Supreme Warlock System : From Zero to Ultimate With My Wives-Chapter 252: Dilemma

Warlock Ch 252. Dilemma

For the next couple of months, life settled into an unusual rhythm for Damian. He spent most of his time practicing, honing his skills, and working to form new bonds with servants. The process wasn't easy—it never was—but it gave him something to focus on. A little more understanding of the power he wielded and the memories that sometimes surfaced when he least expected them. It wasn't just about fighting; it was about control, about ensuring that when the time came, he wouldn't falter.

Victoria, on the other hand, was a study in contrasts. Having been born and raised as a royal, the transition to a quieter, less opulent life wasn't without its challenges. She carried herself with the same poise and grace as always, but there were moments—small, fleeting moments—when her frustration bubbled to the surface.

A broken teacup here, a burnt meal there. It was almost comical to watch her attempt to adapt to a life so far removed from the grandeur she was used to. And yet, she managed. Her puppet—a carefully crafted double—performed its duties flawlessly, ruling in her stead and keeping the vampire race none the wiser about her true whereabouts.

Cassius, as ever, was Cassius. Stoic, cold, and unbothered by the chaos. He spent his days much as he always had—training, strategizing, and offering the occasional sarcastic quip when Damian or Evelyn managed to get under his skin. News of their success in aiding Victoria had spread, but Cassius's reputation, along with Evelyn's, shielded Damian from any undue attention. Damian, thankfully, was overlooked—just the way he liked it.

The peace was a welcome reprieve. Damian found himself savoring the quiet moments, the hours spent practicing in solitude or sharing meals with Evelyn and Victoria. Even the occasional visits from magi seeking Cassius's wisdom didn't bother him. None of them paid him any mind, and that suited him perfectly.

But as much as Damian enjoyed the relative peace, there was one thing that gnawed at him. He was stuck. No matter how much he trained, no matter how many skills he refined, he couldn't move forward. Without officially attaining his rank A, his progress was frozen. His power couldn't grow, his potential capped.

The solution was simple, in theory: he needed to hand over the crystal that signified Cassius had tested him and receive his official rank. It wasn't a complicated process, but it was one fraught with consequences. To take that step meant drawing attention to himself. It meant standing before the councils, the senators, and everyone else who had a stake in the magical world's power dynamics. It meant putting a target on his back.

And that was the last thing Damian wanted.

He often found himself staring at the crystal, turning it over in his hands as he weighed his options. The thought of stepping into the spotlight, of exposing himself to scrutiny, made his stomach churn. He'd fought so hard to stay hidden, to keep his identity and his past buried. To step into the light now felt like undoing all of that. And yet, without that rank, he couldn't advance. He couldn't become the warlock he needed to be.

It was a maddening conundrum. Every time Damian thought he'd made up his mind, doubt crept in, whispering warnings of what might happen if he exposed himself. And so, for now, he did nothing, holding onto the fragile peace they'd carved out and hoping it would last a little longer.

The crystal in his hand gleamed faintly. He sat in the corner of Cassius's living room, his back against the wall and his knees drawn up. The room was quiet except for the faint rustling of Cassius's shadow servants, who moved soundlessly through the space, attending to their tasks.

Cassius, sitting at a nearby table with a steaming cup of tea, watched Damian with a mixture of annoyance and amusement. "How long are you going to act like that?" he asked, his voice calm but carrying a faint edge of exasperation. "You've been staring at that crystal since the day I handed it to you."

Damian didn't look up. He turned the crystal over in his hands, watching how the light refracted through it. "I'm in a dilemma," he admitted quietly. "I want to take the rank officially, but... I can't."

Cassius leaned back in his chair, sipping his tea leisurely. "You know you can't keep stalling forever. Rank A is just the beginning. If you want to move to rank S, you'll need to take the exam."

"I know that," Damian said, his grip tightening on the crystal. "But it's not that simple. You know what'll happen if I take the rank. If they start watching me, if they figure out who I am—"

"They won't," Cassius interrupted, setting his cup down with a soft clink. "The amulet is still masking your aura. To them, you're just another warlock. A powerful one, sure, but nothing out of the ordinary."

Damian huffed, finally looking up. "You make it sound so easy."

"It is easy," Cassius said, meeting his gaze. "You're making it complicated. Also, don't forget about the last mission."

Damian let out a frustrated sigh, leaning his head back against the wall. "That's why I'm thinking so much about this. I need the rank. But the moment I get it, everything changes. No more hiding."

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Cassius folded his arms, his expression unreadable. "And what exactly are you waiting for? Permission? Assurance that nothing bad will happen? Because you're not going to get that. Not from me, not from anyone."

Damian fell silent, his thoughts spinning. He knew Cassius was right, but the fear of stepping into the spotlight paralyzed him.

"The rank S exam is about to start," Cassius added, his tone sharper now. "Registration closes in a week. If you don't act now, you'll have to wait an entire year. Can you afford that?"

Damian's jaw tightened. "That's why I'm thinking like this," he said through gritted teeth. "I don't know what else to do."

Cassius regarded him for a long moment before speaking again. "You're overthinking it. Take the rank. Register for the exam. The longer you wait, the more you're going to convince yourself that you can't do it."