Aiden gently laid Ryker on the floor, wiping the sweat from his son's flushed face. Despite his exhaustion, Ryker's lips curled into a faint smile. He had done it. He had passed the trial.
Clan members watching the broadcast erupted in cheers, their admiration for Ryker evident. Conversations buzzed across the estate, many marveling at the young boy's sheer willpower and strength, while others debated the ethics of such a trial for someone so young. The Phoenix Clan was in awe—but none more so than Aiden.
As the noise from the estate faded into the distance, Aiden gazed down at his son, pride and sorrow warring in his eyes. He brushed a strand of damp hair from Ryker's forehead and muttered under his breath, "You're something else, my boy."
Moments later, Lila arrived, her heart racing as she stepped into the training hall. Her expression hardened when she saw her son sprawled on the ground, still unconscious. She shot Aiden a look of fury and worry.
"You pushed him too far," she said, rushing to Ryker's side and cradling him protectively.
Aiden remained silent, his expression solemn. Lila's anger softened as she took in her husband's face. Despite his calm exterior, she could see the weight of the trial on him. He wasn't unaffected by what had happened.
"He passed," Aiden finally said, his voice quiet but heavy with meaning. "And he managed to tap into his bloodline power. He's stronger and far more talented than we ever imagined. This has basically confirmed my suspicions. There is at least a 90% possibility that Ryker is the one spoken about by Ignis"
Lila's eyes flicked to Ryker, her emotions a tangle of fear and pride. "He's just a child, Aiden. He shouldn't have to bear this burden so young."
"I know," Aiden admitted, his voice barely audible. "But the world isn't kind. You know as well as I do that his potential makes him a target. If we don't prepare him, we're failing him as parents."
Lila's grip on Ryker tightened, but she said nothing. Deep down, she knew Aiden was right, though the knowledge didn't make it any easier.
The next morning, Ryker awoke to the soft warmth of sunlight streaming through the silk-draped windows of his chamber. His body ached, a dull soreness settling deep into his muscles, a reminder of the trial he had endured. But what caught his attention first wasn't the pain—it was the gentle presence beside him.
His mother, Lila, sat at his bedside, watching over him with quiet intensity. Her golden eyes, usually sharp and commanding, were now filled with overwhelming love—yet beneath that love lay a sadness only a mother could truly understand.
"Mom," Ryker croaked, his voice still hoarse from exhaustion.
Immediately, Lila leaned forward, her hands cupping his small face with the utmost care. "Yes, dearest. Mommy is here," she whispered, her voice soft as a feather. Without hesitation, she pulled him into her embrace, holding him tightly against her chest.
For a moment, Ryker simply let himself sink into her warmth. He had fought, he had endured, and he had proven himself—but here, wrapped in his mother's arms, he didn't have to be strong. He could simply be her son.
After a long moment, she pulled back slightly, brushing a strand of damp hair away from his forehead. "Is everything okay?" he asked, blinking up at her.
She smiled, though it was tinged with sorrow. "Everything is fine, darling. How are you feeling?"
Ryker exhaled slowly. "Weak… but fine."
Lila's eyes shimmered, her fingers lightly tracing his cheek. "My poor boy," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Mommy is so sorry. Sorry that you had to go through such a trial at such a young age. Sorry that, instead of running through gardens and playing like other children, you are forced to endure what even grown men could not. You should be enjoying your childhood, not proving your strength before you can even count the years you've lived."
She pulled him close again, pressing her lips against his temple. "I'm so, so sorry."
Ryker, despite his lingering exhaustion, shook his head slightly. He reached up, his small hands gripping onto hers. " Mom… I asked for this. I want to be strong, strong enough to change the status quo."
Lila inhaled sharply, pulling back just enough to look into his eyes.
Her heart clenched.
There was no hesitation in his gaze. No regret. Only quiet, unwavering resolve.
She had wanted to shelter him, to keep him safe from the burdens of their world, but the truth was undeniable—her son was not like other children. He never had been.
And, whether she liked it or not, he was already walking the path toward his destiny.
Lila swallowed down the lump in her throat, brushing her fingers through his dark hair. "I know," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I know. But that doesn't make it any easier for me."
She gently laid him back down, pulling the covers over him like she used to when he was even smaller. "Rest now, my love," she murmured. "No matter how strong you are, your body needs time to recover. And while you rest, let Mommy take care of you."
As Ryker's eyelids grew heavy once more, he felt a deep warmth settle in his chest—not just from the lingering fire of his bloodline, but from something far greater.
His mother's love.