CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 700: Emovira Of Old

Asher maintained his silence, observing the exchanges between Finch and William as if watching a piece of entertainment; it was apparent within moments that these two shared a history as childhood companions, their interactions marked by an easy familiarity only years of friendship could cultivate.

He didn’t interject, instead, a bowl of cherries materialized in his hand, which he began to eat while observing them. Lacking any digital distractions like YouTube or video games, the playful squabbling between these best friends served as a sufficient, albeit minor, diversion in an otherwise uneventful period.

Amidst their bickering, Lior abruptly vanished from his seat, reappearing moments later beside Asher and taking a seat next to him. With an air of nonchalance, he helped himself to a portion of Asher’s cherries and inquired, "So, tell me, what’s the deal with you, kid?" Lior asked, popping a cherry into his mouth while his gaze remained fixed on Asher, a subtle curiosity betraying his relaxed posture.

Asher looked at the positive Emovira before him, a smile involuntarily gracing his lips. No one had ever dared to reach into his bowl and take something from his share, yet Lior had done so with complete disregard. It was clear the individual was unaware and oblivious to knowledge concerning the Wargraves or even Asher himself, a fact that Asher found somewhat amusing.

"What precisely do you wish to know?" Asher inquired, his focus shifting from William and Finch as his interest in the positive Emovira intensified. After all, this was the only one he had ever encountered, making Lior an existence worthy of closer examination.

"According to my corpulent soul-bound companion, he mentioned that your family is as peculiar as you are. Is that accurate?" Lior asked, seeking confirmation on whether Finch had been prone to exaggeration, his tone a mixture of skepticism and intrigue.

"Well, that assertion holds true, as over ninety-eight percent of individuals born into my lineage possess the inherent potential to ascend to the Crownstar Life Rank," Asher responded without a hint of hesitation. Naturally, he wasn't entirely certain about that specific percentage; he had, after all, only heard of a scant few Wargraves who failed to reach the Crownstar Life Rank, rendering his statement more of an educated guess than a precise statistic.

Lior’s eyebrow arched in response to the astonishing figure presented, his chewing momentarily faltering as he appeared to contemplate the information.

His understanding of the world had evolved after over a month spent alongside Finch and William, yet the revelation of a family like the Wargraves still rendered him momentarily speechless, as it fundamentally challenged the natural assumptions he had begun to form regarding hierarchies of power.

"If your account is factual, why has your family not seized control of the Empire, remaining instead as a Ducal Family?" Lior questioned, implying that anyone possessing such a bloodline should not be subservient to another, his query stemming from a logical presumption.

"How could I possibly know? I am merely an eighteen-year-old youth," Asher replied with a shrug, though he harbored a strong suspicion that the Wargraves held little regard for such titles, preferring their current standing, as if governing an entire Empire constituted more of a nuisance than a coveted form of authority.

"My turn," Asher announced, tossing another cherry into his mouth. "Do you happen to know of any other positive Emovira?" he inquired, his voice calm and detached, as if posing a completely mundane question.

Lior regarded Asher for a beat, as if assessing whether Asher intended to pursue this supposed positive Emovira with the intent of dominating it.

"What are your intentions?" Lior asked, his gaze narrowing slightly as he recalled the adventurers who had inflicted harm upon him when he refused to yield to their demands.

"Nothing in particular, I’m simply curious," Asher replied, his tone unconcerned, revealing nothing of his underlying thoughts.

After a brief silence, Lior responded, "I am aware of a few, though naturally, I do not know their exact whereabouts," his tone even, neither guarded nor overly forthcoming.

Asher remained quiet for a moment, then inquired, "How knowledgeable are you regarding the secrets of your race?"

"What do you imply?" Lior asked, pondering the direction of Asher's questioning, his curiosity steadily intensifying.

"I mean, if you possess knowledge of the soul-binding process, I wonder what other secrets you might hold," Asher continued, his tone even, as though merely posing straightforward, superficial inquiries, despite the underlying depth of his questions.

"Just state your purpose directly, kid," Lior declared, a trace of impatience coloring his words.

Asher’s eyes met Lior’s for a brief moment before he inquired, "Do you possess any knowledge regarding the Emovirae of the Old? Are they still in existence? Perhaps the first positive Emovira, or the very first negative Emovira, whom your kind refers to as an affected?" His voice remained utterly devoid of emotion, as if he wasn't just touching upon perilous and concealed truths.

Lior’s gaze intensified as he scrutinized Asher. If previously he had merely entertained the notion of Asher being the reincarnation of some ancient human and dismissed it, that idea was no longer so easily set aside. In Lior’s estimation, individuals Asher’s age ought not to be contemplating such profound matters, nor should they exhibit such an inquisitive nature. William and Finch served as perfect embodiments of his expectations.

"Lad, from where did you acquire such information?" Lior questioned, his stare fixed on Asher, his tone now considerably more grave.

Asher bypassed the query, instead stating, "So, you do have some awareness..." His gaze momentarily shifted, a barely perceptible change betraying his burgeoning interest.

It was, in truth, a mere conjecture on Asher’s part; he had no concrete knowledge of any Emovira of Old or the nature of such beings. Having learned of the organization known as 'The Consumed,' the Sinvairas, and gleaned several secrets from Malrik, Asher couldn't help but speculate if ancient Emovira might still be alive and concealed.

He pondered if such ancient Emovira could potentially be orchestrating 'The Consumed' organization. Thus, his question stemmed purely from curiosity. After all, if Lior understood the intricacies of soul-binding, it was logical to assume he would hold other pertinent knowledge.

"Furthermore, are you genuinely a Rank 5 Emovira?" Asher inquired, meeting the Emovira’s gaze, his tone now carrying a more pronounced seriousness, shedding its earlier casualness.

Lior remained impassive, holding Asher’s gaze as if the youth had pierced through a carefully constructed facade. He offered no confirmation or denial, merely returning Asher’s stare, pondering if he was truly conversing with a mere eighteen-year-old.

His initial intention had been to approach Asher to discuss the formidable Wargrave bloodline, but Asher had completely redirected the conversation with a couple of well-placed questions, deftly seizing control of the discussion's trajectory.

"I surmise that you are not particularly ancient in terms of Emovira years. After all, Emovirae of considerable age typically possess extensive worldly knowledge and grasp of lore, including information about the Empires and esteemed noble houses like the Wargraves. Your curiosity regarding the Wargraves, therefore, suggests your youth," Asher elaborated. "However, I am left to wonder how much of what you present is fabricated, and how much is genuine truth?" he concluded with a chilling composure, his voice steady yet subtly laden with an oppressive weight.