Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 514: Trade By Barter [Bonus Chapter]

Cindralis turned from the window, her black, abyssal eyes returning to Asher as she spoke, "that is the real reason I tried pressuring you into becoming my disciple, because I saw hope, I saw the dream, the wish, I finally saw it all, hence my hasty move. You had just that amount of talent, and your space affinity made everything else perfect, aligning every possibility in a way I could not ignore" she stated as she stared at him for a prolonged moment, then slowly broke eye contact, as though even maintaining that gaze weighed heavier on her than she cared to admit.

Although she said such words, she didn’t apologise or beg him for forgiveness, she had no reason to, nor did she possess the disposition to lower herself in such a manner. For one, she was far more powerful, and second, that was simply how the world worked, the strong preyed on the weak, the strong dictated terms, and the strong had absolutely no reason to apologise for pursuing what they desired or seizing what lay within their reach.

Asher stayed silent as he listened, he understood that Cindralis wasn’t trying to give an excuse or justify her actions, from her tone she wasn’t, she was just speaking plainly and stating facts as she perceived them, nothing more, nothing less, without embellishment, guilt, or hesitation.

"I understand your view, but at the same time, you could have just imparted your knowledge to me, wouldn’t that work?" Asher asked as he stared at Cindralis with a calm yet probing gaze. Since he was a Wargrave and couldn’t take her as his master due to the rigid traditions and expectations tied to his bloodline, Cindralis could simply impart her knowledge to him, and in return he would tear open a space in the world barrier when the time came, fulfilling her objective without binding either of them in an unnecessary hierarchy.

Like a trade by barter, simple, direct, and mutually beneficial.

"I can’t go down that road, after all, what guarantee do I have that you will stick to our agreement?" she asked as she stared at him steadily, her voice neither accusing nor doubtful, merely practical and calculating. Asher didn’t need to answer as the answer was a resounding none, because promises without bonds were fragile things that shattered easily under pressure.

But at the same time, Asher couldn’t help but feel like Cindralis was speaking out of experience, like someone who had once trusted and been disappointed before, but he didn’t ask, up until now she had already shared enough and only wanted to share what she wanted to share, not whatever he wanted to know or pry into.

Still staring out the window, Cindralis continued, "what I did to you, I would have done the same to Malrik if he had the Space element, but he didn’t, so I didn’t think of taking him as a disciple. After all, my affinity is space, I can’t have a disciple without it" she stated as a light smile appeared on her lips, faint and distant, wondering how the situation would pan out if she had done the same thing to Malrik and how differently events might have unfolded.

Asher could already imagine Malrik rebelling with fiery stubbornness and Lily tearing through the Separate Dimension with her rapier without hesitation or restraint, causing chaos, he smiled at the thought, amused by the vivid mental image, then said nothing else.

Cindralis walked away from the window as though she was done gazing at her creation and the vast world beyond, she walked back to her seat with measured, elegant steps, there she sat, her posture perfect and straight as a blade, the small smile on her face gone as she returned to her usual apathetic expression, her demeanor as composed and unreadable as ever, like an unmoving lake that concealed unknown depths.

Asher simply remained standing as he watched without a word, Cindralis met his purple gaze with her black ones, the contrast between them striking and almost symbolic, "I will grant you the clearance level you seek, think of it as a compensation for my previous attitude" she spoke with a calm tone that carried authority without effort.

Asher stayed silent without a word, although deep down he was happy that at least he had fulfilled his reason for being here and that his trip had not been in vain. But upon hearing the word "compensation" he couldn’t help but remember what Vice Principal Berion had said about compensating the Wargraves, the memory surfacing abruptly and lingering at the forefront of his thoughts.

The moment he remembered, he didn’t hesitate to ask for his own share, although Cindralis might have said that this clearance thing was compensation, he still just decided to ask for more, he wasn’t being greedy, he just being thorough and practical, simply ensuring that he was fully compensated for everything that had transpired.

"I heard my family got compensations, but I got none, might I ask why?" he asked immediately as he simply forgot to say thank you to Cindralis for granting his request, his focus momentarily overtaken by curiosity and mild frustration.

Cindralis stared at him for a brief second, then replied, "I suggested compensation for you, but your father shut it all down, you should know what kind of man he is" she stated, her voice holding the faintest trace of resignation.

Asher felt like cursing inwardly, although he didn’t know what compensation Cindralis suggested, but it didn’t matter, unknown benefits were still benefits, and losing something he never even got to see felt strangely infuriating. But he could do nothing about it, he couldn’t defeat Malrik, let alone Azaron, and certainly couldn’t oppose his father directly, so he could only sigh quietly in regret and subdued sadness.

"Thank you," he finally said, he was indeed grateful, as he didn’t exactly have anything to give Cindralis if she still demanded something in exchange for bending the rules for him and making such an exception.

Cindralis nodded her head slightly, "you can head back to the Logistics and Missions Operation Hall tomorrow, by then, necessary arrangements would have been made for you to accept missions" she stated with a light, almost dismissive tone, as though the matter was already settled.

Asher paused, he had wanted to go today, he couldn’t take another day of doing nothing but attending classes and wasting hours in monotony, the thought alone making him restless, "can’t it be today?" he asked in a slightly pleading tone that he tried, unsuccessfully, to hide.

"There are chains of command to be followed and papers to be filled and filed and all that, all these will take a bit of time" Cindralis replied without missing a beat, her expression unchanged as though bureaucracy itself was an immovable law of nature.

"But aren’t you the Principal, a word from you, I can start now and the filing and procedures will begin later" Asher suggested as he didn’t want to go back to his room, he was itching for some action and blood, craving the rush of battle far more than the dull safety of routine.

Cindralis leaned back into her chair as she spoke, "instead of tomorrow I could make it a week you know" she stared at him with an amused gaze that carried a faint warning beneath it.

Asher could only sigh in defeat, realizing he had pushed just enough, then spoke, "thank you for your time, Principal Cindralis" he bowed slightly again with restrained respect.

She simply nodded at his words, and Asher simply turned and walked without another word, the door opened with a soft creak that echoed faintly in the quiet office, and with that Asher stepped out of the office, leaving the heavy atmosphere behind him as the conversation finally came to an end.