[Twenty Minutes Earlier - Military Interrogation room]
The interrogation room was quiet except for Ryanâs voice explaining the horrors of the portal world, his words heavy with trauma and guilt.
But the room wasnât as empty as the survivors and the military officers believed.
Two figures stood in the corner, completely invisible thanks to Alaricâs skills, their presence undetectable to anyone below S-rank.
Alaric and Lyandra Valcor listened to every word, their faces growing progressively paler as the testimony continued.
Ryanâs voice described the Devourer Body Art, the consumption of Giant flesh and the systematic transformation of their son into something that crossed fundamental boundaries of human morality.
"He would kill Giants, then consume parts of their bodies â arms, legs, organs, blood â and his body would transform, gaining their immense physical strength."
Lyandraâs hand began trembling uncontrollably.
Alaric grabbed it immediately, squeezing tight, his own face showing barely controlled horror.
The testimony continued... Hundreds of kills, eating hearts, drinking blood and transforming himself into a weapon through methods that made even hardened soldiers sick.
Lyandraâs breathing became irregular, her normally composed face showing cracks in the maternal facade.
âThatâs not... that canât be... our Damy wouldnât...â
But the evidence was undeniable with all ten survivors telling the same horrifying details.
Their son had become something that scared even the people heâd saved...
Alaric waved his hand, creating an isolated barrier around them that prevented sound from escaping.
The moment the barrier formed, Lyandraâs composure shattered.
"I-Iâve been avoiding this."
Her voice came out choked, tears forming in her black eyes.
"I have been trying not to say anything. Trying not to think about it. But Alaric... is Damian still our Damy? I donât understand any of this."
She turned to face him, her expression desperate.
"Past life memories? Iâve never heard of anyone gaining them. Not once in the many years of military service... What kind of memories did he even have?
What could possibly transform a sweet, gentle boy into someone who eats sentient beings without hesitation?"
Her voice grew stronger, more frantic.
"Is this some kind of scheme?! Some plot by our enemies?! Weâve made so many during our careers. People who would do anything to hurt us!
Did someone get to Damy that night when he regained his memories and screamed?! Did they replace him with something else? Or did he really just suddenly, magically, gain memories from another life?!"
Tears were flowing freely now, her hands clenched into fists.
"What is all this, Alaric?! Iâm losing my patience! I need to know! Is he still our child? Or did someone replace him with a monster wearing his face?!"
Alaric stayed silent for a long moment, his silver eyes troubled with his stern face showing rare vulnerability.
Then he sighed, the sound carrying the weight of secrets and difficult truths.
"You and I both know that no one could have escaped our senses to harm him. We were present in the house that night. Our detection skills would have caught any intrusion, any replacement and every form of manipulation."
His hand tightened on hers.
"And as for whether heâs Damian... I scanned his body thoroughly that very night. Examined every cell. Even sensing his soul directly using techniques I promised Iâd never use on our kids."
Alaricâs voice was carefully controlled.
"No changes were present. No foreign soul fragments... No possession... No replacement...
Just his own soul becoming more powerful and more complete, like something that had always been there was finally being allowed to emerge fully. I explained this to you that very night."
"I donât care about explanations!"
Lyandraâs voice cracked completely.
"I want to see it with my own eyes! I love Damy more than anything! And if thereâs even the slightest possibility that our boy was replaced by someone else... I will... I will..."
She couldnât finish, the words choking in her throat.
Alaric pulled her into a tight embrace, his hand running through her black hair in the soothing gesture heâd used countless times over their decades together.
"I know. I understand. Weâll make sure and verify again... We will do whatever you need to feel certain."
What Lyandra couldnât see, pressed against his chest, was the complex expression on Alaricâs face.
Like someone who knew something that couldnât be said and was trying to protect his wife from the same burden.
His eyes were distant, troubled and hiding secrets even from the woman he trusted the most.
Lyandra pulled back slightly, her tear-stained face showing determination beneath the pain.
"I-Iâll use my hypnosis skill on him. Even if he hates me for it afterward. Even if he never forgives me... I need to know for certain!"
Alaricâs expression shifted immediately to stern refusal, his protective instincts flaring.
"Lyandra, that skill isâ"
"I donât care! I need to know!"
The rare sight of his normally gentle wife this desperate made Alaric pause.
He was typically henpecked in their relationship, deferring to her judgment on most matters, showing the soft side he revealed to no one else.
But his face now showed the stern authority that had made enemies fear him across multiple war zones.
"We need to ask him first. Only if he permits it will I allow you to use that skill on our son."
Lyandra nodded slowly, recognizing this was the only way forward.
Alaric dispelled the isolation barrier and his invisibility skill, allowing them to become visible in the hallway just as Eric approached Damianâs door.
****
[Present Time - Damianâs Room]
Alaric and Lyandra entered their sonâs room, the door closing quietly behind them.
Damian lay sleeping, his exhausted body finally getting the rest it desperately needed after two months of constant survival pressure.
But looking at him now â the changes in his physique, the new scars, the harder edge to his features even in sleep â Lyandraâs cold and composed mask cracked completely.
Her maternal instincts overwhelmed the suspicion and fear, seeing her boy injured and changed and needing protection.
She waved her hand gently, her Aura wrapping around Damian like invisible silk, lifting him from the bed without disturbing his sleep.
He didnât even stir, his exhaustion too deep to sense anything.
Alaric opened a spatial portal with practiced ease with the dimensional tear appearing silently in the center of the room.
Together, they carried their sleeping son home.
Whatever answers they needed could wait until heâd recovered properly.
For now, he just needed to be safe... To be with family.
And to be... home.