Magnus stood in the corridor, leaning his back against the wall. He could hear the shouting coming from the room right beside him. After the incident, his mother had taken Raphael to his father.
And now, while Raphael was being taught a lesson for bullying his sibling, Magnus had been left outside the room.
Among lower-ranking nobles especially, siblings were expected to protect and stand united. But Raphael had failed his parents' expectations.
After a long while, the door finally opened, and only Elara stepped out.
When Magnus saw his mother, he stood and walked toward her.
"Come here, darling." Elara said, extending her hand.
Magnus took it and let her guide him away. They walked through the long corridors. When he glanced back, he saw that his father's door did not open again.
His father, Dormon, could be a harsh and dogmatic man at times. Especially toward his eldest son, he was often merciless. Most likely, after Elara left the room, he would educate Raphael in his own way.
Magnus would have been lying if he said he felt sorry for his brother. He had long since lost any respect for him. Yet he did not harbor hatred either.
His brother was simply a pathetic man who had resorted to the most clichéd form of bullying. Perhaps he had been angered by his words at the time, but now, looking back, he only felt pity for him.
He had average talent, and Selene, whom he looked down on for being a woman, was far more gifted and far more successful at the Academy.
At least the fact that his younger sibling had not yet experienced her Awakening eased his inferiority complex. That made him, to put it mildly… an extra secondary villain.
When Elara finally reached her room, she gently held her son's hand and led him inside. After closing the door behind her, she immediately knelt down and pulled Magnus into a tight embrace.
Magnus was surprised by the sudden, unexpected hug, feeling his mother's kisses on his cheeks.
Elara's arms were tight. Too tight.
Not just comforting… but an expression of love.
Magnus noticed it immediately.
His small hands, resting on her shoulders, hovered for a moment before slowly settling on her back. In response, Elara held him even tighter.
"Don't take him seriously," she said, her voice softer now, though still carrying a suppressed edge. "Raphael… he isn't mature enough to understand what he's doing right now."
She paused for a moment, then pulled back slightly and looked her son directly in the eyes.
In Magnus's gaze, she saw a pair of beautiful blue irises that showed empathy toward her, eyes that clearly belonged to someone who had endured far greater bullying than he ever had.
"When I was young, I was excluded and belittled because I lacked talent compared to my sister. That's why I understand you, darling. But you're different," she continued, choosing her words more carefully now. "Not every child grows at the same pace. Not every talent emerges the same way. Even if you haven't had your Awakening yet, I'm sure you won't struggle in life thanks to your intelligence."
Elara pulled back slightly and gently fixed her son's hair with her hand.
"But remember this, no matter what you become… I will always be by your side. Your father, your sister, and your little sister will be there for you too. So if something like this ever happens again, come to me immediately."
Magnus looked into his mother's eyes. That warmth, that protective instinct… it was real. But it was also excessive.
The corner of his lips twitched slightly.
"Thank you, mom. But I'm really fine." he said calmly.
Elara paused for a moment. Magnus continued.
"This… isn't something that upsets me." He gave a faint shrug. "I'm not someone who gets hurt over things that simple."
Those words did not sound like they came from a child. There was no reproach in his tone, nor any suppressed bitterness. Instead, there was a disconcerting clarity and acceptance.
Elara's gaze softened. She studied her son's face as if seeing him for the first time. Then she smiled faintly. Her fingers ran through his hair once more, messily ruffling it.
"That's exactly why…" she said quietly, a trace of pride hidden beneath her voice. "You're going to become a great man one day."
Magnus said nothing.
But his gaze drifted for a moment.
A great man.
By the standards of this world?
Or by his own rules?
The distant murmur from the corridors continued. The manor's stone walls silently swallowed the small tragedies unfolding within them.
And Magnus no longer paid them any attention.
Because some things…
Were already far too small for him.