Warlock Ch 26. Cassius Thorn
Why was he suddenly a target? Why did he have to hide? What was so special about him that required this level of protection?
His thoughts twisted into knots. He didn't have any answers, and the uncertainty gnawed at him like a persistent itch he couldn't scratch. Would Cassius tell him if he asked about it? Could he even trust this mysterious warlock? Damian had already learned that trust was a rare commodity in this world, and he wasn't sure if this meeting would bring clarity or just more confusion.
After what felt like forever, they arrived at a large, imposing building. The structure was grand, towering over them with a mix of gothic architecture and modern design.
Damian stared up at it, surprised. "This is the place?" he asked, glancing at Evelyn. "It looks more like a fancy office than a training ground or... whatever I was expecting."
Evelyn smiled knowingly, eyeing the intricate stonework and towering spires. "Cassius likes to keep things formal. Don't be fooled by the exterior—it's more than just an office."
Damian squinted, trying to imagine what lay inside. "Great," he muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Another mystery."
Evelyn's smile widened just a bit, but she didn't say anything. She gestured for him to follow her inside, her expression growing more serious as they approached the large, ornate doors.
Damian hesitated for a brief second. He couldn't shake the feeling that whatever happened inside this building would change things even more.
"Well, here goes nothing," he muttered, more to himself than to Evelyn, and followed her inside.
The interior was even more striking than the outside. The walls were lined with shelves filled with ancient tomes, strange artifacts, and glowing crystals that cast an ethereal light across the room. There was an almost overwhelming sense of power in the air, like the very walls were pulsing with magic.
A tall, imposing figure stood at the far end of the room, his back to them, studying a large map laid out on a table. Damian didn't need an introduction to know this was Cassius Thorn. There was something about the way he carried himself—calm, deliberate, yet undeniably powerful. His presence alone seemed to command the room.
Evelyn stepped forward, her voice formal and respectful. "Cassius, I've brought him."
Cassius turned slowly, his piercing gaze locking onto Damian. His face was sharp, framed by silver hair that gleamed under the soft light, and his eyes held a depth that made Damian feel like he was being examined on a level beyond the physical. The warlock looked younger than Damian had expected—around his 30s—but there was something ancient in his demeanor.
Cassius approached slowly, each step deliberate, as if he were taking in every detail of Damian. His eyes scanned him, not in a suspicious way, but like an artist admiring a long-lost masterpiece. There was something odd in his expression—was it happiness? Nostalgia? Maybe both? Damian could feel the air shift between them, a strange connection he couldn't place.
Evelyn stood off to the side, watching quietly, her usual calm replaced by something more guarded.
"Evelyn," Cassius said, his voice smooth and low, "how did you find him?"
Evelyn glanced at Damian before speaking, her tone measured. "It wasn't luck. He found me, in a way. And, there was a... situation at the bar where he works. I stepped in, and things escalated quickly from there."
"I found you? It's the other way around. You found me," Damian confused.
But they ignored him, Cassius raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Of course. He knew how to give the clue and it always starts with a bit of chaos, doesn't it?"
Damian's confusion worsened. "What clue? I just worked like usual last night. And it wasn't me who started the fight."
Cassius' eyes flicked back to Damian. Again, he ignored his words. Yet he didn't surprise as if he had expected Damian's confusion. "You've been here longer than you think."
Damian huffed. He had no idea what they were talking about, and the way Cassius looked at him—like he knew something Damian didn't—only added to the confusion. "Right…" Damian said tiredly, unsure of what else to say.
Cassius smiled, an amused glint in his eyes. "It's been a long time."
Damian blinked, taken aback. "A long time? I've never even met you."
Cassius didn't answer, at least not directly. Instead, he stepped closer, his smile widening. "I've been expecting you."
Before Damian could process what that meant, Cassius pulled him into a hug. It wasn't a casual greeting—it was the kind of embrace he'd give an old friend, someone he hadn't seen in years. Damian stood there, frozen in surprise, but after a few awkward seconds, he tentatively patted Cassius on the back, still thoroughly confused.
When Cassius finally pulled back, he placed a firm hand on Damian's shoulder, his expression serious again. "I'll teach you what it means to be a warlock," he said, his voice full of certainty. "It won't be easy. I'll be harsh, even cruel at times. But believe me, you can do this."
Damian blinked, still trying to catch up with everything that was happening. "I can trust him?" he asked, glancing over at Evelyn.
Evelyn nodded, her expression calm but reassuring. "Yes. Cassius is the best there is. If anyone can help you figure out your power, it's him."
Damian hesitated, looking back at Cassius. There was something about the man—something that made him feel both comforted and uneasy at the same time. Cassius seemed to know more about him than he did, and that kind of knowledge was unsettling. But Damian didn't have a choice. If this was his new reality, he needed someone to guide him, and it looked like Cassius was that person.
Cassius stepped back, still studying Damian as if he were a puzzle to be solved. "Tell me," he said, crossing his arms. "What skills do you have so far?"