CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 673: World Map

The next dawn arrived swiftly, finding Asher in a deep slumber within his chambers, utterly detached from the world's affairs. Morning sunlight pierced the room, its rays catching his face and bidding his eyes to finally flutter open, gradually adapting to the intrusive light disturbing his rest.

A momentary stretch followed, his limbs feeling a slight tremble as he savored the sensation, a soft exhale escaping his lips as his body eased from its stillness. With that, he sat up, a yawn escaping him. "Sometimes I wonder why I couldn't reincarnate in a world of nobility without any form of energy like Mana or Astra energy; that way, I could just sit back and enjoy the gold coins without working," Asher mused aloud, rubbing sleep from his eyes, his tone tinged with lazy amusement.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed and proceeded to the bathroom for a quick shower, the day to return to the Star Academy having finally arrived. Approximately half an hour later, his preparations were complete, and he was dressed as usual. Just then, a faint commotion outside reached his ears. The Estate was perpetually tranquil, and unfamiliar noise was something he rarely encountered, accustomed only to the orderly movements of maids and Knights.

Moving to the window, he peered down, observing multiple carriages of diverse designs, each more opulent than the last. Instead of customary horses, various monstrous beasts pulled them. Asher needed no lengthy deduction to identify these conveyances as belonging to nobles; indeed, everything he witnessed exuded an aura of immense wealth, a tangible manifestation of gold and platinum coins.

"Why are they here?" Asher murmured, his brow furrowing slightly. The most immediate surmise was that the Wargrave family was hosting some kind of noble ball or gathering. However, the Wargraves were not known for indulging in such events. Furthermore, they had been engaged in conflict with the Imperial family only yesterday, making any reason for hosting a gathering the very next day seem improbable. Adding to his suspicion, he had received no prior notification of any such event scheduled within their estate.

Lyra, possessing an uncanny knack for knowing precisely when Asher had awakened and finished his ablutions, knocked on his door with her characteristic flawless timing.

"Come in," Asher responded, and Lyra entered without a moment's hesitation.

"Good morning, Young Master," she greeted, adhering to her customary pleasantries.

"Do you know why nobles are arriving here?" Asher inquired, setting aside her routine greeting as his gaze remained fixed on the spectacle unfolding outside.

Lyra paused briefly before replying, "We were not informed, Young Master. Although, I did learn last night from other staff that nobles were expected, as preparations were being instructed. You might need to inquire with the Primarch himself, or perhaps the First Sun," she answered with deference.

Asher remained silent for a moment, then gave a slight nod, his expression contemplative.

Noticing his acknowledgment, Lyra continued, "Young Master, do you require me to prepare anything for your departure to the Star Academy today? Such as sustenance, refreshments, or any other provisions?" she asked.

"What you provided previously is sufficient; I have only been at the Star Academy for roughly three months, so it's unlikely they would have run out of supplies. Besides, whenever they do deplete, I can simply teleport here and procure more," Asher replied, his back still turned to her, his eyes still captivated by the nobles below.

Lyra inclined her head in understanding. As Asher required nothing further, she bowed and departed without another word.

'It appears they are also present,' he thought, his gaze briefly alighting upon Annabelle and her brother amidst the assembled nobles, though he harbored no intention of engaging with them.

With that, his attention detached from the scene outside, and he made his way towards the door, resolving to visit the Library. Upon his arrival there, he intended to seek guidance from the Great Elder regarding the reason for the nobles' presence, confident that the Librarian would possess the necessary knowledge.

The moment Asher stepped from his room, Lyra fell into step behind him, always stationed nearby in case he required her assistance. Together, they proceeded toward the Library. Upon reaching their destination, Asher entered while Lyra remained outside.

Great Elder Morthen’s gaze remained fixed upon his book as he spoke, his voice carrying a hint of sarcasm, "Is our family facing yet another dire predicament, Youngest?"

Asher couldn't resist a smile as he responded, "Good morning, Great Elder Morthen." He offered his greeting first. "While I would prefer to answer your question in the negative, witnessing the assembly of various nobles at our estate leads me to suspect that another storm might be on the horizon," he replied, coming to a halt before the Great Elder.

Asher’s violet eyes drifted towards the tome clutched in Morthen’s grasp. 'I wonder what formidable power he’ll retrieve from that book,' Asher mused internally, his gaze fixed on the novel, a spark of intrigue igniting within him.

"Apparently, the Emperor is hosting a meeting here at our estate," Morthen responded before Asher could inquire. "Everyone is hesitant to gather at the palace, given his Mind Manipulation ability."

"I see," Asher acknowledged, his mind already racing with potential implications of the gathering. While the prospect of discovering the meeting’s agenda was tempting, it ultimately held no bearing on him.

Furthermore, he was simply too feeble to participate in any ensuing conflict of such magnitude. After all, the assembly comprised numerous individuals at the Crownstar Life Rank. It was prudent to depart early, before any untoward incidents arose.

"So, what brings you here?" Morthen inquired, as Asher’s presence in the library was invariably linked to an objective.

His question jolted Asher from his contemplation. "Great Elder, I require knowledge of any available World Maps," Asher stated.

Morthen’s gaze lifted, meeting Asher’s eyes, followed by a nod. He saw no need to question Asher’s purpose for needing the map. "We possess one. You may not remove it from here; you must simply commit as much of it to memory as possible," the man stipulated.

"Thank you," Asher replied, as a mere glance would suffice.

"Or... you know what, I have an even more detailed one," Morthen interjected, suddenly recalling the existence of another World Map.

Before Asher could utter a word, Morthen’s soul-bound golden grimoire materialized in the air. It unfurled, pages fluttering rapidly as Morthen unleashed an ability.

Astra energy radiated outwards, luminous particles swirling and coalescing, bending and molding into an expansive, three-dimensional light projection of the entire world of Crymora. It depicted every known locale and region with vibrant colors, distinct labels, and intricate particulars.

Asher stood mesmerized, gazing at the spectacle before him in sheer astonishment; he could even discern the mapped territories of foreign Empires. His perception of the Librarian shifted significantly. Morthen had, with apparent ease, conjured a comprehensive world map as if it were a trifle.

"Don't read too much into it; it's merely a depiction of places that have been charted and those not concealed from public awareness," Morthen explained nonchalantly.

Asher’s lips curved slightly; he was momentarily speechless in Morthen’s presence. His focus returned to the map, which was undeniably vast, even in its condensed form. His eyes scanned every nook, every pathway, every woodland, every territory, missing no detail, not even the domains of distant Empires.

Having imprinted the colossal map onto his memory within mere minutes, Asher offered his thanks to the Librarian and departed the Library. He had planned to bid farewell to Malrik and Azaron, but they were likely occupied with the ongoing deliberations. Consequently, Asher only conveyed his goodbyes to Lyra before vanishing from the Wargrave Estate, returning to Star Academy, leaving the impending turmoil entirely behind him without a backward glance.

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