Supreme Warlock System : From Zero to Ultimate With My Wives-Chapter 164: Accusations

Warlock Ch 164. Accusations

Aria studied him for a long moment, her gaze piercing. Damian fought the urge to shift under her scrutiny, keeping his stance as neutral as possible.

"He doesn't seem particularly convincing," Aria said finally, her tone cold.

Cassius chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. "He's not supposed to. He's an apprentice, not a politician. You're wasting your time dissecting his every word."

Aria didn't respond immediately, her gaze lingering on Damian for a moment longer before she finally turned back to Cassius. "If I find out you're hiding something," she said quietly, her tone dangerous, "I won't hesitate to act."

Cassius smiled faintly, the kind of smile that was as much a shield as it was a weapon. He swirled the tea in his cup, the casual motion contrasting sharply with the tension in the room. "You surely have some nerve, Aria," he said, his tone calm but with a sharp edge. "To keep treating me this way. I've chosen the path of peace. I didn't even lift a finger when you and the senators hunted down Kaelan. I stayed neutral, didn't take his side, and yet… here you are, accusing me of hiding him."

Aria's jaw tightened, her eyes narrowing as Cassius continued, his voice steady and deliberate. "This isn't the first time, either. Back then, you and the senators accused me and Evelyn of harboring him. You imprisoned us in our own home, Aria. And yet, despite all your self-righteous certainty, none of your accusations were ever proven."

Damian, standing silently by the wall, watched the exchange with a mix of fascination and apprehension. Cassius was good. Too good. 'Nice act, Cas,' Damian thought, biting the inside of his cheek to keep from smirking.

Cassius leaned back in his chair, setting the cup down with a soft clink. "Kaelan cut ties with us a long time ago. You know that. But even after everything, you still come here, pointing fingers."

Aria pressed her lips into a thin line. "I wouldn't have to, Cassius, if you weren't so secretive. If you weren't so—"

"Secretive?" Cassius interrupted smoothly, arching an eyebrow. "For years, I had no interest in taking on any apprentices. None. Do you know why? Because of you. Because of the senators. Because I didn't want an innocent apprentice dragged into your relentless stupid hunts."

Aria's gaze flickered, but she said nothing, her silence speaking volumes.

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Cassius exhaled, his tone softening just enough to sound almost weary. "And yet, despite my best efforts, the rumors persisted. 'Cassius is hiding something.' 'That's why he won't take an apprentice.' It didn't matter what I did or didn't do—your suspicions never wavered."

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes locking onto hers. "And now, decades later, I've finally decided to take on an apprentice. Someone with promise, someone eager to learn. And what happens? You walk through my door and start accusing him of being connected to Kaelan."

Cassius chuckled softly, though there was no humor in the sound. "It's almost funny, isn't it? No matter what I do, you always find a way to drag me back into your endless obsession."

Aria's fists clenched at her sides, her composure fraying at the edges. "This isn't about obsession, Cassius," she said sharply. "It's about responsibility. About ensuring that Kaelan—"

"Kaelan," Cassius interrupted again, his voice firmer now, "is gone. Dragging my apprentice into your paranoia won't change anything."

Damian couldn't help but marvel at how effortlessly Cassius turned the tables. It was almost artful, the way he painted himself as the victim of unwarranted suspicion while subtly undermining Aria's authority. It was the kind of performance that made Damian both impressed and uneasy.

Aria's gaze shifted to Damian, her eyes narrowing. "And what about him?" she asked, her tone sharp. "You've barely taken him on, and yet you're so quick to defend him."

Cassius' smirk returned, sharper than before. "Because I know potential when I see it. Unlike you, I don't waste time tearing down people who haven't earned it."

Aria's lips parted, a retort forming, but Cassius held up a hand, silencing her. "Enough, Aria. If you have proof—actual proof—of anything, then bring it to me. But until then, stop dragging my name through the mud. And stop dragging my apprentice into your endless search for ghosts."

The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut. Aria's eyes burned with frustration, but she said nothing, her jaw clenched tightly. Damian shifted slightly, keeping his expression neutral but his mind racing.

Finally, Aria exhaled sharply, her frustration palpable as she glanced between Cassius and Damian. The silence stretched just long enough for Damian to think they might finally be done. But then, she turned back to Cassius, her gaze sharp and unyielding.

"Let me test him," Aria said suddenly, her tone firm.

Damian blinked, caught completely off guard. "Huh?"

Cassius' smirk vanished instantly, replaced by a scowl. His teacup hit the table with a soft clink, his jaw tightening as he glared at Aria. "Don't you dare—"

But Aria didn't wait for permission. She flicked her wrist, a wave of energy rippling outward as the room shifted. Damian felt the familiar hum of magic as a barrier skill overlapped the space, cutting off any escape routes. The air grew heavier, crackling with tension.

"Hey, wait—" Damian began, but his words were cut off as Aria lunged toward him, her hand crackling with a thunder skill that radiated dangerous energy.

His instinct screamed at him to use [Shadow Step], his body already preparing for the teleportation skill that would take him safely out of her range. But he stopped himself at the last moment.

'No,' he thought, gritting his teeth. '[Shadow Step] is a high-level skill. No apprentice would have it.'

Forced to think fast, Damian raised his hand and shouted, "[Barrier Lv 1!]" He used level 1 on purpose.

A faint, shimmering shield appeared in front of him just in time to intercept Aria's attack. The barrier held for less than a second before shattering like glass, the force of the thunder skill breaking through without resistance. The impact sent Damian stumbling back, but instead of landing a blow, Aria pushed him against the wall, pinning him there with her other hand.