It took three whole years for Damon to finally accept Aristo as his son. With his eyes closed, the only way Aristo could see was through detection, a technique that involves feeling the flows of energy around him. Now, a whole seven years had passed; the years flew by like dry leaves falling off tree branches.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPcxpDVGrJ
"Close your eyes, Phobos. Feel the energy flowing through your body. What do you see?" Damon asked, as Phobos stood close to Aristo at the center of the training ground.
"Hmmm, a white light," Phobos answered, his eyes widely open. Damon gently struck Phobos' head. "Again!" he said.
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Ouch!
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As the wind blew, the curtains moved in different directions.
"Eyes closed, focus, feel the energy flowing around you. Every single thing has an energy. With enough concentration, you should have no problem seeing them clearly," Damon instructed, moving around Phobos and Aristo.
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"I can see you clearly, but I can't see most things far away," Phobos replied. Damon turned his head slightly.
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"Tell me, what exactly can you see now ?" Damon asked out of curiosity. Meanwhile, Aristo was busy picking his nose.
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"The little ants carrying a leaf close to the tree, the birds' nest above us – its eggs are hatching," Phobos replied. Damon was pleased with what Phobos could see.
"Aristo, what can you see?" Damon asked.
"I can see the marketplace, Mom, Lady Lisanna," Aristo replied
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"Your detection should be sharp; that's the only way you could perceive things around you. I bet you could see further than that," Phobos complimented Aristo.
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"More reason why you should work harder, Phobos. Expand your radius, see even further into the marketplace. All you're good for is sleep. Rest a bit; I'll be back shortly," Damon shouted,as he walked away.
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The sound of birds chirping filled the air as the wind blew silently for a while.
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DARIA CITY GATE
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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.
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"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.
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"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.
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"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.
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The guard handed Zack a document to fill out. The older girl swiftly collected the book from the guard.
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"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.
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She quickly filled out the papers and handed them back to the guard. After a brief moment, he granted them safe passage.
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"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.
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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.
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CENTER MARKET
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"Hey, how much for those?" Cassandra asked, pointing to a mochi. She began drooling suddenly, unable to resist the aroma.
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"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."
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Cassandra bowed her head in respect. "Thank you."
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[The sounds of dogs barking, birds chirping, and people walking by filled the air.]
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"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.
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"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.
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(CARNAGE CRESCENT STREET)
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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.
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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.
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"I spent it all on drinks. Just need a girl or two," another man laughed.
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As they walked, 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.
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[Awkward silence filled the air, accompanied by the sound of hot steam escaping from a chimney and whistling from a nearby shop.]
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"Wow, what a babe! Nice catch," one of the men said, staring at her disgustingly.
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TRAINING GROUND
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"Phobos, Aristo, new assignment: find your sister using detection," Damon said, returning after searching for Cassandra around the house without success.
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"Seen her," they both replied in unison. "She's on a roof close to the marketplace, watching a girl. It looks like she's in some kind of trouble, though. And by the look of it, she's a demi-human."
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"What's going on now?" Damon asked.
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"She just cut off a man's hand with some kind of thread," Phobos replied.
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"Like spider silk, filled with intense eno energy," Aristo added.
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[An awkward silence followed, broken only by the sound of a bee buzzing by Damon's face.]
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"Cassandra!" Damon shouted.
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Carnage Crescent Street
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"AGH!! 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.
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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.
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From the rooftop above, Cassandra watched the scene unfold, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Whoa… that was insane. I barely saw her move!" she whispered to herself, preparing to leap down and confront the girl.
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But before she could make a move—
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"What do you think you're doing, young lady?"
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Cassandra froze. That voice—deep, commanding. Her stomach dropped as she slowly turned around.
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"D-Dad?!" she stammered, eyes wide in shock. She hadn't sensed him approaching. Not even a hint of his presence.
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Damon stood there, arms crossed, an eyebrow raised.
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"Uh… I was just, uh… looking for my mochi!" She hastily lifted a small rice cake in her hand. "See? Here it is!"
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Looking for your mochi on the rooftop!! He shouted as he covered his face.
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Damon exhaled, clearly unconvinced. Without another word, he stepped forward and leapt down from the rooftop, Cassandra following hesitantly.
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He extended a hand toward the unconscious man, and immediately, the blood pooling around him began to ripple. With a subtle motion, Damon manipulated the blood, guiding it back into the man's body. The severed arm lifted, reattaching itself seamlessly. Flesh knitted back together as if it had never been cut.
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Cassandra watched in awe. "Whoa… that's so cool! I can't wait until I unlock Dio!" she exclaimed.
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Damon gave her a pointed look. "We're done here. Time for training."
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With a flick of his wrist, the two of them vanished.
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