Supreme Warlock System : From Zero to Ultimate With My Wives-Chapter 265: Sanctum of Trials

Warlock Ch 265. Sanctum of Trials

They walked toward the Sanctum of Trials. Damian kept his pace steady, though his mind buzzed with thoughts. "So, what exactly are we expecting here? An interrogation? A trial?"

"Neither," Cassius replied, his tone calm. "It’s more of a formality. They want to see the man behind the crystal."

Damian raised an eyebrow. "And make sure I’m not some rogue lunatic who stumbled into power?"

"Essentially," Cassius confirmed. "But you’re not a rogue, Damian. You’ve got me, Evelyn, and Victoria backing your story."

Damian sighed. "Great. No pressure then."

Cassius smirked. "Relax. You’ve faced worse."

"True," Damian muttered, his hand brushing against the amulet hanging around his neck. "But this still feels like walking into a trap."

"Then stay sharp," Cassius said simply. "You’re good at that."

They arrived at the towering structure of the Sanctum of Trials, an imposing building carved from obsidian and infused with runic magic that made the very air around it hum with energy. The arched entrance bore intricate sigils that glowed faintly, pulsing in sync with the ley lines that ran beneath the city. Tall spires clawed at the sky, and the entire structure seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it, creating an eerie, almost foreboding presence.

The massive doors opened soundlessly as they approached, and a robed figure stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Master Cassius," the figure said, their voice low and measured. "And this must be the apprentice."

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Damian resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Yup, that’s me. The apprentice," he grinned like an idiot.

The figure’s gaze lingered on him for a moment before gesturing for them to follow. They walked through a series of hallways, the air growing cooler with every step. The walls were lined with intricate magical runes that pulsed faintly, casting shifting shadows along the stone corridors.

The robed figure spoke again, directing their question to Cassius. "The officials have taken an interest in him rather quickly. I assume you’ve prepared him for their scrutiny?"

Cassius kept his expression neutral. "Damian is capable of handling himself."

The figure glanced at Damian, assessing him with an almost clinical detachment. "He seems… young."

Damian smirked, keeping his head down as he continued walking. "I get that a lot."

"His rank progression has been rapid," the figure continued. "That will raise suspicions."

Cassius barely flicked an eyelid. "He’s talented. That shouldn’t be surprising."

The figure hummed in thought but didn’t push further. They reached the entrance to the main chamber, and the doors swung open, revealing a grand circular room.

Damian’s eyes immediately went to the group of individuals seated around the perimeter. Their robes were adorned with various symbols of rank and allegiance, and their expressions ranged from curious to downright suspicious.

"Master Cassius," one of them said, their tone sharp. "And the apprentice. Welcome."

Cassius inclined his head. "Thank you for seeing us on such short notice."

Damian felt their gazes shift to him, and he resisted the urge to fidget. Instead, he offered a polite smile. "It’s an honor to be here."

One of the officials, a stern-looking man with silver hair, leaned forward. "Tell us, apprentice, about the incident involving Varak."

Damian nodded, his expression carefully neutral. "Of course. During the mission, we encountered a storage area containing high-grade mana crystals. An explosion triggered by the battle caused the crystals to destabilize, and I was caught in the blast. Some of the crystal’s energy… merged with me."

The room was silent for a moment before another official, a woman with piercing blue eyes, spoke. "And you’re certain this wasn’t deliberate?"

Damian met her gaze evenly. "Absolutely. I didn’t even know the crystals were there until it was too late."

Cassius chimed in, his tone steady. "I can vouch for that. The situation was chaotic, and Damian’s reaction was purely instinctual."

The officials exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. Finally, the silver-haired man nodded. "Very well. We’ll need to conduct a brief examination to verify your claims."

Damian suppressed a groan, his polite smile never wavering. "Of course."

Cassius placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder as the officials prepared the examination. "Just stay calm. This is the easy part."

"Easy for you to say," Damian muttered under his breath. "You’re not the one being poked and prodded."

The robed attendants moved forward, gesturing for Damian to stand in the center of the room. A circular array of glowing runes flickered to life beneath his feet, the intricate magic weaving itself into the air like a web. Damian exhaled slowly, watching as the examiners activated their spells.

"Remain still," the silver-haired official instructed.

Damian resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Sure, because I was totally planning to break into a tap dance."

Cassius shot him a look that said ’shut up’, and Damian sighed, keeping his mouth shut as the magic settled around him.

The first wave of energy rippled through him, testing his mana flow. He could feel the sensation of invisible hands probing at the core of his being, searching for inconsistencies or signs of forced power acquisition.

The blue-eyed woman murmured something under her breath, and a new pattern of sigils appeared, this time tracing the shape of his warlock mark. Damian inhaled sharply as the energy coiled around it, analyzing its origins.

A low murmur passed through the council members.

"His warlock core is… unusual," one of them noted. "There are traces of something powerful here."

Damian forced himself to stay relaxed. ’Shit. Don’t look guilty. Don’t look guilty.’

The silver-haired official frowned. "His mana signature is stable, but there are residual traces of—"

"Of the crystal’s influence," Cassius interjected smoothly. "It’s to be expected, given the nature of the explosion."

Another pause. The officials exchanged glances again, clearly debating amongst themselves.

The woman with blue eyes leaned back in her chair. "His mana reserves have increased significantly in a short time. Even with the crystal exposure, that is… impressive."

Damian allowed himself the smallest smirk.

Cassius sighed, rubbing his temple.

The silver-haired man nodded slowly. "Very well. His story checks out. His mana has been altered, but there’s no sign of intentional tampering or corruption. He may proceed."