Chapter 329: Acting

Damian’s voice had taken on the slight slur of someone who’d had too much alcohol too quickly.

"What is up with all this? I thought we were a normal family."

The tense atmosphere shattered.

Luna felt the relief flooding through both her parents, gratitude that Damian was deliberately breaking the oppressive mood.

Alaric’s lips twitched despite everything.

"I think you should drink less. And no, my father was just a commoner. He’s been dead for decades."

He emphasized the next words.

"I’m just a commoner who got strong through hard work and luck."

Damian looked at him with obvious doubt.

"Then how come you’re so powerful? Don’t tell me you’re actually more than a hundred years old or something."

His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Come to think of it, you avoided telling me your exact age that night we were drinking on the roof. Maybe that’s why Mom’s father didn’t acknowledge you. If I was him, I would have done the same thing. Who wants their daughter marrying some ancient fossil pretending to be young?"

Alaric’s eye twitched.

’Is he seriously...? In the middle of everything we just discussed...?’

He reached out and irritably snatched the bottle from Damian’s reach.

"I’m the same age as your mother! We met when we were both young recruits!"

His voice rose slightly.

"And can you please let Lyandra finish talking about important things instead of making drunk accusations about my age?!"

Lyandra was looking at the two of them with complex emotions playing across her face.

’These idiots.’

But beneath the exasperation was gratitude that Damian was pulling them back from the edge.

She took a deep breath, centering herself, and turned her attention to Luna.

"Your talent and your ranking will attract attention from old monsters in the Imperial families. People who truly hold power."

Her voice became firmer.

"Ezra came to warn us about that. I’m going to visit my father to request that he publicly acknowledge both you and Damian as his grandchildren. It will provide political protection that raw power alone can’t give."

Damian’s face went blank again, a cold look passing through his crimson eyes at the mention of Imperials.

Luna felt the spike of controlled rage, hatred for the people who’d probably killed his family, carefully suppressed but burning underneath.

But he said nothing, just poured himself another drink from the bottle Alaric had left within reach.

Lyandra turned to Damian.

"Whatever happened during your first year at the Academy, I know none of it was your fault. The system was designed to grind you down, and you survived anyway."

She paused.

"But you have to learn patience... You can’t depend on anyone completely. Not your master, not us, not even the military’s backing. Nothing is ever foolproof. People fail, systems fail and protection fails."

Her black eyes held his.

"Now that Luna is going to the Academy as well, your father and I have decided to come out of retirement. We’ll be heading to the frontline battlefields."

Luna’s hands clenched beneath the table.

The concern hit her immediately, worry for her parents, fear about them returning to active combat after so many years of peace.

But she forced her voice to stay steady, her silver eyes clear despite the storm of emotions she was drowning in.

"...Take care of yourselves."

Her voice came out firm and mature, showing none of the panic she felt internally.

"And if things get bad, don’t be stubborn. Leave and come back home. We need you alive more than we need you to win every fight."

Lyandra’s expression softened, pride mixing with maternal affection.

’My strong girl... When did she grow up so much?’

She reached out and patted Luna’s head gently.

"Don’t worry... We’ve survived decades of war. We’re not planning to die on some random battlefield."

Alaric nodded in agreement.

"We’re going to get stronger, not get ourselves killed. There’s a difference."

Lyandra turned back to Damian, her expression becoming severe.

"Don’t make enemies unnecessarily. And don’t go after the Imperials seeking revenge for the Bloodworth family."

Her voice dropped.

"Even the entire Bloodworth family couldn’t survive when they were targeted. You’re just one person, no matter how talented. Don’t throw your life away."

Damian shrugged his shoulders, the gesture almost careless.

"You’re worrying too much, Mom. I don’t plan to seek revenge over the Bloodworth family massacre."

His voice was steady despite the alcohol.

"My family is the one gathered in this room right now. Nothing else is more important than that. And everything that happened during my first year at the Academy already served its purpose."

Luna felt the sincerity in those words, genuine love for the people in this room.

But underneath it was something else. Something cold and patient and waiting.

’He’s not lying about prioritizing us... But he’s not telling the whole truth either.’

He stood up, swaying slightly.

"When are you both leaving?"

"Tomorrow."

Alaric’s voice was quiet.

Damian nodded once.

Then he disappeared, moving at his top speed toward the training room without another word.

The three remaining family members sat in silence for a moment.

Luna’s hands were trembling beneath the table, the accumulated weight of everyone’s emotions finally catching up with her now that Damian had left.

She took a slow breath, fighting to maintain composure even though every instinct screamed to break down.

Then Alaric turned to her, his expression serious.

"...Was he acting?"

Luna froze, her silver eyes meeting his.

She’d been hoping no one would ask, but her father knew her too well.

She nodded slowly.

Alaric and Lyandra exchanged a look, helpless understanding passing between them.

Whoosh

Then Alaric vanished, teleporting away to give mother and daughter privacy.

Lyandra looked at Luna, her black eyes soft but serious.

Luna’s hands were still trembling, her breathing carefully controlled to prevent the panic from showing.

’Hold it together... Just a little longer.’

"When you’re at the Academy, I need you to keep him calm."

Lyandra’s voice was gentle but carried weight.

"Damian doesn’t realize how much pride he has. His past life experiences made him smart and calculating, but the fifteen years he spent here with us can’t be erased. They shaped him just as much."