Supreme Warlock System : From Zero to Ultimate With My Wives-Chapter 254: The Ritual

Warlock Ch 254. The Ritual

The walk back to the house was uneventful, the warm afternoon sun casting long shadows over the cobbled streets. Damian's mind was buzzing with thoughts about the exam, the lie they'd concocted about Varak's crystals, and what kind of challenges he might face. By the time he reached the house, he was too distracted to notice the faint, acrid smell wafting through the open window.

When he pushed open the door, the pungent scent hit him like a wall. It wasn't the usual herbal aroma that lingered after Evelyn's experiments—it was something darker, sharper, and entirely unfamiliar. Wrinkling his nose, Damian stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "I'm home," he called out, his voice trailing off as his eyes landed on the scene before him.

Near the fireplace, a large, traditional cauldron was bubbling ominously, a thick, murky liquid swirling within. Evelyn rarely used that thing unless it was a special occasion, and judging by the stench, today was one of those times. But it wasn't just the cauldron. In the center of the room, Victoria sat cross-legged on a large carpet, or rather, a massive parchment inscribed with a blood-red magic formation. Her eyes were closed, her hands resting on her knees as she meditated—or whatever it was she was doing.

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Damian's eyes widened, and the books in his hands slipped from his grip, thudding onto the floor. "What the hell is going on?" he asked, his voice louder than he intended.

Victoria didn't flinch, though her lips curved into a faint smile. Without opening her eyes, she said calmly, "Welcome home, Damian."

Evelyn emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. "Oh, you're back," she said, glancing at him before gesturing toward the cauldron. "Don't mind the smell. It's for the ritual."

Damian stared at her, incredulous. "Ritual? What ritual? And why does it smell like something crawled out of a grave in here?"

Evelyn rolled her eyes. "It's not that bad. And it's not a grave—though there is a bit of grave dust in the mix."

"That's not comforting," Damian muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Seriously, what are you two up to?"

Victoria finally opened her eyes, her crimson gaze meeting his. "Today is a full moon," she said simply, as though that explained everything. "The planets are aligned."

Damian blinked, caught off guard. "Really?"

Evelyn smirked, folding her arms. "What, you forgot? I thought you used to study astrology."

"I did," Damian said, frowning. "But after spending so much time in the Nullis world, I lost track. It's not exactly easy to follow planetary alignments when what I need to do was mixing cocktails."

Victoria's expression softened slightly. "Then allow me to refresh your memory. The alignment of the planets amplifies the power of certain elements and mana. For someone like me," she gestured to the blood magic formation around her, "it's an opportunity to strengthen bonds and refine power."

Evelyn chimed in, "And for someone like me, it's the perfect time to brew advanced potions and tonics. The mana in the atmosphere is incredibly potent tonight."

Damian looked between them, his brow furrowing. "Right… I remember that."

Evelyn nodded. "It's rare to get an alignment like this, so we're making the most of it."

Damian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, fine. But couldn't you have warned me first? Walking into this is like stepping into some kind of witch's den."

Evelyn smirked. "What did you expect? I'm a witch. You live with two of the most powerful magic users in Haven City."

"And the most chaotic," Damian muttered under his breath, earning a sharp glance from Evelyn.

Victoria, now fully standing, smoothed her dress and stepped away from the magic formation. "You should join us, Damian."

He raised an eyebrow. "Join you? In what, exactly?"

"In harnessing the power of the alignment," Victoria said, her tone almost conspiratorial, "you've got to understand that it's about more than just raw mana. It's about focus, intention, and knowing exactly what you want to achieve."

Damian raised an eyebrow, leaning back against the couch. "Sounds like something you'd say before dragging me into another mess."

Victoria smirked, a gleam of amusement in her crimson eyes. "And yet, you always come out stronger, don't you?"

He shook his head with a soft laugh and placed the books on the table. "Anyway, I'll need these for my exam prep," he said, sinking into the couch with a sigh. "Once I get my official rank A license… hopefully, they won't make this more difficult than it needs to be."

Evelyn, who had been inspecting a small vial of glowing liquid, turned to him with a surprised expression. "Wait. Exam? You're really going through with it?"

Damian nodded, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "Yeah. Cassius and I worked out a solid story. It's risky, but I think it'll work."

Victoria arched an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? Do tell."

Damian shrugged, his tone casual. "We're pinning it on Varak. The story is that during the mission, Varak had a stash of high-grade mana crystals he was planning to use for himself. But thanks to an explosion in his storage room, some of the crystals got absorbed into me."

Evelyn frowned, setting the vial down carefully. "Using Varak's name, though? Isn't that dangerous?"

"He's dead," Damian pointed out with a smirk. "Who's going to dispute it?"

Victoria leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs elegantly. "I must admit, it's a clever cover. Ties everything back to the mission and gives you an excuse for the sudden power boost. I approve."

Damian grinned. "Thanks. Now that we've got the story straight, I just have to focus on the exam itself."

Evelyn folded her arms, her expression still skeptical. "And you're really not afraid? You know what they'll do if they figure out who you are."

Damian's grin faltered for a split second before he forced it back into place. "I'm… aware," he said slowly. "But I can't stay stuck forever. Besides, if they were going to figure it out, they'd have done it already."

Victoria chuckled softly. "I like this new confidence. It suits you."