Raiden lay in bed under a warm blanket, letting the day slip away as sleep slowly crept in. But just as he was dozing off, he caught a familiar flutter of vitality.
Warm and familiar, the mana softly but clearly touched his senses. Raiden opened his eyes and smiled.
"That's Kent," he murmured, recognizing his older brother's Mana signature. Obviously, Kent would be out training late.
Through the window, Raiden watched as the warm tones of the setting sun cast long shadows across the estate grounds. Kent was out there alone, precisely the target Raiden had been waiting to play with.
Without giving a second thought, Raiden slid out of bed and silently crept to the large glass-framed window in his room. Climbing onto the chair beside it, he rested his hands on the cool glass and looked down.
From his third-floor vantage, he could see a lone figure in the middle of the training yard, moving with perfect precision, his wooden sword cutting the air in clean arcs. Every strike he made was deliberate, each motion fluid.
In the backdrop, the golden glow of the setting sun accentuated the sweat on his brows.
Raiden's grin widened. "Time to liven things up."
He slowly tiptoed out of his room, walked down the twisting staircase, and slipped out of the building. The cool evening air tingled his skin, and he crossed the cobblestone path to the training grounds.
But the moment his foot touched the field, Kent turned mid-swing, his keen eyes fixed on Raiden. Without a word, he threw a damp cloth straight at Raiden's path.
Reflexes sharpened by instincts took over him as Raiden's hand shot upward and snatched the cloth before it could hit him. He looked at it, eyebrows lifted, a small frown tugging at his lips.
Kent laughed, a rich, hearty sound. "Fantastic catch, little brother." He said, strolling over to Raiden and setting aside his wooden sword, "I expected nothing less from you. So… mind telling me why you're out here instead of tucked in bed?"
A cheeky part of Raiden, the one from his memories of being Jace, replied. "Obviously, to teach a lesson on disturbing my sleep."
Though he knew that Kent might not take that very seriously, given his current three-year-old age.
'Maybe he too…' Raiden grinned, crossing his arms and staring into his brother's eyes.
He then declared. "You were training so loud that I couldn't sleep!" he pointed his small but pointy finger at Kent. "I came out here to chase you off—and beat you!"
Kent chuckled, trying to contain it, but a snort escaped, and soon he was laughing without restraint.
"Oh, is that so?" he said, then tossed Raiden a wooden training sword. "All right then, little warrior. Show me all you've got to offer."
Raiden reached for the sword—but before he could get hold of the hilt, Kent vanished from sight.
A blur of motion later, Raiden found himself lifted off the ground, spinning through the air while his brother's laughter echoed in his ears.
"Not bad," Kent said, catching him just before he landed embarrassingly. He then set Raiden gently and grinned. "But you have a long way to go. If you want to beat me, you'll need to train twice as hard."
Raiden waved him off, a smile curling on the corner of his lips. "Good," he said. "Then how about we make a bet?"
"A bet, huh?" Kent raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly would you like to gamble on?"
Raiden's eyes gleamed with determination. "I bet that my Mana Heart will awaken in less time than you awakened yours," he said boldly. "You awakened your Mana Heart seven of your own. I'll do it at least six months earlier."
Kent studied Raiden's face, his eyes narrowed, and his expression changed from amusement to fascination. "That's a bold assertion, Raiden," he said quietly. "You really think you can pull that off?"
Raiden didn't even flinch at his brother's gaze. "I know I will."
For a moment, Kent was silent, clearly considering the difficulty. At last, he nodded, a smile curling at the corners of his lips. "All right, then. We are laying bets on this."
"If you are able to awaken your Mana Heart before I did, I will grant you one wish. Anything you would want."
Just as Raiden was about to speak in excitement, he raised his hand and cut him off.
"Within reasonable bounds, of course," he added. "And you will have to wait until you have grown to adulthood."
Raiden considered the offer over and gave a firm nod. "Very good. One wish, within reason, whatever I want."
Kent chuckled and then placed a hand on Raiden's shoulder. Raising an eyebrow, he asked. "And what if you don't manage to do it?" he asked. "What happens next?"
Raiden tilted his head, a small grimace forming on his face. He hadn't really considered that possibility. "If I fail?" He shrugged, trying a casual attitude. "Then nothing changes. We just go on being brothers like always."
Kent let out a subdued laugh. "Fair enough."
He then reached out and tousled Raiden's hair. "Any ideals?"
Raiden grinned and slapped Kent's hand in quick agreement. "Dues."
The brothers burst into laughter. Kent crouched down so Raiden could climb onto his back. "Come on, young man," he said with a grin, lifting Raiden gently yet effortlessly. "Let's get you back to bed before Father finds you out here and starts questioning what kind of 'training' you were up to."
Raiden laughed, loving the feeling of being carried on Kent's shoulders as they made their way back home. Looking over his brother's shoulder, ideas of how he might win their bet were already racing through his mind.
The future held countless opportunities, and he felt more driven than ever, considering his bet with his brother.
As the house came into view, Kent slowed his pace and murmured, "You're serious about this, aren't you?"
Raiden nodded. "Completely."
Kent lifted his head, respect glittering in his eyes. "Good. Keep that fire burning, Raiden. While the road ahead won't be easy, I know that if anyone can do it, it's you."
Raiden's heart swelled with pride upon hearing his brother's words. "I won't let you down."
"I know," Kent grinned and stretched forward to give Raiden a firm pat on the back. "I never doubted that."
Their laughter echoed softly between them as the two brothers entered the house. The bet was placed, and the challenge accepted.
Raiden knew that the road ahead would be difficult, but his systems, determination, and family's support would help him get more than ready to face whatever might come his way.
After all, he had a promise to keep and records to break.