NOVEL NEXT Chapter 66: Sooner or Later
Warlock Ch 66. Sooner or Later
Damian let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, his mind racing as he replayed the brief interaction with Victoria. He remembered how her smirk had faded when they shook hands. Something had changed in her expression—something subtle but noticeable.
"Did she know I was the one she was looking for?" Damian asked in a hushed tone, his voice low enough that it wouldn't carry. He didn't want to risk anyone—or anything—hearing. "I mean, I thought she figured it out when we shook hands."
Cassius glanced at him, his sharp eyes studying Damian for a moment. "No," he said calmly, "she didn't know."
Damian let out a sigh of relief. The tension in his shoulders eased just a little, but only for a second.
"Yet," Cassius continued, his voice dropping with a warning edge, "Sooner or later, she'll find out. Not just her—everyone who craves power, anyone afraid of what you could become. They'll all come for you."
Damian's heart skipped a beat, the relief he'd felt moments before vanishing. "What do you mean, 'sooner or later?'" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why did she pause when we shook hands?"
Cassius's expression darkened slightly as he explained. "Victoria is a blood mage. She can sense things through blood—feel traces of power, emotions, even a person's potential. When she touched you, she detected something... off. That's why she hesitated."
Damian's stomach churned. "So shaking hands with her was a bad idea, then? I shouldn't have—"
"No," Cassius cut him off, his voice firm. "It's fine. I'm the one who gave you permission. As long as it wasn't related to your Mana Core, it doesn't matter. Your blood didn't reveal anything crucial. But... it did make her curious. That's all."
Damian nodded, though he still felt uneasy. "So... I'm safe for now, but she's suspicious?"
Cassius gave a curt nod. "Exactly. She is just curious. It was better than if someone like Malthus found you in Nullis world before you knew what magic is. Be thankful to Evelyn for bringing you here in time. You dodged a bullet."
"Yeah, well, that doesn't make me feel any better," Damian muttered, his lips twisting into a grimace. "I still feel like I've got a 'Magic Creature's Food' label stamped on me."
Cassius didn't offer any comforting words or false reassurance. He just nodded, his face serious. "You're not wrong."
Damian couldn't help but shake his head. He'd been hoping for at least some sort of pep talk, but of course, Cassius wasn't the type for that. 'Typical.'
"And that," Cassius continued, "is why I keep pushing you to train. You need to get stronger because we don't know how quickly things could turn bad."
Damian swallowed hard and nodded, knowing Cassius was right. There was no point in arguing. He just had to push forward.
They walked in silence toward the training room again, Damian trying to clear his mind of the overwhelming thoughts swirling inside him. After a moment, he spoke up, trying to shift the conversation. "Back there, Victoria mentioned factions. You and Evelyn always told me there were three factions: Good, Evil, and Neutral. But it sounds like there's a lot more than that."
Cassius didn't break stride. "Those are just the general divisions. Good, Evil, and Neutral are classifications based on overall purpose, not specific factions. The actual factions are based on race, class, and even individual interests."
Damian frowned, processing what Cassius said. "So... what? Vampires, elves, fae, werewolves—they all have their own factions? And then there are classes like Warlocks, Sorceresses, Mages? It's way more complicated than I thought."
"Of course," Cassius replied bluntly. "The world isn't as simple as 'good versus evil.' Even within the so-called good and evil factions, there are sub-factions—races, classes, organizations, all with their own goals. Sometimes, they spy on each other, infiltrate opposing factions, and even betray their own for power."
Damian let out a long breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "So... it's not just black and white. There are shades of gray."
Cassius smirked, his eyes glinting with something close to amusement. "Exactly. Good, evil—those are just labels. In the end, it's all about power, control, and survival. Some factions pretend to be good just to gain an advantage. Some evil ones do the same. The lines are blurred, and no one's truly clean."
Damian's frown deepened. "Then where do you and Evelyn fall in all of this?"
"Neutral," Cassius said without hesitation. "I have no interest in politics. Just like in the Nullis world—human politics—this world's politics is just as rotten. Everyone has their own agenda, their own way of manipulating others. I stay out of it."
Damian raised an eyebrow, surprised by the straightforward answer. "Even the good factions?"
Cassius scoffed, the sound filled with disdain. "Especially the good ones. They're no different from the evil factions. They just hide behind righteousness to justify their actions. In the end, they're all after the same thing—power."
Damian nodded slowly, feeling the weight of Cassius's words. "So... I've got to deal with all of that while figuring out my own power and trying not to get killed by whatever's coming for me?"
Cassius looked at him, his eyes hard but not unkind. "That's why you need to be prepared. The world won't give you a break, Damian. And neither will I."
Damian swallowed hard. He had to face this head-on, even if it felt like he was drowning in a sea of unknown dangers.
He and Cassius stepped into the training room. Once the heavy door closed behind them, Cassius wasted no time. He cast his barrier spell.
Cassius's voice was calm, almost too calm. "This time, I don't want you to summon Fenrith. I want you to create another type of magic skill. Something purely yours, fueled by your Mana. And the most important thing," Cassius paused, his eyes narrowing, "is to survive."
Damian opened his mouth to protest, but before he could say anything, Cassius flicked his wrist, summoning another creature. This one was a towering beast, almost bear-like but with unnatural, glowing red eyes and massive claws that looked like they could tear through solid steel.
Grimclaw <Level 50>
HP: 2,500/2,500
MP: 300/300
Skills: [Savage Swipe], [Earthquake Stomp], [Roaring Frenzy]
Weakness: Lightning-based attacks