My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

Chapter 792: Chapter 793: Give Me Tea

The fourth trial they would face was a complete mystery to them and since Damon had suffered the most during the trial of sin, Lazarak wanted him to take it easy during the next trial.

Damon glanced at him with a calm leisurely expression while sipping his tea, his posture relaxed as if nothing in the world could bother him.

Lazarak slowly walked to the table and attempted to sit. Unfortunately, his toddler body made the adult sized chair hopelessly unsuitable.

His tiny legs dangled in the air, and he slid right off the edge. He stared at the chair with visible irritation before lifting his small hand.

A stack of books floated off the shelves and arranged neatly on the seat. He climbed back up, planted himself on the improvised throne, and cleared his throat.

”Cough cough.” He coughed awkwardly at his own actions, waiting for Damon to mock him. Damon did not even look up from his tea.

Lazarak kept his gaze steady.

”I’m afraid the next trial is not suited for me.”

Damon raised an eyebrow and lowered his teacup with deliberate slowness.

”You’re afraid. Huh. That is a funny way of saying Damon relax and live your best life. I can handle this.”

Lazarak straightened his back. His tiny hands folded neatly in his lap. His dark eyes brightened and widened, trying to look dignified even while he sat on a pile of books.

Damon sneered, unimpressed. The god was clearly trying to butter him up and it was pathetic.

”Your tactics have failed. I will not do it. Figure it out yourself.”

Lazarak sighed with a wounded expression.

”And so I suffer.”

He lifted his hand again. Darkness gathered around his fingers and rose like smoke, swirling until it formed small floating shapes.

”The trial we are about to face is the trial of creation. The warden is the Mother of Stillbirths.”

Lazarak paused with a frown before releasing another soft sigh.

”She is the mother of all babies who did not get to live. The stillborn who never had the chance to hate life or become ungrateful for the gift of it.”

He clasped his small hands together, his voice gentle.

”Being born is the greatest act of creation. Those who did not get that chance are missing out on too much.”

Damon did not move. His expression remained flat. As someone who despised the concept of being born without consent and resented that life was forced upon him, he had no sympathy.

”Well this trial must be easy. Just tell them they are not missing out on much. In life we have poverty, starvation, prostitution, plagues, war, natural disasters. Did I mention poverty? And more poverty. You are born and you work until you die. There is nothing special about it.”

Lazarak rolled his eyes. Their worldviews were oceans apart.

”But what about what they miss? Love, happiness, peace, adventure, dreams.”

”I will stop you there and your hipster nonsense.” Damon raised a hand to silence him. ”Love, happiness, peace, adventure, dreams. Are you sure you and I live in the same world?”

He stared at Lazarak with disdain.

”This is Aetherus. Peace is never an option and war is eternal. Strength rules. Violence is the question. Love and happiness are fleeting. They do not last. And when they do, the ending is betrayal or tragedy. A noblewoman gets bored, thinks with her loins, and convinces some idiot commoner that love means anything. The result is destroyed families and villages.”

He shook his head at the memory of his parents, those two fools who believed in love.

”Love only happens between equals. When it does not, everything collapses.”

Lazarak bit his lip, watching Damon demolish his hopeful ideals.

”Dreams. What dreams? If you are a dreamer, keep sleeping. Reality is a nightmare.”

He touched his chin, thinking.

”Then adventure. That is the single most foolish decision a person can make. Do not explore the unknown. The best adventure is staying home where it is safe. The outside world is full of monsters and horrors.”

He glared at Lazarak.

”So no. I think they are better off.”

Lazarak lowered his head. His nature was inherently optimistic. He saw beauty in everything and refused to kill even when it meant saving his own life. Hearing Damon speak like this hurt him, not because it surprised him, but because it reflected just how bleak Damon’s world view truly was.

”If you focus only on the thorns of a rose, you will never appreciate its beauty.”

He smiled gently, hoping to give his pessimistic friend some hope.

”Have you ever been in love, Damon?”

Damon raised an eyebrow and took another thoughtful sip of tea.

”No. Not really.”

Lazarak smiled softly.

”So there is not a lady you fancy?”

Damon hesitated for a moment. A lady he fancied. The first person that came to mind was someone he refused to think about. He shifted in his seat.

Because he was unsure if she was dead or alive.

”Hmmm. A lady I fancy.... I fancy. What brought this on.”

Lazarak smiled at the obvious deflection.

”You seem to have a negative impression of love. Why so scared of it.”

Damon rolled his eyes.

”I am not scared of love. And more importantly, you wanted help with the next trial.”

Lazarak noticed the quick pivot.

”You are not very popular with the ladies, are you?”

Damon gave him a deadpan stare.

”You do not want to go down that rabbit hole with me.”

Lazarak hesitated. The Mother of Stillbirths was important, but so was the tea. He lifted his cup and took a slow sip.

”Well then consider me a rabbit hunter.”

Damon sighed and shook his head. Memories crawled back.

”Ahhh.” He released a long breath. ”I have never been popular with the ladies.”

Lazarak nodded sympathetically.

”No surprise. Only a mother could love you.”

Damon waved that off with another tired sigh.

”I only know a few city toppling beauties fighting over me. I only kissed a few princesses. It is no big deal. I am certain other men have achieved more.”

Lazarak froze mid laugh, stunned.

He turned toward Matia.

”I am going to need more tea.”