Supreme Warlock System : From Zero to Ultimate With My Wives-Chapter 247: Trust is Earned

Warlock Ch 247. Trust is Earned

"Well," Cassius said, gesturing lazily toward Damian, "I needed a project, and Damian here keeps things interesting."

Damian managed to play along, forcing a sheepish smile. "I'm just trying to learn from the best," he said, his voice light but deferential. "Cassius has been a great mentor."

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Aria's eyes narrowed slightly, as if she were dissecting his words. "Witch," she said slowly, her gaze flicking to Evelyn. "What brings you into this arrangement?"

Evelyn leaned forward slightly, her tone measured but polite. "I've worked with Cassius before. He's reliable, and his methods get results. Damian's… a bonus."

"Gee, thanks," Damian muttered under his breath, earning a soft chuckle from Evelyn.

Aria's attention shifted back to Cassius. "And you trust him?" she asked, nodding toward Damian. "You brought an apprentice to a real mission."

Cassius shrugged, his expression unreadable. "Trust is earned. So far, he's earned it. Besides, there is no better way to teach someone than to take him to the real battlefield. He is a warlock, not a mage. We have different teaching methods."

"Interesting," Aria murmured, her gaze returning to Damian. "You must be quite impressive, then."

Damian resisted the urge to squirm under her scrutiny, instead offering a modest smile. "I just try to keep up."

Aria's presence was like a spotlight, and Damian could feel her watching him, analyzing every word, every movement.

"So," Aria said, breaking the silence, "what brings you to Victoria's side? She doesn't usually seek outside help unless it's absolutely necessary."

Cassius answered before Damian could. "The situation with Varak and Seraphis called for… unconventional methods. Victoria recognized that."

"And you just happened to be available?" Aria asked, her tone skeptical.

Cassius smirked. "Let's just say we were in the right place at the right time."

"Convenient," Aria replied, her gaze flicking to Damian again. "And you? How did you end up as Cassius's apprentice?"

Damian scratched the back of his neck, playing up the awkwardness. "Luck, I guess. I'm still learning, but I'm grateful for the opportunity."

Aria tilted her head, her sharp eyes studying him intently. "Interesting. Not many warlocks would take to apprenticeship so willingly. It's not exactly… common."

"Damian's not exactly common," Cassius interjected, his tone light but firm. "He's got a knack for getting things done. That's why he's here."

"I guess." Aria gestured toward the badge pinned to Damian's coat. "That's quite the honor," she said, her tone carefully neutral. "Victoria doesn't hand those out lightly."

Damian glanced down at the badge, forcing a casual shrug. "It's more hers than mine. I'm just holding onto it for now."

"Don't let him fool you," Cassius said, smirking. "He earned it. Took down some serious threats to get here."

Aria raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "Did he now?"

Evelyn stepped in smoothly. "We all did. It was a team effort. Victoria recognized that."

"Of course," Aria said, her tone cool but polite. "Well, I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening. This celebration is… rare, even by Victoria's standards."

"We'll do our best," Damian said, offering a polite nod.

Aria lingered for a moment longer before turning and walking away. Once she was out of earshot, Damian let out a low breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly.

"Well," he said, glancing at Cassius and Evelyn, "that was fun."

"Fun?" Cassius said, raising an eyebrow. "You were practically sweating."

"I was not," Damian shot back, though his grin betrayed him.

Evelyn sighed, rubbing her temples. "She's suspicious, you know. She's not buying the whole apprentice thing."

"Yeah," Damian admitted, his tone quieter now. "But she doesn't know. Not yet."

Cassius smirked. "Well, let's hope she stays in the dark. Because if she finds out…"

"I know," Damian said, his voice firm. "I'll handle it."

Cassius leaned back against the armrest, arms crossed, his sharp eyes watching Damian closely. Evelyn stood nearby, her fingers lightly drumming against her glass. Aria's presence—and the way Damian had handled her—had changed the mood.

Damian's gaze flicked toward where Aria had disappeared into the crowd. His smile faded, replaced by something colder, harder. His fingers tightened slightly around his glass as he muttered under his breath, "Some things from the past need to be cleared up."

Cassius and Evelyn exchanged a look. That tone, that coldness—it wasn't Damian. It was Kaelan. They could feel it in the way his words carried an edge that wasn't usually there, a sharpness that hinted at old wounds and buried anger.

Cassius raised an eyebrow, his voice low. "You good?"

Damian didn't answer immediately. Instead, he set his glass down on a nearby table and straightened, his expression unreadable. "I'm fine," he said finally, though his voice lacked its usual lightness.

Evelyn frowned, stepping closer. "Damian… Are you sure? That look just now…"

He turned to her, his eyes softer now but still tinged with something darker. "I'm fine," he repeated. Then, as if trying to change the subject, he added, "Come on, let's get through the rest of this party without making a scene. Hopefully."

The rest of the evening was relatively uneventful, but it dragged. The ballroom remained lively, with guests milling about and engaging in polite conversation.

Noble vampires approached them sporadically, offering polite greetings and meaningless small talk. Most were clearly just fulfilling social obligations, their words devoid of genuine interest.

"Ah, Cassius," one noble said, bowing slightly. "An honor to meet someone of your rank. And Evelyn, of course—you're as radiant as ever."

Evelyn nodded politely, her smile faint. "Thank you."

The noble's gaze shifted to Damian, and his smile faltered slightly. "And you are…?"

"Damian," he said smoothly, extending a hand. "Cassius's student."

The noble hesitated for a fraction of a second before shaking his hand, his expression carefully neutral. "A pleasure," he said, though his tone suggested otherwise.

The amulet made Damian's aura feel like a B-ranked warlock. Compared to the raw magical auras of Cassius and Evelyn, it was laughable.

Damian kept his polite smile firmly in place, ignoring the condescension that practically radiated from the man. "The pleasure's mine."

The vampire noble who had just introduced himself—Lord Veyrin, or something equally pompous—offered a tight-lipped smile in return. It was the kind of smile that screamed, 'I'm only speaking to you because I have to.' Damian didn't mind. In fact, he preferred it. The less attention he drew, the better.