CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 680: Friends

While Asher's thoughts drifted, a series of loud knocks on his door snapped his attention from his reverie. His head swiveled towards the sound's origin. He felt the urge to deploy his Omni Perception to identify the visitor, especially since he typically kept its use restrained within his private quarters or when not engaged in combat.

'I'll just see who it is,' Asher mused inwardly, his steps toward the door marked by an expression of utter indifference.

Upon reaching and opening the door, he was met by two figures quite familiar to him: the Royal twins, Princess Vaelra Lux Vanthelmor and Prince Vaelric Lux Vanthelmor. Asher briefly pondered the reason for their visit, only to dismiss the thought as he could already surmise their purpose without further speculation.

They regarded him with their brown eyes for a moment, a heavy silence hanging between them. It was Prince Vaelric who finally broke the quiet, asking, "Can we come in?" His tone was calm, yet held a discernible rigidity, betraying his reluctance to adopt an authoritative stance despite his royal status.

Asher remained silent for a beat, as if weighing their request, his gaze resting upon them with a placid detachment. Then, after a pause, he replied, "Sure, no problem," stepping aside to allow their entry.

Princess Vaelra entered first with an air of proprietorship, her brother following with a more subdued bearing. Asher closed the door and ushered them into his living room. As they settled themselves, Asher procured juices and wines, along with an assortment of glass cups, arranging them neatly on the table before his guests.

He harbored no personal animosity or conflicts with either of them. Given that this was their inaugural visit, he extended the courtesy of refreshments, maintaining a basic level of respect befitting their stations.

"How did you know I was back?" Asher inquired, leaning back in his seat, a glass of juice in hand—his preference always leaned towards juice over wine. His return had been less than an hour prior, yet the twins were already present, a testament to the swift dissemination of information within the Academy, or indeed, anywhere.

"News and rumors travel faster than light, Tenth Sun," Prince Vaelric stated, bypassing the drinks on the table as if they were invisible, his focus entirely fixed on Asher.

"I suppose that's true," Asher conceded, taking a placid sip from his glass without challenging the statement.

With that, silence descended once more upon the living room. The Royal Twins observed Asher, their expressions a complex mixture of thoughts. It wasn't that they lacked questions; they had many, but the words remained elusive. Had it been another noble family or household, they might have already resorted to outbursts of anger or demands for answers without reservation.

However, the man—the being—seated before them was a Wargrave. And not just any Wargrave, but the very individual who had effortlessly subdued their entire class during a hand-to-hand combat session, defeating them with insulting ease. The same man who had accepted Prince Vaelric’s challenge with a single, unforgettable strike.

'Has he grown stronger again?' Princess Vaelra was the first to voice this thought, studying Asher with a subtle intensity. She wasn't entirely certain, as Asher appeared unchanged externally. Dressed in commoner attire, he could easily be mistaken for a handsome, unawakened individual without a second glance.

Yet, the basis for her suspicion of Asher's growth stemmed from the subtle observation that he had increased in height by two inches, progressing from six feet seven to six feet nine.

"We've heard the rumors," Prince Vaelric began, his words steady yet imbued with a certain gravity. "That the Wargrave Ducal Household attacked the Imperial family and initiated a full-scale war." His brown eyes met Asher’s purple gaze unflinchingly.

Although Asher had once inflicted a deep-seated mental scar and instilled fear within the Prince—evident during the combat session where the Prince had collapsed in terror—that fear seemed to have receded at this moment. It was either buried beneath layers of newfound resolve or had significantly diminished. The psychological wound appeared to have healed, as the Prince now evinced greater concern for his family's situation than for his own lingering apprehension.

Naturally, after that sparring session, his sister, Vaelra, had recommended psychological treatment at the Healing Department. The Prince, however, had declined, stating his intention to overcome his fears independently, as both a warrior and a future inheritor of the Empire.

"And?" Asher prompted indifferently, signaling his desire for them to reach the crux of the matter without unnecessary lingering.

"We wish to know if this is true, and also to confirm it from you, who is a Wargrave and was at the Empire when it happened," Princess Vaelra spoke this time, her voice calm yet firm, her gaze narrowing as she sought clarity.

Asher remained silent for a moment, letting the weight of their question hang in the air before he replied, "Why not take a mission, head back to the Imperial Palace, and confirm with the Emperor? Isn’t that a better way to handle this than coming to one of the family members rumored to have waged war against your family? Besides, I’m not some ’beggar sect’ member who freely gives out information," his words were flat and calm as he sipped his juice, clearly uninterested in entertaining the matter further than necessary.

The Princess and Prince appeared slightly confused, unfamiliar with the term ’beggar sect,’ the phrase sounding foreign and out of place to them.

Asher’s words made sense to them; of course, they could simply return and ask their father, who was the Emperor, but... they would rather not, perhaps due to the gravity of the situation or the implications behind such a question... or something more.

"Can’t you tell us? We are friends after all, Tenth Sun," Vaelra stated calmly, attempting to bridge the gap with a softer approach.

Asher’s hand paused at Vaelra’s words, his eyes shifting to her as he spoke, "With all due respect, Princess Vaelra Lux Vanthelmor, we are not friends. I take the word ’friends’ very seriously. Within this entire Empire, I only have three friends: Finch Whale, William Canestane, and Ryaen Silvershade, and neither you nor your brother are on that list," Asher corrected, his tone turning slightly brisk for a moment, as he was one to value friendships deeply and disliked throwing the word around carelessly like people did every day.

While Asher had exchanged words with Vaelra on two or more occasions, that didn’t mean he immediately categorized her as his friend. Even if he were a deranged man who counted beautiful women as friends, Ryaen Silvershade was more beautiful than her either way, making such a notion even more baseless in his perspective.