Void Evolution System

It was a case Damien had never seen before.

The pride of the dragons didn't need to be mentioned more than it already had. It was an ingrained trait that every dragon was born with.

Most dragons spent their formative years in their original forms and only transformed into humanoid forms when they reached a certain age. This was a practice supported by the laws of Arulion. No matter what one's status was, one would be allowed to experience the pride of dragons before eventually being suppressed.

August was…different?

It wasn't that he'd been born different. He was instilled with that same core personality trait as the rest of his species. However, his trait was almost instantly suppressed.

Damien could've figured out the problem with a simple scan of August's soul, but he didn't want to. This was his first time experiencing parenthood, and he didn't want to give up the learning experience for easy answers.

His brows were furrowed as he fell into thought.

'Should I just ask directly, or would that make him more anxious?'

A child's trust was a strange thing, and Damien didn't want to ruin their current relationship by trying to push his boundaries.

'But I'm his parent, am I not?'

He wanted to think he wasn't some regular stranger in August's eyes. He wanted to believe that he had privileges above everyone else.

But…

Damien remembered his own childhood. He remembered how he felt when his mother tried to learn what was happening inside his mind.

Their inability to come to terms with each other was one of the main reasons a rift formed between them. Each and every argument they had after that only served to widen the rift and drive an immovable wedge between them.

It took Damien's mind breaking from trauma and a very slow recovery after that for him to finally come to terms with his parents and understand their perspective.

As night fell, Damien brought August back to the small and cozy home he'd built for them in the city. It had a rural and wooden aesthetic like those around it, but the interior was modern like the earthen styles Damien preferred.

After a hefty meal, enough to feed ten human adults, he put August to sleep and made his way to his own room.

'I wanted to start teaching him the ways of a practitioner, but it might not be a good idea to do that until he's gotten over whatever's happening.'

Damien frowned.

He was being so careful with August that it was almost hypocritical. His recent actions had been the complete opposite of careful, so he almost felt like he didn't deserve to be this hesitant.

'Maybe my concern is holding me back?'

If he treated August like he treated disciples, life would probably be much easier for him.

'But will it be good for him, or would it be detrimental?'

In the end, it was that desire.

The desire to live vicariously through his child, to use parenthood as a way to truly absolve the negatives of his own childhood by making sure his child wouldn't suffer through any of the same things.

Wasn't that really the thing holding him back?

'Is it because I'm getting stronger? The traces of mental instability remaining in the core of my existence are slowly revealing themselves, pleading to be resolved.'

He sighed to himself. Taking a new path in life led to new challenges in places where he least expected them. It wasn't unwelcome. It was just a bit strange and hard to get used to.

'Hm?'

Damein's mind returned to reality as he heard a knock on his door.

"Dad, are you up?"

August peeked his head in, his voice soft in case Damien was asleep.

"I'm up. What are you doing standing at the door? Come in."

August nodded and entered the room. He closed the door behind him and walked up to the bed, jumping up to sit next to Damien.

He wiggled around to get comfortable on the bed, or so it seemed at first, but as Damien looked closer, he saw the hesitance on August's face.

"What's up bud? Is there something bothering you?" he asked softly.

August nodded slightly. It was clear that he wanted to speak, but he was doubting what he wanted to say.

Did he think Damien would get angry? Or did he perhaps fear the question itself?

"Dad…" August started, the hesitance in his voice not fading at all.

Despite the anxiety he was feeling, August tried to power through it and say what he wanted to say.

If there was something Damien had always taught him, it was how to vocalize what he wanted.

"Never be ashamed of yourself."

That was the motto.

If he wanted to ask something, he could ask without fear. If he wanted to act a certain way, nobody could tell him he was wrong.

August had grown up shy, sure, but that was only when it came to expressing his hobbies and talents. He had never been afraid to satisfy his curiosity.

In the end, after a few seconds of struggle, that question finally made its way out into the world.

"...why can't I be like you?"

Damien was immediately stumped.

"What do you mean?" He asked, genuinely curious.

"Why am I different?" August fired back.

"I want to be like Dad, but I can't. This is actually fake, right?" he continued, grabbing his skin and pulling.

"Dad, actually…am I a monster?"

August's voice shook as he asked. Tears welled up in his eyes.

Damien's expression immediately softened. He pulled August into a strong hug, as if to expel all of those doubts with a single motion.

'I understand now.'

This was why August never entered his dragon form. This was the problem that had been plaguing him all this time.

It was the complete opposite of what Damien expected, but at the same time, it was exactly what he thought.

August truly didn't want to be a dragon, but it wasn't because of any of the normal reasons.

It was simple, but heartbreaking.

He could instinctively sense Damien's soul, and despite the alterations that disguised him as a dragon, August wasn't fooled.

Was it the connection between father and son that surpassed even Existence, or was it because this child had been absorbing his mana since he was just an egg?

August idolized his father. To him, Damien was the perfect person.

But Damien was a human, not a dragon.

And that was exactly what bred insecurity in his heart.

'So it ended up being my fault.'

Damien never stopped to consider the consequences of raising a son who came from a completely different species and culture. He never thought there would be consequences at all, considering that, in all aspects, he was currently a dragon.

Still, August had come to him honestly and expressed his worries. Since Damien now understood the problem…

'...I can work to fix it.'

It was time for Damien to embark on a new mission.

To build August's confidence.

"You're no monster," Damien said confidently, pulling August closer to make sure he could clearly feel his sincerity.

"You are my son. No matter what happens, no matter what differences we have, that will never change."

He didn't know if he was saying the right thing, but he said whatever came out instinctively.

This was, after all, just to calm the overwhelming emotions currently controlling August's actions.

Actions spoke louder than words, right?

The real surprise would come when the sun rose.

After this conversation ended and August was put to sleep…

'...I have a lot of preparations to make.'