Void Evolution System

Did Damien have to explain the concept of adoption now? Since August was already questioning why he was different, it might have been better for him to know that he and Damien were different.

But Damien didn't think so. If August, who idolized his father, suddenly learned that he and his father weren't biologically related at all, how would he feel?

For now, that information could be omitted. The most important thing was to help August value himself and stop feeling insecure.

There was nothing at all wrong with him. He was, in fact, the coolest and most awesome 8-year-old in the entire world.

Damien assured him of this in every way possible, adding a bit of comedy to ease his emotions.

But there wasn't much he could say. It wasn't that he didn't know what to say and it also wasn't that August didn't want to hear it.

Rather, August ended up falling asleep where he sat while Damien was coaxing him. It was already incredibly late at night, and it had taken a lot out of him just to voice his concerns.

Now that the hardest part was over, and now that Damien had calmed him down, he was properly tuckered out.

Damien smiled a bit sadly as he felt August grip his hand in his sleep.

'So it was because he wanted to be like me, huh?'

He suddenly felt like all of his worries were unwarranted.

For a long time now, he'd been worried about his relationship with August. He'd been worried that he was doing everything wrong in parenting because he was too focused on comparing himself and August to his mother and him from the past.

However, while he didn't know it, August had done something monumental for his father.

He had shared his inner feelings. He had shown in a single action how much he trusted and respected his dad.

And there was nothing more valuable to a father than the trust of his child.

Damien had been validated beyond belief. He felt the tension in his body release as he realized that he was doing a good job.

'What a feeling.'

There was never another feeling like this. It was a first among firsts, and the warmth it provided was indescribable.

'What a good kid.'

Without even realizing it, he was a beacon of light.

It wasn't right to let him wallow in darkness, right?

Damien's body blurred as several clones jumped out and disappeared from the house.

Tomorrow would be a day just for August.

As for training…

Well, that could wait.

They still had six years before their time ran out, didn't they?

***

The morning sun shone through the windows across the many houses in the small district. Its rays flooded the eyes of those sleeping within, awakening them to the dawn of a new day.

A pair of eyes fluttered open in Damien's house. Their owner looked around in confusion before suddenly propping himself up, embarrassment written all over his face.

'This is…dad's bed.'

He had been sleeping in his own room for over a year now, and he thought he'd gotten used to it, but it seemed he was wrong.

He still slept the most comfortably when he was holding his father's hand.

As August woke up and went through his morning routine, groggily walking down the stairs to the living room, he smelled something delicious from the kitchen.

Now, on a normal day, he'd rush to the dining table as fast as possible to see what was on the menu, but today…

"Dad…"

August peeked around the corner at the edge of the stairs. He had only just remembered what had happened last night, and despite his father's assurances, he was still a little afraid that he'd get scolded.

However, what was there for him to get scolded for? It was nothing more than the irrational fear of a child who was just starting to come out of his shell.

"Oh, you're up?" Damien said as he saw August's small figure out of the corner of his eye.

"Come sit down. I'm making pancakes."

"Pancakes…?"

"Potatoes and eggs too."

"Eggs…"

"Ah, and there's also some bacon I made with the Sun-

Swallowing Pigs we caught in the mountains…"

"Bacon…!"

Well, to his defense, August didn't do it himself. His body somehow arrived at the table and seated itself without telling anyone!

"Pfft…!"

Damien held back his laughter, since August's face was already as red as a tomato.

He brought the food to the table, ruffled his son's hair, and sat down himself.

"Eat up. We have a lot to do today."

"We're doing something?"

August spoke with surprise. Damien always told him the night before if he had something planned for him. This was the first time he was learning of it right before doing it.

"Yup. It's a surprise, though, so that's all I'm going to tell you."

August's heart beat a little faster. Surprises…he hadn't experienced them before, so he didn't know how to feel.

But, he ate far faster than usual. Damien hadn't really given him a proper response to the questions he asked last night. He was smart enough to know that, but he also didn't ask questions.

For them to be going on a surprise excursion now…it had to be related somehow, right?

Right.

To put it simply, Damien had only one goal for today.

He wanted to show August how cool dragons were.

August had never seen them being their true domineering selves, only ever being around dragons who embraced the mundane.

It was about time for him to realize that he was not a monster.

No, rather, he was a monster in the best ways possible.

The day started with more regular activities. Damien and August went deeper into the central region, enjoying the various delicacies and cultures showcased as they came closer to the land of true royals.

The entertainment in these places was quite nice. There was music unique to the Dragon Clan and all kinds of shows and plays that represented the deeds of heroic dragons of the past.

Watching those, August's eyes sparkled. This was his first time seeing people who looked like him portrayed in such a good light.

He didn't know he could be a hero. But, as he realized the possibility, a sparkle of childish ambition lit his heart aflame.

Damien's eyes lit up as well when he saw August responding well, but they hadn't even gotten to the main spectacle yet.

Once they finished up with the more regular activities, their adventure actually took them away from Arulion. The constraints of society made it so that the true nature of dragons was muted within the kingdom.

There were some hidden experts and more traditional dragons who hid away in the mountains outside the central region, refusing to accept the more human society that the kingdom had adopted.

And Damien's clones had spent the entire night visiting each and every one of them, telling them about his problem, and recruiting them for a very special event.

Damien and August arrived in the middle of an expansive flat land far away from anything else.

August's eyes were covered by a blindfold for the sake of the surprise.

That was probably why he hadn't freaked out by now.

After all…