Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 614: Third Wheel

With that done, Malrik suddenly spoke, "are you doing anything at the moment, I mean, do you have anything to handle immediately?" he asked as he suddenly remembered something that had slipped into his mind.

Asher arched an eyebrow as he spoke, "not really, why do you ask?" his purple eyes meeting Malrik’s blue ones with a calm and mildly curious gaze.

"I need you to take me to your battleground," Malrik replied indifferently as he turned and walked away from the window, as he returned to the couch he had been sitting on for the past two days before Asher woke, his movements relaxed and unhurried.

"What for?" Asher asked, he couldn’t exactly guess what Malrik was looking for there, the request coming rather unexpectedly.

’Does he want to investigate?’ he thought to himself, a faint suspicion forming within his mind.

"Nothing really, just looking around, if I find anything, perfect, if I don’t, then nothing changes," Malrik replied with an indifferent shrug, as though the outcome held little importance to him.

Asher nodded, then spoke, "then I will be back, I have to handle something first," he said as he turned and walked towards the door without hesitation.

"Where are you going?" Malrik asked as he wondered where his little brother was heading off to so suddenly.

"Knowing Lyra, she has probably been standing here throughout the past two days, I can’t just leave immediately without at least seeing how she’s doing," Asher replied as he didn’t halt his steps, his tone carrying a quiet sense of responsibility.

Malrik smiled at Asher’s words, crossing one leg over the other as he leaned back slightly, "I’ve also been here, sitting for two days, you didn’t seem to care about me," his tone teasing and light.

Hearing Malrik’s words, Asher paused for a moment, then shook his head as he spoke, "you are a Crownstar Life Ranker, you could remain sitting for a year and you would still be perfectly fine," he stated before simply opening the door and walking out without allowing Malrik to make another teasing remark.

Asher stepped into the long hallway that seemed endless, the familiarity of the place washing over him, he hadn’t been here in a while, yet nothing had changed. Virelass floated beside him as she hovered and hummed softly to herself, her presence light and carefree.

With that, Asher took a step and began to walk in a random direction, although he didn’t know where Lyra was, he was certain she would sense his presence and immediately come to him, as she always did.

’Also, where is Big Brother’s personal butler?’ Asher thought to himself, whenever there was a Wargrave, their maids or butlers were never far behind, even on battlefields. But as for Malrik’s butler, he had only seen the man once, and that was a year ago when he had awakened, after that, the man was practically nonexistent, as though he had vanished entirely. After a moment, Asher shook his head, deciding to stop thinking about some unknown old man he knew nothing about.

A minute or two later, a figure blurred into position, appearing beside Asher and causing him to come to a stop, the figure bowed, it was Lyra. "You are out, Young Master," she stated, her voice carrying a mixture of relief and composure.

Asher smiled, then spoke, "it’s nice to see you again, Lyra, and I’ve told you a billion times to stop bowing every time," he shook his head as he spoke, then continued to walk forward at a steady pace.

Lyra rose from her bowing position and followed Asher in silent steps. Yes, Asher had told her to stop bowing, but she didn’t plan on obeying that order any time soon, habits ingrained over years were not so easily cast aside.

Silence reigned between the two of them as they walked, but it wasn’t awkward, it was quiet yet comfortable, filled with an unspoken understanding. Lyra looked like she wanted to ask questions, she wanted answers as to how her Young Master had been reduced to such a state, but again, she always reminded herself she was a maid, and maids had no right to question their master.

Despite Asher’s openness with her throughout the past year, it was hard for her to change the teachings she had received years ago, teachings that had been etched deeply into her very being.

Asher finally spoke, he didn’t need Lyra to say anything, he already knew the answers she sought, "I fought a Radiant Wavestar Life Ranker to the death and won," Asher stated with nonchalant calmness, causing Lyra’s eyes to nearly bulge out of their sockets as she nearly tripped while walking.

She couldn’t believe what she had just heard, yes, her Young Master was a Wargrave, but wasn’t this abnormal? How strong could her Young Master possibly be to be able to match a Peak Wavestar Life Ranker and win?

Asher simply smiled at Lyra’s shock, although he didn’t turn to face her, he could see her expression perfectly clear through Omni Perception, he had expected that very reaction, after all, his feat was nothing short of insane. With that, he proceeded to explain a few things to Lyra without hiding anything, although he didn’t go into as much detail as he had with Malrik, he simply gave a summarized account of the Star Academy mission.

Lyra simply listened, and the more she listened, the more she clenched her fists. Her Young Master had been thrust into such a battlefield without her. Due to the Star Academy rules, she couldn’t follow him. And she was still supposed to remain on the sidelines and watch for over two more years.

But it wasn’t only her, every maid or butler who had chosen to serve their Sun or Moon all felt like this during their Young Master’s time within the Star Academy. It was simply her turn to endure it.

But then, another thought couldn’t help but surface in her mind, even if she had been on that battlefield, what exactly could she have done against a Radiant Wavestar Life Ranker? She would have simply been struck down instantly. With the thousands of platinum coins Asher had given her, together with all the free time at her disposal, she had pushed her Life Rank to the Radiant Firmstar Life Rank.

Although she was just a step away from the Wavestar Life Rank, she knew it wasn’t that simple. Was she destined to forever watch her Young Master march into every battlefield while she remained on the sidelines?

Who even knew how monstrous her Young Master would grow in three years? The thought swirled endlessly in her mind as she walked beside him.

"Thank you for taking care of me these past two days, Lyra," Asher stated as he walked, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

"No need to thank me, Young Master. I should be thanking you and Miss Virelass, after all, she trusted me enough to teleport you here, rather than teleporting you to the Star Academy," Lyra replied with a gentle smile as she walked beside him, her tone respectful yet sincere.

Virelass simply hummed as she circled around the both of them like a child... or rather, like a third wheel in that very moment, blissfully unaware of the weight of the conversation unfolding around her.

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AUTHOR’S NOTE: So, when I wrote about the four hundred villagers dying, and Asher barely showing emotion, I saw your comments and reaction, although I can hardly go back and edit the Chapter since people have read it and moved on, I could at least do this much by making Asher react this way and think about them at this moment upon his reflection.

Secondly, a few readers are angry that Asher ignored the father and son who killed the villagers, so I tried explaining that in those Chapters why this happened and that just because Asher is smart doesn’t mean the world bends to accommodate his plans. He is still human, he is not perfect. But that does not mean I plan to make every plan Asher makes fail, nor would I make any stupid drastic, stupid decision as an author for the sake of plot progression.

Thanks for reading, love you all. Don’t be too harsh on me. And as usual, this shameless greedy author would ask for your gifts and golden ticks...