NOVEL NEXT Chapter 40: Fast Learner
Warlock Ch 40. Fast Learner
"What the…?" he whispered, his confusion giving way to fascination. 'Why do I understand this?'
The more he read, the clearer it became. The ancient symbols that had looked so impossible now seemed almost easy to decipher.
Damian blinked, realizing he was actually catching on to what was written. His eyes scanned the page quickly, absorbing the information like he'd done this a hundred times before.
It was bizarre—he'd never been much of a reader, and textbooks had always been a pain to get through.
But this? This felt natural. Like the knowledge was already in his head, and all he had to do was remember.
His expression shifted, his face growing serious as he flipped through the pages, barely noticing when his half-eaten sandwich slipped to the side, forgotten. Each line of text flowed into his mind like water, the concepts sticking with him almost effortlessly. It was faster than anything he'd ever studied before—faster than when he was memorizing cocktail recipes back when he worked behind the bar.
He turned another page, and Damian paused. A series of illustrations caught his eye—marks, symbols that represented different classes and races within the magical world. One of them immediately stood out to him.
The witch's mark.
He stared at the image, his breath catching for a moment. It was almost identical to the mark on his hand—the one that had been slowly expanding since the dreams started. He traced the edges of the page with his fingers, his mind racing.
'So, it's real. The mark is real.'
Damian kept flipping through the book, trying to piece together what it all meant. The more he read, the more it felt like he'd seen this before—like these were memories being unlocked, not new information being learned. It was unsettling, but at the same time, he felt a strange connection to it all. It was like everything was falling into place, though he still didn't know what the full picture looked like.
He finally reached the last page and closed the book with a thud—like he'd just finished reading a dictionary. He leaned back in his chair, staring at the cover for a moment.
'This is insane,' he thought, rubbing the back of his neck. 'I actually get this stuff.'
But instead of feeling exhausted like he normally would, Damian felt… energized. There was a strange sense of attachment to these books, like they were calling to him in a way no other textbook ever had. He reached for the next one, not even hesitating this time.
'Who the hell am I right now?' Damian thought, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He wasn't exactly known for being studious. In school, the library had been the last place anyone would find him. But now? He felt like he couldn't stop himself. The books, the knowledge—they were drawing him in.
He cracked open the second book, his eyes immediately scanning the text. This one was about magic formations and their uses in battle, rituals, and defense. He couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity again like he already knew how these formations worked—he just needed a reminder. The diagrams of circles, lines, and runes felt almost second nature to him now.
Page after page flew by, and Damian barely noticed how much time was passing. He was too engrossed in the words, the images. Every formation had its own purpose, its own intricacies, and for the first time in his life, Damian found himself genuinely interested in how it all worked. This wasn't just about memorizing facts for the sake of it—this was about power, real power, and how to harness it.
He finally put down the second book. The pile of books on his desk had grown smaller, but he still had a few left to get through. 'No way I'm stopping now,' he thought, grabbing the next book. This one was thicker than the others, and as soon as he opened it, he realized it was about magical crystals—their properties, their uses in spellcasting, and how they could amplify a warlock's abilities.
Damian's heart raced as he flipped through the pages. He'd seen magic crystals before, but he'd never really understood how they worked. Now, as he read through the detailed descriptions, he realized just how powerful they could be. Certain crystals could enhance spells, boost Mana, or even store magic for later use. And if used correctly, they could turn an average warlock into a force to be reckoned with.
The thought sent a thrill through him. 'This is the key!' He knew that if he could master the use of crystals, he'd be able to level up fast—maybe even fast enough to take on Malthus next time. He could almost picture it: standing against Malthus, not as some scared apprentice, but as a warlock who knew how to hold his own.
'Yeah… I will kick his ass next time!'
Once again, Damian was absorbed in the book. The sound of footsteps behind him made him jump slightly. He turned to see Evelyn standing in the doorway, a mug of steaming liquid in her hand. "Oh," she said, her voice amused. "You're actually reading the books."
Damian laughed lightly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I'm surprised too," he admitted, glancing down at the stack of books in front of him. "Turns out, this stuff's more interesting than I imagined."
Evelyn stepped forward, placing the mug on the table in front of him. The steam curled up lazily from the cup, filling the air with a sweet, calming scent. Damian inhaled deeply, recognizing the aroma instantly—it smelled like a mixture of honey and milk, but the color was definitely not what he'd expect from a regular drink.
"For you," Evelyn said, gesturing to the mug. "This is—"
"Dawn's Vitality," Damian interrupted, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Right? It's an energizing drink that smells like honey and tastes like mild sweet milk. Good for concentration and relaxing tired muscles."
Evelyn froze, her eyes widening in surprise. "Yeah... how do you know that?"
Damian grinned, picking up the mug and taking a sip. The warmth spread through his body instantly, soothing his aching muscles and sharpening his focus at the same time. "From the book," he said simply, setting the mug down and licking the sweet taste off his lips. "Apparently, I've been soaking up more than I thought."