A Bet Between Siblings

Raiden had been lying in bed, nestled under a soft blanket, letting the day drift away as he relaxed into sleep. But just as he was dozing off, a familiar flicker of energy caught his attention.

A faint but unmistakable ripple of mana reached his senses, warm and familiar. Raiden's eyes snapped open, a grin spreading across his face.

"That's Kent," he muttered, recognizing his older brother's mana signature. Of course Kent would be training this late.

Raiden glanced out the window, noticing the warm hues of the setting sun casting long shadows across the estate grounds. Kent was out there alone—exactly the opportunity Raiden had been waiting for to mess with him.

Without a second thought, Raiden slipped out of bed, padding silently to the large, glass-framed window in his room. He climbed the chair close to the window, pressed his hands against the cool glass and peered down.

From his vantage point on the third floor, he could see Kent, a lone figure in the middle of the training yard, his movements precise and fluid as he swung his wooden training sword through the air.

The setting sun cast a golden glow on Kent, illuminating the sweat on his brow as he moved, each strike clean and powerful.

Raiden's grin widened. 'Time to make things interesting.' He tiptoed out of his room, down the winding staircase, and out of the building, the chill of the evening air prickling his skin as he crossed the cobblestone path to the training grounds.

The moment he stepped onto the training field, however, Kent twisted in mid-swing, his keen gaze locking onto Raiden instantly. Without warning, Kent hurled a wet cloth in Raiden's direction.

Raiden's reflexes, sharpened by his skills, kicked in. His hand shot up, catching the cloth before it hit him. He looked down at it, eyebrows raised, a slight frown tugging at his lips.

Kent laughed, a rich, easy sound. "Nice catch, little brother. I expected nothing less from you," he said, sheathing his wooden sword and striding over to Raiden. "So… mind telling me why you're out here instead of in bed?"

Raiden felt a mischievous response rise to his lips—one from the part of him that still remembered being Jace. 'To teach you a lesson for disturbing my sleep, obviously.'

But he was three years old now, and Kent might not take that quite as seriously as he wanted. Or… maybe he would. Raiden grinned, crossing his arms as he looked up at his brother.

"You were training so loud I couldn't sleep!" he declared, pointing a small but determined finger at Kent. "So, I came out here to beat you and chase you away!"

Kent tried to hold back his laughter, but a snort escaped, and soon he was chuckling openly. "Oh, is that so?" He wiped a tear from his eye, then tossed Raiden a wooden training sword. "All right, then, little warrior. Show me what you've got."

Raiden reached out to grab the sword, but before his hand could wrap around the hilt, Kent vanished from view, moving with a speed that left Raiden momentarily stunned.

Suddenly, he felt himself being lifted off his feet, spinning through the air as Kent's laughter echoed in his ears.

"Not bad, Raiden, but you've got a long way to go," Kent said, catching Raiden just before he could land awkwardly. He set him back on the ground, grinning down at him. "You'll have to train twice as hard if you want to beat me."

Raiden brushed himself off, his lips curling into a smirk. "Fine," he said. "Then how about we make a bet?"

"A bet, huh?" Kent replied, arching an eyebrow. "And what exactly do you want to bet on?"

Raiden's gaze sparkled with determination. "I bet that I'll awaken my mana heart earlier than you did," he said confidently. "You awakened yours at seven. I'll do it six months earlier. At least."

Kent's expression shifted from amused to intrigued, his eyes narrowing as he studied Raiden's face. "That's a bold claim, Raiden," he said thoughtfully. "You really think you can pull that off?"

Raiden met his brother's gaze, unflinching. "I know I can."

For a moment, Kent was silent, clearly considering the challenge. Finally, he gave a nod, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "All right, then. We have a bet. If you manage to awaken your mana heart before I did, I'll grant you one wish. Anything you want." He raised a hand, cutting Raiden off before he could interject. "Within reason, of course. And it'll have to wait until you're an adult."

Raiden mulled that over and nodded. "Fine. One wish, whatever I want… within reason."

Kent chuckled, placing a hand on Raiden's shoulder. "And if you don't manage to do it?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "What happens then?"

Raiden tilted his head, frowning slightly. He hadn't considered that possibility. "If I fail?" He shrugged, attempting a nonchalant expression. "Nothing changes. We keep living as brothers."

Kent let out a soft laugh. "Fair enough." He extended his hand, ruffling Raiden's hair. "Deal?"

Raiden smirked and slapped Kent's hand in agreement. "Deal."

The brothers shared a laugh, and Kent knelt down, turning so Raiden could climb onto his back. "Come on, young boy," he said, lifting Raiden with ease. "Let's get you back to bed before Father finds you out here and demands to know what kind of 'training' you were doing."

Raiden laughed, enjoying the thrill of being carried on Kent's shoulders as they walked back to the family home. He glanced over his brother's shoulder, his mind already racing with thoughts of how he'd win their bet.

The future was full of possibilities, and with his brother's bet in mind, he felt more determined than ever.

As the house came into view, Kent slowed his pace, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "You're serious about this, aren't you?"

Raiden nodded. "Absolutely."

Kent looked up at him, admiration gleaming in his eyes. "Good. Keep that fire, Raiden," he said softly. "The path won't be easy, but if anyone can do it, I know you can."

Raiden felt a surge of pride at his brother's words. "I won't let you down," he said firmly.

Kent grinned, reaching up to give Raiden a reassuring pat on the back. "I don't doubt it."

The two brothers walked back into the house, laughter still echoing between them. The bet had been made, and the challenge accepted.

Raiden knew that the journey ahead would be filled with trials and obstacles, but with his systems, his determination, and the support of his family, he was more than ready to face whatever came his way.

After all, he had a promise to keep—and a record to break.