Chapter 58 — Scheme III

"It was just a fight, Adrian. They got beaten down badly, yes. So what?"

Damian’s voice was utterly devoid of sympathy.

"Aren’t we all supposed to face actual Monsters on real battlefields later in our lives?

Creatures that want to literally tear us apart and devour our flesh?"

He took a step closer, his presence suddenly seeming much larger despite his youth.

"If even this much – a simple beating from fellow students in a relatively controlled environment – is enough to permanently break them psychologically, then what possible use is all their vaunted talent? What value do they have as warriors or leaders?"

His voice grew harsher.

"Even common gangsters from the underworld have vastly better mental fortitude and recovery capabilities than that.

Street thugs who’ve never had any formal training can take a beating and come back swinging the next day."

Adrian opened his mouth to protest, but Damian wasn’t finished.

"All the people in this comfortable Federation are starting to get far too used to extended peace and safety.

Protected by walls and portals and the military, never seeing real danger, never facing actual consequences."

His eyes narrowed dangerously.

"I genuinely wonder what will happen when Monsters inevitably breach the portals again.

When the walls fall. When the safe, comfortable illusion shatters."

Adrian’s face turned noticeably pale as he processed Damian’s words, which seemed to carry absolute certainty that such catastrophic breaches would occur.

Not ’if’ – but ’when.’

"What... What are you talking about? The portals are stable. The military keeps them contained. We haven’t had a major breach in decades–"

"You’ll realize the truth eventually, Adrian."

Damian cut him off with finality.

"The signs are already there for those willing to see them. Monster activity is increasing. Portal fluctuations are becoming more frequent.

The Federation is scrambling to recruit and train more awakeners than ever before."

He turned back to the moon.

"This peace won’t last. It can’t last. So I’m preparing the people around me for what’s actually coming, not for the comfortable fantasy everyone else is clinging to."

Silence fell between them, heavy and oppressive.

Adrian struggled to formulate a response, his worldview shaking.

"You’re... You’re an extremist. I know for sure that you have far more crueller plans ahead." he finally said quietly. "The methods you’re using, the way you think... It’s not normal. It’s not right."

"Right?"

Damian laughed, a short, bitter sound without any real humor.

"Right is a luxury for peacetime, Adrian. Right is what people with power use to justify maintaining their comfortable positions while others suffer beneath them."

He glanced back at the purple-haired Noble.

"I’m not interested in being right. I’m interested in being effective. In actually changing things that need to change, no matter the cost."

"Even if it means hurting innocent people? Using them as pawns?"

"They’re not pawns."

Damian’s voice was sharp now.

"They’re soldiers in a war they don’t even know they’re fighting yet. And soldiers need to be forged in fire, not coddled in comfort."

He walked closer to Adrian until they were face to face.

"Those students who got beaten today? They’ll heal. Their bones will mend, their bruises will fade.

But the lesson they learned, that they need to stand together, that they can’t rely on the system to protect them, that they have to fight for themselves... that will stay with them forever."

Adrian met his gaze, trying to read the truth in those ancient crimson eyes.

"And what about you, Damian? What are you fighting for? What’s your real goal in all this?"

Damian smiled, a cold, dangerous expression that didn’t reach his eyes.

"Power, Adrian. Pure, absolute power. The kind of power that lets me protect what I choose to protect and destroy what I choose to destroy, without asking anyone’s permission."

He turned away dismissively.

"Everything else – the Mafia, the social justice rhetoric, the revolutionary speeches – those are just means to an end. Useful tools for gathering loyal people and building influence."

"You’re using them," Adrian said, voice hollow with realization. "All those commoners who see you as their hero, their savior... You’re just using them to build your own power base."

"Of course I am."

Damian didn’t even try to deny it.

"But here’s the thing that makes it acceptable, Adrian... They’re using me too.

They want protection, resources, someone strong to stand behind. I’m providing exactly that. It’s a fair exchange."

He looked back one final time.

"The difference between me and the Nobles they hate is simple: I’ll actually deliver on my promises.

I’ll actually make them stronger, give them real opportunities, protect them when it matters. As long as they’re useful to me, they’ll prosper."

"And when they’re no longer useful?"

The question hung in the air like poison.

Damian didn’t answer.

He didn’t need to.

Adrian understood perfectly.

"You’re just another monster," Adrian whispered. "Worse than the Nobles you’re supposedly fighting against, because at least they’re honest about their selfishness."

"Perhaps."

Damian’s voice was utterly unbothered.

"But I’m a monster who gets results. A monster who actually changes things. And in the end, that’s what matters."

He started walking away, back toward the main Academy buildings.

"You should go back to your dorm, Adrian. It’s getting late, and you wouldn’t want anyone asking questions about why you’re out wandering the gardens at night."

Adrian stood frozen, watching Damian’s retreating back.

He’d thought he understood this commoner student.

Talented, driven, maybe a bit reckless but ultimately good-hearted.

Now he realized he’d been completely wrong.

Damian Valcor was something else entirely.

Something far more dangerous than any Noble faction or Academy politics.

"Damian!"

Adrian called out suddenly.

Damian paused but didn’t turn around.

"Why did you tell me all this? Why reveal your true nature so openly? Aren’t you afraid I’ll expose you?"

"Because you won’t."

Damian’s voice carried absolute certainty.

"You’re too curious now. You want to see how this plays out, where this path leads. And besides..."

He glanced back over his shoulder, that cold smile returning.

"You Murdocks pride yourselves on fairness and justice, yes. But you also recognize strength and competence when you see it.

You’re already calculating whether allying with me might be more beneficial than opposing me."

Adrian’s silence was all the confirmation needed.

Damian continued walking, disappearing into the shadows.

Adrian remained in the garden for a long time after, staring at the blood-red moon.

Everything had changed today.

And he had the terrifying feeling that this was only the beginning.

****

Actually, what Damian said to Adrian was not all true.

He planned everything. But he didn’t completely lay a way out for all the parties involved.

If Nobles didn’t start the fight, nothing would have happened.

If Elizabeth had taken his side, he wouldn’t have left the Council.

If Mara had not tried to attack him, he wouldn’t have beaten her half to death.

’And I never planned to treat my Mafia badly. That part was indeed me going with the flow.

I probably seemed like a cruel monster to him... hehe. But that’s fine...’

Damian had treated his Mafia like a family in his past life as well. He wouldn’t discard anyone who showed his loyalty to him.

’But I wouldn’t spare the traitors either.’

Damian entered his room and started his breathing technique without any delay as these thoughts were going on in his mind.

He had not forgotten what was really important. Today’s fight had indeed been a lesson to him as well.

’Gareth sure is strong... I need to find that old man as well... it’s time I focus on Abyssal Slaughter as well.’