Chapter 635: Chapter 636: Move
Evangeline didn’t come into the VIP section, neither did Renata, Leona, or Matia. For whatever reason, they stayed out of it. Xander must have said something, or they chose to wisely stay away.
Damon felt his mood growing increasingly foul with each moment he thought about what had happened.
He had always seen Xander as someone he needed to suppress, someone he needed to bring to his knees. But now, Xander kneeling in front of him just left a bitter taste in his mouth.
That was not the same confident young noble who always seemed so put together. This was just a man tainted by the poison of vengeance and the madness of hate.
In the end, could he even call himself a decent enough human being anymore?
Killing Xander’s brother was one thing, but keeping Xander in a manipulative lie in the name of vengeance while acting as his trusted ally was something else entirely.
The door opened and a maid stepped in, bowing her head.
"My apologies for the intrusion, sir. I have been ordered to inform you the banquet has begun. All guests are already in attendance."
Damon raised his head slowly.
"Hmmm."
He stood up, feeling a light-headedness from his lingering wounds. The damage to his soul was still there, though he had simply powered through due to his high tolerance for pain.
He was accustomed to pain, some more than others.
Abellona was a great host. She had arranged a large private room with long tables, the seating assigned based on what Damon could only imagine was a measure of one’s personal power or at the very least, how the public perceived their power levels.
Naturally, there was one large table at the center where Abellona sat at the head herself.
Those who were granted seats at this table were truly the cream of the crop, those who would hold the fate of the goddess races in the future.
Their champions.
Damon could see a few names on the tables, each seat already taken by someone.
"Hmmm," he muttered softly, noting his name was at the center table right next to Abellona.
He would be seated on her right, and from his side, the seating for the other members of his party had been arranged.
Everyone was seated already. He spotted the familiar white hair of Sylvia Moonveil. When she noticed him, she flashed him a gentle smile.
A young elf with white hair seated across from her frowned, glaring at Damon.
He wasn’t the only one. All who were present were staring at this latecomer who was to be seated beside the princess.
Damon could hear soft murmurs, as well as intentionally released auras from different people, all in a bid to show off their powers.
However, no one caused a ruckus. There was a somewhat solemn air to the banquet.
Abellona smiled as the maid led Damon to his seat. The familiar fragrance of Abellona of Valtheron reached his nose. Across from him, Renata gave him a nod as he sat next to her.
He didn’t say anything to the host. His mind was preoccupied with his own issues. All he gave her was a curt nod.
"How arrogant, to disregard your nation’s princess. I have heard the Ascendant was a commoner, I just didn’t realize he was an uneducated one as well."
The voice came from a seat not too far from him, near the other end of the table, where a young man sat in the familiar uniform of the Royal Academy here in Valtheron.
Damon sighed, feeling more irritated.
This young man was dark-haired with green eyes. A small set of scales ran across his hand, making it evident he was dragon kin.
In times like this Damon would have said something, but he was not in the mood to indulge a fool.
Xander, who was sitting not far from Damon, narrowed his eyes but said nothing. However, Leona didn’t keep quiet.
If Damon had replied, she wouldn’t have needed to.
"For someone in the third class advancement yet still at the farthest end of the table, that speaks volumes. Then again, empty vessels make the loudest noise."
The young man’s lips twitched.
"You..."
Abellona raised her hand and stood up. She smiled lightly.
"I believe there’s been some misunderstanding here. The seating arrangements are by no means a measure of a warrior’s strength. Only the battlefield, and the fire of your will, can determine that. Not arbitrary seating arrangement. I apologize if I created the wrong impression."
The elf sitting across from Sylvia, clearly a noble of the Moon Glades, smirked and spoke to Abellona.
"Really now? Doesn’t look like that to me."
Abellona’s smile didn’t falter, her gaze steady and giving him no openings to exploit.
"I suppose the representative of the Moon Glades would have a keen eye for things, but as I said before, this is a misunderstanding. Do you not think so, representative of the Silver Glades?"
Her eyes turned to another elf seated next to him. He carried a bow and a quiver of arrows. Even though this was a formal gathering, his belt carried several daggers. The crest of the Silver Glades was pinned proudly on his chest.
He let out a low sigh.
"I suppose he is free to have any opinion he wants. The only thing I can agree on is the battlefield being the only place where strength can be accurately judged."
Abellona smiled. His agreement made the young man from the Moon Glades frown, but he said nothing, his gaze instead fixed on Sylvia, who was evidently looking at Damon.
It was clear to everyone present, because she was staring only at him. The expression of the young elf contorted, his small lack of control over his face making everyone’s eyes turn toward Sylvia.
However, she didn’t seem to care. All she saw was Damon.
"Ahem, ahem." The young elf cleared his throat.
She didn’t react. Instead, a small smile formed on her lips as she glanced at the object of her affection.
He couldn’t have that. He could not allow rumors of any kind.
"Princess..." he whispered, but not quietly enough for everyone else to ignore.
Sylvia sighed, closing her eyes.
"I heard you the first time."
She stood up from her seat. All eyes turned to the beautiful elven princess all except Damon, who seemed lost in thought.
Then she turned to Abellona.
"If that is the case and seating doesn’t matter, I see no reason why we can’t sit with whoever we want.... Unless they actually do."
Abellona’s eyes twitched. She didn’t know why Sylvia was opposing her.
"They don’t."
Sylvia smiled, her eyes cold.
"Good then. I’ll be changing mine."
Without another word, she rose from her seat and pulled it along with her until she was right next to Damon. She gazed at Matia, who had been seated beside him.
Then, with eyes like ice, she spoke.
"Move."