CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 664: Insane Family

For a full hour, Asher remained by the window, his stillness absolute, a living statue lost in thought. The room was steeped in silence, leaving one to wonder if he was undergoing an identity crisis or merely contemplating an entirely unrelated subject.

The quiet was abruptly broken as the door swung open effortlessly, the sound jolting Asher from his reverie. He knew instinctively who it was; only Malrik entered his private chambers without a moment's hesitation or a prior knock.

Turning towards his visitor, a faint smile touched Asher's lips. "Elder Brother, you have returned," he greeted, his voice tranquil as he stepped away from the window, his inner turmoil vanishing as if it had never been.

Malrik, without missing a beat, responded with a hint of sarcasm, "Did you wish for me to perish in the Capital City?" he inquired calmly, moving towards a couch and settling into it with a relaxed, almost unhurried demeanor, as if the recent ordeal held no significant weight.

Asher let out a soft chuckle and took a seat opposite Malrik, his movements imbued with the same placid ease. Before he could utter a word, Malrik began anew, clearly disinclined towards mere pleasantries.

"I must express my gratitude for dispatching the Elders; that was a rather astute decision," Malrik stated, a subtle smile gracing his features. Despite knowing his own formidable strength could have easily overcome every member of the Cabinet single-handedly, he appreciated his youngest brother's proactive foresight over passive inaction.

"Sigh... I felt compelled to act, uncertain of the potential outcomes. The Elders seemed the most prudent recourse at that juncture," Asher replied with a sigh, shaking his head, his tone casual.

"So, enlighten me, what transpired?" Asher inquired. While he suspected a direct battle hadn't erupted, he had anticipated some form of confrontation between the Wargrave and the Imperial family, a guess that wasn't entirely unfounded.

Malrik wasted no time. He commenced his account from the moment he arrived at the Imperial Palace with his trusted aide, Conrad. He detailed his exchange of words with the Emperor, the subsequent aggression initiated by the Imperial Knight Commander, and the precisely timed intervention of the Elders. He recounted their clashes, describing with a steady, understated yet undeniably confident tone how he himself had effortlessly subdued both the Commander and Vice Commander of the Imperial Knights.

The narrative continued with the tense standoff involving him, the Dukes, and the Emperor, followed by Azaron's timely arrival. Malrik explained Azaron's pronouncements and inquiries, his subsequent decree for an Imperial purge, which led to another engagement where the elimination of their adversaries was no longer a concern. The story culminated with Azaron's eventual withdrawal and his command for their immediate return to the Wargrave Ducal territory, concluding the entire sequence of events with decisive control.

Throughout Malrik's comprehensive explanation, Asher remained utterly speechless. This was far removed from those times when he and Azaron shared drinks, laughter, and conversations; now, he was dumbfounded, his throat parched with each passing word. His heart pounded with heightened intensity as he absorbed Malrik's account of Azaron's orders, the weight of each detail settling deeply within him.

"What sort of unhinged family is this?" Asher mused internally, his expression one of profound shock. His gaze remained locked on Malrik, who showed no outward signs of having just faced off against the Imperial Knight Commander, the Vice Commander, and several other formidable opponents. His calm demeanor was eerily incongruous with the magnitude of his achievements.

"Damn," he thought, "I truly believed nothing much had occurred. How incredibly naive I was; I couldn't have been more mistaken." His thoughts swirled relentlessly. "To think Father would issue an order for the purging of the Imperial family... what unimaginable power must he wield to give such a command so casually?" he questioned internally, his perception of the Wargrave family's influence undergoing a dramatic and forceful expansion.

While Azaron's decree might have appeared extreme, Asher understood the man's motivations. He recognized that he himself wouldn't stand idly by if someone attempted to mentally coerce his own child. Furthermore, Azaron's decision had been profoundly influenced by Lily's final wish, rendering his actions, though ruthless, not entirely without justification from a particular viewpoint.

"A favor, you say?" Asher finally broke the silence, his voice softer now, as if the enormity of the revelations was still processing within him.

Malrik inclined his head, "Even I was unaware of this until an hour ago; when Father commanded our withdrawal, I presumed he had slain the Emperor, but to discover the former Emperor lived and that Father was indebted to him due to Mother," Malrik articulated, his tone unusually subdued, tinged with a rare moment of reflection.

The truth about the favor owed by Azaron to Cyrvexis had only come to light for Malrik within the last sixty minutes. Azaron revealed it since there was no longer any necessity for concealment, having already honored his commitment. Malrik himself had not anticipated the former Emperor's survival; it was a genuine shock, entirely unexpected by him.

Asher remained quiet while Malrik spoke. He, himself, had surmised something similar a few hours prior, speculating that perhaps some senior Wargrave Primarchs or Elders were in hiding, operating covertly or residing in seclusion, far from public view.

"No wonder Father spared the Emperor," Asher mused internally, "and to think they all immediately declared war on the Imperial lineage." He shook his head with a slight smile; just when he believed he grasped the extent of this family's peculiar nature, they invariably found a way to redefine it completely.

"I must cultivate my Star affinity; I need to do something with it," Asher thought, his attention shifting to the formidable abilities of the Great Elders as described by Malrik, his own ambition and curiosity stirring quietly.

"How can so many exceptionally powerful individuals exist within a single lineage? Is this some sort of Fictional Reality? Calculator? Cloud manipulation? All unbelievably potent abilities," he mused, sighing at the sheer preposterousness of it all, which bordered on the comical if not for its stark reality.

Yet, a smile graced his lips as he envisioned the future day he would ascend to the ranks of these extraordinary beings; after all, with such powers, they could scarcely be deemed ordinary humans.

"Indeed, in every fantastical realm, Librarians are invariably overpoweringly strong, much like every character with white hair," Asher reflected, his thoughts returning to Morthen's unique skill, finding a peculiar amusement in this recurring trope.

While Asher was lost in his contemplations, Malrik interjected, "Father has informed me that we shall all undergo mental examinations; while your rapier offers protection for your mind, this is merely a standard procedure, so anticipate Uncle Yveric's arrival at your quarters shortly," Malrik stated, his words effortlessly drawing Asher back from his reverie.

Asher merely offered a nod, betraying no surprise; he had already anticipated this development, and it posed no concern for him, having also surmised that Yveric would be incapable of truly delving into his mind, even if he harbored the desire to do so.

"Based on what my elder brother conveyed, it appears Commander Yveric has already employed an artifact upon me," Asher considered inwardly.