chapter 4: family ties

Luc Cane sat in the grand dining hall of the Cane family estate, his eyes lingering on the elaborate feast set before him. The table was filled with delicacies from the far corners of the continent—fruits from the highland valleys, roasted meats seasoned with rare spices, and delicate pastries that almost seemed too beautiful to eat. The grandeur of the meal did nothing to lift the heavy feeling in Luc's chest. He had never been able to enjoy these lavish meals or the opulent lifestyle his adopted family provided.

The Cane family had taken him in as a child, raised him with care, but never with the warmth of genuine affection. He was a stray brought into a house full of well-to-do magi, a distant relative who had no real claim to the family's legacy. The Cane family did their duty by him, ensuring he was well-fed, well-educated, and well-dressed, but their care felt cold, more like an obligation than a true bond. Luc had always been the outsider, a piece in the family puzzle that never quite fit.

His eyes drifted toward his adoptive parents, sitting at the head of the table. Lord Thaddeus Cane, a stern man with sharp features and an air of authority, was absorbed in a conversation with a family friend. His posture was impeccable, and his voice carried a natural command that demanded respect. Beside him, Lady Elara Cane, graceful and composed, smiled politely at the conversation but her eyes never quite reached Luc's. She was kind, but Luc had never felt any warmth in her gestures. Her affection was always tempered with a sense of distance, as though she had accepted him out of duty, not love.

Luc's thoughts wandered back to his childhood, to the days when he had first arrived at the estate. He had been a small, fragile child, orphaned and lost in a world he didn't understand. The Cane family had taken him in out of pity or obligation, but he had always known that he was not truly their son. They never shared their joy with him, nor did they seek his opinion on matters of importance. He had been raised as one of the family, yes, but there was a separation that always existed, an invisible wall between him and them.

His gaze shifted to his younger sibling, Lydia Cane, who was seated beside Lady Elara. Lydia was the true heir of the Cane family, the one who would inherit their wealth, their influence, and their magical legacy. Unlike Luc, Lydia had been born into the family, and it was clear in the way she carried herself—confident, poised, and adored by both her parents. The love and admiration the Cane family had for her were evident in every glance and gesture. Lydia's radiant smile, her quick wit, and her natural grace had earned her a place in the hearts of all who knew her.

Luc, however, was nothing more than a shadow in her presence. He was a mere placeholder, a second son who would never be more than a distant reflection of the real heir to the family. Though Lydia was kind to him in her own way, Luc could never bring himself to feel the same warmth toward her. It was impossible to feel truly close to someone who was everything he was not—someone who belonged to the family in a way he never could.

The family meal carried on, but Luc found it difficult to focus on the conversation around him. His thoughts were clouded with resentment, not for the Cane family, but for the system that had forced him into this situation. He had never asked for their care, nor had he ever wished to be part of a family that treated him as an outsider. He had never asked for their protection or their wealth, only to find a place where he could belong.

The biochip, always present in the background of his thoughts, hummed softly in his mind. As always, it offered data and insights, providing him with knowledge about the world around him, about magic, and about the complex relationships within the Cane family. It even presented him with suggestions on how he could navigate the delicate dynamics at the dinner table, how he could appear more involved, more connected. But Luc was not interested in fitting into their mold. He was not interested in pretending to be something he was not.

He had no desire to play the part of a dutiful son, a grateful adopted child. He knew his place within the family, and it was not one of love or affection. They cared for him because it was expected of them, not because they wanted him to be part of their lives. He had been raised as an outsider, and as much as he tried to fit in, he would never be able to erase the truth of his existence.

He stood up abruptly from the table, his chair scraping loudly against the marble floor. The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, and all eyes turned to him.

"Luc?" Lady Elara's voice was soft, her gaze searching his face. "Is something wrong?"

Luc hesitated, then shook his head. "I'm not hungry," he said curtly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I need some air."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked out of the dining hall, the weight of the Cane family's expectations heavy on his shoulders. The cool night air greeted him as he stepped out into the courtyard, away from the lavish feast and the cold, distant smiles of his adoptive family.

He leaned against the stone wall, his eyes gazing up at the stars. The moonlight bathed the estate in a silvery glow, but even the beauty of the night couldn't lift his mood. For a moment, he considered using the biochip to learn more about the family's internal dynamics, to find ways to better integrate into their world. But as he thought about it, he realized that he didn't want to be part of their world. He didn't want to be a pawn in a family that didn't truly love him.

Luc's thoughts turned inward as he reflected on the future. He had the biochip, a powerful tool that could help him grow stronger, smarter, and more capable. But he had no desire to use it to please the Cane family. His goals were his own, and the path to achieving them would not be defined by the family that had taken him in. The biochip could guide him, but it would never change the fundamental truth of his existence: he was alone, an outsider in a world that never truly accepted him.

For now, that was enough