Raiden slept peacefully, bathing in a warm glow of the morning sunlight filtering gently through the tall windows of the Goldheart estate.
He blinked upon waking up, his vision slowly adjusting. Lady Elise stood nearby, her face one of pure relief, while Healer Hilda sat beside him, offering a warm, reassuring smile.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," Hilda said with a playful wink. "Set for round two?"
Raiden greeted both of them in a soft voice, still drowsy but polite. 'Good morning, mother. Good morning, Healer Hilda."
Lady Elise smiled tenderly and ran her hand over his hair. "Raiden, you have quite a scare. Seeing you so well-rested makes me glad."
Hilda leaned in, her face softening as she began examining him. Her hands moved gently as she used her Mana Sense, repeating the same technique from the previous evening to confirm his condition. After a few minutes, she stepped back and sighed in clear relief.
"Well, Raiden," she said, glancing at Lady Elise, "I can confidently say that there's absolutely nothing wrong with him. He is completely healthy."
Lady Elise let out a long breath she had been holding, and her shoulders relaxed as her face lit up. "Thank the heavens. I can finally be at ease."
Since she had finished her work, Hilda stood up, ready to take her level. However, Lady Elise shook her head and reached out to stop her. "Hilda, you have done so much for us. You should stay and have breakfast with us."
Raiden's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at Hilda with the most genuine expression. "Yes, please stay! We almost never have breakfast guests!"
Hilda hesitated and considered his plea. "Well, with such a lovely young lord requesting me," she said, "how can I refuse?"
Not long after, Raiden found himself being carried downstairs in Hilda's arms, who gently and reassuringly cradled him. He grinned inwardly, completely enjoying the attention until they arrived at the dining hall and he spotted Kent, already seated at the table, giving him a cheeky look.
Kent raised an eyebrow and smirked as he watched his younger brother with a sly smile. "Well, well," he teased, "look who's already charming the ladies. Raiden, what's a three-year-old doing in someone's arms who isn't his Mother?"
Raiden shot back after deliberately narrowing his eyes at Kent. "Oh, she offered to carry me," he said, his voice light and assured. "And as a gentleman, I couldn't possibly turn down a beautiful lady's request."
Laughter erupted around the table. Even Lord Cedric, seated at the head of the table with his usually stoic composure, chuckled aloud; the sternness on his face melting away. Kent shook his head, clearly amused, while Lady Elise covered her mouth, trying to stifle her laughter but to no avail.
Still, Hilda wasn't about to let the moment pass. Raiden sighed heavily when she rested her cheek against his head, her voice heavy with romance, "Oh, Raiden, you have become my one true love," she said. "I must carry you to save you the trouble of walking; you are still recovering from your fainting spell."
Once more, laughter rippled through the room until Lord Cedric raised his hands, motioning for everyone to calm down. Grinning and pointing toward the table, he said, "All right, all right. Let's all be seated before this turns into a full-blown performance."
Lady Elise sat on his right with Laura next to her. On his left was Kent, followed by Raiden and then Hilda, who had decided to stay for breakfast.
Soon, the breakfast was served, and as Raiden took in the assortment of dishes before him, his gaze drifted toward Kent, a sly smile playing on his lips. It was time to remind his brother of their little wager.
Raiden got going. "Kent," his voice laid back, "do you remember our bet?"
Kent lifted his head from his dish, a playful glint flickering in his eyes. "Of course I do. But what exactly is this? Are you backing out already?
Raiden snorted and crossed his arms. "No, I am not stepping back. In fact, I want the conditions to be changed."
Lady Elise raised her brow and looked between her two sons, curiosity lighting up her face. "A bet?" she asked. "Kent, with a three-year-old? What kind of bet is this?"
Kent shrugged and threw Raiden a teasing glance. "It's nothing severe. Raiden thought that he might awaken his Mana heart before I did mine."
Lady Elise's eyes widened, a flash of recognition crossing her face. She nodded and grinned, "So that's why you were asking me about Mana heart creation, Raiden. I should have known that it was a part of some challenge."
Raiden grinned at her, then turned back to Kent.
"I want to change the terms, Kent," he repeated. "I'll wake my Mana Heart a full year earlier than you did, instead of beating your record by six months."
The room went quiet for a brief moment before everyone turned to Raiden.
Lord Cedric broke the silence and smiled as he dropped his hand hard on the table. "That's my boy!" he exclaimed, sounding with great approval.
Kent blinked, a mix of surprise and admiration flickering in his eyes.
"A full year earlier?" he repeated, leaning forward to study Raiden closely. "Are you sure you are serious about this?"
Raiden met his gaze without flinching. "I want to surpass you straight away."
Kent chuckled and slowly shook his head. Then a genuine smile started to form on his face.
"I'll hold you to that, little brother. But don't you think it will be easy. I worked hard to get where I am now. If you want to catch up, you will have to do the same."
Lord Cedric raised his glass with a hearty laugh. "To both my sons," he said, his voice ringing with pride. "To Kent, who has raised the standards, and to Raiden, who is resolved to shatter every expectation."
Everyone on the table raised their glasses, making Raiden feel a surge of pride well up in his chest. This was only the beginning.
With his two systems, his Mana Heart, and an objective as clear as morning sunlight pouring through the windows, he knew there was a long road ahead, but he was prepared for the challenges that would come with it.