My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

Damon blinked.

He wondered how much of that she had heard. A quiet sigh almost slipped past his lips—his disuse of shadow perception had left him vulnerable, open to surprises he normally would have sensed a mile away.

His danger sense helped, sure… but it was no real substitute.

Sylvia’s smile was gentle, unwavering. Her eyes never strayed from his as she lowered herself slowly beside him.

Damon tried not to shift uncomfortably. There was something different about her tonight. Or was it just him? Did she… look prettier somehow?

His thoughts betrayed him.

He thought of the blanket…

Bit his lips…

‘No. Absolutely not.’

Sylvia’s gaze never faltered, locked on him with eerie intensity.

“I guess I should go straight to the point… you know, don’t you?”

Damon forced a wry smile, trying to deflect.

“What do I know…?”

She looked up at him. Her expression—almost cold. A chill smile curved her lips as his danger sense gave a soft whisper at the edge of his awareness.

“Huh… fine, be like that,” she said, her tone cold, yet her smile never left.

“I never get what I want. The Moon Glades are quite beautiful… but even being the princess there, I can hardly say I know the place.”

Damon almost sighed in relief at the shift in topic. At least she wasn’t talking about feelings. Or romance. Or anything dangerous like that.

As he had told himself many times before, he couldn’t understand these childish crushes. Not because he didn’t feel them… but because emotionally, he was stunted. Part of him—maybe the most important part—had simply stopped growing. That disconnect between his actions and his intentions, it showed more often than he liked.

Still, Sylvia continued.

“Someone once told me… if I want something, I should take it by force. I don’t need to ask permission.”

She turned and met his eyes directly.

“Today was a good opportunity. Too bad you didn’t take it.”

Damon had no idea what she was talking about, but a shiver crept down his spine.

“Sylvia, I—”

“Damon,” she interrupted, her voice firm but quiet, “I actually came here to apologize in advance. For anything I do in the future. I hope you can forgive me. Just know… I’ll do what I must. Because I intend to claim what I long for.”

He suppressed the urge to gulp. Her aura shifted—subtle, but impossible to miss. He recognized the resonance of a second-class advancement.

“And what is it that you want?”

Sylvia didn’t look away. She didn’t blink.

“I wanted two things. Knowledge—I’ve already obtained that. The second still eludes me… though it’s so close.”

She slowly raised her hand and brushed her fingers against his cheek.

“I can even touch it… yet apparently, I can’t have it. Because the world and society say so. Isn’t that… ludicrous?”

Damon chuckled awkwardly.

“Ohhh huh…hu… I see.”

She smiled again. A shade of red colored her face, but it didn’t look like an innocent blush.

“I’ll get it. I will have what I want. That’s why I’m apologizing. My methods… may cause you some trouble. But you’ll forgive me, right?”

Damon couldn’t help it anymore. He gulped.

“Ermh… yes… sure. As long as you stop creeping me out…”

Sylvia smiled, radiant as ever.

“Okay. I’ll hold you to that promise. Don’t forget these words… Anyway, you wanted to ask me about the Silver Glades?”

Damon blinked.

“How did you…?”

She gently pushed her white hair aside, the silken strands parting to reveal her elven ears catching the moonlight.

“I’m a seer. And I had a vision.”

Damon had only wanted to change the topic—her presence was freaking him out, and that was saying something coming from him.

‘I haven’t gotten chills like this since that one time Lilith messed me up…’

Women could be terrifying. Sylvia Moonveil might just be the most dangerous of them all.

‘Goddess help me… help us all…’

Damon even risked praying to the goddess.

He braved another question. “What do you know about it?”

Sylvia smiled.

“Nothing… but I know everything. Remember, I’m a seer.”

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Yeah, but your skill is dangerous. Evangeline learned her lesson and only uses it when necessary. You just… do whatever, don’t you?”

She tilted her head, then leaned it softly on his shoulder.

“Are you… concerned?”

He gave her a deadpan look.

“It’d be weird if I wasn’t.”

She wrapped both hands around his arm.

“You’re really sweet. You act like you don’t care… but you do. A lot. Don’t you?”

He scoffed, turning his face slightly.

“Tsk. Are you going to tell me about the Silver Glades or not?”

She nodded. He could feel her warmth through the cold night air.

“The Silver Glades is a land of warriors. It borders my home—the Moon Glades. Unlike the other elven kingdoms, it’s a nation ruled by strength. The title of ruler passes from master to apprentice.”

Her fingers idly played with a lock of her hair.

“The current ruler is old. All his apprentices died in the Demon War. His last one disappeared—assumed dead… so technically, he has no successor. Unless… that apprentice is still alive. Or if he had another.”

Despite her casual tone, her words carried weight.

“Despite being neighbors, like most countries in this world, we’ve fought more than a few battles. Now that I think about it… it probably has something to do with the Pillar.”

“That’s enough.” Damon cut in, his voice sharper than before. “I get the picture. Let’s not talk about that. Or any Pillars.”

He caught the sly smile tugging at her lips.

“As you wish. I thought you’d let me ramble on and on…”

She gave him a knowing look.

“You should be careful during the upcoming War Games. Don’t get carried away… warriors from all over the world will show up for a chance to prove their mantle and enter the World Dungeon in Valerion.”

The moonlight made her white hair shimmer as she smiled again.

“The whole world will be watching…”

Damon didn’t know what she meant by that. But he had a sinking feeling that if he asked, she’d only answer with something cryptic.

This girl was becoming more mysterious with each passing day.

“Assuming we actually get out of here alive…”

Sylvia exhaled, her cold breath fogging slightly in the night air.

“I should go. It seems Evangeline wants to talk to you too…”

As she walked back toward the firelight, he noticed the faintest pout on her face.

Evangeline approached quietly from the other side, where she had been watching the ruined city below.

Damon sighed.

Today must be bother Damon day…

‘God forbid a man wants to brood in peace’