My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

Renata glanced around awkwardly. She had been climbing via the walls and had snuck into the elevator shaft to follow Lilith.

She shook her head.

"My my… that Damon is really popular with the ladies. He is sort of cute, but… he's so screwed if the White Ruler gets wind of this…"

She climbed out, then slid out the window, her movement fluid and practiced. Following Lilith in secret had been surprisingly fruitful.

Where else was she supposed to get such high-quality drama?

Sylvia hadn't sensed Renata at all. She slowly walked through the halls until she reached her room.

As soon as she got inside, she collapsed onto her dorm bed, face first.

She pulled her pillow over her head.

She should have felt embarrassed about what she'd said to Lilith Astranova… but really, she was just trying to explain to herself why Lilith might be the better choice.

Maybe that's why she ended up focusing on Lilith's physical traits.

Was that what men wanted?

She had read something like that once… but she doubted Damon was that shallow. No, she knew he wasn't.

"I'm beautiful too…"

She whispered it into the pillow. She meant it. Damon wouldn't care about superficial appearances.

What hurt the most wasn't the comparison.

It was that she hadn't even gotten to see him before he vanished again.

She wanted to blame the elven guards posted outside the academy. If they hadn't been there, she might have at least seen Damon one more time…

"I should kill them all… they should just die… all of them…"

Her voice cracked.

Then she bit her lip.

They were just following orders.

From her father.

"Maybe Lilith Astranova is right… I can't even deal with one measly kingdom…"

She clenched her fists, her eyes full of fury.

Was she really going to accept that?

Absolutely not.

Her resolve wasn't weak.

As she reaffirmed her commitment to getting what she wanted, her pager rang.

Sylvia frowned deeply. She picked it up, recognizing the voice instantly—it was her mother.

Her tone was slow, calm.

"Sylvia… whatever it is you're planning to do… don't do it."

Sylvia's eyes narrowed.

She hadn't done anything yet. But of course, her mother was calling already.

No surprise there—her mother was an oracle.

"Did she get some revelation…?" Sylvia muttered under her breath.

She answered, keeping her voice smooth.

"What are you talking about, Mother? Did I do something wrong?"

Her mother sighed gently on the other end.

"Listen. I'm sorry. About your father. He's just worried about you. He was furious when he found out you got stabbed in the back by a commoner classmate… someone you called a friend…"

Sylvia's grip on the pager tightened. Her hands trembled.

It was just like her mother to know everything.

But she didn't understand. Damon stabbing her during the mid-semester evaluation—it hadn't meant anything. Not like that.

Though she did end up possessed.

Her mother continued, her voice turning more serious.

"You were only sent to the academy because I insisted. Your father didn't agree. But we couldn't keep you locked behind the palace walls forever. And look what's happened. You got possessed by a spirit—not just any spirit, but Ignath… all because of him."

Sylvia's teeth sank into her lower lip.

Tears threatened the corners of her eyes.

Her mother's next words made her heart skip.

"All that… may be explained. But what I find most unsettling about this so-called Damon Grey… is that as hard as I try… I can't divine a single thing about him."

There was a pause.

"Sylvia… the unknown is dangerous. And this boy has proven to be a dangerous unknown."

Sylvia scoffed.

"I see… so that's why…"

Her voice was laced with disdain.

"That's why Father's been acting so tyrannical. Because you can't exercise your powers on him, so suddenly he's dangerous… is that it?"

She glared at the device.

"You can't divine anything about him, so you decide my friend is a threat and has to die. Isn't that right?"

Her grip tightened.

"Is it because you care about your daughter's well-being—or is it just an excuse to eliminate an unreadable variable from another nation? Even better—since he's a commoner, killing him won't have any repercussions."

Her mother's voice remained calm.

"Sylvia, that's not—"

"That's not what?" she snapped.

"The truth? You kill two birds with one stone. Actually—you kill one nuisance with one move."

Her voice trembled with fury.

"I learn new things every day… but what I haven't learned yet is how truly despicable we are."

"Sylvia, that's enough!" her mother's voice suddenly rose.

It startled her.

Then softened again.

"You shouldn't let that human boy come between you and your family… You've suffered in that death zone. You're tired. After everything that's happened… your father and I are coming to the War Games in Valtheron. You'll remain in the academy until then."

Sylvia chuckled bitterly.

"What—worried I'll be talking to that lowly human boy?"

The line went quiet.

The queen's voice was calm… but uncertain.

"No… I'm not. He's out of the academy. Or so my sources say. Still, it would behoove you to take my advice. That boy is bad news. What else can you say about someone who would kill one of their professors?"

Sylvia sat motionless. Her expression was cold.

Her mother's gentle voice continued.

"I'm sorry if you think we're being harsh on you… it's just… we want what's best for you."

Sylvia nodded slowly.

"I understand."

But she wasn't finished.

"I was happy when you called. I thought that you, of all people, would be on my side. Now I know—I'm truly alone."

Her eyes shimmered with tears.

"You say you want what's best for me… then why do you deny my possibilities? I've grown stronger… but clearly, not strong enough to earn your trust."

She ended the call before her mother could speak again.

The pager slipped from her hand and hit the floor with a dull thud.

All her hope, all her expectations—dashed. It stung so much, she couldn't breathe.

She had trusted her mother to be the voice of reason. Someone she could rely on.

Tears streamed freely from her eyes now.

Now I understand…

I am truly alone.

She had two choices: let this break her—or carry her convictions forward.

"Ohhh… I see it now…"

Her voice trembled.

This is the difference between me and Lilith Astranova…

Lilith didn't need approval.

She didn't seek permission.

The difference between them… was conviction.

Sylvia wiped her eyes.

These would be the last tears she ever shed.

"I will do whatever it takes… I will sacrifice whatever it takes…"

The floating book she had gotten from the Unknown God shimmered softly in front of her.

Her eyes hardened.

"This is my conviction…"

She placed her hand over the glowing text.

"I swear it… by the Lord of this book."