The days passed slowly in the Valcor household.
Damian spent most of his time working through the mental damage from the portal, his debuffed Will and Perception stats gradually recovering as his mind healed.
The hallucinations were rare now, the whispers faded to background noise, and the weight pressing against his consciousness lifted degree by degree.
He trained in the mornings, meditated in the afternoons, and spent evenings with his family.
Luna's presence helped more than any meditation technique, her quiet companionship anchoring him when his thoughts spiraled too far.
Lyandra fussed over him constantly, checking if he was eating enough, sleeping properly, pushing himself too hard.
Alaric maintained his usual distance but was always nearby, offering silent support through his mere presence.
Slowly, the fractured pieces of Damian's mental state began fitting back together.
Then the day of the entrance exam results arrived.
****
