Mana shimmered in the air like morning mist—soft, invisible, and dangerous.
"Focus," Eron said coldly, standing barefoot in the quiet stone garden behind the manor. His eyes were closed, one hand raised, the other grounded against his chest. Streams of translucent blue danced around him—pure, raw magic.
Then a sudden crack—like air tearing.
[Spell Mastered: Wind Pressure Pulse Lv. MAX]
Bonus Effect Gained: Triple Density + Echo PulseMana Cost Reduced by 30%
He opened his eyes.
The nearby training dummy had been shattered to pieces.
Behind him, Neha stood trembling. Sweat dripped down her brow, her hands quivering as she failed to even gather a wisp of energy.
"I-I'm sorry, my lord…"
"You're not even channeling the core correctly," he snapped, stepping toward her. "We've gone over the posture. The breathing. The visualization. Why do you still fail?"
Neha bit her lip. Her face paled. Her fingers twitched, reaching for something—nothing.
"I… I'm trying. I just… can't focus. I hear… sounds. Burning. Screaming…"
She flinched, as if she could still hear it.
Eron stared, emotions roiling in his chest.
He didn't understand. His system made him perfect at every spell on first try. But she—
[Soul Reading: Triggered]
Fear (84%)Guilt (51%)Pain (Unspoken, Deep-Seated)
"Enough," he muttered, turning away. "If you can't even learn the basics, don't waste my time pretending to be useful."
The words struck harder than a slap.
Neha's head lowered. Her fingers clutched her apron, nails digging into her palms to stop herself from crying.
She didn't cry. She never did.
The manor was quiet as the moon rose.
Eron sat in his study, staring into the flickering fireplace. He hated how hollow his victory felt. Neha hadn't joined him for dinner. Sarla said she "was resting," but he knew better.
The door creaked open.
It was his mother.
Lady Selena Valemere—a graceful woman with warm golden eyes and soft presence. The only person who could walk in unannounced and not get a death glare.
"I heard what happened," she said gently, seating herself beside him.
Eron didn't look at her. "She's wasting my training. If she keeps failing, she'll get hurt."
Selena paused. Then sighed softly. "Do you know where she came from?"
"…No."
"Then let me tell you."
"She was found in the ruins of a burned village at the edge of our lands. She was only three. The village was destroyed by rogue mages during a territory conflict… an unsanctioned experiment in fire magic."
Eron froze.
"She was found clutching her baby brother's body. He was… already gone. Charred. She didn't speak for days. When the guards picked her up, her palms were burned raw from trying to pull her family out of the flames."
"…Gods."
"She was the only survivor. No family. No name. She couldn't even say a word. We gave her the name Neha—meaning 'rain'—because she was found under a storm, crying in silence."
Eron said nothing.
"She refused to speak for over a year. But she watched you. She followed you around the estate even as a toddler. You were the only one who made her smile. When she was offered to be your personal maid… she accepted. Not because she had to."
Lady Selena placed her hand over her son's.
"She wanted to serve the boy who gave her light again."
Eron stood outside her door, unmoving.
The guilt inside him burned sharper than any blade.
He knocked once. Then twice.
No answer.
He pushed the door open slowly.
Neha was curled in bed, facing the wall. She didn't turn around.
"…I was cruel," he said, voice low. "I didn't know. That's not an excuse. But I should've seen it."
She flinched. Still didn't speak.
"I saw you tremble… and I still lashed out. That's not strength. That's just cowardice disguised as power."
Silence.
"I don't want a servant who just obeys me. I want someone who walks beside me. You don't need to be perfect. You just need to try… and I'll walk slower if you need me to."
She finally turned.
Her eyes were red—but not from crying. She hadn't allowed herself the comfort of tears. Only now, under the moonlight, did one fall.
"…I didn't want you to hate me," she whispered. "I was scared you'd send me away."
Eron stepped forward and gently knelt by her bed.
"I won't. Ever."
The system pulsed quietly in his mind.
[Emotional Milestone Reached: True Connection]
Neha's Trust: 89%New Skill Unlocked: "Shared Will" – You and Neha can share mana flow during emotional resonance.
Neha's Hidden Trait Awakened: Flame Affinity (Locked)Trauma Threshold Lowered – Next step: Overcoming Fear
Eron didn't need to say anything else.
He simply sat by her bed, and for once, the great "prodigy" didn't try to fix anything with magic or logic.
He just stayed. And listened to the quiet breathing of the only person who had never asked for anything—but deserved everything.