward the house, Raiden's mind buzzed with excitement. He had taken his first real step toward his goal, and with Laura's support, he knew he was closer than ever to surpassing the family's expectations.
He glanced up at his sister, a grin spreading across his face. 'This is only the beginning.'