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Chapter 76: That’s All in The Past
Chapter 76: That’s All in The Past
Warlock Ch 76. That's All in The Past
Swallowing his pride, Damian picked up his utensils and cut into the steak, feeling the knife glide through the tender meat like it was butter. The first bite was heavenly—a rich burst of flavor that seemed to restore him from the inside out, warming him down to his core. The meat was juicy, perfectly seasoned, and just salty enough to make him crave more. A hint of herbs lingered in the background, earthy and fragrant, adding layers of complexity to every mouthful. He didn't want to rush it, savoring each taste like it was the last meal he'd ever have.
He glanced at Cassius. "This… This is incredible," Damian said, the words tumbling out with genuine awe. "Honestly, I didn't expect you to be so talented at cooking." He took another bite, practically melting into his chair. "Why do you live alone? I mean, being able to cook like this—it's gotta be a plus for a man, right? At least, that's how it is in the Nullis world."
Damian looked at Cassius, curiosity written all over his face.
Cassius, though, just scoffed, his expression unimpressed. He took another slow sip of his tea, giving Damian a look that was as condescending as it was amused. "You can actually win a woman's affection just by being able to cook in the Nullis world?" he asked, his tone dripping with skepticism.
Damian chuckled, nodding. "Yes! I mean, it's a big plus! Besides, it's not just the cooking—you've got so many other things that would make you a catch."
Cassius raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable but his eyes still fixed on Damian, waiting to see where he was going with this.
Undeterred, Damian continued, "I mean, you've got everything women dream of, right? Money, looks… you're pretty handsome for your age, and you're also a strong warlock. You've got your own house and everything. Plus, the shadow servants? Yeah, those definitely count."
Cassius watched him, his expression flat and impassive, his eyes flicking to his tea as he took another sip, clearly unfazed by Damian's rambling praise.
But Damian couldn't help himself. He continued, unable to keep his thoughts to himself now that he'd started. "Honestly, where I come from, you'd be seen as a catch. Men like you don't just live alone unless they want to."
Cassius set his cup down with a soft clink, his gaze still fixed on Damian but with a faint trace of… amusement? Or maybe it was pity—it was hard to tell. He seemed to be studying Damian, almost as if weighing the usefulness of explaining something he had no intention of ever sharing. Finally, with a slight smirk, he spoke.
"You just answered your own question," Cassius said, his voice dry.
Damian's brows furrowed. "Wait, you choose to be alone?"
Cassius scoffed, giving a dismissive wave. "Yes. Got a problem with it?"
"No," Damian replied quickly, shaking his head. "I just… I don't get why you'd want to do that."
Cassius's gaze drifted down to his cup of tea, but Damian could tell he wasn't really seeing it. His mind was somewhere else, far away, in a place Damian had no access to. After a pause, Cassius spoke again, his tone quieter, the faintest edge of bitterness creeping in.
"Because I've seen what betrayal looks like," he said slowly. "I watched someone I respected, someone I called a friend, get turned on by those he trusted. People he'd fought to protect, people he'd bled for… and they stabbed him in the back without a second thought."
The bitterness in Cassius's voice hit Damian hard. He hadn't expected this. Cassius was always so composed, so untouchable. But here, in this rare moment, he was revealing something raw, something that had clearly left scars.
Damian stayed silent, his gaze fixed on his plate. He didn't know what to say, but he could feel the pain and distrust underlying everything Cassius had said. It was like he could see the echo of that betrayal in Cassius's eyes, an old wound that had never fully healed.
"Sorry to hear that," Damian said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. He meant it, too. Now he understood why Cassius kept his distance, why he'd chosen to live alone, avoiding attachments. It wasn't just a preference—it was a defense.
Cassius glanced up, his expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of something—maybe a touch of appreciation. "Don't be," he replied, brushing it off. "That's all in the past."
Damian nodded, taking another bite, though the rich flavors of the steak felt somewhat muted now in the somber atmosphere. He glanced at Cassius, a question forming in his mind, something he wasn't sure he should ask, but the curiosity was too strong to ignore.
"What… What about that friend?" he asked carefully. "What happened to him?"
Cassius's gaze hardened slightly, his eyes distant again, as though he were looking past Damian and into some painful memory. "Gone," he said simply, his voice steady but cold. "I assume he's dead. I can't feel his magic power anymore."
There was a finality in Cassius's tone. Damian could tell that Cassius had built these walls around himself for good reason, to keep others at a distance, to protect himself from ever feeling that kind of loss again. But he couldn't help but think that this solitude had cost Cassius more than just avoiding the pain of betrayal—it had robbed him of any chance at real connection.
Damian pressed his lips together, chewing quietly, unsure how to respond. A part of him wanted to dig deeper, to understand Cassius's past fully. It might be connected to him. But he was afraid of hitting a nerve, of pushing too far and getting that cold, dismissive side of Cassius that he'd come to expect.
The silence hung thick, and Damian shifted in his seat, racking his brain for something—anything—that might break the tension without prying too much.
An idea struck him. Maybe he could turn the conversation back to safer ground.