Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 1134: Greatest Security

Time passed as Asher spent the entire time packing. This time, he focused less on fashion and more on combat-efficient clothing. After that, he walked into his personal training room, turning on a feature as Astra energy hummed through the air. Since it was still early in the morning, he decided to use three or so hours to cultivate his Astra Veins. Since he was close to a breakthrough and had nothing else to train, this would occupy his time.

He sat within the training room and closed his eyes as he fell into the state of cultivation yet again. Six hours passed, and it was already 10 a.m. Asher rose to his feet and left the room, having finished cultivating for the moment. As he left the cultivation room, Lyra stepped forward, and as her eyes landed on Asher, she spoke.

"Good morning, Young Master." Her tone was calm and gentle.

"Morning, Lyra." Asher replied, "Ready to depart?" He asked.

Lyra nodded as she spoke, "Yes, Young Master. I’ve prepared everything, ranging from all daily supplies to all battlefield supplies." She stated this as she had prepared immensely.

Even within her space ring, she had packed enough food to last an entire decade. She wasn’t about to allow her Young Master to starve to death or eat average meals simply because he was on a battlefield.

Asher nodded his head, his eyes shifting towards the sword hanging on Lyra’s waist. This was the first time he had seen her actively carry her weapon on her person. She always either kept it in her space ring or simply left it in her room whenever she wasn’t on a mission, since danger hardly ever reached the Wargrave Estate.

"Are you going to leave in a Maid’s uniform?" He couldn’t help but ask. Since Lyra was already carrying her sword, it meant she had no final preparations to make. "We are heading to a Frontier where we will be battling every day. I thought you would want to wear something more... I don’t know." He added, as he stared at Lyra’s outfit.

Lyra shook her head as she replied, "I understand that most Nobles and people look down on Maids and servants in general because we spend most of our time serving Nobles and have no official capacity unlike Knights." She began to speak and explain, "But unlike many, I take my job as a Maid as a mantle, so I wear my Maid’s outfit everywhere and at all times, only changing into something else when ordered because I love the job." She paused for a moment, then added, "And at the end of the day, Young Master, I’m your Maid, not another’s."

Asher stood in silence, as this might have been the longest he had heard Lyra speak in one breath. But after a moment of thought, he simply nodded his head and said nothing. He kind of understood how Lyra felt about her Maid’s uniform. It was just like how men in the military back on Earth treated their military uniforms with the utmost respect and were ready to wear them everywhere and showcase them.

It was simply love and pure dedication to their job and work.

"Anyway, I’ve chosen which Frontier we will be heading to." He spoke, expertly changing the topic.

Lyra didn’t speak but simply remained silent.

"We will be heading to the Third Great Elder’s Frontier." He stated, as he had literally just made the decision on the spot, without necessarily sleeping over it or thinking about it during his cultivation earlier.

As for why he had made the decision, the answer was simple: Damian’s Calculator ability seemed cool. That was all. Since there wasn’t any information he could use to choose a Frontier, he might as well just find a random reason.

"When do we leave, Young Master?" Lyra asked, as she didn’t really care or have an opinion on which Frontier they went to.

Asher stayed silent for a moment, then replied, "In an hour at most. I have to speak to Father first, then find something at the Library."

"I understand, Young Master." Lyra replied, bowed, then turned as she left the room.

Watching Lyra leave, Asher entered the bathroom, took a quick bath, stepped out, put on a fresh set of clothes, then left his room. As he stepped outside, Lyra was standing there as usual. He simply nodded at her, then started heading towards Azaron’s study room.

Getting to Azaron’s study room, he didn’t find Zarek, who was always standing at the door. Still, he knocked, then pushed open the door. Upon entering, the study room was empty, as nobody was there. Asher turned away, since Azaron wasn’t around, there was no need to linger around.

’It seems he must have left the Estate either yesterday or a couple of days ago.’ Asher thought to himself.

As he stepped out, he found Zarek walking towards the study room. As the man approached, he spoke in a calm tone, "The Duke awaits your presence within his private chamber."

Asher nodded, and together, they headed towards Azaron’s room. Getting there, Zarek opened the door and let him in. Asher stepped in, his eyes falling upon Azaron, who was seated with a book in hand.

’This is the first time I’m seeing him read something that isn’t a business document or a Frontier report.’ Asher thought to himself as he walked.

Although Azaron didn’t seem like much of a reader, he read once in a while whenever he was done taking care of family matters. It was a way for him to clear his mind, although he would very much prefer to fight to clear his mind. Alas, there was no worthy or interested opponent knocking on his front door.

"Good morning, Father." He spoke as he lowered himself onto a couch opposite Azaron.

Azaron closed the book as his eyes landed on Asher. Asher simply stared back at him as he spoke.

"I never took you for much of a reader." He stated, as his eyes shifted towards the book in Azaron’s hands.

Azaron gave a weak smile as he replied, "I’m not."

They both stayed silent after that for a moment until Azaron spoke again, "It seems your day of departure is finally here. Have you decided which Frontier you would be joining?" He asked.

Asher nodded his head as he replied, "The Third Great Elder’s."

Azaron arched an eyebrow as he asked, "Why?"

Asher shrugged as he replied, "Just because. It’s not like I have any information to work with in order to choose."

Azaron gave a small laugh as he replied, "I guess so." He paused for a moment, then added, "I originally thought that you would choose Malrik’s Frontier. I guess I was wrong." He shook his head for a moment, his eyes remaining on Asher once more. "I don’t have some great, sagely advice to give you, my son, so I will tell you what I told Malrik and down to Olivia." He paused for a moment as he held Asher’s gaze, "Be careful."

Asher nodded his head as he replied, "I will, Father."

Azaron stayed silent for a moment, then continued, "The greatest mistake you can make is to become too comfortable, Asher. And with Lyra, your Maid, stepping into the Crownstar Life Rank, you might be fooled into a false sense of security." He paused for a moment, then added yet again, "So, don’t become dependent on her. The greatest strength and greatest security one can possibly possess is one’s personal strength." He stated in finality.