Warlock Ch 148. Power Isn't Just a Tool
After a few more minutes, he turned off the shower and stepped out, wrapping a towel around his waist. The mirror was completely fogged up, but he didn't bother wiping it clean. He didn't need to see his reflection to know what he'd find: a guy caught between who he was and who he wanted to be.
As he dressed in clean clothes, a familiar voice echoed in his mind—his own, from a ti long past.
"Power isn't just a tool, Kaelan. It's a responsibility. And if you can't handle it, it'll destroy you."
The irony wasn't lost on him. He didn't even know if he believed that anymore. Power had destroyed him once, and yet here he was, chasing it again like a moth to a fla.
By the ti he returned to the living room, Evelyn was bustling around the kitchen, the sll of sothing savory filling the air. She glanced up as he entered, her eyes flicking over him briefly before returning to her work.
"Feel better?" she asked, her tone light.
"Better than I did," Damian admitted, plopping down onto the couch. He watched her for a mont, his thoughts still tangled but quieter now. "Thanks, Evelyn."
She looked over her shoulder, raising an eyebrow. "For what?"
"For keeping grounded," Damian said simply, a small smile tugging at his lips. He leaned back into the couch, watching Evelyn as she moved between the stove and the counter, her movents fluid and practiced.
Evelyn gave him a sidelong glance, her lips twitching into a faint smile. "Soone has to," she said lightly, stirring sothing in a pan. "You'd probably implode without supervision."
"Rude," Damian shot back, though his grin widened. "I'd like to think I'm at least semi-functional on my own."
"Sure," Evelyn said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "That's why you keep coming back here looking like you've been dragged through hell and back."
"Hey, that's on Cassius," Damian said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "The guy's idea of training is basically sanctioned torture."
Evelyn chuckled, shaking her head as she plated the food. "Well, you're in luck. Tonight's nu isn't torture. I made sothing you used to like."
At the ntion of food, Damian perked up, his stomach growling on cue. "Sothing I used to like, huh? Now I'm curious."
Evelyn brought the plates to the table, setting them down with a flourish. "Ta-da. Dragonfire Chicken with Magma Root Chunks and Mystic Herb Reduction you always raved about."
Damian's eyes lit up as he sat down at the table, the aroma alone enough to make his mouth water. "You're kidding," he said, staring at the plate. "You rembered this?"
"Of course I did," Evelyn said, sitting across from him. "Even if you've forgotten so things, I haven't."
For a mont, Damian just stared at her, a mix of gratitude and sothing softer flickering in his eyes. "Thanks, Evelyn. Really."
"Don't get mushy on ," she teased, though her smile was warm. "Just eat."
He didn't need to be told twice. Damian dug in with enthusiasm, the familiar flavors sparking a rare sense of comfort.
As they ate, Evelyn glanced at him, her expression turning curious. "So… how are your shadow? Have they returned yet?"
Damian shook his head, swallowing a bite of chicken. "Not yet. I figured they'd report back in the morning."
Evelyn nodded thoughtfully, resting her chin on her hand. "And how's your condition? Your body? Are you still hurt? Is it still aching?"
"I'm fine," he started, then paused. His brow furrowed slightly as he thought back to the morning's training with Cassius. His fork hovered over his plate as he replayed the day in his mind. When he'd t Cassius for the first session, the ache in his muscles had been noticeable—sharp, even. But over ti, as the day wore on, the ache had dulled… and then disappeared entirely.
"I an, I'm tired," Damian continued, his voice slower now, more thoughtful. "Exhausted, even. But the ache… it's not there anymore."
Evelyn's fork clinked against her plate as she set it down, her brows knitting together. "What do you an it's not there? How is that possible?"
Damian leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming against the table. "I don't know. Let check sothing first."
He set his utensils aside and closed his eyes, his breath evening out as he reached inward. He focused on his Mana, letting it shimr and flow within him like a current. His concentration deepened, and for a mont, the world around him faded away.
[New skill unlocked!]
[Observation Lv 1: Allows the user to analyze their physical and magical state, as well as basic details about targets within range.]
Damian's eyes snapped open as the system notification appeared in his mind, the words glowing faintly in his vision. "Observation?" he murmured, his voice tinged with curiosity.
"What is it?" Evelyn asked, leaning forward slightly.
"I just unlocked a new skill," Damian said, his tone distracted as he activated it. A faint pulse of Mana spread through his body, and information began flooding his mind.
[Physical State: Recovered. Fatigue present. No injuries detected.]
[Mana Levels: 87% capacity. Regeneration stable.]
[Recent anomalies: Residual traces of divine energy detected. Source unidentified.]
Damian frowned, his thoughts racing. "Divine energy?" he muttered under his breath.
Evelyn's eyes widened. "Divine energy? Are you serious?"
"That's what it says," Damian replied, his tone laced with confusion. "But that doesn't make any sense. The only divine energy I've co across was from that damn caviar Cassius gave , and that shouldn't still be affecting . There's no way it's affecting ."
Evelyn tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. "Could it be sothing else? Maybe sothing tied to your past?"
"Maybe," Damian said, his voice distant as he stared at his hands. "Or maybe it's tied to… Aria?"
Evelyn frowned, her fork paused mid-air. "Aria? But she's a sorcerer, not a healer or saint. Divine energy isn't exactly her specialty."
"That makes it even more confusing," Damian admitted, his brow furrowing. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the faint shimr of his hands under the dim light. The unanswered questions churned in his mind, refusing to settle.
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