"This psycho…"
Asher lowered his center of gravity slightly, raising his guard as he stared Morgan directly in the eyes.
The training hall around them had fallen completely silent.
Morgan flexed her fingers once before giving him a small smile.
"I would have suggested using our Aspect Abilities freely, but that would probably destroy a large part of this level of the compound. So, sadly, we will have to limit ourselves to our Dormant and Awakened powers. I hope you don't mind."
Asher nodded, looking deathly serious.
Morgan of Valor.
She was a person that had utterly destroyed Sunny when he was an awakened.
Granted, she had possessed the advantage of rank at the time, but still…
Asher had no doubt.
Morgan was monstrous.
Even now, he considered her comparable to Sunny and Nephis.
After all, Sunny wasn't the only person Nephis had unintentionally inspired.
Morgan had been watching too.
Watching her younger sister grow at a terrifying speed.
Watching Nephis become a Master in less than three years.
There was no way Morgan had remained stagnant after that.
"Prepare yourself Master Asher..."
Asher's pupils contracted instantly.
There was only one reliable strategy against an opponent this troublesome....
Suddenly, Morgan was beside him, and her hand was falling down like the inescapable blade of a guillotine.
'Fast.'
Immediately, Asher vision burned as everything around him grew slower.
He twisted his foot sharply and shifted sideways just as Morgan's hand sliced past him, narrowly avoiding the blow by inches.
The pressure alone made his skin crawl.
Morgan reacted instantly.
Using the momentum from the missed strike, she pivoted smoothly into a kick aimed directly at his head.
But over the years—
Asher had developed something strange.
An almost unnatural ability to predict movement through subtle muscle contractions, shifting balance, and intent.
And Morgan was no exception.
Asher pulled his head back her kick narrowly missing his.
He grinned.
Morgan's eyes widened slightly.
Because Asher suddenly launched backward across the training hall at absurd speed, as if some invisible force pushed him away.
"Oh noooo—!"
His completely stoic expression remained as he yelled dramatically, flying across the room before slamming lightly against a wall.
He immediately pushed himself upright and dusted his clothes casually.
"Lady Morgan," he said seriously, "your kick was so powerful that the gust alone blew me away."
He placed a hand over his chest.
"It's my honest loss."
Morgan stared at him.
Then frowned.
"What are you—"
"Please excuse me."
Asher bowed politely while already backing toward the exit.
"Let's spar again once I become stronger!"
There was absolutely no way he was entertaining this battle-crazed lunatic in a real fight.
Not when he still hadn't fully adjusted to his Ascended abilities.
That sounded like suicide!
"Okay then!" Asher said cheerfully while reaching the doors. "Bye bye!"
The doors slid open.
Then shut behind him.
Silence returned to the training hall.
Morgan remained standing there motionlessly for several seconds.
Then.. a laugh escaped her mouth.
Her hand slowly clenched into a fist as excitement flickered across her face for the first time since the spar began.
"Don't think you're escaping me that easily…"
Her smile widened dangerously.
"…My knight."
__________
"That perverted battle maniac.."
Asher clicked his tongue, knocking on a door.
A few seconds later, hurried footsteps echoed from inside.
"Coming!"
The door swung open, revealing a middle-aged woman with soft features and warm eyes.
The moment she saw him, her expression brightened.
"Ah! You must be Asher!"
Asher immediately straightened his posture politely.
"Good afternoon, ma'am," he greeted with a small smile. "I'm here for Cassie."
"Yes, yes, she's getting ready," the woman said warmly before opening the door wider. "Why don't you come inside? I was just about to make tea."
"Oh, well, I wouldn't want to trou—"
"Ash. You're here."
Asher turned.
Cassie was walking down the stairs calmly.
She wore a simple black camisole beneath a loose beige cardigan, paired with jeans. Compared to her usual appearance, the casual outfit felt strangely… normal.
Almost dangerous in its own way.
Without wasting time, she walked directly toward him before turning slightly toward her mother.
"Sadly, we're in a bit of a hurry, Mom."
Asher sighed internally before offering Cassie's mother an apologetic smile.
"That's unfortunate, ma'am. Maybe next time I can stay for tea properly."
"Ah, I see. Then—"
"Goodbye, Mom."
Cassie immediately grabbed Asher by the sleeve and started dragging him away before the poor woman could even finish speaking.
Only after they had walked a fair distance away did Asher finally speak.
"You know," he said dryly, "was there any reason to be that mean to your mother?"
Cassie shrugged lightly.
"Well, I'd rather my parents not end up divorcing."
Asher nearly stumbled mid-step.
"D-Divorcing?! How the hell did the conversation escalate to that?!"
Cassie frowned slightly beneath her blindfold.
"Do I really need to explain?"
Silence followed.
Asher wisely decided not to ask further.
Eventually, Cassie spoke again, her tone becoming calmer.
"Jokes aside," she said quietly, "my schedule is rather tight today."
She adjusted the edge of her cardigan slightly.
"So I was hoping we could finish our conversation quickly."
Asher slowly nodded, wrapping reality around them.
A moment later, they arrived in front of a small café tucked away between several buildings, obscure enough that nobody paid them any attention.
The two entered quietly before taking seats beside a nearby window.
Asher immediately grabbed the menu.
"I'll take an ice cream skillet," he declared confidently. "What about you?"
Cassie tilted her head thoughtfully for a moment before answering.
"A vanilla fried ice cream."
Asher's nose wrinkled instantly.
"…Excuse me?"
Cassie frowned slightly.
"What's wrong with fried ice cream?"
Asher looked genuinely disturbed.
There were simply some things that should never be paired with ice cream.
As a devoted connoisseur of ice creams, Asher had developed very strong opinions regarding the subject.
Deep frying ice cream was one of humanity's greatest mistakes.
"How," he muttered in disbelief, "does someone look at breadcrumbs and think: yes, this belongs with ice cream?"
Cassie ignored him entirely.
With a sigh full of disappointment toward modern civilization, Asher called the waiter over and ordered for both of them.
Only after the waiter left did he finally lean back in his chair and grin.
"So," he said casually, "why exactly did you invite me on a date?"
Cassie smiled faintly.
"A date?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"Ah… yes, I suppose this would qualify as one."
A small amused smile formed on her lips.
"Yes. Let's call it that."
Then she paused.
"Although," Cassie continued softly, "I doubt you'll enjoy this one very much."
Asher waved dismissively.
"What do you mean? As long as there's ice cream involved, I can enjoy any scen—"
"Ari."
Asher's smile froze.
Cassie slowly placed both hands atop the table.
"Stoney, Folrs, Uwshi, Martin, Saser—"
She paused, removing her blind fold.
For the first time since arriving, her eyes met his directly.
"...And Ari."
The smile on Asher's face was long gone, replaced with an emotionless, dangerous pair of hollow sapphire eyes.
Cassie smiled faintly, "Does that ring a bell?"
Every window in the room shattered simultaneously.
Glass erupted outward in a violent storm as cracks spread across the walls and ceiling instantly.
Screams erupted around them.
Then...
A crushing pressure descended on all.
_____
[A/N: we enter another turning point in the story...]