Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 508: Mysterious

Hearing the Facilitator say Cindralis’ name, Asher frowned for a moment, when the Facilitator had first started to speak, he had already suspected that the man would call her name, and he had indeed done so without hesitation or deviation.

Asher stayed silent at the mention of Cindralis’ name, the air around him seeming to grow heavier as the memories resurfaced, and he could vividly remember what had happened the last time he had met the so-called Goddess Of Space, every detail as fresh as though it had only occurred yesterday.

Was he happy about it, definitely not. But did that make him see Cindralis as an enemy, not at all, yet it certainly did not mean he saw her as someone approachable or easy to converse with either. For a moment, Asher was about to force himself to accept one of these missions before him rather than go back and talk to that woman, even if it meant limiting himself temporarily. The mere thought of standing before her again left a faint irritation crawling beneath his skin.

Who knew what conditions she might place just to lift the mission clearance level for him. But at the same time, he couldn’t risk his growth and development because of their last encounter, since he would be the one losing and restricting his own progress in the end, and that was something he could never allow himself to accept. Strength meant survival, and hesitation only meant stagnation.

"Isn’t there another way," Asher asked as he stared at the Facilitator, a bit of hope flickering in his eyes, thin and fragile like the last ember of a dying flame.

The Facilitator, who was oblivious to Asher’s thoughts simply shook his head slowly as he replied, "As I said before, she is the only one with the power to help you. No matter how strong the Instructors are, they are still subordinates to the Empress, even the Vice Principal, Berion, can’t help you," he stated truthfully, his tone calm and collected, as though the matter had already been decided long ago.

Asher sighed at the reply, the breath leaving his lips heavier than expected, he had been caught in a conundrum. After a moment of hesitation, he shook his head and corrected himself mentally, this wasn’t truly a conundrum, he simply had to meet and speak with the woman whether he liked it or not, since avoiding the situation would solve nothing and only delay the inevitable.

"Thank you," Asher stated as his purple eyes returned to the Facilitator, the earlier reluctance now buried beneath reluctant acceptance.

"You’re welcome, and I wish you success," the Facilitator replied as he met Asher’s gaze with his own black eyes, a faint professional smile resting on his lips as though offering silent encouragement.

Asher nodded, then paused for a moment as though lost in thought, before he spoke again, "I’ve never asked for your name?" he stated, his eyes still on the man with mild curiosity.

The Facilitator seemed to exit his professional mode as he shifted back to his normal demeanor before speaking. "I would like to remain mysterious, you can keep referring to me as the Facilitator and such," he answered, his legs moving toward the table as his book appeared in his palm as though by habit, his posture relaxed yet oddly guarded.

Asher, receiving such an answer, simply nodded, then turned and walked away without another word, since he couldn’t exactly force the man to give his name. Besides, he couldn’t even understand why the man was acting mysterious, it was just a name, not some grand secret worth protecting, yet everyone had their own quirks, and it wasn’t worth wasting thought over something so trivial.

Stepping out of the Logistics and Missions Operation Hall, Asher’s footsteps came to a halt. What he had thought would be a quick and simple start to the day suddenly seemed far more complicated and burdensome than he had anticipated. The cape flowing down his back and resting on his shoulder danced gently with the morning wind as he stood there in silence, wondering what his next step should be while students passed by in the distance, unaware of the small dilemma occupying his mind.

Yes, the Facilitator had told him to meet the Principal, but he had no idea how to even get to her. He had been to her office in the past, but he had been guided by Berion back then, and they had simply crossed a portal and arrived directly at her office without him ever learning the actual route or process, making the memory useless now that he needed it most.

Asher sighed, a bit frustrated, his mind immediately shifting toward a plan, because standing still and brooding would accomplish nothing. He also couldn’t get in touch with the Vice Principal, meaning he would have to get in touch with someone who probably could, someone with enough authority or clearance to bridge the gap.

An Instructor.

Asher was sure there was a way they communicated with the Vice Principal and Principal directly, whether through devices, abilities, or specialized channels, and without thinking too much, he immediately selected Instructor Jane as the Instructor he would meet, the choice forming naturally without resistance.

As for why Instructor Jane and not any other Instructor, well for one, she hardly talked, which Asher liked, because unnecessary chatter only wasted time and energy. She was powerful, composed, and efficient, and as someone who respected strength and competence above all else, Asher liked strong and collected women, and Instructor Jane fit that criterion perfectly.

Although Instructor Melissa also fit the profile in her own way, Asher still went with Instructor Jane, since her quiet demeanor suited his current mood better.

With that thought, he finally took a step forward. He didn’t rush or run, since the probability of him getting a higher mission clearance level was on the lower side anyway, and there was no reason to exhaust himself over something uncertain. Instead, he simply decided to take his time, his pace steady and measured, his boots echoing faintly against the stone pathways of the Academy.

Within a few minutes, he arrived at Instructor Jane’s office and luckily for Asher, she was free and didn’t have any class to teach for the moment. He raised a hand to knock on the door, but Instructor Jane’s voice echoed from within the office before his knuckles could even touch the surface.

"Come in," she stated, her voice calm, level, and collected. Asher didn’t stand on ceremony, he stepped into the office immediately, his eyes darting around as he took in his surroundings.

Instructor Jane was a simple woman, her walls were white and unadorned, with shelves filled with books arranged neatly, then four large pots of plants within the room adding a touch of quiet life and greenery. Aside from these, nothing else of design or aesthetic seemed to decorate or brighten up the room aside from the light coming from the chandelier hanging above on the ceiling, casting a soft glow across the space.

Ahead was a table where she sat behind in calm silence and serenity as though nothing in the world could shake the power she possessed, her posture straight and elegant, her presence alone enough to command respect without effort, "How may I help you, Asher Wargrave," she asked as she went straight to the point without any needless chatter, which was one of the reasons Asher liked her so much.

Instructor Jane didn’t believe Asher was here for a rapier training session, after all, she had seen his progress about two days ago, and he still remained the monster he was, improving at a rate that defied common sense and logic alike, giving further instruction redundant for the moment.