My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

Damon did not know how to react. His smile never quite reached his eyes, but he nodded along to Iris’s arguments, validating each one as long as it was logically sound, even when doing so brought her closer to a truth he was not ready to face.

Was this fate or choice.

The girl had a right to know who killed her father, and Damon was tired. Tired of the senseless violence. Tired of the endless justifications. He wanted peace. That was all.

Luna could not resist the urge to show off her niece. She rose eagerly, cradled Ranar against her chest, and tugged Iris along by the wrist, the two of them disappearing down the corridor in soft laughter, leaving Damon alone in the courtyard beneath the glow of the twin moons.

“You sure took your time,” he whispered.

A woman with long red hair stood a short distance away, watching him.

“I wanted you to have a blissful reunion with everyone. You do not know this, but you coming back today was actually quite auspicious,” Lilith said coolly, a thin smile touching her lips as she studied him.

“Auspicious. I did not think anyone would associate me with that word.” His tone was self deprecating as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“Well, you have come a long way these days. You are a hero whose name has traveled far and wide. Every man, woman, and child across the world knows who Damon Grey is and what he has accomplished.”

He let out a quiet chuckle. Her words passed through him like drifting wind, never settling. His heart remained as still as stone.

“Then have I been glorified for being good at killing people.”

Lilith shook her head slowly.

“No. You have been glorified for being victorious against unbeatable odds, Damon,” she replied in a hushed tone.

She stepped closer.

“You have a bad habit. You either feel you are the greatest person in the world or you feel like you do not deserve to be here at all. The contrast and self hate is unbecoming.”

She placed both hands gently on his shoulders and squeezed.

“Pick one. Personally, I like the egotistical and arrogant one best. He is convinced he cannot lose. But on quiet days, I do not mind the other one. He reminds me of how human you are.”

Damon exhaled slowly and shook his head.

“I lived Mugu’s life, you know. I watched him lose everything through no fault of his own, and I saw him spiral into endless darkness.”

He did not stop there.

“Iris came to me today. She told me Amon killed her father and she wanted to kill him. I was the one who taught her revenge was acceptable because I believed revenge was the only way.”

His fists tightened at his sides, knuckles cracking audibly.

“Do you think you are wrong,” Lilith asked.

“I do not know. I want to tell her to forgive and forget, to live happily, but coming from her father’s killer, especially one who followed through with his own revenge, that would be hypocritical.”

He tilted his head back and stared at the sky, all the anger in his chest drifting aimlessly with nowhere to settle.

“What right do I have.”

Lilith was quiet for a long moment.

“Your parents died because of the actions of Godric Ravenscroft, Xander’s older brother. You found him and killed him because his choice to murder them destroyed your childhood and your life as you knew it. You left your home, wandered the streets of Valerion, unsure if you could survive, much less protect your sister.”

Her emerald eyes reflected the twin moons as she spoke.

“His choice led to your actions. You do not need to feel guilty for revenge.”

She was trying to comfort him in the only way she knew how. Lilith believed in vengeance almost as deeply as Damon did. To her, forgiving those who harmed you was the same as inviting them to do it again.

Some people did the world a favor by leaving it.

Damon gave a low chuckle. He had almost forgotten who he was talking to.

“An eye for an eye, huh. When I met him, he was pathetic. He reeked of alcohol. There was nothing dignified about him. He hid in his room, afraid of what he had done.”

Damon had not forgotten the face of Godric Ravenscroft. Not his guilt. Not his fear.

“There was fear in his eyes at first. It was as if he believed I would not dare kill him, that I would expose him instead. I had a drink with him before I killed him, and when I did, it was not as satisfying as I thought it would be. I just felt disappointed. Later, when I saw Xander again, I felt guilt even though my mind kept telling me I did nothing wrong.”

“Did you believe your mind then,” Lilith asked. Her red hair swayed gently in the night breeze like soft waves of scarlet embers.

“I did. For a time.”

He lowered his head and took a slow breath.

“We wish to be good, but we fail to forgive.”

He looked up at the twin moons again.

“Why is good always the intention behind heinous actions. Men who desire peace often forge the sharpest blades. Why do we see enemies everywhere when we could see people instead.”

He placed a hand over his chest.

“I know I am wrong for this, but I still want revenge on Morticai for killing Wendy.”

The confession left him quietly. It was a goal he had not abandoned. How would he look his daughter in the eyes when she grew older and fail to explain why he let her mother’s killer walk free.

“Then what about Iris. If you tell her to let go of revenge, she would. That girl would never admit it, but she looks up to you. She adores you. To her, you are not just her teacher. You are her family.”

Damon smiled faintly and pressed his palm harder against his chest.

“That is really reassuring. When the time is right, I will be sure to play the role of a good villain. That way she will never doubt her path.”

“Then you would choose to die,” Lilith asked softly.

“Will you try to stop her,” he asked in return.

Lilith shook her head slowly.

“I have grown too fond of her as well. I tried to warn you of this years ago. Now it is too late.”

She looked at him carefully.

“You may yet die at the hands of your apprentice, just like your teacher fell by yours.”