Chapter 19: Split
Damon wiped the sweat from his brow with the towel handed to him by Mia, his head maid. "Thanks, Mia," he said, his voice warm but commanding. As he tossed the towel aside, he dropped a high-grade spirit stone into her palm.
Mia's eyes widened, and she shook her head fervently. "No, young lord, I can't accept this. It's my duty to serve you."
Damon's lips curled into a faint smile, but his eyes were unyielding. He pried her fingers open, pressing the spirit stone firmly into her hand. "Take it," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Without another word, Damon turned and strode toward the mansion, Anon following silently in his shadow. The maid bowed deeply, her heart racing as she clutched the precious stone.
Damon's steps quickened as he approached the grand doors of his family's estate. He had something important to discuss with his parents, and the weight of his decision pressed heavily on his chest. Pushing the doors open, he found both his mother and father seated in the opulent hall.
"Perfect," Damon said, his voice steady but laced with urgency. "I wanted to speak with the two of you about something important."
He crossed the room and took his mother's hands in his own. Her delicate fingers trembled slightly, and he could see the worry already clouding her eyes. "I'll be leaving today for the Demon Continent," he announced, his gaze locking onto hers. "I need to forge my own path, to make a name for myself."
Tears welled up in his mother's eyes, but his father, Gerald, remained stoic, his expression unreadable.
"It's about time," Gerald said, his voice deep and resonant. "The Void Dragon family's reign must be restored. Damon, my son, the next in line, it's time for you to draw blood, to seek vengeance for our fallen people. But remember this: as you walk this path, your heart of slaughter must remain unshaken."
Damon's jaw tightened, and he met his father's gaze with unwavering determination. "Father," he said, his voice low and fierce, "I will not fail you. I will kill and devour the flesh of our enemies. I will drink the blood of their wives and children like wine. I, Damon Rim, shall dance only because of bloodshed of my enemies,I shall stand at the apex of war me."
Every word sent a shiver down Gerald's spine, igniting a fire within him that he hadn't felt since his youth. A proud smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Good," he said simply, though his heart swelled with pride.
Damon turned back to his mother, Dora, and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. "My precious mother, don't cry," he murmured, pressing his forehead to hers. "All of this is for us. I will take you out of this place."
He opened her hand and placed a small, glowing fruit in her palm. "This is a special-grade treasure. I want you to—"
Before he could finish, Dora popped the fruit into her mouth and swallowed it whole. Her trust in him was absolute.
But then, something went wrong.
Dora's hands flew to her head as a sharp, throbbing pain erupted in her skull. She let out a gasp, her eyes widening in shock. "Damon… my head…" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Before anyone could react, she collapsed to the floor, her body convulsing violently. Gerald rushed to her side, his face pale with panic. "Damon! What have you done to your mother?"
Damon grabbed his father's arm, holding him back. "Wait! If you touch her during this process, you'll be consumed!"
Gerald froze, his eyes wide with shock. Before him, Dora's body began to change. Her head split, and two distinct faces emerged, each with its own life and consciousness. A bloodcurdling scream tore through the air, drawing the attention of Thomas and the maids, who rushed into the room.
"Damon, what's going on?" Thomas demanded, his voice trembling as he took in the horrifying scene.
Damon didn't answer. He could only watch in stunned silence as another Dora forced her way out of the original, using her hands to tear herself free. When the process was complete, two women stood before them—one with white hair, the other with black.
Gerald clutched his head, his mind reeling. "Damon, what's happening? Is this some kind of parting gift for your father?"
Damon frowned, equally bewildered. He had only given her half a fruit from the Willow Tree of Imagination. How had it resulted in two mothers?
**"So… does this mean I have two wives now?"** Gerald muttered—half in disbelief, half in amusement—as he stared at the two versions of Dora.
Thomas shook his head, muttering under his breath, **"This family's madness will be the death of me…"** before retreating from the room, unwilling to witness whatever came next.
Damon pushed his father away, but before he could process the situation further, the white-haired Dora stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light. **"Finally,"** she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. **"My baby is in my arms."**
She wrapped her arms around Damon in a tight embrace, her touch cold and unnatural. Damon stiffened, a chill running down his spine. The hug felt wrong, as if it reached into the very depths of his soul. *What the hell is this thing hugging me?* he thought, his mind screaming in alarm.
"Hmm, Damon," the black-haired Dora said softly, her voice trembling. Damon helped her to her feet, but her eyes were fixed on her other half. "You… you're free. But how is this possible?"
The white-haired Dora laughed, a sound both beautiful and terrifying. "Hahaha! I'm free! No longer bound by her!"
Damon took a step back, his instincts screaming at him to flee. Without a word, he turned and vanished in a blur, Anon close behind. As they raced toward the border of Lymhrst, Damon's mind raced. "What the hell was that? Even I, the Altruité, felt fear from that thing."
He could feel it—a mark etched into his very soul, a beacon that could pinpoint his location. But at least she hadn't tampered with his essence.
"Shall we go make a name for ourselves, Anon?" Damon said, a fierce smile spreading across his face as they crossed into Lymhrst. The wind carried the promise of blood and glory, and Damon's heart burned with the fire of conquest.