Supreme Warlock System : From Zero to Ultimate With My Wives-Chapter 268: Masked Warlock

Warlock Ch 268. Masked Warlock

The forest near the castle had always been a sanctuary, a place untouched by the formalities of court. The scent of earth and magic lingered in the air, the whisper of leaves soothing against her skin. She had walked deeper, lost in thought, not realizing how dangerously close she had come to the cliffside.

Then she slipped.

Her wings had snapped against a sharp branch as she tumbled down, a sharp pain tearing through her back as her vision spun. She had braced for impact, for the crash of stone and dirt, for the inevitable pain that would follow.

But it never came.

Instead, she floated.

Suspended mid-air, her body wrapped in a soft glow of telekinetic magic.

And that was when she saw him.

A masked warlock.

Perched lazily on the branch of a towering oak, one leg dangling over the edge, the other bent at the knee as if he belonged there.

His gaze was sharp, amused, his smirk both arrogant and strangely captivating.

"Falling for me already?" he had teased, his voice carrying an effortless confidence that had both irritated and intrigued her.

She had scowled, struggling against the telekinetic grip he had on her, but it was useless. He controlled her fall with ease, lowering her gently onto the forest floor.

"Who are you?" she had demanded, brushing dirt from her dress.

He hadn’t answered. Instead, he had simply tilted his head, studying her with an intensity that sent an odd shiver down her spine.

"You’re hurt," he had noted, his gaze flickering to her injured wing.

She had glanced back, wincing at the sight of the torn membrane. A deep, jagged cut marred the delicate structure, blood staining the tips of her feathers.

Before she could react, he had moved.

A hand had reached out, fingers brushing lightly over the wound. Magic had flared, warm and soothing, spreading through her body in waves. The pain had dulled, the torn skin knitting itself back together in seconds.

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She had inhaled sharply, looking at him with wide eyes.

"That should do it," he had murmured, retracting his hand.

She had touched her wing, flexing it carefully. It was healed. Completely. She had looked up at him again, wariness creeping into her gaze.

"How come you have healing magic? You are a warlock, right?" she had asked, her voice guarded.

His smirk had softened into something almost thoughtful.

"That’s because I’m special."

And just like that, the tension had eased.

They had talked.

For hours, they had sat beneath that oak tree, watching the moonlight filter through the leaves. He had been infuriatingly smug, quick-witted, and far too charming for his own good. And yet, he had listened. Not like the nobles at court who only pretended to hear her words. He had truly listened.

For the first time in what felt like forever, she had felt free.

By dawn, he was gone.

Vanished, as if he had never existed.

The guards had found her soon after, asleep against the trunk of the tree, her wings whole, her heart aching with that untold story.

She had never told anyone.

Not about him. Not about that night.

Because he had never told her his name.

She had searched for him, tried to find any trace of a warlock with his abilities, but there had been nothing.

For years, she had convinced herself that he was just a fleeting memory, a ghost of her past that had disappeared with the dawn. And yet, here she was, standing inside the grand halls of the Sanctum, her pulse quickening at the thought that he was closer than ever. She would find him.

The sound of approaching footsteps snapped her out of her thoughts. Selena turned her gaze forward as a robed official bowed in greeting. His expression was respectful, yet tinged with a curiosity he couldn’t quite suppress.

"Your Highness," the official spoke, his voice steady yet laced with confusion. "To what do we owe the honor of your presence here at the Sanctum?"

Selena smiled, a serene and practiced expression she had perfected over the years. "I am here to take the S-Rank exam."

A heavy silence followed her words.

The official blinked. Then blinked again, as if trying to process what he had just heard. "You… wish to take the commoner’s S-Rank exam?" he asked cautiously.

"Yes," Selena answered without hesitation.

The official glanced at her knight, Alric, as if expecting some kind of clarification, but the elf merely nodded, his expression unreadable.

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The official cleared his throat. "Your Highness, forgive me for asking, but… why? There is a designated noble and royal path for individuals of your status. It is far more controlled, far safer, and tailored for those of high standing. The commoner’s path is—"

"Unpredictable," Selena finished for him, her eyes gleaming.

"Exactly," the official said, nodding. "The trials are grueling, filled with unknown variables, and the risk of injury is much higher. Why subject yourself to such conditions when you can take the royal path, which ensures fairness and safety?"

Selena tilted her head slightly, the small smile never leaving her face. "Fairness?" she echoed, her tone laced with amusement.

The official hesitated. "Well, yes. The noble and royal candidates undergo structured evaluations without unnecessary risks—"

"So you think I am too weak to handle the common trials?" she interrupted, her voice smooth but carrying an edge.

The official paled slightly. "That is not what I meant, Your Highness."

"Then what do you mean?" Selena asked, her smile unwavering.

The official opened and closed his mouth a few times before sighing. "The commoner’s path is… brutal. There are no safeguards for status, no courtesy given for titles. You would be treated as an equal to them."

"That is exactly what I want," Selena said simply.

The official frowned. "But why? You have no need to prove yourself in such a way."

Selena’s gaze softened, though her resolve remained firm. "I have my reasons."

She wasn’t about to tell them the truth—that she wanted to find him. That warlock who had haunted her dreams for years. That warlock who had saved her once upon a time.