Warlock Ch 25. Legendary Amulet
"Here," she said, her voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of something more serious. "I want you to open this."
Damian raised an eyebrow, staring at the box with suspicion. It didn't have a latch or any visible way to open it. He hesitated, eyeing it warily. "How am I supposed to open it? There's no opener."
Evelyn's lips curled into a faint smile, the kind that told him she knew something he didn't. "You're the only one who can open it."
Damian frowned, more confused than ever. "What do you mean? You can't open it?"
She shook her head. "No. Only you can."
He let out a small huff of frustration. Of course, it had to be another mystery. That seemed to be the theme of his life now—one puzzle after another, and barely any answers. He stared at the box again, trying to figure out what she meant. "Okay… and how exactly am I supposed to do that?"
Evelyn just shrugged, clearly enjoying watching him try to figure it out. "You'll know when you're ready."
Damian sighed, running a hand through his hair again as he studied the box. There was something about it, something faintly glowing on the surface of the wood. He wrecked his brain, trying to think of anything that might help him unlock it, but nothing came to mind. After a few moments of staring and hesitating, he reached out and touched the surface of the box.
The wood beneath his fingertips shimmered, almost like it had come to life. Damian jerked his hand back, startled, but the box continued to glow softly. Then, as if reacting to his presence, it slowly opened on its own.
Inside, nestled on a small velvet cushion, was an ancient-looking necklace. The chain was made of brass, dull and worn with age, and the pendant was simple—no jewels, no intricate designs—just a plain, circular piece of metal. Damian stared at it, feeling an odd connection to the object, even though he couldn't explain why.
Evelyn stepped closer, her expression serious. "Wear it," she said quietly. "It will hide your identity from those you shouldn't meet. At least not before you're ready."
Damian frowned, lifting the necklace from the box and holding it up to the light. "What does that even mean? Hide my identity from who?"
Evelyn's lips twitched into a small, mysterious smile. "You'll find out in time."
He let out a frustrated breath, shaking his head. "Of course. Another mystery. Great."
Evelyn didn't respond, just watched him with that same calm expression as if she knew he was going to wear it whether he wanted to or not. Damian sighed, then slipped the necklace over his head. As soon as it settled against his chest, a strange warmth spread through him, not unpleasant, but definitely noticeable.
[You have equipped the Amulet of Silent Might!]
The moment the necklace touched his skin, Damian felt a shift. It was subtle, but real. The air around him seemed to grow quieter, more still, like the world had somehow taken a step back from him. It wasn't invisibility—he could still see himself in the reflection of the mirror—but it was as if something about him had changed. Like he was... less noticeable. Less there.
[Amulet of Silent Might]
Type: Accessory (Necklace)
Rarity: Legendary
Requirements: None
Durability: Infinite
Effect:
[Veil of Power: Conceals the wearer's true strength, masking all stats and abilities from detection. (Cannot be pierced by standard detection spells or skills.) ]
[Silent Aura: Suppresses any magical or aura-based emissions, rendering the wearer undetectable to perception skills below Legendary rank.]
Damian stared down at the amulet hanging around his neck.
'Legendary?!'
He had barely touched the magical world and already he was equipped with something so rare it was beyond his comprehension. He ran a finger over the smooth brass, the ancient metal feeling oddly warm against his skin. It looked so simple, and yet it was supposed to keep him hidden from those who might want to target him.
"Legendary?" he muttered, half to himself. "How rare is this thing, exactly?"
Evelyn, walking beside him, glanced over, her expression calm but knowing. "Only one in this world."
"So… they'll target me less now, right?" Damian asked, hope threading through his voice as he tried to process everything.
Evelyn nodded, though her expression held a flicker of uncertainty. "Hopefully. But in this world, nothing is guaranteed."
Damian frowned, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration. "Great, so I'm just... what, less of a target but still a target?"
A small smile tugged at the corners of Evelyn's lips. Her tone remained light, but there was an edge of seriousness beneath it. "You're still new to all this, Damian. But yes, that's the idea. You're not completely off the hook yet."
"Fantastic," Damian muttered under his breath, sighing as he glanced around. The weight of his situation seemed to press down on him harder with each passing minute. "Why me, though? Why am I the one being targeted? What makes me so special?"
Evelyn's smile faded, replaced by a thoughtful look. "You will figure it out soon." She motioned for him to follow her. "We need to meet Cassius now."
They stepped outside into the bustling street, and despite the tension building inside him, Damian couldn't help but notice how normal everything still seemed. People walked past them, chatting, hurrying along like it was any other day. No one gave him a second glance, and it felt surreal. He had just crossed over from a world of magic, and yet, here he was—just another face in the crowd.
"They can still see me, though," Damian said, frowning. "I thought I'd be... I don't know, invisible or something."
Evelyn chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Magic doesn't always work like that. You're hidden from the ones who matter. The rest? They have no clue who or what you are."
"Comforting," Damian muttered sarcastically, though he felt a small sense of relief that at least he wasn't being actively hunted—yet. Still, his mind raced with questions.