Talent Awakening: I Got Reincarnated With Two Systems?!

The Goldheart estate was fully awake and alive by late morning.

The scent of oil and steel drifted in from the training courtyard — Kent was already at it again, his sword singing against Captain Baren's.

Raiden, however, had a different mission today.

He wandered through the main hall with both hands clasped behind his back, whistling softly as he peered into one room after another. Every door he opened revealed the same thing — no Sir Leonard.

A maid passed by with folded linens, curtsying quickly.

"Good morning, young master."

"Morning! Have you seen Sir Leonard?"

"He stepped out, my lord. Said he'd return shortly."

Raiden frowned. "Stepped out? Where to?"

She hesitated, as if unsure whether to reveal the details. "I'm afraid I didn't hear, sir. I believe he said something about retrieving a letter."

Raiden sighed dramatically. "Of course. The one day I'm actually ready to train, my teacher decides to run errands."

He waved her off with a smile and continued down the corridor, humming under his breath. The morning light danced off the estate's gold-and-ivory décor, painting shifting patterns on the floor.

'Well,' he thought, 'maybe I can find Father. He'd know where Leonard went.'

The sound of boots on marble made him glance up.

Lord Cedric Goldheart appeared from the far end of the hall, tall and composed in his dark, tailored coat. His presence carried an ease that made people straighten unconsciously.

"Raiden," Cedric greeted, tone even but curious. "You're walking around like a hawk that's lost its prey. Looking for something?"

Raiden paused, scratching his cheek. "Sir Leonard, actually. I was told he went out to get something, but no one said what."

Cedric nodded once, as if that made perfect sense. "Ah. That would be my doing. I sent him to retrieve a letter from the city post."

"Oh." Raiden nodded, mildly disappointed. "I was hoping to start training with him today."

Cedric's expression softened with quiet amusement. "Eager to grow, are we?"

Raiden shrugged. "Better to get the pain over with early, right?"

Cedric chuckled under his breath. He started to turn away, but then paused mid-step — the kind of pause that always spelled trouble for Raiden. Slowly, he looked back at his son, his gaze thoughtful.

"Raiden," he began, tone deceptively calm, "did you by any chance rob me when you hugged me yesterday?"

Raiden blinked. "...What?"

Cedric's hand gestured idly toward his lapel. "My custom golden brooch — the one with the engraved crest. I can't seem to find it anywhere. I even had to ask Leonard to fetch a replacement."

There was a beat of silence.

Raiden's smile twitched at the corners — that subtle, guilty, too-wide grin that told every secret before he even opened his mouth.

Cedric closed his eyes, sighing through his nose. "You did."

"Technically," Raiden began carefully, "I borrowed it."

Cedric gave him a look that was part exhaustion, part disbelief. "Borrowed it for what?"

Raiden straightened a little, flashing a grin that was too proud for the crime. "For my personal usage. Wanted to see how good it would look on me."

Cedric pinched the bridge of his nose. "And you couldn't have asked?"

Raiden tilted his head. "Where's the fun in that? You would've said yes anyway."

The Lord of Goldheart stared at his son for a long, quiet moment, and then exhaled the long-suffering sigh of a man who had accepted his fate years ago. "One day, Raiden, your sense of logic will give me grey hair."

Raiden chuckled. "You already have some."

Cedric smirked despite himself. "Courtesy of you, I'm sure."

The tension broke, leaving behind an oddly comfortable air. Cedric stepped closer, resting a hand lightly on Raiden's shoulder.

"Raiden," he said, voice calm but steady, "there's a line between curiosity and carelessness. I've seen you blur it too often."

Raiden looked up, his usual grin faltering slightly.

"Your mischief amuses everyone, but power — real power — demands restraint. You're clever, but cleverness without discipline becomes chaos. Do you understand?"

Raiden hesitated, then nodded slowly. "I do, Father."

Cedric's gaze softened. "Good. Because I'd rather see you grow strong than merely sharp."

The words lingered — steady, grounding, more effective than a scolding ever could have been. Raiden's grin returned, smaller but sincere. "I'll keep that in mind."

Cedric gave a satisfied nod and turned to leave.

He had barely taken three steps before the sound of measured footsteps echoed down the opposite corridor.

Sir Leonard approached — tall, lean, dressed immaculately in black and white, his movements as precise as the ticking of a clock. A small satchel hung at his side.

"Lord Cedric," he greeted with a respectful bow. "The letter, as requested."

"Excellent." Cedric took it with a nod, tucking it beneath his arm. "You're as efficient as ever, Leonard."

"Efficiency is the root of order, my lord," Leonard replied smoothly, straightening.

Raiden, watching the exchange, couldn't help but notice the faint glint in Leonard's grey eyes — the kind that suggested the man had already guessed what this was about. This swordsman seemed to know things before they were revealed.

Cedric turned slightly toward him. "Leonard, I believe you've already met my youngest."

Leonard inclined his head. "Indeed, my lord. Young Master Raiden and I have crossed paths many times."

"Good." Cedric's voice carried an edge of dry amusement. "Because he's about to become your headache for the next few days."

Raiden blinked. "Wait, what?"

Cedric folded his hands behind his back. "My son wishes to train under you — at least for a time."

Leonard's expression didn't change, though the faintest curve touched his lips. "Is that so?"

Raiden swallowed. For some reason, that small smile made him uneasy. "Yes… sir. I was hoping to, uh, refine my use of the sword."

Leonard clasped his hands neatly in front of him. "How admirable. Discipline and patience — the twin pillars of mastery."

His gaze lingered on Raiden for a moment longer than comfortable. "I look forward to seeing which of the two you possess."

Raiden's confidence wilted slightly. "I… look forward to that too."

Cedric was clearly enjoying himself now. He handed Leonard the letter with a faint grin. "He's all yours. Just—" his tone shifted into weary amusement, "—please, go easy on him."

Leonard's bow was deep, deliberate. "Of course, my lord."

But as Cedric turned to leave, Raiden caught the faintest glint of satisfaction in Leonard's eyes. The man wasn't planning to "go easy" on anyone.

As his father's footsteps faded down the corridor, the silence between Raiden and Leonard grew heavier.

Raiden rubbed the back of his neck. "So, uh… when do we start?"

Leonard turned with the unhurried grace of someone who already had the next twenty steps planned. "Now, young master. Preparation is part of training."

"Now?" Raiden blinked. "Don't I get a warm-up period or—?"

Leonard's tone remained politely firm. "You've had one. You've been awake for several hours."

Raiden opened his mouth to argue, then closed it again. Somehow, this man's logic was ironclad even when absurd.

Sir Leonard gestured toward the open courtyard doors, where sunlight spilled in like a challenge. "We'll begin outside. I'll had the the guards set up the training grounds for a private session."

Raiden sighed dramatically but followed, muttering under his breath, "This is going to hurt, isn't it?"

Leonard didn't look back. "Growth always does, young master."

From the far balcony above, Cedric watched them exit — the composed butler leading, the reluctant prodigy trailing.

A small smile curved his lips. "Go easy on him," he murmured again, though even he knew Leonard wouldn't. Not really.

Still, there was a quiet pride behind his gaze. His son was changing — slowly, unevenly, but truly.

Elise's voice drifted softly behind him. "You sent him to Leonard? That's… brave."

Cedric chuckled under his breath. "I actually caught him looking for Leonard. He wanted discipline. Leonard will teach him plenty of that."

"And the brooch?" she asked, amused.

Cedric glanced down at the empty space on his lapel and smiled faintly. "Consider it compensation for the hell he's about to fall into."

Outside, in the blinding light of the courtyard, Raiden squared his shoulders, unaware that his first true lesson was about to begin

One that would test not just his mana, but his pride, patience, and that mischievous grin he carried like armor.