NOVEL NEXT Chapter 55: No Praise?
Warlock Ch 55. No Praise?
After breakfast, Damian headed to the bathroom to wash up and change his clothes. Cassius would be waiting for him, and he didn't want to show up late, especially with all the new questions swirling around in his head. He needed answers, and Cassius was the best shot at getting them.
When Damian was ready, he found Evelyn already prepared to head out. She looked at him, that familiar smirk playing on her lips as she glanced at the stack of books in his arms. "You look like a nerd heading to school," she teased lightly.
Damian rolled his eyes but smiled back, putting the books in the bag. "Yeah, well, someone's gotta be the top student, right?" He hefted the books in his arms with exaggerated effort, making a show of it.
Evelyn laughed softly but then grew more serious as they approached the door. "I won't be joining you at Cassius' today," she said, pausing at the entrance. "I've got some things I need to take care of."
Damian raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You're not coming with me?"
She shook her head. "Nope. You'll be fine on your own. Besides, you know the way back, and you've got the amulet." She pointed at the small, unassuming pendant around his neck. "As long as you're wearing that, it'll cover up your awakening powers. To everyone else, you'll look like a regular mage with a weak Mana Core."
Damian stopped in his tracks, processing her words. "Wait... does that mean I have a strong Mana Core from the start?"
Evelyn smirked, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Kinda," she said cryptically before turning to leave.
Damian watched her go, shaking his head with a sigh. "Yup, figures," he muttered to himself. 'She's not gonna tell me everything, is she?' he thought.
With Evelyn off on her own, Damian made his way to Cassius' place, books in hand, feeling a bit like an eager student heading to class. The thought amused him, especially considering how little he'd cared about studying back in his old life. But now? Now it felt different.
By the time he arrived at Cassius' grand, gothic estate, Damian had run over all the questions he wanted to ask at least ten times in his head. He knocked on the door, and moments later, it swung open to reveal Cassius himself, looking as calm and collected as ever.
"Ah, Damian," Cassius greeted him, his sharp eyes glancing down at the bag Damian held. "I see you've come prepared."
Damian grinned, lifting the bag slightly. "Finished these," he said, trying to keep the tone casual. "Pretty quick, too."
Cassius didn't seem impressed. He simply nodded and stepped aside, gesturing for Damian to enter. "Good. Let's get started."
Damian blinked, slightly taken aback.
No praise? No surprise?
He had devoured those books in record time—books that should've taken weeks to fully absorb. Yet, Cassius didn't seem phased in the slightest. The lack of reaction left Damian feeling oddly deflated, though he tried not to show it.
"So... what's next?" Damian asked, following Cassius deeper into the house.
Cassius led him to the familiar training room. "We'll be testing your abilities today," Cassius said, his tone as calm and methodical as ever. "I want to see how much you've absorbed."
Damian set the books down on a nearby table, trying to shake off the odd feeling of disappointment. He guessed Cassius wasn't the type to heap on praise, but still... he thought reading all those books in two days would at least get some kind of acknowledgment.
"So... about the books," Damian started, hoping to break the tension. "I finished them pretty fast. Like... faster than I thought possible. And I understood everything."
Cassius turned to face him, his gaze steady. "That doesn't surprise me."
Damian blinked. "It doesn't?"
Cassius shook his head. "Your system is evolving. You're unlocking more of your potential, faster than most warlocks ever do. It's natural for you to absorb knowledge at an accelerated rate."
Damian frowned, the words hitting him harder than expected. "So... this is normal? For me, I mean?"
Cassius studied him for a moment, as if weighing how much to reveal. "In your case, yes. Most warlocks take years to unlock the kind of abilities you're developing in days. But you're not most warlocks."
Damian opened his mouth to ask more, but Cassius cut him off with a raised hand. "Before you ask," Cassius said, his voice firm, "there are things about your power that even I don't fully understand. Your progress is... unique."
'Unique?' Damian wasn't sure how to feel about that. It was clear he was growing stronger, faster than expected, but the lack of concrete answers was starting to weigh on him. He wanted to know why—why his system was evolving, why his powers were coming so quickly, and what it all meant.
Cassius gestured toward the center of the room. "Let's begin."
"Now?" Damian asked, glancing around the room. "I still have a few things I want to ask."
Cassius crossed his arms, his expression unwavering. "Train first. Ask later."
"But—" Damian started to protest, only to notice Cassius already raising a barrier around the room. The shimmering wall of magic enclosed the space, just like it had yesterday. The sight made Damian's stomach drop. 'Great,' he thought. No way out.
"Okay, fine. One question then?" Damian tried to negotiate, but Cassius didn't even acknowledge him this time.
"After the training," Cassius said firmly, his voice brooking no argument.
Without another word, Cassius raised his hand, and with a simple flick of his wrist, three shadowy figures materialized in the center of the room. He realized these weren't the same weak servants from yesterday. No, these ones were more powerful.
Peril <Level 31>
HP: 820/820
MP: 100/100
Skills: [Phantom Strike], [Nightmare Shroud]
Weakness: Unknown
Onyx <Level 32>
HP: 910/910
MP: 120/120
Skills: [Shadow Slash], [Corrosive Fang], [Abyssal Charge]
Weakness: Unknown
Riven <Level 30>
HP: 870/870
MP: 110/110
Skills: [Stone Skin], [Earthen Grasp], [Tremor Stomp]
Weakness: Unknown
Damian's eyes widened as he read their stats. Each one was at least double his level. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered under his breath. "I'm only level 16! How the hell am I supposed to beat them? I even almost died when I fought Fenrith yesterday!"
Cassius smirked slightly, his expression almost amused. "Figures," he said, his tone as cool as ever. It was as if Damian's struggle was entirely expected.