The past week had been filled with laughter, sweat and constant motion as the three siblings spent every moment with one another.
Determined to push Raiden, Laura and Kent developed an aspirational training plan that challenged even themselves.
And to their surprise, their three-year-old brother followed it without any hesitation; his stubborn will was clear with every passing day.
Whether it was running laps, swinging his wooden sword, or practicing his breathing, whatever they suggested, Raiden did it all—without a single complaint.
Their mother, on the other hand, saw the matter differently.
"What do you think you three are doing?" Lady Elise's voice rang out one morning as she caught sight of the trio in the yard. Hands on her hips, her gaze darkened as she turned to Raiden.
"Raiden, you still have baby years," she said sharply. "Your siblings are torturing you with all this… this stupidity."
"But mother, I asked them to!" Raiden protested. But Lady Elise's stern eyes showed that she wasn't convinced by his words.
"Enough of this," she said, quite to Raiden's dismay. "All three of you are grounded."
Raiden argued, unwilling to give up on his training, but Lady Elise wouldn't hear it. It was only after Lord Cedric stepped in—reminding her that training together was strengthening their bond—that she reluctantly gave in.
Lady Elise had been sluggish at first, but a few days later, while she stood by her bedroom window, watching the children in the yard, she saw Raiden swinging his little wooden sword in deliberate arcs, guided gently by Laura and Kent at his side.
"They're really enjoying themselves," she murmured, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Her sigh disturbed the silence. Lord Cedric, who was reading in bed nearby, raised his head.
"Laura's leaving today, isn't she?"
Lady Elise nodded and walked over, her expression heavy. She nestled beside him and rested her head on his chest while he gently stroked her hair.
"She will be fine," he assured. "We will see her once again in three years—and she will still visit between studies."
Still, Lady Elise sighed again. Her heart ached at the thought of bidding her daughter goodbye. Laura had always been the closest to her, and letting her go now felt like letting go of a part of herself.
_____
Laura and Kent sat cross-legged on the grass in the training yard, watching Raiden as he practiced his swings with a homemade wooden sword.
Kent leaned back and offered Raiden a calm critique. "Swing harder, Raiden. If you want to build this habit, you will have to give it some real weight."
Laura fixed her eyes on Raiden as she added, "Stay focused," her voice more energetic.
Raiden swung his sword, his little eyebrows wrinkled in concentration, but he stopped and turned to Laura. "Isn't today the day you leave for the academy?"
Laura nodded, then raised an eyebrow at him. "And shouldn't you stay focused until the end of the session?"
With a dramatic click of his tongue, Raiden shoved his wooden sword aside and crossed his arms. "Training's over for today," he declared sharply. "I should spend our last day doing something better."
"Better things!" Kent laughed, crossing his arms smugly. "Sounds like mischief."
Raiden nodded, a cheeky glint flashing in his eyes, not denying his brother's remark. "Exactly. I say before Laura leaves, we make some memories."
Laura shook her head, laughing softly, a gentle smile spreading across her face as she looked between her two brothers. She was going to miss them more than she cared to admit—and Raiden's plan didn't sound half bad. She glanced at Kent, who just shrugged and grinned.
"All right," Kent said. "Just this once, I'll indulge your misbehavior."
Raiden's eyes lit up as he sprang into action.
_____
Their first stop was the kitchen. They slipped inside quietly, grabbing rolls, fruit, and anything else they could get their hands on.
Once they had eaten their fill, they left behind a trail of crumbs, empty platters, and overturned jars as they divided the remaining food about the kitchen.
"Mission accomplished," Raiden whispered, gesturing for them to flee.
Next, they went to the guard quarters, "borrowing" every sword they could find. Raiden laughed as he and his siblings buried the swords in haystacks around the stables, envisioning the guards desperately seeking their weapons later.
Finally, Raiden pulled out a small vial containing an unusual liquid he had "borrowed" from Healer Hilda. With a wicked grin, he took off the cork and lightly dabbed the liquid on each of them.
Laura wrinkled her nose and as the odd smell drifted up, she couldn't help but ask, "What is that?"
Raiden flashed her a nasty 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 could clearly hear the thunder of hooves clopping toward them. Turning around, they saw a herd of horses escape their stables, their nostrils flaring as they caught the scent and charged straight toward them.
"Run!" Raiden yelled, already bolting as fast as his legs could allow him.
For the next two hours, Raiden, Kent, and Laura hurried around desperately across the estate, avoiding the horses that were hot on their heels. Laughing, squealing, and pounding hooves filled the estate grounds.
As the siblings ran across the courtyards, across the gardens and even around the stables, guards and servants watched with amusement as they escaped one near-capture after another, their laughter ringing across the
grounds.
_____
By afternoon, a grand carriage bearing a blue insignia of BlueHeart Academy pulled up at the main entrance of the Goldheart estate, sent to pick Laura and guide her to the academy.
The family gathered for a small farewell dinner, sharing jokes, memories and promises to keep in touch. As the meal came to an end, every family member took a turn hugging Laura goodbye.
Lord Cedric shook her hand firmly, pride glinting in his eyes as he advised. "Make the most of your time at the academy."
With tears filling her eyes, Lady Elise held her daughter close and whispered some final words of love and encouragement.
Finally, Raiden rounded. Hurrying to Laura, he tightly wrapped his small arms around her while she crouched to hold him close as he mumbled into her ear.
"Don't miss me too much, Laura. Three years from now, I will have developed my Mana heart. Just wait and watch."
Laura leaned back and gave him a gentle smile as she brushed a strand of hair from his forehead. "I'm sure you will," she said. "I, too, will be looking forward to it."
With one last hug, she climbed into the carriage.
Raiden and Kent stood watching it roll down the path, the blue emblem gleaming in the fading sunlight until it finally disappeared from view.
Raiden slumped slightly, then turned toward Kent and gave him a gentle shove on the shoulder, a mischievous glint flashing in his eyes. "Once last race back to the house?"
Kent grinned to start him off. "You are on, little brother."