The Devil Is The Villainess (✔)

Chapter XIV: The Black Magic, The Devil, & The Divine

Pride radiated from Medea as she took a step back, her smirk proclaiming her triumph. "I suppose something as trivial as this wouldn't faze you," she sighed, feigning disappointment. Yet, Caelus understood the potential implications of his actions. He couldn't afford to forget the true nature of this woman, nor that she wasn't one to be easily ordered around. Nevertheless, he remained outwardly unperturbed, crossing his arms defiantly.

Brushing a few strands of silver hair from his forehead, Caelus turned his attention back to Medea, finding her gaze fixed upon him. Their silent exchange was interrupted by a soft whimper emanating from the child sleeping on the sofa. Their heads swiveled towards the source, discovering a dark cloud hovering above the girl.

"What is that?" Medea inquired, her voice laced with bewilderment. Caelus clicked his tongue, a realization dawning upon him as he hurried to the girl's side. "It's black magic," he stated matter-of-factly, gently touching the girl's forehead. A faint light emanated from his palms, infusing the girl with a cool energy that dispersed the dark mist lingering around her.

Approaching them with furrowed brows, she settled herself beside the child, her gaze scrutinizing her form. "Black magic can only be wielded by black magicians," Caelus explained, elucidating the nature of their discovery. "They employ sorcery of a darker nature, often to cause harm or cast curses."

"Black magic?" Medea echoed softly, her attention fixed on the child. Sensing something amiss within the girl's aura, she tentatively reached out, touching her pulse. "This girl comes from a bloodline of black magicians," she concluded, her tone solemn as she glanced up at Caelus.

Caelus's calm demeanor remained unchanged, and he sat at the table, before speaking with measured composure. "I know," he admitted, acknowledging his earlier realization. Medea raised a skeptical brow, unimpressed by his apparent calmness. "I sensed it the moment I saw her."

She arched an eyebrow incredulously. "So, that's why you remain so composed," she remarked dryly, her gaze drifting back to the child. "Despite that, you still intend to take her under your wing?" she teased, her hand gently caressing the child's face. "How noble of you, Cael," she added, her tone laced with sarcasm.

With a resigned sigh, Caelus retrieved a book from the desk, extending it towards her. "What's this?" Medea asked, her confusion evident as she eyed the book before meeting his gaze. "It's a book on black magicians and black magic. Read it, and perhaps you'll understand my intentions," Caelus replied nonchalantly.

Pushing the book away with a grimace, Medea scoffed, "Why bother wasting my time when you could simply tell me directly?"

Caelus regarded Medea with a mixture of exasperation and intrigue, momentarily set aback by her sassy demeanor. Choosing to ignore her attitude, he directed his gaze downwards, his tone serious as he began to explain, "I had a particular experiment in mind."

"I've been pondering the possibility of whether a black magician could harness natural magic," he continued, his reasoning laid bare. While he, as a magician, could access black magic at will, the notion of whether those steeped in dark sorcery could wield its antithesis intrigued him. "It's been on my mind for quite some time," he admitted.

Medea, adopting a more measured tone, interjected with a question, drawing Caelus's attention back to her. "If black magic is essentially a curse, is there any way to reverse it?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued. It was a topic she hadn't expected to find herself interested in, yet she couldn't deny her interest in this topic. The notion that she could find herself drawn into such discussions surprised her, feeling as though she'd rightfully stepped into the pages of this novel, where every twist and turn held a fascination.