The past week had been one of constant motion and laughter, with all three siblings spending every moment together. Laura and Kent were determined to push Raiden, creating a training routine that seemed ambitious even to them.
And to their surprise, their three-year-old brother followed it with unwavering commitment, his stubborn determination shining through each day. Raiden swung his wooden sword, ran laps, practiced his breathing—whatever they told him to do, he did it without a single complaint.
Their mother, however, had her own thoughts on the matter.
"What do you three think you're doing?" Lady Elise had said one morning, hands on her hips as she watched the siblings train in the yard. Her gaze softened, though, as she turned to Raiden. "You're still a baby, Raiden. Your siblings are torturing you with all this… this nonsense."
"Mother, I asked them to!" Raiden had insisted, but the sharp look in Lady Elise's eyes told him his words had little effect.
"Enough of this," she declared, much to Raiden's horror. "I'm grounding all three of you."
Even though Raiden argued, insisting that he wanted to continue, Lady Elise wouldn't hear it. That is, until Lord Cedric had intervened, suggesting she let them train together, if only to strengthen the bond between the siblings.
Lady Elise had been reluctant, but a few days later, she found herself gazing out her bedroom window at the training yard below. There, she saw Raiden, his small wooden sword swinging in determined arcs, with Laura and Kent by his side, cheering him on and giving him pointers.
"They're really enjoying themselves," Lady Elise murmured, a smile tugging at her lips.
A sigh from her broke the silence, and Lord Cedric, who was reading in bed nearby, looked up. "Because Laura's leaving today, isn't it?"
Lady Elise nodded, her expression wistful as she walked over to join him. She nestled against him, resting her head on his chest, and he gently stroked her hair.
"She'll be fine," he reassured her. "In three years, we'll see her again. And don't forget, she'll still visit us for a few weeks each year."
Lady Elise sighed, her heart aching with the thought of saying goodbye to her daughter. Laura had always been the closest to her, and parting with her now felt like leaving behind a piece of herself.
«»«»
Meanwhile, in the training yard, Laura and Kent sat cross-legged in the grass, watching Raiden practice his swings with his custom-made wooden sword.
Kent leaned back, casually critiquing Raiden's form. "Swing harder, Raiden. If you're going to make this a habit, you need to put some real strength into it."
"Stay focused, Raiden," Laura added, her tone more encouraging as she kept her eyes fixed on him.
Raiden swung his sword, his small brows furrowed in concentration, but after a moment, he paused, glancing back at Laura. "Isn't today the day you leave for the academy?" he asked.
Laura nodded, though she raised an eyebrow at him. "And aren't you supposed to keep your focus until the end of the session?"
Raiden clicked his tongue, tossing his wooden sword to the side. "Training's over for today," he declared, crossing his arms defiantly. "If this is our last day together before you leave, I think we should spend it doing… better things."
"Better things?" Kent chuckled, crossing his arms with a smirk. "You mean mischievous things."
Raiden didn't deny it, a mischievous glint sparking in his eyes as he nodded eagerly. "Exactly. I say we make some memories before Laura leaves."
Laura glanced between her two brothers, a soft smile on her face as she shook her head in amusement. She was going to miss them more than she'd admit, and Raiden's plan sounded too tempting to resist. She glanced at Kent, who grinned and shrugged.
"All right, just this once," Kent said, "I'll indulge in your mischief."
Raiden's eyes lit up, and in no time, he had a plan.
Their first stop was the kitchen. They snuck in as quietly as possible, grabbing rolls, fruit, and anything else they could get their hands on. Once they'd eaten their fill, they scattered the remaining food around the kitchen, leaving a trail of crumbs, empty platters, and overturned jars.
"Mission accomplished," Raiden whispered, motioning for them to make a hasty exit.
Next, they headed to the guards' quarters, where they managed to "borrow" every sword in sight. Raiden giggled as he and his siblings hid the swords in haystacks around the stables, snickering at the idea of the guards frantically searching for their weapons later.
And finally, Raiden pulled out a small vial filled with a strange liquid he had "borrowed" from Healer Hilda. He grinned, unscrewing the top and carefully dabbing the liquid on each of them.
"What is that?" Laura asked, wrinkling her nose as the odd scent drifted up.
Raiden gave her a wicked grin. "It's a special liquid from Healer Hilda that attracts horses."
Kent's eyes widened. "Wait, are you saying—"
Before he could finish, the three siblings heard the distinct sound of hooves clopping toward them. They turned, watching as several horses broke free from the stables, their nostrils flaring as they caught the scent and trotted toward the trio with surprising enthusiasm.
"Run!" Raiden shouted, taking off as fast as his legs would carry him.
For the next two hours, the estate grounds were filled with the sound of laughter, squeals, and pounding hooves as Raiden, Kent, and Laura sprinted around, desperately dodging the horses that chased them.
Guards and servants looked on, bemused as the siblings dashed through the gardens, across the courtyards, and even around the stables, their laughter echoing as they escaped one near-capture after another.
«»«»
By the afternoon, a luxurious carriage bearing a blue emblem arrived at the main entrance. It was the academy's official transport, sent to collect Laura and escort her to the BlueHeart Academy.
The family gathered for a small farewell dinner, sharing stories, laughter, and promises to stay in touch. As the meal ended, each family member took turns hugging Laura goodbye.
Lord Cedric gave her a firm handshake, a proud gleam in his eyes as he told her to make the most of her time at the academy. Lady Elise held her daughter close, tears brimming in her eyes as she whispered a few last words of advice and encouragement.
Finally, it was Raiden's turn. He ran up to Laura, wrapping his small arms around her as tightly as he could. She knelt down, holding him close, and he whispered into her ear.
"Don't miss me too much, Laura. In three years, when you come back, I'll have forged my mana heart. Just wait and see."
Laura pulled back, looking into his eyes with a soft smile. "I'm sure you will," she said, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. "And I'll be looking forward to it."
With one last hug, she climbed into the carriage. Raiden and Kent watched as it pulled away, the blue emblem glinting in the late afternoon sun as the carriage rolled down the road, disappearing into the distance.
Raiden sighed, glancing up at Kent. A mischievous glint flashed in his eyes as he nudged his older brother. "One last race back to the house?"
Kent smirked, giving him a head start. "You're on, little brother."