The next morning, Raiden woke up with determination burning in his eyes. Sunlight filtered through the window as he reviewed the newest plan he had refined the night before—one that would keep him out of Kent's relentless scrutiny.
'If I want to continue training, I need a better cover.'
He had spent hours fine-tuning the idea, and now, he was ready to put it into action.
Sitting up, Raiden called forth the [Skill Draw System]. He still had fifteen skill points left, and every point mattered. He carefully scrolled through the list of available skills, searching for something that would lend credibility to his story. He selected two E-Rank healing skills that were simple but effective.
*****
[Healing Touch - E-Rank]
Heals minor wounds and alleviates light physical discomfort.
Cost: 5 Skill Points
[Soothing Breeze - E-Rank]
Releases a calming aura that eases physical pain and stress.
Cost: 5 Skill Points
*****
The two skills cost a total of ten points, leaving him with five remaining. Raiden felt the now-familiar warmth of new abilities settling into his consciousness. This was a small but necessary step in his ruse. He smiled and stretched his arms before heading downstairs to join his family for breakfast.
__________
The dining hall buzzed with the usual morning chatter as his family gathered around the long table. His father, Lord Cedric, sat at the head, exuding his usual authoritative presence. Lady Elise sat by his side, her elegance matched by her warm presence.
Kent was already there, eating quietly but watching everything with sharp eyes.
Raiden slid into his seat, offering polite greetings to everyone before starting on his meal.
Once the initial rush of breakfast eased, Raiden took a deep breath. It was now or never.
"Mother, Father," he began, setting his utensils down. "I've been thinking… I want to start learning basic magic."
Lord Cedric's face instantly lit up with pride. "Magic training? That's excellent news, Raiden! I would be honored to teach you."
But before Raiden could respond, Lady Elise intervened. Her tone was calm but resolute, her gaze softening as it settled on him.
"Raiden, you're still far too young. Kent didn't begin his training until he was eight—a full year after he created his mana heart. You're only five."
Raiden let out a sigh, careful to sound disappointed but not defiant. "I understand, Mother. It's just… I've been trying to learn on my own."
His words drew a mixture of surprise and curiosity from his parents. Meanwhile, Kent's eyes narrowed, clearly suspicious, but Raiden ignored him. Instead, he focused his attention on his parents, adding a hint of sadness to his expression.
"I don't want to fall behind."
But that wasn't enough. He needed something to truly sell his story. Closing his eyes, Raiden activated [Healing Touch].
The next instant, a faint green glow shimmered around his hands, and the entire room fell utterly silent. When he opened his eyes again, he saw expressions of shock and disbelief on every face.
Lady Elise gasped. "Raiden… what is that?"
Raiden stared at his own hands, feigning astonishment.
"I… I tried copying Healer Hilda when she healed me yesterday."
He paused, letting his voice tremble slightly. "I didn't think it would actually work."
Lord Cedric shot to his feet, his eyes blazing with a mix of awe and urgency. "Guards!" he barked. "Summon Healer Hilda to the main building at once."
The guards hurried out, leaving a stunned silence in their wake. Even Lady Elise, who had been so adamant about delaying Raiden's training, seemed too shocked to protest.
She leaned in closer, her eyes searching his face. "Raiden… this is incredible."
"It just… happened," Raiden said, letting the green glow fade.
On the inside, however, he could barely contain his excitement. His family's reaction was even better than he'd hoped for.
__________
Healer Hilda arrived shortly after, escorted through the dining hall under the curious eyes of the staff. She paused, taking in the scene—Lord Cedric standing, Lady Elise looking breathless, Kent watching with narrowed eyes, and Raiden sitting calmly. Seeing them, she couldn't help but frown.
"What's going on?" she asked.
The family's attention shifted to her while Lady Elise gestured toward Raiden. "Show her."
Raiden rose to his feet, focusing on the energy within him. He activated [Healing Touch] once again, letting the soft green glow envelop his hands.
Upon seeing it, Hilda's eyes widened, her usual composure slipping for a moment.
"Raiden…" she murmured, stepping closer. "How did you…?"
"I just tried to copy you," he said simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I don't really understand it myself."
Healer Hilda's gaze darted to Lord Cedric and Lady Elise. "This level of mimicry… at his age?" She shook her head, as if still trying to make sense of it. "It's remarkable."
Lord Cedric's voice was decisive. "Hilda, can you teach him?"
Her expression softened as she looked at Raiden. "If he's truly capable of this… I have to. With your permission."
Lady Elise nodded without hesitation. "Please."
"Good." Lord Cedric crossed his arms, clearly pleased. "Teach him everything you can."
__________
After breakfast, Healer Hilda pulled Raiden aside. They walked through the corridors until they reached a quiet room, away from the bustling activity of the main building. She shut the door, turning to him with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
"Raiden, I need you to be honest. How did you do that?"
He met her gaze, letting a flicker of nervousness show. He had to play this carefully.
"I… don't really know. I've always been able to copy things I see. I just focused on what you did."
Hilda studied him, her expression unreadable. "This is more than simple mimicry. You understand that, don't you?"
Raiden nodded slowly. "I just want to learn."
For a long moment, she said nothing and only studied him in silence. Then, she placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Very well. If you're willing to work hard, I'll teach you. But this will be no simple task. Healing magic is complex—it demands discipline and patience."
"I'll do whatever it takes," Raiden said, determination showing in his voice.
"Good." Hilda's lips curved into a faint smile. "Then we'll start tomorrow."
As they left the room, Raiden felt a surge of triumph. He had done it—he had secured a legitimate path to continue his training, all while keeping Kent's suspicions in check.
With Healer Hilda as his new teacher, he could learn and grow without drawing unwanted attention.
__________
The rest of the day passed by in a blur. Raiden focused on maintaining his cover, practicing the healing skills he'd purchased. Whenever someone walked by, he made sure they saw him "experimenting," always careful to stay within the limits of what he had shown.
The soft glow of [Healing Touch] soon became a familiar sight—a symbol of his supposed "mimicry" and natural talent.
Kent's gaze closely followed him, suspicion still etched on his face. But for now, Raiden felt confident. He had gained a new teacher, a shield against prying eyes, and a safe road to continue growing stronger.