Luke looked at John and said, "I can't actually build this right now. I have to go train with my grandpa."
John stared at him for a moment, then sighed."So you want me to make it while you go train for the academy next year?" he said. Then added, flatly, "Don't you think I also need to train? I'm joining next year too."
Luke stared at him with an overly exasperated expression."What the fuck do you mean train? You're already way too strong for a fourteen-year-old."
He paused mid-sentence, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Oh," Luke said slowly. "You're talking about your magic. The one your parents unlocked today."
John didn't respond immediately. He sat there in silence, his expression serious.
"I have to learn how to use magic," he finally said. Then, after a brief pause, "My system chip should activate any moment now."
He exhaled softly.
"Why don't you join one of the magic engineering clubs at the academy?" John continued. "Ask them for a grant to build this. It'll be much easier that way—and you'll have more students helping you."
Luke looked at him for a long moment, then smiled faintly."…You're right. That would be a lot easier."
Then, changing the subject, Luke asked, "So, are you coming to the festival tonight? The whole gang will be there."
"Fireworks!" Thalia shouted happily. "I wanna come too!"
John looked at her and said sternly, "Don't even think about it."Then he added, "I'm not suffering Mom's wrath by taking you out past bedtime."
He turned back to Luke."So everyone's going to be there?"
Luke nodded.
John sighed. "It's going to be a headache."
Luke smirked. "Come on. I know you care about us. Don't deny it."
John laughed. "God, after all these years you can still come up with bullshit delusions like that in that fucked-up head of yours."
"Hey!" Thalia said immediately. "You cursed. Put one sol in the jar."
John sighed. "Alright, alright."
He stood up from his seat."I'll try to come," he said. "I'll see you later."
He lifted Thalia and placed her on his shoulders, waving goodbye as Luke waved back. Then they left the restaurant and started walking home.
Meanwhile, at the Whitlock Estate
Lara sat silently on the couch in the living room.
Cassian approached from behind, leaned down, and wrapped his arms around her in a gentle hug.
She didn't respond. She didn't move.
Cassian sighed and straightened up before sitting beside her."Alright," he said carefully. "What did I do wrong?"
Lara finally spoke, her voice serious.
"I think we should remove the seal placed on John," she said. "It's not right to deliberately weaken someone—especially our son—because of our paranoia."
Cassian sighed."Lara, the seal exists for a reason," he said. "You know my bloodline. I never awakened it because I didn't want to become that person again. But John… John is different."
Her gaze sharpened."What are you trying to say?" she asked. "Choose your next words carefully."
Cassian met her eyes."You and I both know John was born with his bloodline already awakened," he said. "And you know what happens to someone with too much power."
He paused, then continued quietly,"Anyone with overwhelming power eventually starts asking why they should follow the rules of those weaker than them. We learned that lesson again and again during the war."
"John is not like that!" Lara shouted."I don't care about the world," she continued. "I don't want to lose my son because of that damn seal. And I don't want him to suffer because of your paranoia—and the council's."
Cassian looked at her, worry etched across his face."Lara," he said gently, "you're seeing this with the eyes of a mother."
Then he added, more firmly,"Try looking at it this way—John isn't like other children. He's far too intelligent for his age."
He continued,"His physical stats are already off the charts because of his awakened bloodline. He's stronger now than I was at his age. And now that his magic has been unlocked…"
Cassian inhaled deeply.
"If we remove the seal completely, every restriction on his bloodline disappears. His Authorities will manifest. That's too much power for a single person. That's why the council placed the seal in the first place."
Lara stood up abruptly."You're telling me to look at this from another perspective?" she snapped. "Maybe you should take your own advice and look at this like a father—not a council member."
She walked away, her voice echoing down the hall.
"You're sleeping on the couch tonight."
The room fell silent as she left.