Raiden had spent the entire previous day deeply engrossed in the intricate process of skill fusion.
Each combination demanded intense focus and precision, as the [Fusion System] required high compatibility between skills to ensure successful mergers.
By the end of the day, he had successfully managed to fuse several skills—but at the cost of all his remaining skill points. Now, he was back to zero.
Leaning against the cool stone wall of his hidden training chamber, Raiden let out a long, deep breath. 'What now?' he wondered.
Earning skill points was essential if he wanted to keep on improving, but it would take time. Just as he was contemplating how to speed up the process, a new notification appeared in front of him.
[New Mission Available: Mastery of Skills]
[Description: Master the skills in your possession.]
[Rewards: 5 skill points for each half-mastered skill, 10 skill points for each fully mastered skill.]
[Total potential points per skill: 15]
A surge of excitement shot through him. This mission was perfect—exactly what he needed. By mastering the skills he already had, he could rebuild his skill point reserves quickly.
With a grin, Raiden nodded to himself. He would start the first thing tomorrow—after all, his five-hour training window was up, and it was time to make his presence known back at the main estate.
_____
Feigning sleep, Raiden slipped back into his bedroom. He pulled the covers over himself and closed his eyes, slowing his breathing to complete the act.
When the moment felt right, he stretched, let out a dramatic yawn, and sat up as if he had just woken up from a nap.
'Now, where was I?' he thought, a mischievous spark in his eyes. 'Ah, right. Kent.'
Hopping out of his bed, Raiden made his way to his brother's room. He wasn't done exacting a little payback for Kent's "snitching" the last time.
To his relief, the room was empty when he pushed the door open. 'Perfect.'
He stepped inside, taking in the neat and meticulously arranged space.
Kent's room was a model of order—everything in place—a stark contrast to Raiden's own barely controlled chaos. Raiden grinned to himself. It would be a shame not to leave a little surprise for his elder brother.
Scanning the room, he looked for something that was important to Kent—something he could move or hide just enough to spark confusion. His gaze landed on a small leather-bound book resting on the desk.
'Kent's diary.' Raiden's grin widened. He knew this was the perfect target. Taking the diary outright would be too obvious, so he decided on a subtler approach.
With nimble fingers, Raiden climbed onto a nearby chair and then up to the decorative chandelier that hung from the ceiling.
He carefully wedged the diary into the intricate metalwork, ensuring it was well hidden but not completely impossible to find—just enough to make Kent sweat while looking for it.
Satisfied with his handiwork, Raiden climbed down and stepped back to admire the "new" hiding spot. 'Now for the grand exit.'
He turned to leave, but as he stepped out of the room, he nearly bumped straight into Kent, who was walking toward his room.
Raiden forced a smile, trying to look innocent. "Oh, hey, Kent!"
Kent's eyes narrowed. "Raiden. What were you doing in my room?"
Raiden put on his best wide-eyed expression. "I was just looking for you! When I found that you weren't there, I decided to head back out. And here you are." He gestured casually toward the hallway with a smile. "Actually, I was wondering if you wanted to grab something to eat with me."
Kent didn't move, his eyes remained fixed on Raiden for a long moment before he replied with thinly veiled suspicion. "Go on ahead," he said finally. "I'll join you in a minute. I just need to… check my room."
"Sure thing!" Raiden chirped, waving as he walked off, his pace casual. He knew Kent too well—his brother would immediately start searching the room, certain that Raiden had missed with something. It was only a matter of time before he would notice that his diary was missing.
_____
Kent stepped into his room, his gaze sweeping over every detail. Everything appeared to be in its place—nothing was overturned, damaged, or out of order.
But Kent knew Raiden better than that. And all this only made him even more suspicious.
Raiden never left a mess when he was pulling a prank. His little brother was far too clever to leave obvious clues. Kent moved around the room slowly, inspecting his belongings with a meticulous gaze.
"Nothing out of place?" Kent muttered under his breath. He glanced at his desk—and froze.
His diary wasn't where he'd left it. His breath caught. 'Where is it?' He opened every drawer, checked under the bed, and even examined the back of the shelves.
The diary was gone.
"RAIDEN!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the hallways. "WHERE THE HELL'S MY DIARY?!"
Raiden, who had just reached the dining hall, couldn't help but stifle a laugh when he heard his brother's roar. 'That didn't take long.' He picked up his pace, already knowing that Kent would be hot on his trail in moments.
He darted through the dining hall, slipping past a maid who gave him a curious glance. Flashing her an innocent smile, Raiden waved, pretending like he had no idea why Kent was yelling. But before he could sneak out from the side entrance, the pounding of footsteps thundered behind him.
"Raiden!" Kent's voice was closer now, filled with equal parts frustration and determination.
Raiden bolted, his laughter echoing behind him. "Catch me if you can!" he called over his shoulder as he wove through the corridors with practiced ease. His smaller size gave him an advantage while darting through the twists and turns or the narrow gaps of the estate that Kent could barely manage.
Raiden ducked behind a statue, peeking out just in time to see Kent sprint past, his expression thunderous.
He waited until Kent was far enough ahead, then slipped out of his hiding spot, his heart pounding with exhilaration.
'This is too much fun.' He knew he couldn't outrun Kent forever—but that wasn't the point anyway. The thrill was in the chase—the game of cat and mouse they'd played countless times before.
Kent skidded to a halt, his sharp eyes scanning the hallway. He knew Raiden was close. "I'm going to find you, Raiden!" he shouted, his voice ricocheting through the halls.
"Maybe," Raiden called from somewhere unseen, laughter still in his tone. "But not today!"
He then slipped into a nearby room, gently closing the door behind him. Pressing an ear against the wood, he listened as Kent's footsteps faded into the distance. When he was sure the coast was clear, Raiden let out a breathless laugh. 'Too close.' But he'd managed to escape, and that was all that mattered.
For now.
Raiden knew he'd have to face Kent eventually—and when he did, there would be payback, a heavy one. But that was a problem for another day. For now, he had more important things to focus on: mastering his skills, training in secret, and, of course, finding new ways to outwit his brother.
Stepping back out into the hallway, a mischievous smile formed on his lips. 'The game has just started.'