Two years had flown by in a blur, and Laura's visits had become regular events the family looked forward to. With each visit, Raiden noticed how her time at the academy refined her skills, confidence, and grace.
Laura was well on her way to becoming a formidable force, and it was clear the academy was doing wonders for her training. Raiden found himself inspired by her progress, and he only became more determined to push his own growth even further.
Today, Raiden was in his room, thoroughly absorbed in mastering a new skill he'd just purchased from the Skill Draw System: [Minor Mana Manipulation].
It was a D-Rank skill that allowed him to mold raw mana with some precision—enough to form small mana orbs.
The skill wasn't overwhelming in power, but for Raiden, it was a significant step forward. He could now practice controlling pure mana, and the potential thrilled him.
Raiden held his palm out, watching as a small, rotating ball of mana took shape, swirling and glowing softly. He grinned, entirely engrossed in the exercise, unaware of anything around him. The world outside his room might as well not have existed.
»«»«»«
Across the hall, Kent had been reading a book on magical history, though his thoughts kept drifting to his younger brother. Over the last two years, Raiden had grown sharper in every way.
Their bond had strengthened, and they did almost everything together. Raiden's swordsmanship had improved under the guidance of Kent, the family's Chief Guard, Leonard, and even Lord Cedric.
A restlessness pulled Kent from his thoughts. He felt the urge to go for a walk and decided that dragging Raiden along would be more fun than going alone. He rose from his chair, crossed the hall to Raiden's room, and gave the door a solid knock.
Nothing.
He knocked again. Silence.
Kent sighed, muttering to himself, "He's probably ignoring me." Without further hesitation, he opened the door and stepped inside.
What he saw made him freeze in his tracks.
Raiden was sitting cross-legged on his bed, a glowing sphere of mana rotating steadily above his palm. His expression was one of deep concentration, and he hadn't yet noticed Kent's presence.
Kent blinked, his mouth opening slightly as he tried to process what he was seeing. His little brother, at just five years old, was manipulating mana with ease. 'Mana manipulation… and that could only mean…'
The sound of the door opening snapped Raiden from his focus. He glanced up, his eyes widening slightly before he quickly dispelled the mana ball with a flick of his fingers.
"Oh. Uh… oops." Raiden cleared his throat, giving Kent a sheepish smile. "You weren't supposed to see that until next year."
Kent's jaw clenched. He remembered the bet they'd made two years ago, and while he'd known Raiden was serious, he hadn't expected this.
Raiden wasn't supposed to have a mana heart for at least another year. But here he was, casually molding raw mana as if it were nothing.
Kent's face hardened, and he turned, heading back out of the room with purpose. Raiden jumped off the bed, realizing that his brother wasn't going to take this news lightly.
"Hey! Wait up!" Raiden called, but Kent didn't stop.
As Kent reached the hall, he bolted down the corridor with Raiden hot on his heels. For a brief moment, Kent felt a surge of surprise—Raiden was fast. In fact, he seemed to be catching up, something Kent hadn't expected from his younger brother.
"Since when could you keep up with me?" Kent muttered under his breath, but he pushed himself harder, making a beeline for their father's private chamber.
Raiden gritted his teeth. "Come on, Kent! You don't need to tell him yet!"
Kent ignored him, his voice ringing through the hallway as he neared the door. "Father! Raiden has a mana heart!"
"Hey, hey! Don't tell him!" Raiden's feet flew across the floor as he poured his energy into one final sprint. He closed the distance between them, and just as Kent reached for the door, Raiden activated one of his other skills: [Binding Grasp].
Mana flowed through his fingers, and with a deft motion, he wrapped a strand of mana around Kent, holding him fast. Kent's eyes widened as he found himself bound, unable to move.
"Hehe…" Raiden grinned mischievously, pulling his brother away from the door. "Let's go somewhere else to talk about this, shall we?"
Kent narrowed his eyes, struggling against the binding, but Raiden's grip held firm. "You little—" Kent growled, but before he could say anything more, he threw his head back and yelled, "FATHER!"
The door to Lord Cedric's chambers swung open with a resounding bang. Lord Cedric stepped out, his sharp gaze sweeping over the scene: Kent, bound and being dragged down the hall by Raiden, who was wearing a look of pure mischief.
"What's going on here?" Lord Cedric's voice was calm, but his eyes held a glint of curiosity.
Raiden froze, his grin fading as he met his father's gaze. "Um… good morning, Father," he said, doing his best to look innocent. "We were just… practicing."
Kent glared at his younger brother, exasperation written all over his face. "Father, Raiden has a mana heart! I saw him manipulating mana!"
Lord Cedric's brows lifted in surprise, and his gaze shifted back to Raiden. He studied his son for a long moment, and then his expression softened into one of pride.
"Raiden," he said quietly, "is this true?"
Raiden hesitated, glancing between Kent and his father. There was no use denying it now, so he nodded, his head held high. "Yes, Father. I created my mana heart two months ago." He lied.
Lord Cedric's eyes gleamed with a mixture of surprise and pride as he stepped closer, placing a hand on Raiden's shoulder. "A mana heart at five… You've surpassed even my wildest expectations, son."
Raiden's cheeks flushed, though he tried to keep his expression calm. "Thank you, Father."
"Release your brother," Lord Cedric added with a chuckle, nodding toward the mana strands binding Kent. "Let him have his dignity."
Raiden sighed, snapping his fingers as he dispelled the binding. Kent huffed, brushing himself off and shooting Raiden a look.
"I can't believe you've been hiding this from me for two whole months," Kent said, his tone half-annoyed, half-admiring. "And you didn't think to tell me sooner?"
Raiden shrugged, giving him a sly grin. "I thought it'd be more fun to keep it a secret."
Lord Cedric laughed, clapping both his sons on the shoulders. "It seems we have two prodigies in the family. But remember, Raiden—this power is a gift, one that should be used wisely."
Raiden nodded solemnly. "I understand, Father."
As the three of them walked back toward the main hall, Kent leaned over, giving Raiden a playful nudge. "Just wait until Laura hears about this. She's going to flip."
Raiden chuckled, excitement sparking in his eyes. "Good. I can't wait to see her face."
Lord Cedric smiled as he watched his sons. "It's a rare thing, to see such talent in one family. Both of you, remember this: strength and skill are nothing without honor. Use what you've learned to protect, not just to win. Especially to protect your family."
Both boys nodded, and Raiden felt a renewed sense of purpose. He wasn't just playing with power—he was wielding something meaningful, something that could shape his future and the future of the Goldheart family.
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A/N: Please Support with your stones. They go a long way. Thank you.