My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

Damon had spent the last two days at Iris' house. It was quite painful—sleeping and living in a place that held so many memories of her father, especially since he was the one who killed the kind hunter.

That was why, when he finally left, he felt a weight leave his chest.

Luna and Iris remained there. That had been Lilith's base of operations for the months that he was gone.

But the truth was… she had just been looking after Iris and Luna.

The two days they had spent, he introduced her to his sister and Iris—so they were already familiar with Matia.

Damon had been updated on the situation by Lilith. The academy wanted him and the others in his party back…

Naturally, he would be writing a report—along with Matia, who was seated right next to him, still wearing her armor.

He groaned. After surviving three death zones, now he had to write a report?

From the looks of it, he'd be writing Matia's too.

Naturally, it wasn't just a simple academy report. It had immense value to the society at large—any information from a death zone was priceless.

It could be the difference between life and death—or even the catalyst for progress in magical research.

He was sure the professors and academy researchers were already red-eyed with greed for what he might have learned.

But Damon was no fool. Organizations like the Temple would also be watching.

Depending on what he'd learned, he could be silenced… or taken under their care…

Or forced to sign an oath scroll to keep his silence.

Damon was already feeling irritated. He'd even been sent an itinerary. Apparently, he would have to go through some therapy too…

The carriage whooshed down the road to the academy.

Lilith flipped a paper. "The second semester ended a week ago. However, due to the vast amount of points you've all accumulated, you have sufficient credit to pass… but you will still be writing makeup exams—both of you. Or an equivalent."

Damon groaned. "Is that right… Did you tell the Headmaster what I said?"

Lilith sighed. Damon was Damon. If he didn't do something arrogant, he wouldn't be himself.

"Yes. I told him. Turns out, it wasn't a big deal…"

Damon smiled. It seemed his offer had been accepted.

When he heard he was being forced to write a report and take makeup exams, Damon sent Lilith with a letter to the Headmaster, and in no uncertain terms told him he would not be writing a report.

He gave the Headmaster a choice—either the report or the exams. Naturally, if he wrote a report on the three death zones, it would count as his exam.

Therefore, acting as a replacement.

If they made him take the exams, he wouldn't be giving them any report—making them lose out on whatever knowledge he may have gained.

Furthermore, he would convince his party to do the same.

He even had Matia sign a similar letter to show his resolve.

Of course, to share what they might be missing out on, he wrote down some random theories Valerie talked about around the campfire.

Lilith sighed again. She remembered some professors holding their heads and drinking painkiller potions, apparently lamenting how the troublemaker had returned.

In the end, Lilith had to give him props for his boldness. The academy was, after all, an educational and research institute. Their primary goal was to advance the goddess races.

It cost them nothing—only letting a troublesome student get his way.

"Professor Emeralda says you shouldn't tell the others about this. Just you and Matia."

Damon smiled at Lilith.

"Ohhh… now that they said it, I'll definitely tell them about it."

Lilith shook her head. That was the professors' problem.

"The War Games are coming up, so most students are still in the academy. They want to train for a chance to enter a world dungeon… and gain world renown."

Damon didn't really pay it much mind.

"And get this—you're famous now. You're all over the news. The papers with you and the Grand Duke are quite popular… Naturally, with the War Games coming and other academies competing with ours, the academy's propaganda machine is fully active…"

He sighed, glad he was wearing a hood when his picture was taken with the Grand Duke.

"Let me guess… They want to show off their legendary students who survived a death zone, further proving just how much better Aether Academy is than any institution in the world… right?"

Lilith smiled softly. That was only the beginning. The academy was naturally going to put its best students in the War Games, with the purpose of getting as many slots as possible.

"Basically, you're the academy's poster boy. You have the right background too… nameless commoner leads a party of nobles and inherits the legacy of the Ascendants of Lysithara… You also get the added tag of 'Made in Aether Academy' attached to your fame…"

He rolled his eyes.

"As if these people didn't try to expel me a few months ago… now they want to use me for fame…"

She shrugged her arms, her gaze focused on the silent Matia, who was actually Damon's shadow.

"It's a cruel world we live in… people only care about your worth…"

"You should worry about explaining her story, since she won't talk and you won't try to order her to."

Damon glanced at Matia.

Yeah, she had a lot to explain—like why she looked a few years older, why she was a woman and not a man, why she wasn't talking, why she was obsessed with hiding under her armor… or why her hair and eyes were a different color from when she left…

Damon felt a small headache coming on.

"I'm not gonna do your homework, you know…"

Her cold blue eyes lingered on him. She shook her head…

Damon had wanted to say something when he sensed some shadows by the academy gates. They were most likely not granted entrance—after all, the academy was diplomatically neutral ground.

Still, he saw their flags…

These were the flags of the Moon Glades.

He narrowed his eyes…

"Elves…"