Warlock Ch 182. Different End
He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I an… this mission isn't going to be simple. It's tied to my past, to Kaelan's past. It might not be safe for you."
She stepped back slightly, crossing her arms as she regarded him with an expression that scread frustration. "Last ti, when you were still Kaelan, you just left . You only contacted through magic ssengers or sent your servants with half-hearted updates. I get it, Damian—you were a wanted man, and you thought severing ties with and Cassius would protect us. But I don't want to end up like that again. Ever."
Damian winced at the accusation, her words cutting deeper than he expected. He opened his mouth to respond, but nothing ca out. What could he say? Even if his mories were fragnted, he could see himself making that exact choice. He was the kind of person who preferred to shoulder everything alone, to take the fall if it ant keeping others out of harm's way. And in his warped logic, leaving Evelyn behind would've seed like the right thing to do.
His silence didn't go unnoticed. Evelyn's expression softened, but her determination didn't waver. "I know you're probably thinking I don't understand what you're facing, but I do. And I don't care how dangerous it is—I'm coming with you. I've already been left behind once, and I won't let it happen again."
Damian sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he weighed her words. She wasn't wrong. If he pushed her away now, it would only repeat the mistakes of his past. "Fine," he said finally, his tone resigned but tinged with sothing almost like relief. "You can co."
Evelyn's shoulders relaxed, her lips curving into a small, triumphant smile. "Good. I'll start packing tonight."
Damian nodded, but before she could leave the room, he grinned faintly. "Oh, right, one more thing—I've got so good news for you."
She raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "What is it?"
He held out his hand, palm up, and with a faint glow, the sigil of a Rank A Warlock appeared on the back of his hand. "I'm officially a Rank A warlock now," he announced, his grin widening.
Evelyn's eyes lit up with genuine happiness as she clasped his hand, her fingers tracing the glowing sigil. "Congratulations, Damian! That's incredible! And… explains why you look like you just got back from a war."
Damian chuckled, though there was a tinge of exhaustion in his voice. "You don't look surprised. Did Cassius tell you?"
She nodded, stepping back and folding her arms. "He told everything. The thod he used, the unorthodox exam—it was all planned. We knew you were advancing too quickly for a typical warlock, and that would've raised red flags with the higher-ups. This was the only way to push you forward without drawing attention."
Damian let out a low whistle, impressed by their foresight. "So you both set this up to keep under the radar?"
Evelyn shrugged, her expression turning serious. "We didn't have much of a choice. If the higher-ups found out how fast you were growing, they'd start asking questions. Questions we can't afford to answer right now."
"Smart," Damian admitted, his tone lighter. "Annoying, but smart."
Evelyn smirked. "That's Cassius for you. He's always been annoyingly clever."
Damian chuckled, his mood lifting slightly. "True. But I can't argue with the results."
She placed a hand on his arm again, her gaze softening. "Just rember, Damian—you don't have to face this alone anymore. Whatever happens on this mission, we'll face it together."
Her words settled sothing in him. He nodded, his grin softening into sothing more genuine. "Thanks, Evelyn. That ans a lot."
She smiled. "Good. Now go clean up before dinner. You're not sitting at my table looking like that."
Damian raised an eyebrow, glancing down at himself. His clothes were tattered, and his skin was streaked with soot and dirt. He looked like he'd barely survived a magical battlefield—which wasn't far from the truth. "Aye, ma'am!" he said, giving her a mock salute before heading toward the bathroom.
The warm water felt like a blessing as it cascaded over him. Damian leaned against the cool tiles, letting the water soothe his aching muscles. His mind, however, was still racing. He thought about the mission ahead, about Victoria, Varak, and his past. He thought about Evelyn's determination to join him, her support, and how different things felt this ti around.
Drying off and dressing in clean, comfortable clothes, he made his way to the dining room. The rich aroma hit him before he even entered, and his stomach growled again.
The table was set, and in the center was a steaming pot of dumpling soup. Damian's face lit up. "Oh yeah!" he exclaid, practically bouncing to his seat. "I missed this so much."
Evelyn chuckled as she placed a ladle into the pot, serving him a generous portion. "Slow down, will you? Did Cassius not feed you?"
Damian grinned sheepishly, already lifting his spoon to take a sip. "He treated to dinner," he admitted, savoring the first taste of the broth. It was rich and flavorful, warming him from the inside out. He let out a satisfied groan. "But a second dinner? Totally fine. Especially for this."
He scooped up a fat dumpling and popped it into his mouth, his eyes widening as the savory filling burst with flavor. "This is perfect," he said around a mouthful, his voice muffled but full of appreciation.
Evelyn laughed, sitting across from him with her own bowl. "You're impossible."
He shrugged, swallowing his bite and reaching for another dumpling. "What can I say? You're too good at this."
They ate in comfortable silence for a while, the clinking of spoons and the occasional satisfied sigh filling the room.
"So," Evelyn said eventually, her tone light but curious. "How does it feel? Being a Rank A warlock now."
Damian leaned back in his chair, patting his stomach with a satisfied sigh. "Feels good," he admitted. "Like I've earned sothing. It's not just a title—it's a target. I know it's not my first but still, I feel like I managed to speed runs my entire academic period."
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