The next morning arrived with a quiet clarity, the academy grounds already stirring with activity as Damon walked toward the volunteering center, his steps steady and unhurried, his mind recalling the Dean's words from the previous day.
"I don't need to be present to observe you within the academy…"
A faint exhale left him as he reached the entrance and stepped inside.
The interior of the volunteering center contrasted sharply with the nostalgic calm of the place he had visited yesterday, as it was structured with a more refined and functional design, where polished floors reflected soft ambient light and floating panels of translucent glass displayed neatly organized lists of available services, each task categorized and updated in real time through faintly glowing runic interfaces that responded to presence and intent.
Damon's gaze moved across the listings without much interest, scanning them briefly before selecting one almost at random, his hand hovering momentarily before confirming it through his Manacron.
DING!
VOLUNTEERING TASK ACCEPTED.
Without lingering further, he turned and left, heading toward the assigned location within the academy grounds.
The task itself turned out to be assisting in the maintenance of one of the auxiliary training fields, where scattered practice equipment needed to be reorganized and recalibrated, the work simple in nature yet requiring a basic level of attention as he moved from one section to another, adjusting placements, resetting targets, and ensuring the runic systems embedded within them responded correctly.
Damon worked without complaint.
Efficient and direct.
And as he moved through the task, a thought surfaced almost immediately.
Why does this feel… easier than yesterday…
There were no interruptions.
No unpredictable interactions.
No strange expectations.
Just a clear task.
And a clear way to complete it.
His movements continued, precise as always, though his mind shifted inward once more, aligning itself with something more structured.
My short-term goals…
Understanding my resonance…
Getting into Class S…
Both are already achieved.
His hand adjusted a runic node, the faint glow stabilizing as he moved to the next.
Next… I need to work on what Instructor Brakkar and Miss Elowen told me…
Breaking my combat patterns…
And gaining control over my emotional fluctuations…
He paused briefly, then continued.
Those are not things that can be rushed…
His gaze lowered slightly.
They require time… repetition… and awareness…
Another piece was set into place.
Another task completed.
Then—
His thoughts shifted again.
And then… the other goal…
A faint narrowing of his eyes followed.
I still need to decide what kind of business I can get into…
His steps slowed just slightly as the idea expanded.
Before anything else… I need to understand the current market…
What products already exist… what services are in demand… and where there is space to enter…
His fingers brushed lightly against a control panel, completing another adjustment.
Only after that… can I think about funding… and execution…
The thought settled.
And as Damon continued his work under the afternoon light, his path forward began to take shape.
By the time late evening settled over the academy, Damon had finished his assigned task, the fading light stretching long shadows across the training grounds as he finally marked the work as complete on his Manacron, the soft confirmation tone following as he exhaled, his body lightly coated with sweat from the continuous effort.
"I should take a shower…" he muttered under his breath as he rolled his shoulder slightly and began walking back through the academy pathways, his steps steady, his mind already shifting toward rest.
He soon arrived near his dorm building.
But stopped.
His steps halted mid-motion.
His brows furrowed slightly as his gaze shifted to the side, something catching his attention, and without a word, he changed direction, walking a few steps away from the entrance before coming to a stop.
"What are you doing here?"
Sahira stood there.
Dressed in her usual maid uniform, her posture slightly stiff as if unsure whether she should have been there at all, her eyes avoiding his as she answered hesitantly.
"T-there are some essentials… t-that I need to buy for the house… so…"
Her voice trailed off.
Damon's gaze moved over her once, from head to toe, assessing without saying anything, before he let out a quiet breath and spoke.
"Let's go… I'll come with you to the city."
For a brief moment, Sahira froze.
Then—
She looked up.
A bright, genuine smile spread across her face almost instantly as she nodded quickly.
"Y-yes…!"
Without wasting time, the two of them began walking together, stepping out of the academy grounds and into the city beyond, the evening air carrying a gentle coolness as the day slowly gave way to dusk.
Damon walked ahead, his hands tucked casually into his pockets, his posture relaxed yet attentive, while Sahira followed just slightly behind him, her head lowered, her steps light as she stayed close without intruding.
As they entered the bustling market, the atmosphere shifted immediately.
Shops lined the streets on both sides, their displays overflowing with goods, lanterns beginning to glow one by one as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting the entire marketplace in a warm, golden hue, while voices filled the air—vendors calling out, people bargaining, laughter and chatter blending into a lively rhythm.
The night had just begun.
As they moved deeper into the market, the crowd thickened steadily, people brushing past from all directions as the rhythm of their steps began to fall out of sync, Sahira lagging half a step behind as the flow of the crowd disrupted their pace, until Damon glanced back, his brows knitting faintly before he reached out without hesitation and caught her hand, pulling her slightly closer so they could move together through the bustling street.
She stiffened for a brief second at the contact.
Then followed quietly.
They continued walking like that, his hand holding hers with a firm but natural grip, guiding her through the shifting crowd as they stopped at various stalls, Sahira stepping forward to purchase the essentials she needed—cleaning supplies, basic household items, small storage containers, and other necessities that did not involve food.
And for the first time, Damon saw a completely different side of her.
Gone was the hesitant, stuttering maid.
In her place stood someone far more assertive.
"No, no… that's too expensive," she said, her voice firm as she looked straight at the shopkeeper, her brows slightly furrowed, "last time I bought this for much less… don't try to cheat me."
The shopkeeper protested.
She didn't budge.
She countered.
Lowered the price.
Argued again.
And won.
Damon stood to the side, watching silently as she negotiated with surprising precision, her words quick and grounded, her expressions shifting naturally as she pushed for better deals without hesitation.
…So she can be like this as well.
Once the price was settled, Damon simply stepped forward and paid through his Manacron, the transaction completing with a soft chime as Sahira moved on to the next stall, continuing the same pattern.
As they walked, Damon's attention didn't remain limited to her.
His gaze moved across the market itself, carefully observing the goods displayed across different stalls—enchanted trinkets that emitted faint light, self-heating containers designed to preserve food temperature, compact storage artifacts that expanded internally, and small utility tools infused with mana for everyday convenience.
So these are the common-use products in circulation…
His mind noted each category.
Each utility.
Each apparent demand.
They moved further ahead, eventually entering a larger structure that resembled a marketplace complex, where multiple shops were housed within a single building, the interior brighter and more organized, with higher-end goods displayed behind glass cases.
Here, Damon's attention sharpened further.
More refined and specialized Artifacts.
He paused briefly in front of one display where a bracelet shimmered faintly.
"A minor mana-regulating artifact," the attendant explained to another customer nearby, "helps stabilize internal fluctuations."
Further along, a set of gloves designed to enhance grip and reduce recoil during combat training caught his eye, followed by a small orb-like device that projected temporary barriers when activated.
Different tiers… different uses…
Daily utility… combat assistance… mana control…
His thoughts aligned quietly as he walked, his grip on Sahira's hand remaining steady as they moved through the space, occasionally stopping, observing, then moving on again.
Yet—
Something felt off.
Damon glanced back.
Once.
Then again.
His eyes scanned the crowd briefly before returning forward.
Strange…
Why does it feel like someone is following me…?
The thought lingered, subtle but persistent.
After a few more minutes, he looked back toward Sahira, his expression returning to neutral as he asked,
"Are we done?"
She nodded quickly.
"Y-yes…"
Damon gave a small nod in return, his thoughts shifting again.
Even I'm almost done here…
Maybe I should take a look at the clothing section as well…
His gaze moved over her.
Taking in the same maid uniform she had worn every single day.
"You don't seem to have any clothes apart from that maid uniform...let's take a look at what can you get."