Warlock Ch 264. Bedti Story
'Really? After all that conversation, you went to sleep?' The Demon King's voice was loud and incredulous, ringing in Damian's head just as he was slipping into unconsciousness.
Damian sighed internally, half-annoyed, half-amused. 'Yeah, I did. What else was I supposed to do? Write you a bedti story?' His voice was thick with fatigue.
'You do realize that when you sleep, you co here, right?' The Demon King pressed, his tone verging on exasperation.
'I know,' Damian muttered aloud, keeping his voice low to avoid waking Victoria or Evelyn. 'But here's the deal—if you don't want to talk, I won't talk. Just… sleep, okay?'
The Demon King was silent for a mont, as if considering the offer. Then, with a low grumble, he muttered, 'Fine. But only because I'm tired of your sarcasm.'
For the first ti in what felt like an eternity, nothing happened. No fiery landscapes. No ominous confrontations in the void. Just... peace.
The next morning, Damian stirred. He rolled over slightly, expecting to hear Evelyn's teasing voice or feel Victoria's possessive nudge, but instead, sothing heavy was pressing down on his chest.
"What the…" he muttered groggily, his eyes fluttering open. His vision was greeted by a small, shadowy figure perched squarely on his torso.
"Finally awake," the shadow servant said in a flat, unimpressed tone. It was one of Cassius's, the familiar flicker of its smoky form unmistakable. "You need to get ready. Master Cassius is waiting."
Damian blinked, his brain still catching up. "What? Already? It's barely morning."
The servant crossed its tiny arms. "Master Cassius said you're to et him at the usual place. He's taking you to the Sanctum of Trials. The officials want to et you in person."
Damian groaned, throwing an arm over his eyes. "Didn't he just submit the crystal last night? Why are they so fast?"
"I don't know anything about that," the servant replied curtly. "I only know you need to get moving."
Damian sighed heavily, carefully sliding the shadow servant off his chest and sitting up. "Of course you don't know," he muttered. "You're just the ssenger."
Victoria stirred beside him, her eyes opening slightly. "What's all the noise about?" she murmured, her voice heavy with sleep.
"Cassius sent his little errand boy to wake up," Damian said, gesturing to the shadow servant, which gave an indignant huff. "Apparently, I'm eting the officials today."
Victoria yawned and stretched lazily, her crimson hair spilling over the pillow. "Already? That's fast."
Evelyn propped herself up on one elbow, her dark eyes narrowing. "Are you ready for this? eting the officials isn't exactly a casual outing."
Damian shrugged, running a hand through his hair. "Do I have a choice?"
The shadow servant tapped its foot impatiently. "You don't."
Damian smirked at the tiny creature. "You're awfully bossy for soone so small."
The servant glared back. "And you're awfully slow for soone with a eting to attend."
Evelyn chuckled, her laughter soft but teasing. "He's got you there."
Victoria sat up fully, her regal composure returning despite the early hour. "You should get ready. The Sanctum of Trials isn't a place to keep people waiting."
Damian sighed, standing and stretching before heading to the wardrobe. "Guess I better make myself presentable."
The shadow servant watched him closely. "Master Cassius said to remind you not to be late."
"Yeah, yeah," Damian waved dismissively, pulling out an outfit suitable for the occasion. "Tell him I'll be there."
The servant didn't move, its glowing eyes fixed on him. "I'm to accompany you until you leave."
Damian shot it a look. "Seriously?"
The servant didn't respond, but the silence was answered enough.
Evelyn swung her legs over the side of the bed, watching the exchange with a bemused expression. "Good luck with that."
Victoria stood, her gaze lingering on Damian as he dressed. "Don't forget—keep your story consistent. The officials won't hesitate to dig deeper if they sense anything off."
"I know," Damian replied, adjusting his coat and glancing at his reflection. "Don't worry. I've got this."
The shadow servant cleared its throat—or at least made a sound resembling it. "Ti's up. We need to leave."
Damian rolled his eyes, grabbing his amulet and slipping it around his neck. "Alright, alright. Let's go."
As he made his way toward the door, Victoria stepped forward, placing a hand on his arm. "Be careful."
He offered her a small, reassuring smile. "Always."
Evelyn joined them, her expression softer than usual. "And rember, we've got your back. If anything happens…"
Damian cut her off with a smirk. "I'll be fine. Besides, it's not like I'm walking in there unprepared."
With that, he stepped out of the house, the shadow servant trailing closely behind. The cool morning air hit him, refreshing and invigorating. He took a deep breath, his mind already focused on the task ahead.
As they walked, the shadow servant broke the silence. "You seem unusually confident."
Damian glanced at it, a grin tugging at his lips. "Confidence is half the battle. The other half? Well… you'll see."
The shadow servant didn't reply, but the skeptical tilt of its head said everything. They moved through Haven City's bustling streets, the morning air filled with a mix of bakery aromas and the faint tang of smoke from the early risers starting their forges. The city pulsed with life, but Damian's focus remained ahead, his mind flickering between the eting and the gnawing emptiness in his stomach.
By the ti they reached Cassius's place, Damian's stomach growled audibly, and he groaned. "I haven't had breakfast yet, or even bathed for that matter. You dragged straight out of bed for this."
Cassius, leaning casually against the doorway, raised an eyebrow. "And yet you're still late."
Damian huffed, stepping past him into the familiar space. "Bla your miniature drill sergeant here. Didn't even let grab a sandwich."
Cassius chuckled. "You know the officials don't wait. They called, and you're going. But don't worry, I made arrangents." He gestured toward a small table where a plate of fresh bread, fruit, and a steaming cup of tea awaited.
Damian's eyes lit up. "You're a saint."
"I wouldn't go that far," Cassius replied dryly, taking a seat as Damian dove into the al with gusto. "But don't take too long. They're expecting us."
Between bites, Damian glanced at him. "You know, for soone who's usually stoic and borderline scary, you're surprisingly thoughtful."
Cassius smirked. "Don't get used to it. This is a one-ti deal."
Damian grinned, polishing off the bread and reaching for the tea. "Noted. Still, you could've let shower."
Cassius shrugged. "We're dealing with magus officials, not a royal banquet. They won't care about your hair."
"That's easy for you to say," Damian muttered, finishing the tea and standing. "You're not the one they're scrutinizing."
"Not directly," Cassius admitted. "But I'll be there. And as long as you stick to the story, everything will be fine."
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