Back at the main building, Raiden and his family dismounted before the towering entrance, where several guards stood ready.
Raiden was lifted gently from the saddle and set on his feet while his family gathered softly around him. The guards grabbed the horses quickly and drove them away as the family moved inside together, every stride echoing across the great hall.
Not long after, the family healer arrived—a woman with a confident stride, a brilliant smile, and an elegant, curvaceous body. Raiden raised an eyebrow as she entered, watching her closely. The moment she entered, the room was filled with her quiet power right away.
Raiden thought inwardly, entertainment flickering in his eyes, "Well, well… you don't say." He didn't remember seeing this woman ever over his three years on Earth.
Not at his birth or after that.
Then again, it made sense—he had heard that Mana Hearts prevented illness, hence it would be rare for anyone in the family to need the help of a healer. But now, believing that he lacked one, his family seemed more focused on playing it safe.
The healer, Hilda, crouched before him and began to examine him. She placed her warm hands gently on her shoulder and smiled.
"So you are the young lord I have been hearing so much about," she said. "It seems you gave your family quite a scare."
Raiden just gave her his best innocent expression, but behind it, his mind raced, calculating and watching her every move. Her mana sense was strong. Should Hilda find even a flutter of mana in him, his secret would get laid out immediately.
Hilda's fingers glowed faintly as she examined him, her brows furrowed in focus. Her eyes narrowed slightly in concentration as her mana flowed subtly from her palms, thoroughly scanning him.
On the other hand, though Raiden tried to keep his cool, his stomach turned over. 'If she finds my Mana heart,' this will be embarrassing.
Using her Mana, which moved in waves and probed gently yet thoroughly, the healer looked for any anomalies. Raiden's heart pounded as panic crept into his chest, but Hilda's calm and kind demeanor helped him relax. After a final scan, she leaned back and sighed with relief.
"There's nothing wrong with him," she said to Lady Elise, offering a reassuring smile. "No unusual Mana signatures, no signs of illness. Whatever might have caused the fainting episode seems to have passed now; he is perfectly well now."
A wave of relief washed over Raiden, and he could see the same feeling settle over his mother. Lady Elise clasped her hands together, her face lighting up. "Hilda, thanks." Her voice was gentle, and her heartfelt thanks felt like a heavy weight had been lifted from the room.
Raiden kept his face straight, hiding his sense of triumph. 'Thanks, [Mana Cloak],' he thought, mentally tipping his hat to the ability he had chosen so wisely.
Presumably because his Mana Heart and veins were entirely mana, his concealment ability had apparently hidden his Mana Heart so effectively that even Hilda couldn't detect it at all.
Once she had finished the check-up, Hilda turned her attention back to Raiden with a soft smile. Since only his mother remained in the room, Raiden decided to seize the opportunity and ask her a few things.
"Miss Hilda," he began, his gaze fixed on her, wide and curious. "Why haven't I seen you around here before?"
Resting a hand on her hip, Hilda laughed lightly. "Oh, little lord, I am not here all the time. I usually accompany the Chief Guard and the other fighters on missions. They tend to need my healing skills more often than anyone else here."
Raiden nodded carefully, his interest only growing. "So… have you been travelling since I was born?" he asked, tilting his head to the side.
"Here and there," she replied with a smile. "Let's just say I have been quite occupied. But now, I am back—and I will be keeping an eye on you until I am absolutely sure that you are in great health."
Raiden offered a polite nod, satisfied with her answers. Still, he had one more question ready.
Trying to sound casual, he asked, "Will you be staying in the main building… or one of the other buildings?"
Hilda lightly glanced at Lady Elise with a small smile and then turned back to Raiden. "I will be two buildings away from here, in my lab."
"But you're welcome to visit me any time you get curious. I would be happy to answer your questions." She then blinked playfully, "I have a feeling that you're the curious type."
Raiden nodded, keeping a basic smile, but inwardly, he was grinning, his mind racing with ideas. 'Two buildings away—good to know.' He also praised himself for the flawless execution of his questioning. But then, he noticed his mother's sharp, slightly dubious gaze studying him.
"Raiden…" Lady Elise said, folding her arms and raising an eyebrow. "What exactly are you planning now?"
Raiden raised his wide-eyed gaze at her and blinked silently before shrugging. "Nothing, Mother. I just wanted to learn more from Miss Hilda."
Though Lady Elise's eyes stayed narrowed, her doubtful expression softened just a little. "Keep that curiosity in check from now on. You have already given us enough of a scare with your disappearing act."
Hilda laughed as she stood up. She then turned to leave, smiling widely, "I'll be back soon to check on you, Raiden—just to make sure you're truly fine."
Raiden waved, his face the picture of innocence. "Of course. I'm truly fine," he said, grinning briefly as she left. 'In fact, better than it has ever been.'
As she walked out, Raiden sank back into his cushion, mentally reviewing the events of the day. He had kept his Mana Heart secret. He had accomplished a feat no one his age in this world could even dream of. And now, he had a new connection with the family healer—a priceless source of information, no doubt.
To the world, he was still just the innocent youngest son of the Goldheart family.
But in his mind, he was already planning his next move.