As soon as Edwin cleared the monsters on his way and saw the reinforcements coming, he started to look for Lucas and the strange boy, wishing earnestly that the boys would be safe.

Finally he could see the strange boy but just as he was so afraid, he saw the boy holding up another small boy whose face seemed to be really pale, with blood gushing out from his nose. A huge amount of worries and anxiety pumped up in his head suddenly, so much that he couldn't think what to do next.

"LUCAS!"

He sat down immediately and brought the small limp pale boy into his arms, glaring at the other black haired boy who also seemed to be shocked, asking him what the heck had happened here.

According to the boy, Lucas had used a high level of healing magic to heal the boy. Looking at the blood and torn clothes at the back of the boy, it seemed that the wound was really huge but no injury, even a scar was left behind. Seriously, what was his little brother thinking!? It was already the limit to use first cycle magic in his age.

He then carried Lucas in his arm and started to look for someone who could use healing magic. From the looks of Lucas' symptoms and from the situation, he knew that Lucas was suffering from mana exhaustion. He knew most how dangerous it was to use mana, breaking one's limit. And he didn't want to see someone he loved die from such cases again, too. He just hoped that there would be some healers among the reinforcements.

Fortunately, he saw his father who was commanding the knights to handle the situations. He didn't know that he would be this happy to see this cold father of his. His father would definitely know where the healer group was, right?

"Father!"

Cassius looked to the direction that he was called. His eyes turned colder than usual and his eyebrows twitched when he saw Edwin come running to him with a horrified expression while holding a young child. He immediately realized that that child was his youngest child, Lucas and the state he was in was not good.

"Father! Lucas needs a healer! You must have brought some from the capital, right! Hurry and tell me where they are!" Edwin said non-stop. He was really in a hurry.

Edwin sighed in relief when his father said to follow him after he shifted his command to someone else. He followed where his fathers led quickly. Their steps were so fast that other people could see they were in a hurry.

They entered a huge tent where there was a green flag with the symbol of a pigeon on the top of it. It was also filled with many injured people and healers, trying their best to lower the casualties. Then his father immediately called someone named Jahira, a woman who was around 40 years of age, wearing a long robe which indicated that she was a healer. After hearing the situation, she led them into the innermost part of the tent where there were not many people.

Edwin put Lucas down slowly on the bed that Jahira showed him. He could do nothing but watch aside and prayed that his brother's situation was not as worse as he had expected as the said healer began to examine Lucas.

"Will he be ok?"

It was just that he knew that the strange boy also followed him along the way. Edwin was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he didn't even realize someone was following him. If his father knew that, he was going to be trained like hell again.

"He will." Edwin believed that his brother would do ok no matter what. He could not let his little brother die just like that, like his mother.

"How is he doing?" Edwin heard his father ask the conditions of Lucas. He realized that his father also seemed to be worried about his little brother. He never expected that, though.

"Not ok. His mana flow is not normal, creating a complex knot within his body. I need to restore this so don't disturb me and it might take some time. Succession rate is 50-50. Seriously, what kind of stage did he use to get to this situation?" Jahira explained, while wiping away her sweat on her forehead.

The trio just nodded, allowing her to do everything necessary, and watched from beside just quietly, watching every move that Jahira made. Edwin was also praying non-stop that everything would go well for Lucas. After a few minutes Maria and Leo came into the tent in panic but before they called out to Lucas with worried voices, Edwin immediately put a finger on his lips, telling them not to make voices.

After nearly taking an hour, the glow of healing magic slowly faded away and Lucas's rough breathing also began to calm down. Although Lucas was still pale and unconscious, Edwin exhaled in relief, knowing that he was not in a dangerous situation as Jahira was smiling after a sigh.

--------------------------------------

Lucas was still lying unconscious on his bed, with Edwin and Maria watching him closely. Their mansion also suffered from the battle and so Cassius decided to bring them to the capital so they were now their mansion in the capital city.

To their surprise, the boy that Lucas saved, Ryosuke, was also brought with them to the capital. Now his father took him to the palace. They didn't know the reason but they felt that the situation related to Ryosuke would not be that simple.

But it was not their business. All they wanted was to see their little brother open his eyes and start to stay active again like before. The healer told them that Lucas was just sleeping to replenish his energy that he lost and also his body was just trying to maintain the stability of his mana flow. There was nothing to worry but the twins couldn't help but to wait in anxiety.

Lucas, who looked so much like their mother, Stacia was like a gift left behind for them by her. If someone asked them if they hated their little brother, they would definitely say no. They loved him so much. They loved Lucas and wanted to protect him from every danger just like their mother did. And it was not Lucas's fault that Stacia died. It was all their mother's choice and they had to respect it. And they wanted to shower Lucas with love, warmth and protection for their mother, too.

But now look at this. Even though they promised to their mother that they would keep Lucas safe, they couldn't fulfill their promise. They weren't able to stop Lucas from using his magic mindlessly. According to Jahira, Lucas could die if Edwin arrived a few minutes late and if Jahira's healing level wasn't high enough. How could they let their precious brother suffer to such an extent.

"I shouldn't have left for the capital....." Feeling down, Maria whispered to herself. If someone was near Lucas while Edwin was fighting, such a case would not happen.

"Don't be stupid." Edwin retorted, hearing what Maria had just said. He then looked at Lucas who seemed to be in a deep sleep. "I shouldn't have left Lucas alone. It was my fault...." He continued in guilt.

Maria knew that they would go nowhere and just continue the depressed words if they continued this discussion. Instead she just patted the shoulder of Edwin, telling him that to make sure not to let this happen twice.

Edwin just nodded and after that their gaze was pinned on Lucas again.

"He is going to wake up, right....?" Edwin then continued, still afraid of the fact that his little brother might leave them.

"Of course he will! You know that healer, right? Jahira was one of the bests in the kingdom. She said he just needs some rest."

"Yea.... And I still couldn't believe that father still left for work when Lucas is like this. Shouldn't he stay with him and look after him?" Edwin pouted. He knew already that Lucas wanted to stay close with their father but he didn't like the way his father reacted.

"He had his reasons. You know how much of a busy man he is. He also had many things to manage with his territory like this. Just be glad that he didn't order you to come and work with him and just let us look after Lucas"

Edwin just stared at Lucas again in silence. Looking back, Cassius also seemed to be frightened by the state of Lucas. Before he left he asked Maria and him to look after Lucas carefully and to immediately call the best healer possible if something went wrong which made both of them surprised and glad with the fact that Cassius still cared.

"Do you think Lucas will make it to his birthday? Only 4 days left."

"I don't know. But don't worry, we can still arrange something that will make him happy even if he missed his birthday." replied Maria with a gentle smile.

"Yea, of course!"

------------------------------------------

After a few days, Cassius returned back to the capital after managing the causalities and affairs of his territory. As soon as he arrived at their mansion in the capital, in the evening time, he could see Edwin and Maria with some staff of the mansion, welcoming him as usual.

"How is Lucas?" His voice was cold and intimidating. But that was how he always spoke.

"He is still sleeping, father. But his condition is stable." Edwin replied to his question, and his expression seemed to be delighted.

Cassius didn't reply anything but the word "good" and then he headed straight to his room. He still had some leftover paperwork to do. He also had no appetite so he just skipped dinner, without even stepping a foot outside of his working office.

When he noticed the time, it was already past 11 pm. It was just then he decided to walk outside a bit, without even realizing the fact that his feet were leading him to the room where his youngest son resided.

When he reached the door, he was reluctant to enter but he decided to do so. At least he should see Lucas's condition for once, right.

There was a maid who was attending to Lucas near his bed where he was laying. She immediately bowed down and paid respect to him. Her face expressed that she wasn't expecting Cassius's visit. He just waved his hand, ordering her to leave which she did so straight away. He then sat on a chair near Lucas's bed.

Looking at his son's sleeping face, Cassius felt an immense amount of sorrow, again. Lucas' facial features and his hair color did look truly identical to Stacia, his beloved wife whom he didn't want to forgive for leaving him behind.

<<"Don't do this Stacia! Your mana is not enough for this!"

"No! I will save this child no matter what..... I have to">>

Recalling the past, Cassius' eyes seemed lifeless. On this very day, Stacia passed away saving Lucas who was supposed to die. He hated the way this child's birth made Stacia die. He hated how this child's features looked like Stacia. He hated how this child even inherited her power. Every time he saw Lucas, he couldn't help but remember her. He despised this child. He didn't want to see him. He thought like this until the recent incidents.

He thought he would not feel anything when something happened to this child but when he saw him in such a pale and limp state, he felt that his world was breaking down again. He didn't know why he was feeling such anxiety and worries. Was it because Lucas looked so much like Stacia? At least, it was sure that he didn't want this boy to disappear.

"Stacia..... are you watching over him? The one you gave your life to protect?" Cassius murmured. He couldn't really describe what he wasn't feeling. If he gave it a thought, there was no doubt that it wasn't Lucas' fault. Why did he choose to ignore him? He was starting to feel kind of like regret, now.

"I am sorry.... Lucas."  He whispered while removing some strands of hair on his son's face. He was wrong and he felt like it was already late to notice his mistake. Could he really try and pay back for what he had lacked to Lucas?

"And happy birthday,..... son."

For the first time in 6 years, he wished for Lucas's birthday sincerely.

One week had passed since Lucas had passed out, and he opened his eyes slowly again after that. Edwin and Maria, who were watching over Lucas during these days, couldn't hold themselves back and hugged their precious brother, welcoming him earnestly.

"Lucas, finally you are awake!" was the word that they both exclaimed delighted and in joy.