Warlock Ch 341. Don't Lie To
Evelyn's lips parted. She hadn't expected that.
"I—"
Damian pulled back just enough to look at her, his eyes sharp with sothing serious. "Don't lie to ."
Evelyn swallowed. A small, guilty chuckle slipped from her lips. "…Maybe I had a little food?"
Damian's frown deepened. "Eve."
She sighed, lting against him just a bit. "I had to finish it. I couldn't risk ssing it up."
Damian exhaled sharply, brushing a hand through her hair. He was still frowning. "And now you're running on nothing."
Evelyn smirked, though it was weaker than usual. "I'll be fine."
Damian didn't look convinced.
"…Do you need anything?" His voice was softer now, lower. His fingers gently brushed against the side of her face. "Food? A potion? carrying you back to your room?"
Evelyn chuckled at that last one. "You'd love that, wouldn't you?"
Damian arched an eyebrow. "You'd love it too, don't even try to lie."
Evelyn didn't deny it. Instead, she sighed dramatically. "Fine. Maybe a little food wouldn't hurt."
Damian smirked. "Thought so."
Still, he didn't let go of her.
Not imdiately.
His fingers lingered against her waist, his other hand still cupped at her jaw.
Cassius cleared his throat loudly. "Oh, don't mind ," he drawled. "Please, take your ti."
Evelyn rolled her eyes and stepped back, though she didn't completely leave Damian's grasp.
Damian shot Cassius a glare. "You're insufferable."
Cassius grinned. "And you two are disgustingly adorable."
Evelyn smirked, looking back at Damian. "Guess we better go check the doubles before you actually carry away."
Damian sighed but nodded.
He'd let her work—but the mont this was over, she was resting, whether she liked it or not.
Damian followed Evelyn and Cassius inside, the heavy doors of the estate shutting behind them with a quiet thud.
And then— His gaze landed on them.
Three doubles stood in the center of the dimly lit chamber, still and lifeless like mannequins waiting to be claid.
One was him.
The second was Cassius.
And the last—Evelyn.
Victoria sat nearby, swirling a cup of thick, dark blood tea, her sharp crimson eyes half-lidded in exhaustion. Even with her usual grace, there was no hiding the slight slump of her shoulders, the way she blinked a little slower than usual.
Damian stepped forward, examining the doubles.
He had to admit— They were perfect.
His own double looked exactly like him, from the ssy strands of black hair to the faint smirk that naturally rested on his lips. The sa muscle tone, the sa posture, the sa warlock attire that had been tailored for him.
Even his magic signature… It felt eerily close to the real thing.
Evelyn crossed her arms, watching his reaction. "Well?"
Damian turned to her, nodding slowly. "This is amazing."
Victoria sipped her tea, exhaling. "Of course it is. It was very difficult to make."
Damian smirked. "You sound exhausted, your majesty."
Victoria shot him a glare but didn't argue.
Cassius humd, stepping up to inspect his own double. "Even I have to admit… this is so fine work."
Evelyn smirked. "As if I'd make sloppy doubles."
But before any of them could get too confident— Victoria set down her tea, stretching her fingers over the rim of the cup. "But still," she murmured, "it doesn't an they're perfect."
Damian arched a brow.
Victoria's red eyes glowed faintly. "These doubles… were made with limited ti. They won't be flawless."
Damian huffed. "We know that."
Cassius shrugged. "So what's the catch?"
Victoria tapped a nail against the ceramic cup. "They will hold up under casual observation. The physical resemblance is spot-on. Their mana signatures are close enough to pass." A pause. "But if soone really pays attention—soone powerful enough—"
Damian exhaled through his nose. "Then they'll notice."
Victoria nodded.
Damian ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head. "I know… but still." His eyes flickered toward Evelyn. "This is incredible work."
Evelyn grinned. "Glad you finally appreciate my genius."
Cassius laughed. "We always appreciate your genius."
Victoria smirked. "Only when it's convenient for them."
Damian ignored their teasing, glancing at the doubles once more. "Alright," he muttered, "how do we claim them?"
Victoria's expression shifted into sothing more serious. "Simple," she said, standing up. "Put your hand on the core and channel your mana into it."
Damian eyed his double. His core?
Stepping closer, he extended a hand— And pressed it against the center of the double's chest.
It was cold.
Smooth, like porcelain, but beneath the surface, he could feel sothing. A pulse. A hum of latent magic, waiting to be awakened.
Damian inhaled— And let his mana flow.
[ You have connected to the Puppet Vessel. ]
[ Syncing magical signature… ]
[ Link established. You are now in control of your double. ]
The mont the notification rang in his head, the puppet moved.
Damian barely had ti to process it before the double's fingers twitched, its chest rising in a mockery of breathing.
Then, like a marionette gaining sentience— It lifted its head.
And looked directly at him. The sight was… unsettling.
Evelyn let out a breath. "Good. The connection is stable."
Cassius tilted his head, amused. "And how does it feel?"
Damian exhaled, shaking his shoulders slightly. "Weird."
It wasn't bad.
But it wasn't normal either.
The double felt like an extension of himself, but with just a fraction of what made him real. It responded to his will, but it wasn't alive.
Just a shell.
A convincing, well-crafted shell.
Cassius stepped forward and did the sa to his double.
[ You have connected to the Puppet Vessel. ]
His puppet jerked, moving just as smoothly as Damian's.
Cassius grinned. "Oh, this is fun."
Victoria rolled her eyes. "Try not to enjoy it too much."
Damian let his double take a few steps forward. It was precise, eerily fluid. If he didn't know it was a puppet, he might've mistaken it for himself.
Evelyn exhaled. "Alright. They'll hold."
Cassius turned to her, smirking. "Then I believe it's finally ti."
Damian's eyes glead.
No more waiting.
No more hiding.
It was ti to hunt.
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