It had taken 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 allowed him to feel the flow of energy around him.
Now, seven more years had passed. The years flew by like dry leaves falling from tree branches.
DAMON HOUSE ( TRAINING GROUND)
"Close your eyes, Phobos. Feel the energy flowing through your body. What do you see?" Damon asked, as Phobos stood beside Aristo at the center of the training ground.
"Hmm… a white light," Phobos replied, his eyes wide open. Damon gently tapped him on the head.
"Ouch!" Phobos exclaimed.
"Again!" Damon said firmly.
As the wind blew, the curtains around the training hall shifted in different directions.
"Eyes closed. Focus, Feel the energy around you. Every single thing has energy. With enough concentration, you should be able to see them clearly," Damon instructed, moving around Phobos and Aristo.
"I can see you clearly, but I can't see most things far away," Phobos admitted. Damon turned his head slightly.
"Tell me,what exactly can you see now?" Damon asked curiously. Meanwhile, Aristo was busy picking his nose.
"The little ants carrying a leaf near the tree… the birds' nest above us, its eggs hatching," Phobos answered. Damon nodded, pleased with his progress.
"Aristo, what can you see?" Damon asked next.
"I can see the marketplace… Mom… Lady Lisanna," Aristo replied casually.
"Your Detection should be sharper. That's the only way you can truly perceive your surroundings. I bet you can see farther than that," Phobos said, sounding encouraging.
"More reason for you to 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 said as he walked away.
The sound of birds chirping filled the air, and the wind blew gently for a while.
---
DARIA CITY GATE
Wagons rolled in and out of the city as people bustled about, buying and selling goods. The gate stood wide open, and the center of Daria remained the hub of activity. Arguments erupted in the distance.
"Next!" the gatekeepers called out, checking everyone entering and exiting the city. Merchants arrived to showcase their goods and provide services. A small wagon caught the guard's attention. It carried two girls and a man,all demi-humans.
"Hey, it's Zack! How are you doing? Haven't seen you in a while. Are these your daughters? They're gorgeous!" the guard exclaimed.
"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 with a chuckle.
The guard handed Zack a document to fill out. The older girl quickly collected the book.
"Seems like she's in a bad mood. Don't want to get on her bad side," the guard joked. Zack laughed softly.
She swiftly filled out the papers and handed them back. After a brief moment, the guard granted them safe passage.
"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.
As they entered the city, demi-humans, humans, and other species moved about, filling the air with different aromas and sights. Yet none of it sparked Hesper's interest.
---
CENTER MARKET
"Hey, how much for these?" Cassandra asked, pointing to a mochi. She began drooling, unable to resist the aroma.
"That would be one silver coin, young miss," the lady replied. Then she squinted, noticing a resemblance. "Hmm… you look familiar. Are you Damon's daughter by any chance? You look quite like him." She handed Cassandra the mochi without taking the coin. "Take it for free."
Cassandra bowed her head in respect. "Thank you."
The sounds of dogs barking, birds chirping, and people walking filled the air.
"Hey, watch my dress!" A wagon splashed dirty water over Cassandra's dress. The rider apologized and offered to pay, but she declined. Her attention, however, was caught by a strange figure on the wagon. As the wagon left, Cassandra stared, and the stranger looked back.
"That was a lot of energy in one place," Cassandra thought, following the wagon. It arrived at a bar shop, where two strange figures, including the driver, entered. A few minutes later, the driver emerged alone.
---
CARNAGE CRESCENT STREET
Cassandra waited on the rooftop opposite the bar. After several minutes, the figure ran through a narrow alley. Cassandra followed, keeping track of the suspicious person clad in black fabric.
In the alley, the figure encountered a group of men.
"Hey, man, got any money on you?" one of them asked, reeking of alcohol.
"I spent it all on drinks. Just need a girl or two," another laughed.
One of the men grabbed the figure's coat, revealing a stunningly beautiful young girl. Two small horns protruded from her forehead, curved and smooth like polished ivory. Her radiant white hair fell in soft waves, and her piercing green eyes shimmered like emeralds, sharp and intelligent.
"Wow, what a babe! Nice catch," one of the men said lecherously.
---
TRAINING GROUND
"Phobos, Aristo, new assignment: find your sister using Detection," Damon instructed upon returning after searching for Cassandra without success.
"Seen her," they said in unison. "She's on a roof near the marketplace, watching a girl. It looks like she's in trouble, a demi-human."
"What's going on now?" Damon asked.
"She just cut off a man's hand with some kind of thread," Phobos explained.
"Like spider silk, filled with intense Eno energy," Aristo added.
An awkward silence followed, broken only by the buzzing of a bee near Damon's face.
"Cassandra!" Damon shouted.
---
Carnage Crescent Street
"AGH!! BLOOD!!" the man screamed, clutching the stump where his arm had been. His friends ran in sheer terror, leaving him behind.
She stepped over him, her boots tapping softly against the blood-soaked pavement. She glanced down at the unconscious man, unimpressed.
"Humans," she muttered, continuing forward.
From the rooftop above, Cassandra watched in awe. "Whoa… that was insane. I barely saw her move!" she whispered, preparing to leap down and confront the girl.
But before she could move—
"What do you think you're doing, young lady?"
Cassandra froze. That deep, commanding voice made her stomach drop. Slowly, she turned around.
"D-Dad?!" she stammered, eyes wide. She hadn't sensed him approaching, not even a hint of his presence.
"I… was just, uh… looking for my mochi!" she blurted, lifting the rice cake in her hand.
Damon exhaled, clearly unconvinced. "We're done here. Time for training."
" So she's this good, a clean cut, did you see her face " Damon asked , jumped down along with Cassandra.
" Not really, but she used a thread created with eno, I think , and also I can't trace her energy signature "
Damon stepped forward. The blood around the unconscious man rippled, guided back into his body. The severed arm reattached seamlessly, flesh knitting as if it had never been cut.
Cassandra watched in awe. "Whoa… that's so cool. I can't wait until I unlock Dio!" she exclaimed.
Damon gave her a pointed look, "We're done here, Time for training."
They both vanished in the blink of an eye .