Three items lay arranged on the mahogany desk, each radiating a distinct, heavy presence.
A pitch-black tome embossed with a crescent moon on its cover.
A shimmering silver gemstone that seemed to swallow the light around it.
And a silver necklace, anchoring a pure black gem at its center that looked like a condensed abyss.
Damien's pupils constricted. He didn't need an appraisal skill to know what these were. He had a vague idea the moment they were brought out, but he kept his mouth shut.
In this world, knowledge was power, but revealing too much of it was a death sentence, even in front of family.
He waited, letting the silence stretch until Theron broke it.
"Alright, son. Listen closely."
Theron leaned forward, his imposing figure casting a shadow over the table.
"Your mother and I discussed this at length before approving this trip. These aren't mere trinkets. Use them well."
A smile crept onto Theron's face, but it didn't reach his eyes. It was the kind of smile a predator gave before the pounce.
"Because if you don't... if even a scratch appears on you while you're out there... believe it or not, I will march all the way to the Elf Forest and drag you back by your ears."
Beside him, Elizabeth beamed. Her smile was radiant, beautiful, and absolutely terrifying. It mirrored her husband's perfectly.
A chill ran down Damien's spine.
"Hahaha! Dad, come on! Isabelle is going to be with me, isn't she?" Damien laughed, his eyes darting nervously between his parents.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine!"
Sigh… why does it always feel like they can read my mind?
If they found out I plan to dive into an Unexplored Dungeon, and interfere with the Elf Capture Raid on top of that, they wouldn't just drag me home.
They'd lock me in the basement before the Demon Lord could even look in my direction.
Damien quickly shook his head, dismissing the thought. They're just overprotective. I'm overthinking it.
Or was he?
Before Damien could organize his chaotic thoughts, Theron's voice cut through the air again.
"Hm… Speaking of Isabelle." Theron rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"This trip might be beneficial for both of you. It's about time that girl awak—"
Twist.
"Ouch!"
Before Theron could finish the sentence, Elizabeth had materialized beside him, her fingers pinching his ear with practiced precision.
"My fault! My fault! I won't say another word, my love!" Theron yelped, his dignity as the head of the house vanishing instantly.
Elizabeth released him, smoothing her dress as if nothing had happened.
"Anyways, Damien. The reason we aren't assigning guards to you is because of Isabelle. Do not let anything happen to her."
Her expression softened, but the intensity remained.
"Your father and I see that girl as our own daughter."
"Haha… right."
Damien nodded, forcing a smile. It was a clumsy attempt to hide the awkwardness, but his mind was racing.
They are definitely hiding something.
Isabelle wasn't mentioned in the main story of the game. She was a variable. His information regarding her was dangerously limited.
Perhaps only after giving her the Contract Gem would he understand her true role in this world.
Feigning ignorance, Damien nodded obediently. "I understand."
Theron and Elizabeth visibly relaxed, letting out breaths they seemed to have been holding.
They were terrified he had noticed the slip-up. Luckily for them, Damien knew when to play dumb.
"Good. Let's move to the items." Theron cleared his throat, his face turning serious once more.
He pointed to the silver stone.
"This is a Void Gemstone. It's a high-level spatial storage item. It has enough internal space to fit a small manor."
Theron gestured vaguely. "Your mother insisted we fill it. Rations for a year, enough gold to buy a small town, and enough clothes to rival a boutique."
"Indeed," Elizabeth interjected, crossing her arms with a haughty sniff.
"No son of mine will travel the world looking like a ruffian. I won't have it."
The corners of Damien's mouth twitched.
As expected of Mom. A Void Stone alone could buy a small empire due to its rarity, yet she treats it like a suitcase because she's worried about my fashion sense.
Should I expect anything less from the 'Queen of Ten Thousand Illusions'?
Damien picked up the gem, feeling its cool surface.
"Thanks, Mum. Thanks, Dad. I'll make sure to use everything well."
They smiled warmly at him. It was a look of pure, unadulterated love. For their only son, they would burn the world down if asked.
Argh!
Suddenly, Theron stiffened.
This shit again! I'm running out of time…
A jolt of agonizing pain shot through his sealed right arm. It wasn't just pain; it was a sound.
Whispers clawed at the edges of his mind, seductive and maddening, telling him to embrace the void.
If one looked deeply into Theron's eyes at that moment, they would see thin, spiderweb-like streaks of black encroaching on the white sclera.
Neither Elizabeth nor Damien noticed the momentary lapse. Theron forced his breathing to steady, pushing the whispers back into the recesses of his mind. He had to finish this.
"And lastly," Theron said, his voice straining slightly to remain steady. he picked up the necklace.
"This is the Voss Shadow Medallion."
"By injecting mana into it, it can teleport you, and one person you are touching, to a random shadow within a three-kilometer radius."
He placed it in Damien's hand, closing his son's fingers around it.
"Unless the situation is dire... unless death is certain... I advise you not to use it. The cost is high."
With the final item delivered, the heavy atmosphere lifted slightly.
Damien clutched the three treasures to his chest. The weight of them felt physical, emotional.
"Thank you again, Dad. Thank you, Mum."
He took a step back, bowing his head. "I'll go to my room and pack my things now. I head out at first light."
"Go on, then," Theron said softly.
Damien turned and walked out, not giving them a chance to reply.
His eyes stung. Leaving the family he had lived with for twelve years, even if he was a transmigrator, was harder than he expected.
Alright, Damien. No time to falter.
He clenched his fists as he walked down the hallway.
I have to do this. For a better future. For everyone.
….........................
Back in the study, the door clicked shut.
The warmth in the room evaporated instantly.
"It seems the kids are hiding a lot of secrets from us," Elizabeth murmured, her eyes fixed on the door Damien had just exited.
"Who can blame him?" she added, her voice dropping an octave, turning icy.
"When his father is hiding things from his own wife?"
Theron flinched. He waved his left arm in a mock surrender, a look of panic flashing in his eyes.
"Hey, hey, don't say things like that! Anyone listening would think I was unfaithful!"
Elizabeth didn't smile. She didn't blink. She turned slowly to face him, her aura flaring up enough to rattle the windowpanes.
"Spill it, Theron Voss."
She took a step forward.
"Unless you want me to tear this mansion down brick by brick... tell me. How bad is your arm? And is there any hope left?"
Her voice cracked at the end, a mix of fury and desperate worry. She wasn't blind. She had seen the tremors. She had felt the coldness radiating from him.
Theron looked at his wife, then at his trembling right hand. The black streaks in his eyes pulsed.
He let out a long, weary sigh that sounded like it carried the weight of a mountain.
"Sigh... This isn't the place to talk about it."
Theron stood up, his posture sagging with visible exhaustion.
"Once Damien has truly left... follow me. We need to meet the Ancestor."