CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 674: Damsel In Distress

Lyra watched her Young Master dissolve into a soft white luminescence as he unsealed a scroll; she remained still for a beat before finally acting. She extended her hand, revealing a signed document from Asher that authorized the commencement of her mission. A fleeting spark of resolve ignited in her eyes as she studied it. Though Asher hadn't voiced it, she sensed his apprehension regarding her current strength and cultivation progress.

Given his rapid advancement, Lyra understood it was only a matter of time before he eclipsed her in Life Rank. Her Young Master was already surpassing her, and she foresaw him reaching the Crownstar Life Rank within a few years, while she remained stagnant, relegated to menial duties and unable to join him on the true battlefield.

Her thoughts drifted to Conrad and Zarek, the trusted right-hand men of the First Sun and Primarch, respectively. Each man bravely entered combat with their own responsibilities and had achieved the Crownstar Life Rank. Where did that leave her? Stuck at the Radiant Firmstar.

'In the future, I will stand by his side,' she vowed inwardly, turning on her heel and exiting Asher's chamber. Her steps were measured and unhurried as she made her way back to her quarters in the staff building. Arriving moments later, she shed her maid uniform without hesitation, donning her combat suit – a sleek, black bodysuit that accentuated her form.

Next, she equipped her armor, piece by meticulous piece. Finally, she secured her katana to her waist. Her gaze fell upon a box resting on a nearby table. Approaching it, she opened the lid to reveal a ring. This was no ordinary space ring; it was an artifact capable of teleporting her within a one-kilometer radius.

Asher had provided her with ten thousand platinum coins. This ring alone had consumed seven thousand, highlighting its immense cost. The sword at her hip accounted for two thousand. The remaining one thousand had been spent on essential battlefield supplies: healing bandages, venom and poison antidotes, and various other life-saving items. She was venturing out alone, facing any challenges that obstructed her mission without any backup.

With her preparations complete, she surveyed her room for a moment before departing with an impassive expression. Lyra harbored no illusions; she knew the risks of her first mission, including the possibility of death. Yet, she would depart without regret, having served her Young Master and witnessed his transformation into an awakener.

With this resolve, she proceeded toward the mission building, the Wargrave Ducal family's hub for assigning tasks – their personal Guild, serving as another source of revenue. Naturally, not every mission was accepted; otherwise, a noble might have already orchestrated the Emperor's demise.

The structure loomed tall against a grassy expanse. Lyra, having seen itcountless times, didn't pause to admire its features. She entered with a composed demeanor. Upon crossing the threshold, she was met by a cacophony of voices and noise, a stark contrast to the quiet outside, despite her keen senses as a Firmstar Life Ranker.

'It appears the building incorporates some form of auditory dampening artifact,' she mused. Various pillars supported the interior structure. Lyra required no explanation; having resided within the Wargrave Estate for years, she understood the operational procedures of the mission building, as all Wargrave servants were expected to be knowledgeable about its functions.

Placing her hand on one of the pillars, she channeled her Astra energy into it. Instantly, she felt a subtle, non-invasive sensation brush against her mind, as if acknowledging her presence. The moment Lyra perceived this mental contact, a vast holographic heads-up display materialized within her consciousness.

'It seems I can navigate the missions mentally,' she realized, beginning to browse the available assignments. After a few minutes, she focused on a mission requiring the elimination of a serial killer who traversed different territories. The perpetrator, a woman, first sexually assaulted her victims before killing them, leaving the bodies exposed as if deriving pleasure from the ensuing notoriety.

Lyra examined the opponent's estimated Life Rank, detailed within the mission briefing. The woman, like herself, was a Radiant Firmstar Life Ranker.

'Given our similar Life Rank, she should provide a suitable challenge for my initial mission,' Lyra considered.

Though the mission's details might evoke horror and disgust in some, Lyra remained unaffected. Her experiences within Crymora had exposed her to such extreme horrors that these particulars no longer caused her surprise.

An accept button was positioned at the lower edge of the holographic heads-up display. With a mere thought, she selected it, causing the screen to vanish from her consciousness, leaving behind a directive: proceed to table 38.

Lyra withdrew from the pillar, her senses recalibrating to her surroundings. Within the hall, countless tables, numbered from one to fifty, were spread out. Lyra progressed towards the designated number. Upon arrival, she noticed a man engrossed in flipping through documents. The instant he detected Lyra's shadow falling over him, he spoke.

"Name, Rank," the man uttered, his gaze still fixed on the papers.

"Lyra, Maid," Lyra responded, her expression unreadable.

The rank being referenced was not related to Life Rank, but rather one's status within the Wargrave—be it a Maid, Butler, Knight, Sun, or Moon.

The moment she answered, the man froze, his eyes snapping upward to meet Lyra’s, widening in astonishment. His surprise stemmed from a simple fact: he had never anticipated her presence there. It wasn't personal recognition, but rather Lyra's considerable renown. After all, some had mockingly dubbed her the Damsel in Distress three and two years prior, due to the Tenth Sun's repeated failure in his awakening, which had seemingly doomed her to suffer alongside him.

Even when he finally succeeded in his awakening on the third attempt, they had expected her to immediately abandon him for her own safety. The Tenth Sun was widely believed to be destined to remain at the lowest rung of all Wargraves. However, her decision to stay solidified her notorious title.

While they were unaware of Asher's true talents, the fact that he survived the True Awakening signaled to every maid, butler, and other personnel that Asher possessed a talent equal to his siblings. The difficulty of the True Awakening, after all, was never lessened, only intensified when necessary.

Furthermore, with the backing of a Sun, Lyra was destined for greatness. All personal maids and butlers to a Sun or Moon invariably ascended to become their trusted confidantes. Inevitably, they all found themselves envying her position and desiring a close friendship, but Lyra rebuffed all advances.

"My apologies for staring, Miss Lyra, here is your mission permit and scroll," the man cleared his throat and tapped his table. Immediately, the mission Lyra had selected materialized before him. The table itself seemed to possess spatial capabilities, illustrating the immense wealth of the Wargraves, with fifty such tables available.

No one addressed her as Lyra anymore; the salutation had shifted to 'Miss Lyra,' despite her humble position as a maid.

The man affixed a Wargrave seal to the documents and signed his name, then presented the mission permit and scroll to Lyra.

"Thank you," Lyra stated flatly, her mind already processing the man’s inner thoughts.

"Always at your service, Miss Lyra," the man replied with a smile, yet Lyra offered no reciprocal smile.

She exited the mission building without hesitation. Unfurling the mission scroll, she examined the last known location of her target before proceeding towards the estate gates. Upon stepping outside, she dissolved from her position in a blur of swift movement.

She dismissed the notion of using Enduron horses, deeming them far too slow compared to her own speed. Her thoughts drifted to the time Asher had assisted her in flight. While she couldn't replicate his feat exactly, she could attempt to fly. With a focused thought, she conjured Astra wings behind her and ascended into the sky. She plummeted to the ground the next moment but persisted, taking flight once more.

She made her way towards the Wargrave territory walls, repeatedly practicing her flying skills, refusing to succumb to failure, her determination solidifying with each attempt.

And so, Lyra embarked on her personal odyssey, fraught with uncertainty and peril. Would she return a transformed individual, would she remain unchanged, or would she return having discovered something hidden, something beyond her current comprehension... Only time would tell, and only time would bear witness to the path she was about to forge.

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