18. Engagement 2
The room was thick with tension, the air heavy with unspoken words. Damon, just a boy of ten, stood silently, his small frame dwarfed by the figures around him but he was unmoved. His mind raced as he tried to process the whirlwind of event that had just unfolded. Before he or anyone else could utter a word, the heavy wooden doors of the hall burst open with a thunderous crash. Two elderly men strode in, their presence commanding immediate attention.
"That's settled then!" Thomas declared, his voice booming with a mix of joy and cunning. His eyes gleamed with mischief as he glanced at Velma, who stood frozen in place. "The engagement of my grandchild and Lady Velma is official!"
The leader of the Panda Sect, a stout man with a serene yet calculating expression, nodded in agreement. "Indeed, it is a fitting union," he said, his voice calm but laced with authority.
Velma's face flushed a deep crimson, her hands trembling at her sides. She opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out. Damon's father, Gerald, however, was not so silent.
"What is the meaning of this?" Gerald demanded, his voice sharp and incredulous. "One moment you're plotting to kill my son, and the next you're arranging his marriage? This is absurd!"
But before Gerald could continue, the Heavenly Demon Blaire stepped forward, his presence overwhelming. A sly smile played on his lips as he produced a bottle of wine, its aged label glinting in the light.
"A token for my in-laws," Blaire said, his voice smooth and dripping with charm. He handed the bottle to Thomas, who snatched it up with greedy hands.
"Hohoho! Blaire, you are truly a wise man, just like your old man," Thomas chuckled, his eyes glinting with delight. He clutched the bottle tightly, clearly eager to leave and savor its contents.
As Thomas turned to leave, he leaned in close to Damon, his voice a low, menacing whisper. "Don't mess this up, boy, or I'll kill you myself." The threat hung in the air, sharp and unmistakable, before Thomas and the Panda Sect leader hurried out of the hall, their laughter echoing behind them.
Damon stood rooted to the spot, his mind reeling "that bastard old man" . Everything had happened so fast—too fast. One moment he was facing death, and the next he was betrothed to Velma. He wasn't opposed to the idea, but the suddenness of it all left him feeling off-balance.
"May I take my leave?" Damon said abruptly, his voice strained. Without waiting for a response, he vanished from sight, his movements so swift that he seemed to dissolve into thin air. He needed space, time to think, and most importantly, to escape before the old men concocted another scheme.
As he left, Velma turned red like a tomato. "Father, why did you embarrass me like that?" she cried, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and shame. "Now I'll never be able to face him again!"
Blaire, however, remained unfazed. His expression was serious, his eyes piercing as he regarded his daughter. "Don't tell me you didn't feel that boy's potential, Velma," he said, his voice low and intense. "It's something I've never seen before. I must have him as my right-hand man."
Velma's mind flashed back to the earlier scene—in the broken void space , the overwhelming power, and Damon standing amidst the chaos, unyielding and triumphant. Her heart raced as she recalled the sheer force of his presence.
"Who is that boy, really?" she murmured, more to herself than to her father.
---
Seven Years Later (Age 17)
Time had passed, and Damon had grown into a fine, handsome young man of seventeen. His once-small frame had filled out with lean muscle, and his skills had sharpened to a level that few could match. The engagement, though a distant memory, had left an indelible mark on his life.
On this particular day, Damon found himself deep in the Avalonian Forest, his body moving with furious agility. The trees blurred around him as he ran, the cool wind whipping through his hair. Behind him, a sleek black shadow followed—Anon, his loyal black jaguar a 7th-rank beast companion. The bond between them was unbreakable, a testament to their shared strength and mutual respect.
"Hahahaha!" Damon's laughter echoed through the forest, his voice carefree and full of life. His hair fluttered wildly in the wind as he sprinted, the thrill of the chase coursing through his veins. "Anon, like this, you'll lose again!" he teased, glancing over his shoulder at his feline companion.
Anon, not one to back down, responded with a bolt of dark energy that shot toward Damon with precision. The air crackled with power as the bolt closed in, but Damon was ready. With a swift motion, he swung his Avalonian axe, deflecting the attack with ease.
"You sly cat," Damon muttered, a grin tugging at his lips. But as he turned to face Anon, he realized the jaguar had vanished, blending seamlessly into the shadows. Damon's eyes narrowed, his senses heightened as he scanned the area.
Suddenly, Anon burst forth from the shadows, propelled by the darkness itself. The jaguar's speed was incredible, boosted by the shadows that seemed to bend to its will. As it raced past Damon, it cast a mocking glance back at its master, its **glowing purple eyes** glinting with mischief. If it could speak, it might have said, "Stupid master."
Damon couldn't help but laugh. "Impressive," he admitted, his voice filled with admiration. But he wasn't about to lose. With a surge of energy, he increased his speed, his movements becoming a blur as he surpassed Anon. The mansion was in sight now, its towering spires rising above the treeline.
Anon, ever the competitive spirit, refused to give up. In a final attempt to outpace Damon, it merged with his shadow, becoming one with the darkness. Damon felt the shift, his instincts alerting him to Anon's presence. Just as he was about to land, Anon leaped out of his shadow, aiming to overtake him.
But Damon was ready. With a quick, fluid motion, he reached out and pushed Anon's face, sending the jaguar tumbling to the ground with a soft thud. Anon let out a low growl, more playful than angry, as it rolled onto its back, its tail flicking in mock annoyance.
Damon landed gracefully, his chest rising and falling with the exertion of the run. He looked down at Anon, a smirk playing on his lips. "You're getting better," he said, crouching to ruffle the jaguar's fur. "But not good enough to beat me."
Anon huffed, its **glowing purple eyes** narrowing in a way that seemed to say, "We'll see about that."