Liam Gallagher had always been quiet.
Not the kind of quiet that meant empty—
the kind that meant watching.
Luke noticed early that Liam didn't ask for attention. He absorbed it. He learned by standing still while the world moved too fast around him.
That kind of mind didn't survive chaos by accident.
It survived by adaptation.
Luke wasn't going to let it stagnate.
The Right Beginning
The kindergarten wasn't flashy.
But it was serious.
Small class sizes.
Language exposure.
Emotional development alongside academics.
Teachers who didn't confuse obedience with intelligence.
A place where curiosity wasn't punished.
Fiona hesitated when Luke showed her the brochure.
"This looks… expensive."
Luke nodded. "It is."
She frowned. "Then why—"
"It's covered," Luke said. "Endowment seat. Needs-based, anonymous donor."
She stared at him.
"You did that?"
Luke shrugged. "Liam deserves to start somewhere that doesn't teach him how to survive first."
First Day
Liam wore a too-big backpack and shoes that were still stiff.
He didn't cry.
He didn't cling.
He turned at the door and asked, "Can I bring books from home?"
The teacher smiled. "Of course."
Luke felt something settle in his chest.
Freeing Potential Isn't Loud
The change didn't show up immediately.
It showed up slowly.
Liam started asking questions—real ones.
Why some kids got more time than others.
Why people lied when they were scared.
Why numbers felt comfortable.
Luke didn't answer everything.
He didn't need to.
The environment did the rest.
The Ripple Effect
Something unexpected happened.
With Liam safe—truly safe—
the rest of the family breathed easier.
Fiona stopped hovering.
Debbie stopped compensating.
Ian stopped worrying about who would fall next.
Security wasn't just money.
It was knowing the youngest didn't need armor yet.
System Update
Early Cognitive Development Secured
Subject: Liam Gallagher
Long-Term Potential: UNRESTRICTED
Family Psychological Load: REDUCED
Karma Gain: VERY HIGH
Luke's Reflection
That night, Luke watched Liam sit at the table, carefully arranging crayons by color—not because he was told to, but because it made sense to him.
Luke thought of all the worlds he'd passed through.
All the power he'd touched.
And still—
This felt like one of the most important victories.
Because freeing potential didn't look like conquest.
It looked like a child being allowed to grow without fear.