My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

The elves frowned… subconsciously, they turned to the highest-ranked person among them—an elf mounted on a massive moose.

Lilith's eyes fell on him, her expression icy.

It seemed they were certain the person they were looking for would be here.

He urged his mount forward, stopping just beside the carriage door.

"Greetings. I am Vice-Captain Elias of the Reaches. We've stopped this carriage under suspicion of transporting illegal contraband. This is part of our cooperation with Aether Academy."

Lilith glanced at him. Well, at least one of them wasn't a complete fool.

Still… who gave him the authority?

She stepped down from the carriage slowly, Matia following behind, her weapon already drawn.

Lilith's eyes flicked to Elias. He was in the third class. Obvious enough. He wasn't the highest-ranked officer the White Ruler had sent.

The real powerhouses wouldn't be allowed near the academy gates. They were likely stationed in Valerion's capital or inside the academy itself—under the Headmaster's watchful eye.

Lilith looked at her broken carriage door.

"I am Student Council President Lilith Astranova. With me is a fellow student. You claim to stop us under suspicion of contraband—but, if I may ask, who gave you the authority to act on such suspicions?"

Her voice was cold, her glare gave him pause.

"T-This is under the formal cooperation between Aether Academy and the Moon Glades. The Headmaster gave us permission to be here…"

He narrowed his eyes. "We insist on searching the carriage. If you've nothing to hide, you shouldn't interfere."

Matia raised her ice sword, fully prepared to fight. But Lilith shook her head. Matia hesitated, then—reluctantly—lowered her weapon. She didn't take orders from Lilith…But after a pause, she glanced at her shadow; then she obeyed.

Lilith smiled faintly.

"We will not permit this. If you try to force your way, then know you will bear the responsibility—and I sincerely hope His Majesty, the White Ruler, is prepared to deal with the consequences."

Elias sneered inwardly. He might have backed off before, but His Majesty had given them the authority to act this way.

This human woman… she had nothing going for her but beauty. And he had to admit, even if it pained him—her beauty was out of this world…. For a mere human.

He drew his sword.

"We've already stopped the carriage. We might as well…"

He waved his hand. His men began to move, surrounding the carriage on all sides.

Lilith stepped to the side, calm and composed, as they began their search.

It was obvious—they weren't looking for contraband.

They were looking for a person.

The White Ruler was looking for a scapegoat… even if his entire reason made no sense.

It wasn't justice. It was a statement: Touch my daughter, and you suffer.

It was a show of power.

Who's going to stop me? The lowly commoner boy who stabbed her?

'According to our intel, he was spotted in a tavern with Her Highness a few months ago…'

Elias had even heard something worse from an info broker in Athor's Sanctuary.

He held her hand. He even carried her…

It looked suspiciously like a date.

A human with the Princess?

One of his men had killed the info broker just for voicing that suspicion.

Of course, that act got them banned from Athor's Sanctuary. But the Valtheron Empire seemed to be turning a blind eye—as long as they didn't cause a ruckus and stayed near the academy.

They also had a confirmed sighting—Damon Grey had entered this very carriage.

If he caught that bastard, his superiors would be very pleased.

'I might even get a chance to meet the King…'

But… he was destined for disappointment.

After searching every nook and cranny of the carriage, there was no sign of anyone.

Just the carriage driver.

And the two women.

His brow twitched. They'd even formed a perimeter… all to capture him alive, prevent his escape.

Lilith's cold glare snapped him back to reality.

"Are you done, Sir Elias? After committing such violations, I hope you're ready to be a scapegoat."

"Your conduct is unbecoming of representatives of the Moon Glade. You forget yourselves."

She stepped forward, walking right up to him.

"This is academy ground. You've assaulted an official carriage bearing the academy's crest. That constitutes a breach of international neutrality. The penalties… are not light."

She paused, then smiled thinly.

"But I'm sure you can pay."

She unleashed her aura. The space twisted. The moose convulsed, its knees buckling as it fell—bringing its rider down to meet her eye to eye.

"I assume, of course, this was done without His Eminent Majesty's knowledge. He would never risk his nation's standing over… what was it? Suspicion of contraband?"

His face paled.

If they had found Damon, that would be one thing. But now that they hadn't…

He had overstepped.

Too confident in his intel.

"I'll inform the Headmaster that the Moon Glade is no longer observing the neutrality pact. I'm sure the Council of Nations would love to hear of it."

She leaned in, voice like frost.

"How a pack of racist elven supremacists assaulted the carriage of two women and forced their way in. That broken door is evidence enough."

He gritted his teeth. His fingers clenched the reins.

"I… I… We apologize for the inconvenience. As knights, it is our duty to maintain order…"

Lilith sneered, leaning in to whisper—just for him.

"Tell your master… the next time he sends dogs, they won't return. But I'll return their collars, of course."

"And trust me… no one will avenge you."

With that, she stepped back, turned toward the academy gates, and gestured to Matia.

They walked past the barrier—just beyond reach.

Elias lowered his head. After this incident, all consequences fell squarely on his shoulders.

His superiors were going to flay him.

"Damn it…"

He raised his head to look in the direction of the academy barrier, expecting to see only the two women.

Instead, he saw a young man with a hood…

…waving at him, smugly, from behind the barrier.

He gasped, rage bubbling in his throat.

How… how did he—?

Damn it. The intel was correct…

And that bastard Damon Grey wanted them to know it.

He looked down. A piece of paper had been dropped outside the carriage.

He bent to pick it up.

The message scrawled on it in confident, careless handwriting read:

"Remember this as the day you almost caught Damon Grey… you bloody fools."

He almost coughed up blood.

The insult wasn't necessary.

But after today, he had to admit—this was one of the most arrogant sons of bitches he'd ever met.

Worst of all… he didn't even know how he'd done it.

He couldn't help it.

He screamed.

"Damn you, Damon Grey!!!"