DAMON HOUSE
171Please respect copyright.PENANAlFIqoa90wC
As the sun rose, the morning air filled with the sounds of chirping birds, the distant crowing of a rooster, and the faint buzzing of mosquitoes. One mosquito landed on Cassandra’s arm, but before it could bite, Lisanna swiftly caught it between her fingers.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAl9WLz25ajS
"You mischievous little bloodsucker!" she muttered, squishing it effortlessly.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAZCHQXBJSss
She turned toward Cassandra, who was still fast asleep. Running her cool fingers gently over Cassandra’s face, she whispered, “Wake up, honey. Time to take your bath.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAXeoYkJBQ7i
Cassandra stirred, stretching her arms out groggily. In the process, her hand unintentionally landed on Lisanna’s chest, squeezing lightly.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAQVz8qWNWph
Lisanna chuckled. “If you wanted to check them out , you could’ve just asked.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANA7bS62OhLqS
Cassandra blinked awake, rubbing her own chest with a frown. “Why are mine still so small?”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAHCnS9O4D3v
Lisanna smiled reassuringly. “They’ll grow when the time is right. You’re only thirteen.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAM2yTGMeDXZ
She walked toward the door, pausing before stepping out. “Hot water has already been drawn. Take your bath quickly—breakfast will be ready soon.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAbauxMkNkbV
Leaving Cassandra behind, she moved to the next room and knocked gently. The door creaked open slightly, revealing Phobos sprawled on his bed, snoring loudly.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAdXYfEwyD59
Lisanna sighed before stepping inside. She leaned down and softly ran a hand over his face. Just as she was about to shake him awake, his hand moved instinctively, brushing against her chest. Startled, she froze for a second as Phobos unconsciously gave another squeeze.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAMN8VrW4otR
Realizing the softness, he slowly opened his eyes, confusion written all over his face. The moment his gaze met Lisanna’s amused stare, his entire body stiffened. He quickly withdrew his hands, his face turning pale.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAz1TTSIC1Ha
"Phobos."
171Please respect copyright.PENANAP7ROyYZwJu
Her tone was sweet, but the underlying danger was unmistakable.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAP7iIYduiAH
Phobos swallowed hard and quickly turned toward Aristo, desperate for an escape. He shook his brother’s shoulder. "Hey, wake up—help me."
171Please respect copyright.PENANAstsH6LMVgk
Aristo groaned, pulling the blanket over his head. “Don’t wake me up unless breakfast is served or the house is on fire.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANArthPZqYDLe
Phobos hesitated, then glanced nervously at Lisanna, who was still smiling. He could practically feel her death stare drilling into his soul.
171Please respect copyright.PENANADywfkUNzKL
“Good morning,” she said, her voice almost too kind. “Time to take your bath.” Then, after a brief pause, she added, “Oh, and one more thing, Phobos—what exactly were you dreaming about?”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAIe935AhkVC
Phobos’ mouth opened, but no words came out.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAsiYTtHGQg2
Lisanna let out a small sigh and turned to leave. As soon as she was gone, Aristo sat up, smirking.
171Please respect copyright.PENANA8NWPVBoDCL
“Did you… touch her?”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAzOIqu4Vo8x
Phobos hesitated, then reluctantly nodded. “Not on purpose! My hands moved on their own…”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAKTQJS6oTly
Aristo laughed. “Oh sure, they ‘moved on their own.’ That excuse is getting old.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAxkc6ieWauD
“You could take the blame for me,” Phobos suggested hopefully.
171Please respect copyright.PENANA8gaSHVsdnY
Aristo grinned. “I’d love to, but I enjoy warm baths.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAyrwlKueyjB
Phobos groaned, already dreading what awaited him. This wasn’t the first time he had suffered the consequences of his “morning instincts,” and judging by the way things were going, it wouldn’t be the last.
171Please respect copyright.PENANA3CrZwGNnd7
As they ate, Damon and Maria were noticeably absent from the house. It wasn’t the first time they had been missing—Lisanna had taken it upon herself to care for the children. Aristo, only seven years old, Phobos, who had just turned eight, and Cassandra, the eldest at thirteen, had grown used to her nurturing presence.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAPp5CcfhBRk
Maria, as usual, was lost in her books, spending most of her time in the library. Damon, on the other hand, had distanced himself from the family after being replaced. Seven years ago, a significant event had led to his replacement by Xandros Bladestorm, and since then, Xandros had struggled to adjust to his new responsibilities. Damon, having no pressing duties, had found solace in the marketplace, spending his days chatting with elderly women or sometimes fishing.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAyHzrQI77Sy
Once breakfast was finished, the children dressed quickly, ready for another day at school.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAtqn5dkBwRq
171Please respect copyright.PENANACscZH8iFFs
171Please respect copyright.PENANAXMoIb2YYMR
MYSTIC LYTHORIA SCHOOL
171Please respect copyright.PENANAWaSmTVp8s3
Maya stood at the front of the classroom, her sharp gaze scanning the students before her.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAospH4iqp72
“Dio energy,” she began, “is the foundation of all things. We’ve discussed this before, but let’s review.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAX7iOM6o6EL
She paced slightly, her heels clicking against the floor. “Dio is limitless, bound only by the strength of the wielder. Eno, on the other hand, is derived from Dio energy, but it is weaker in comparison. Unlike Dio, Eno has strict limitations. It is useful for simple spells and techniques but cannot be used in complex or advanced magic.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAum2CBuRUXs
She paused, looking over the class. “Any questions so far?”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAFHnmb4Cupv
Silence.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAkUNrn1P9me
Just then, the door opened, and a man stepped in. Beside him stood a girl—an ethereal beauty with long, soaking-white hair that clung to her back like strands of silk. Two small, white horns curved delicately from her head.
171Please respect copyright.PENANA5tL6nIBNdz
The nine boys in the class, all eighteen of them, fell into stunned silence. Some sat up straighter, while others simply gawked.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAyFkDtuKG1y
The teacher spoke briefly with the man before turning back to the class. “Introduce yourself.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAfhmpaLhrqg
The girl pushed a few strands of wet hair behind her ear and stepped forward. Her voice was soft yet carried an air of confidence.
171Please respect copyright.PENANA9LvhmtzfoZ
“I’m Hesper, from Fulton. Nice to meet you.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAI781gKu03M
Her voice was like a melody—light, smooth, and hypnotic. The boys remained speechless as she walked past them, pausing ever so slightly beside Cassandra before continuing toward an empty seat at the back.
171Please respect copyright.PENANASGNXMTIAM8
Maya cleared her throat, breaking the trance. “Now then, who can explain how clones are created?”
171Please respect copyright.PENANA6PQwStzPhU
Noah’s hand shot up immediately.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAUAA278SlLY
A beautiful girl had just walked in. If there was ever a time to impress someone, this was it.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAXAKgGmmTWK
Maya nodded in his direction. “Go ahead.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAdjQoTrjhoJ
Noah smiled, running a hand through his hair. “Creating a clone requires three steps. First, you visualize the image of what you want to create. Then, you gently craft that image in your mind, forming a clear mental structure. Finally, you fill the image with energy and bring it to life.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAgx91oHf92s
He leaned back, satisfied with his answer.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAPOBjy3jmQE
Maya smiled. “Good. Now demonstrate.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAzrYGzjwDyu
Noah confidently raised his hand and created two identical clones of himself.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAvmxf3Cqvur
“Not bad,” Maya admitted. “But how many clones can you sustain at once?”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAOlQodhu2id
Determined to impress, Noah pushed himself further, summoning more and more clones. By the time he reached twenty, sweat dripped from his forehead, and his breathing was labored. He tried to make another but failed—his Eno energy was depleted.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAut3L2MEcYt
Maya turned to Hesper. “Check their stability.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAhNNYc3s8qF
Hesper barely moved. With a slight flick of her fingers, all twenty clones disappeared instantly.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAcTjyFGqUcF
Gasps echoed throughout the room. Most of the class hadn’t even seen what she did.
171Please respect copyright.PENANArywAHEZFE9
Only a few students—Cassandra, Koji, Logan, Sakura, Kokoro, Mason, and the teacher—had caught it.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAmuJ3vr2SUU
Cassandra narrowed her eyes, her mind racing. Same trick as before. A thread technique?
171Please respect copyright.PENANATlKvx2ZVLz
She muttered under her breath, analyzing what she had seen. Compress water molecules into a condensed form… infuse them with air… expand the liquid into a nearly invisible thread… make it transparent to the naked eye… add Dio energy, and it becomes a cutting force beyond imagination…so cool ! She said to herself.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAEty2UCweGu
Hesper returned to her seat, leaving Noah in stunned silence.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAx2EEjebuvh
171Please respect copyright.PENANADB61xJ2Kcx
171Please respect copyright.PENANAvZhU9BtQkA
ARISTO/PHOBOS CLASS
171Please respect copyright.PENANAJosu0reu5B
171Please respect copyright.PENANAN3CXOTmFZZ
171Please respect copyright.PENANAtYcdm3IxKk
".A new student," the teacher announced, drew the attention of the class. The door creaked open, and in walked a small girl with pointed horns, her long white hair flowing behind her. She adjusted her glasses before looking up, smiling politely at the class.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAuQEl2SvrUA
"Hi, I'm Zira. Nice to meet you," she said softly, bowing her head as the teacher gestured for her to take a seat. Zira walked to the back of the room, where Phobos was, predictably, fast asleep. She sat down beside him, and to her surprise, he rested his head on her shoulder. Flustered, Zira blushed and tried to hide her face, unsure of what to do next.
171Please respect copyright.PENANA1bii0jwM1m
Before she could react, the teacher shouted, "Phobos!" Without hesitation, she throws her shoe at his face, causing him to jolt awake.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAgtwrIL69Jt
"I can see into the marketplace now with detection, I wasn't sleeping, Dad," Phobos mumbled groggily, rubbing his eyes. "I was just meditating."
171Please respect copyright.PENANAgsbD7rVe3S
The entire class erupted into laughter.
171Please respect copyright.PENANA70XsjbW42S
"Don't you dare sit down!" the teacher scolded, pointing at Phobos. "Stay standing." Phobos, still a bit dazed, obeyed.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAt3o7xi1WSV
"Now, let's get back to today's lesson," the teacher continued, "Eno is derived from Dio energy. Every living being has the potential to use Eno. It’s easier to wield because we’re born with something called ‘birth elements,’ and without formal training, you should be able to use that elemental power to some extent .
171Please respect copyright.PENANAHe0AkduBlc
171Please respect copyright.PENANAVcSdCufUIr
171Please respect copyright.PENANArM29qBIFh8
Aristo, could you come down for a second?"
171Please respect copyright.PENANASiifGfXm8I
Aristo stood up, and Zira watched intently, her curiosity piqued. She couldn’t help but wonder—if Aristo was covering his eyes, how could he see? Was he blind? She turned to ask Phobos, but when she looked to her side, she realized that he had already slipped into his own dimension, his peaceful world of sleep.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAMiq91kk5dN
Aristo demonstrated his control over air—his birth element—effortlessly, and the teacher nodded in approval. Zira couldn’t help but marvel at his skill.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAGITOeNCW1k
Meanwhile, Phobos was oblivious, already fast asleep on his feet. The teacher’s patience was wearing thin. "Phobos!!!" she shouted once again, her voice ringing through the room.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAnDJZVk8WUV
But before Phobos could respond—or even move—the school bell rang, signaling the end of the lesson.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAM9HljGXZBO
---
171Please respect copyright.PENANAv17Cvguqwn
CAFETERIA – LUNCH BREAK
171Please respect copyright.PENANAdZYRog28Mu
The cafeteria buzzed with students talking and eating.
171Please respect copyright.PENANALvkvWi9GMa
Cassandra spotted Hesper sitting alone and walked over, taking the seat opposite her.
171Please respect copyright.PENANA851UnByeaC
“Still stalking me?” Hesper asked without looking up.
171Please respect copyright.PENANAI5zynFuUim
Cassandra chuckled. “You noticed me, huh? I was curious about your technique. The thread—you used water and air to make it invisible.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAnXzh20ph6b
Hesper’s eyes flickered with amusement. “So you figured it out. I didn’t think humans were that sharp.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAir0uUkHm2c
Cassandra smirked. “I’m not the only one. Look behind you.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAltabXlGnAG
Hesper turned slightly to see a table with five students watching her closely—Koji, Logan, Sakura, Kokoro, and Mason.
171Please respect copyright.PENANA8nVubnvtIS
“I’d say they caught on too.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAYEGEjUjH30
Hesper turned back to Cassandra. “So, why are you so interested in me?”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAiUlRTmsjic
Cassandra grinned. “You’re strong. I intend to make you my rival.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAhUkYofEtjh
For the first time, Hesper looked mildly surprised before smirking. “Interesting.”
171Please respect copyright.PENANAAMRZHitYCW
Thanks for reading, like or drop a comment ...❤️
ns216.73.216.252da2