Strongest Incubus Sy Chapter 265: Before the Main Event

Chapter 265: Before the Main Event

Damon continued his al unhurriedly, savoring the warmth of the food while the tranquility of the morning lingered around them. The contrast between the intensity of the previous night and this simple, almost dostic mont was curious even to him. The kitchen, with its soft sounds and the lingering aroma of breakfast, seed a place too far removed from conspiracies, magic, and political gas.

He finished another piece of bread before speaking again.

"So the reception is tonight."

Ingrivid nodded slightly.

"Yes."

Damon rested his elbow on the table, looking at her with a more focused interest now.

"I imagine that ans the activity at Arven Manor has already begun early this morning."

"It began even before dawn."

She replied directly, as always.

"Extra servants have been called in, kitchens are operating at full capacity, and guards are being repositioned to handle the influx of guests."

Damon let out a small sound of approval. "Controlled chaos."

"Completely."

He finished the rest of the at on his plate before leaning back slightly in his chair.

"Perfect for soone to enter unnoticed."

Ingrivid didn’t respond imdiately this ti. Her eyes lingered on him for a few seconds, as if assessing sothing beyond words.

"It won’t be that simple."

Damon tilted his head slightly.

"No?"

She crossed her arms.

"Even with the increased movent, there are still checkpoints. Experienced guards. People who know every face that should be there."

Damon smiled slightly.

"Then it’s good that I’m not just another face."

Ingrivid maintained a neutral expression, but there was a slight hint of agreent there.

"You’ll have an entrance prepared."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Already?"

"Yes."

She made a small gesture with her hand.

"Lady Morgana already arranged everything before leaving."

Damon chuckled softly.

"Of course she did."

Ingrivid continued.

"You will be introduced as part of a group of invited fighters for entertainnt."

Damon leaned back in his chair.

"That still sounds fun."

"Maybe."

She replied, but her tone indicated she didn’t exactly share the sa enthusiasm.

"But that also ans you’ll be watched."

Damon narrowed his eyes slightly.

"By whom?"

"By everyone."

She answered simply.

"The public, the guards... and especially those who have an interest in maintaining control within the mansion."

Damon was silent for a mont, absorbing it all.

Then he nodded slowly.

"So I shouldn’t just walk in... I should stand out enough to justify my presence."

Ingrivid tilted her head slightly. "Exactly."

Damon smiled.

"That I know how to do."

She stood up from her chair then, efficiently gathering so of the empty plates.

"The event starts at nightfall."

She walked to the kitchen counter as she continued.

"But you won’t be entering with the main guests."

Damon observed.

"And we will?"

"With the artists and wrestlers."

She placed the plates in the sink before turning back to him.

"There will be a side entrance used for vendors and entertainnt."

Damon nodded slowly.

"Less attention."

"Less formality."

She finished.

Silence hung for a few seconds as Damon stood up from his chair, lightly wiping his hands.

"And until then?"

Ingrivid replied without hesitation.

"You wait."

Damon let out a light sigh. "Again."

"Yes."

She observed him with a steady gaze.

"But this ti, prepared."

Damon ran a hand through his hair, thoughtfully.

"Then we have a few hours."

"A whole hour."

He began to walk slowly around the kitchen, as if his body needed movent even though his mind was focused on planning.

"That ans we still have ti to adjust a few things."

Ingrivid followed his movent with her eyes.

"Like what?"

Damon stopped near the door, looking back at her.

"My entrance. My behavior. And mainly..."

He paused briefly.

"...what I should look for first."

Ingrivid didn’t answer imdiately.

But this ti, there was sothing different in her gaze.

Less distance.

More interest.

"Then use this ti."

She said finally.

Damon smiled slightly. "I intend to."

The day was only just beginning.

And that night promised to be anything but peaceful.

...

Damon left the kitchen with calm steps, but his mind was already far from that tranquil environnt. The weight of what was to co was beginning to organize itself within him, not as anxiety, but as a cold and ticulous focus. Morgana’s mansion might offer temporary comfort, but Arven... Arven was sothing else entirely.

The corridors were busier now. Servants passed by carrying fabrics, boxes, utensils, and even decorative pieces that would probably be taken to the reception area. The sound of low voices and hurried footsteps created a kind of constant rhythm that filled the air.

Damon walked slowly, observing everything.

Nothing completely escaped his gaze.

Every detail, every movent, every pattern.

He turned left into one of the wider corridors, where large windows let the light flood the space. He paused there for a mont, lightly resting his hand on the windowsill as he observed the grounds outside the property. In the distance, it was possible to see the road leading back to the city of Arven, with so carriages passing slowly. "Constant movent..."

He murmured to himself.

The reception was indeed attracting attention.

And that ant risk.

But also opportunity.

Damon closed his eyes for a brief mont, taking a deep breath.

His body still carried the echoes of the previous night, but his mind was already completely elsewhere now. Cold. Calculating. Prepared.

When he opened his eyes again, there was a decision there.

He stepped away from the window and began to walk again.

This ti, his destination was clear.

The training room.

The back of the property was much quieter. The contrast with the rest of the mansion was almost stark. There, there was no rushing, no voices, only the distant sound of the wind passing through the trees.

Damon pushed open the wooden door of the training room and entered.

The space was simple, but functional.

Reinforced floor.

So weapons arranged on racks.

And enough space for free movent. Perfect.

He walked to the center of the room and stood still for a few seconds.

Then he took a deep breath.

A cold mist began to slowly rise around his feet.

The air inside the room cooled almost instantly.

Damon raised his right hand.

Small ice crystals began to form in the air, slowly swirling around his fingers.

"Control..."

He murmured.

The crystals expanded.

They multiplied.

But, unlike before, there was no explosion.

There was no loss.

Everything was contained.

Precise.

The ice molded itself exactly as he wanted.

He closed his hand.

The crystals disappeared in the sa instant, absorbed back as if they had never existed.

Damon exhaled slowly.

"Better..."

He repeated the process.

And again.

And again.

More and more refined.

More and more controlled.

Ti passed without him noticing.

Hours.

Perhaps.

Until the sound of the door opening again broke the silence.

Ingrivid.

She entered silently, as always.

Her eyes quickly scanned the surroundings, noticing the slight residue of ice in the air.

"You’re practicing control."

Damon didn’t turn around imdiately.

"I am."

She took a few steps inside.

"It’s better."

He gave a small, wry smile.

"I know."

Damon finally turned to face her.

"How long?"

Ingrivid answered without hesitation.

"A few hours."

He nodded.

"And the city?"

"Busier."

She crossed her arms.

"Extra guards have already been positioned." Damon took another deep breath.

"Perfect."

Ingrivid watched him intently now.

"You seem different."

He raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Different?"

"More... focused."

Damon shrugged.

"I like knowing where I stand."

She nodded slightly.

"That’s good."

A brief silence settled between them.

Then Damon walked to one of the walls, picking up a simple sword that was leaning against it.

He twirled the weapon in his hand, testing its weight.

"Let’s review one more thing before tonight."

Ingrivid tilted her head.

"What?"

Damon looked directly at her.

"Combat."

Her eyes glead slightly.

"You want to fight now."

He smiled.

"I want to make sure I’m ready for anything." Ingrivid didn’t hesitate.

She walked to the weapons rack and picked up a sword as well.

Her posture changed instantly.

Steadier.

More lethal.

"Then co."

The air in the room seed to grow heavier.

Damon adjusted his posture, relaxed... but alert.

For a second, everything was in absolute silence.

Then—

The sound of tal echoed.

The blades t for the first ti.

And the training began.

Outside, the sun was already beginning to slowly descend on the horizon.

Night was approaching.

And with it...

The beginning of the real ga.

...

The tallic sound of the blades continued to echo through the training room for so ti, rhythmic, precise, almost hypnotic. Damon and Ingrivid moved with efficiency and energy conservation, each strike more a test than brute force, more reading than aggression. His focus was evident, each movent calculated, each step positioned with intention. Ingrivid, for her part, maintained her usual composure, but there was a slight tension in her eyes, as if she were being forced to adapt more than she expected.

Ti passed without them noticing.

Until—

Damon dodged a side blow and, in a fluid movent, locked her sword, pushing slightly just enough to break the rhythm. He didn’t attack imdiately. He simply retreated half a step.

Silence.

Their breathing was controlled, but heavier than before.

Ingrivid lowered her sword first.

"That’s enough."

Damon twirled the blade in his hand before lowering it as well.

"You’re going easy on ."

She replied imdiately.

"I’m not."

He smiled slightly.

"Yes, you are."

Ingrivid didn’t argue this ti. She simply walked to the holster and returned the sword to its place with a firm movent.

"You’re ready."

Damon watched her for a second before doing the sa.

"That’s good to hear."

She turned her face toward him.

"That wasn’t a complint."

He chuckled softly.

"I know."

Silence returned for a mont, but this ti there was sothing different about it.

Sothing more... dense.

Ingrivid was the first to speak again.

"The ti is coming."

Damon looked up.

The light coming through the windows of the room was no longer as bright as before.

The golden hue of dusk now dominated the room, casting longer shadows across the floor.

He took a deep breath.

"Finally."

Ingrivid walked to the door.

"You must prepare."

Damon followed behind her, leaving the training room.

The mansion’s corridors were even busier than before. Servants passed by carrying trays, fine fabrics, sealed boxes, and decorative arrangents. The pace had increased. It was no longer preparation... it was execution.

The reception was near.

As they walked, Damon slightly adjusted his shirt sleeve, his gaze attentive to everything around him, but without showing concern. His posture was relaxed, but there was sothing different about him now. Sothing sharper.

They climbed the stairs again.

"Your suit has already been prepared."

Said Ingrivid as they walked down the second-floor corridor.

"Of course it has."

He replied with a slightly amused tone.

She stopped before a door.

She opened it.

And made a small gesture for him to enter.

Damon entered the room.

On the bed, carefully arranged, was the set of clothes he would wear that night.

It wasn’t extravagant like that of nobles.

But it wasn’t simple either.

It was... functional.

Elegant in just the right asure.

Dark.

Discreet.

Perfect for soone who should be noticed... but not excessively rembered.

Damon approached the bed, his eyes scanning the outfit.

"She really thought of everything."

Ingrivid remained near the door.

"Lady Morgana doesn’t usually leave loose ends."

Damon picked up the top, examining the fabric between his fingers.

"I’m starting to notice."

He began to change without haste.

The room remained silent as he put on each piece, adjusting the fit naturally, like soone accustod to preparing for situations that demanded more than just appearance.

When he finished, he glanced quickly in the mirror.

The reflected image was different.

Less of a traveler.

More... a piece of a larger ga.

He ran his hand through his hair, adjusting it simply.

"So?"

Ingrivid studied him for a few seconds.

"It’s suitable."

Damon raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Suitable?"

She turned her face slightly.

"You don’t draw unnecessary attention."

He smiled slightly.

"Perfect."

Ingrivid then stepped away from the door.

"It’s ti."