Infinite Mana > Anything Else?

The courtyard was silent now, the echoes of Lloyd's second heartbeat still lingering in the air. I stood at the edge, my arms crossed, my expression unreadable as I watched the aftermath unfold. The crowd had dispersed, the whispers and murmurs carrying their awe and speculation throughout the estate. Only a few remained—Ariana clutching Lloyd, Damien still kneeling in disgrace, and myself, left to grapple with the enormity of what I had just witnessed.

He had done it.

A Halo of Merit.

The gods themselves had bestowed their acknowledgment upon him, something even the most powerful beings in our world could only dream of. And Lloyd—my son—had earned it.

I allowed myself a moment of pride, though I kept my face carefully neutral. It was second nature by now to mask my emotions, a habit born not from coldness, but necessity.

For sixteen years, I had played a part.

To the world, and even to my own children, I was the stern, distant Baron Harland Lionheart, ashamed of his weak and talentless son. The father who indulged Damien's cruelty and turned a blind eye to Lloyd's suffering.

But reality was far more complicated.

Lloyd wasn't Damien or Ariana's full brother. He was my son, yes, but his mother wasn't their mother. Lloyd was born of the love of my life—a woman whose memory still haunted me every waking moment.

I met her long before I married my wife. She was brilliant, kind, and fierce—a sorceress of unparalleled talent. She had a way of commanding the room, her presence as radiant as the magic she wielded. It was impossible not to fall for her.

But she wasn't a noble. In a world dictated by rank and lineage, our love was a scandal waiting to happen.

Still, we didn't care. For a time, we were happy. When she became pregnant with Lloyd, I was ready to leave everything behind—the title, the estate, the family name—just to be with her.

But fate was cruel.

Lloyd's birth had been difficult, and she hadn't survived it. Her final words to me were a plea, a request I didn't have the strength to deny:

"Let him grow strong, Harland. Don't coddle him. Don't shield him. He'll inherit my talent, my brilliance, but only if he learns to stand on his own."

It was her dying wish, and I hated it. Every instinct as a father screamed against it, but I promised her.

That promise had shaped Lloyd's life—and mine.

I remarried, more for duty than desire, and allowed the world to think of Lloyd as a shameful secret, a bastard born of a fleeting indiscretion. I allowed Damien's torment, even though it burned me to see it, because I believed it would make Lloyd stronger.

And now, standing in the aftermath of his triumph, I wasn't sure if I had been right or if I had simply failed him.

I replayed the events of the duel in my mind.

The way Lloyd had faced Damien without hesitation. The sheer brilliance of his magic—the precision, the creativity. And finally, the ritual. The Second Heart.

It was a feat even the most accomplished sorcerers would consider impossible. Yet, Lloyd had not only succeeded, but he had also drawn the attention of the gods themselves.

He was a genius, just like his mother.

But genius came with its own burdens.

What would happen now that Lloyd had revealed his power to the world?

The nobles who once ignored him would start paying attention, and not all of it would be favorable. Some would want to control him, others would see him as a threat. The politics of our world were as cutthroat as any battlefield, and Lloyd, for all his brilliance, was still young.

And then there was Damien.

I glanced at him, still kneeling, his pride shattered. I knew him well enough to know he wouldn't let this go. His humiliation would fester, and if left unchecked, it would turn into something dangerous.

And Ariana...

Her loyalty to Lloyd had always been unwavering. She was his greatest ally in this house, and I had long hoped their bond would grow into something more.

But that dream now felt selfish. How could I bind someone like Lloyd to the limitations of a political marriage? He deserved freedom, a chance to forge his own path.

I let out a quiet sigh, my hands tightening into fists.

The challenges ahead were immense.

First, I needed to address the immediate threat. The nobles who had witnessed the duel would undoubtedly spread word of Lloyd's abilities. If I didn't act swiftly, that information could fall into the wrong hands.

Second, I had to reevaluate my own household. Damien needed to be dealt with—firmly but carefully. His jealousy could no longer be indulged. Ariana needed to be protected from the fallout of this revelation, as her unwavering support of Lloyd would draw attention as well.

And then there was Lloyd himself.

How would he respond to this newfound attention? Would he thrive under the pressure, or would it crush him? Would he ever forgive me for the years of neglect, for the facade I had maintained?

I didn't have answers, but one thing was certain: the time for pretending was over.

I took a deep breath, the weight of my choices settling over me like a cloak.

Lloyd had proven himself in a way few ever could. He had shown the world his strength, his brilliance, and his resilience.

Now, it was my turn to protect him.

No matter the cost.