It took three agonizing years for Damon to finally accept Aristo as his son. With his eyes perpetually closed, Aristo's world was not one of light and shadow, but of a shifting, ethereal tapestry. He navigated the world through Detection, a profound technique that allowed him to feel the very threads of Eno energy woven into the fabric of existence. Now, seven years had passed; the seasons had swept by like dry leaves caught in a gale, turning the infant into a boy of ten.
"Close your eyes, Phobos. Feel the energy flowing through your body. What do you see?" Damon's voice was a low rumble, commanding as the mountain itself.
Phobos stood at the center of the training ground, his feet planted firmly beside Aristo. Despite the instruction, Phobos' eyes remained wide, darting toward the horizon. "Hmmm, a white light," he answered.
A sharp, disciplined crack echoed as Damon's hand connected with the back of Phobos' head. "Again!"
"Ouch!" Phobos hissed, finally squeezing his eyelids shut.
A sudden gust of wind swept across the grounds, sending the heavy training curtains dancing in discordant directions. Damon paced a slow, predatory circle around his sons. "Eyes closed. Focus. Feel the currents around you. Every single thing has an energy. With enough concentration, you should have no problem seeing them clearly."
Phobos gritted his teeth, his brow furrowing with effort. "I can see you clearly, Father, but I can't see most things far away."
Damon paused, his head turning slightly. "Tell me then, what exactly can you see right now?"
Beside them, Aristo seemed entirely unbothered by the gravity of the lesson, casually picking his nose while his mind drifted through the ether.
"The little ants carrying a leaf near the base of the Great Oak... that massive, ancient tree," Phobos whispered, his voice gaining confidence. "And the birds' nest in its high branches—the eggs are vibrating. They're hatching."
Damon's jaw set in a rare moment of satisfaction. Phobos had the potential of a master, yet his spirit was often weighed down by a relentless love for sleep. He turned his attention to his other son. "Aristo, what can you see?"
"I can see the marketplace," Aristo replied instantly, his voice calm. "Mom... and Lady Lisanna."
Phobos let out a breathy whistle. "Your detection is sharp; that's the only way you could perceive things around you. I bet you could see even further than that."
"More reason why you should work harder, Phobos!" Damon's voice rose to a shout. "Expand your radius, see even further into the marketplace. All you're good for is sleep. Rest a bit; I'll be back shortly."
As Damon walked away, his heavy footsteps faded into the background. The sound of birds chirping filled the air, and for a long moment, the wind blew silently through the training yard.
DARIA CITY GATE
Wagons rolled in and out of the city, while people bustled about, buying and selling goods. The gate stood wide open, and the center of Daria remained the hub of attraction. Arguments erupted in the distance.
"Next!" the gatekeepers called out, checking people entering and exiting Daria. Merchants arrived to showcase goods and provide services. A small wagon caught the guard's attention, carrying two girls and a man – all demi-humans.
"Hey, it's Zack! How are you doing? Haven't seen you in a while. Are these your daughters? They're gorgeous!" The guard on duty recognized the man driving the wagon.
"I've been good these past weeks. Those wines seem to sell faster than sweets, thanks to God Tova. They're not my kids, though I wish they were. I'm just accompanying them to Daria, but they're here to stay," Zack replied, as they both laughed.
The guard handed Zack a document to fill out. The older girl swiftly collected the book from the guard.
"Hey, seems like she's in a bad mood. Don't want to get on her bad side," the guard laughed, as Zack chuckled along.
She quickly filled out the papers and handed them back to the guard. After a brief moment, he granted them safe passage.
"Hesper, I know how you're feeling. It came as a shock to us all, but this is what your mother would have wanted. It's for the best, okay?" Zack tried to console her, lifting her spirits.
As they entered the city, demi-humans, humans, and various species moved about, filling the air with different aromas and sights. However, none of these things sparked Hesper's interest.
CENTER MARKET
"Hey, how much for those?" Cassandra asked, pointing to a mochi. She began drooling suddenly, unable to resist the aroma.
"That would be one silver coin, young miss," the lady replied. "Hmm, you look familiar. Are you Damon's daughter by any chance?" The lady looked closer, noticing the resemblance. "You look quite like Damon." She handed Cassandra the mochi, refusing the silver coin. "Take it for free."
Cassandra bowed her head in respect. "Thank you."
The sounds of dogs barking, birds chirping, and people walking by filled the air.
"Hey, watch my dress!" A wagon splashed dirty water all over Cassandra's dress. The rider apologized and offered to pay her, but she declined. However, her attention was caught by a strange person sitting on the wagon. As the wagon left, Cassandra kept staring, and the strange figure looked back at her.
"That was a lot of energy in one place," Cassandra thought, following the wagon carefully. It arrived at its destination, and two strange figures, including the driver, entered a bar shop. After a few minutes, the driver emerged alone.
CARNAGE CRESCENT STREET
Cassandra waited on the roof opposite the bar. After some minutes, the strange person ran out, heading through a narrow alley. Cassandra followed, keeping tabs on the suspicious figure coated in black fabric.
In the alley, the strange figure encountered a group of men. "Hey, man, got any money on you?" one of them asked, reeking of drink.
"I spent it all on drinks. Just need a girl or two," another man laughed.
As they walked past the figure , one of the men dragged the strange figure's coat off, revealing a stunningly beautiful young girl with a unique appearance. She had two small horns protruding from her forehead, curved and smooth like polished ivory. Her radiant white hair fell in soft waves down her back. Her piercing green eyes shimmered like emeralds, with a sharp, intelligent glint.
Awkward silence filled the air, accompanied by the sound of hot steam escaping from a chimney and whistling from a nearby shop.
"Wow, what a babe! Nice catch," one of the men said, staring at her disgustingly.
" Come on baby have some fun with us, drinks on me " they laughed .
" You humans disgust me" she said.
TRAINING GROUND
"Phobos, Aristo, new assignment: find your sister using detection," Damon said, returning after searching for Cassandra around the house without success.
"Seen her," they both replied in unison.
Damon felt a jolt of secret pride. Earlier, Phobos had complained about his range being limited to the birds in the eaves of the massive oak, but now, he was seeing all the way to the Crescent. I knew it, Damon thought to himself. If he actually puts his mind to it, he can see far beyond the marketplace.
"She's on a roof close to the marketplace, watching a girl," the boys continued. "It looks like she's in some kind of trouble, though. And by the look of it, she's a demi-human."
"What's going on now?" Damon asked.
"She just cut off a man's hand with some kind of thread," Phobos replied.
"Like spider silk, filled with intense eno energy," Aristo added.
An awkward silence followed, broken only by the sound of a bee buzzing by Damon's face.
"Cassandra!!!" Damon shouted.
CARNAGE CRESCENT STREET
" BLOOD!!" The man screamed, clutching the stump where his arm had been moments ago. His friends didn't hesitate,they turned and ran, leaving him behind in sheer terror.
She stepped over him, her boots making a soft tap against the blood-soaked pavement. She glanced down at his unconscious form, unimpressed. "Humans," she muttered, continuing forward without a second thought.
From the rooftop above, Cassandra watched the scene unfold, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Whoa… that was insane, I barely saw her move!silk made from eno , that's cool " she whispered to herself, preparing to leap down to confirm if the man was dead.
But before she could make a move,
"What do you think you're doing, young lady?"
Cassandra froze. That voice—deep, commanding. Her stomach dropped as she slowly turned around.
" Hey ,D-Dad?!" she stammered, eyes wide in shock. She hadn't sensed him approaching, Not even a hint of his presence, her detection didn't pick up his presence.
Damon stood there, arms crossed, an eyebrow raised.
"Uh… I was just, uh… looking for my mochi!" She hastily lifted a small rice cake in her hand. "See? Here it is!"
"Looking for your mochi on the rooftop!!" He shouted as he covered his face.
" You're just like your mother" Damon exhaled, clearly unconvinced. Without another word, he stepped forward and leapt down from the rooftop, Cassandra following hesitantly.
He extended a hand toward the broken man, and the air grew heavy . The blood pooling in the cracks of the cobblestones began to ripple, spiraled upward in shimmering ribbons. With a subtle, masterful motion of his fingers, Damon guided the life-fluid back into the man's veins.
The severed arm lifted from the pavement, reattached itself seamlessly. Flesh and bone knitted back together instantly, leaving the skin as unblemished as if the thread had never touched him.
Cassandra watched the display with wide, shimmering eyes. "Whoa… that's so cool! I can't wait until I unlock Dio, Dad!" she exclaimed, her excitement practically vibrating through her. "Then I can finally join the elite force, just like you!"
"No, you won't," Damon replied, his voice flat and final.
"Come on, Dad! I'll be good," she pleaded, scurrying after him. "I'll do exactly what Alexandra wants. I'll obey her every word, I promise! Pretty please? Come on, Dad!"
Damon stopped and looked down at her, a weary sigh escaping him. "You'll just be a problem to her, my love, You are just like your mom."
"Come on, Dad! Dad! Please!" she persisted, tugging at his cloak, her voice rising in a desperate, playful whine. "Dad! Dad! Dad!"
Damon finally held up a hand, a small, defeated smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Okay, yes, yes! You can do whatever you want, okay? But you'll have to follow Alexandra's instructions. The moment you disobey her, you leave. Is that a deal?"
"Yes, sir!" Cassandra barked. She snapped her heels together and struck a rigid pose, saluting him as if she had just received a direct command from a high-ranking officer.
Damon let out a genuine laugh, shaking his head at her antics. He looked at her with a mix of pride and trepidation, then reached out and took her hand. In a heartbeat, the air rippled, and they both vanished.