Time had passed and it was already afternoon.
The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the opulent living room, which was inside the house.
Alexander, Kaliyah, and Aster sat in comfortable silence. The room was a masterful blend of luxury and sophistication, with lavish gold and silver accents adorning the walls. The sleek, modern furniture featured chairs with luxurious velvet upholstery in a deep, midnight blue color, and polished silver metal frames with delicate filigree patterns.
Alexander and Kaliyah sat together on a large, comfortable chair, while Aster occupied a well-maintained chair opposite them. The air was filled with the aroma of freshly brewed tea and the scent of delicious sandwiches.
Just then, Nixia, Kaliyah's mother, emerged from the kitchen, wearing a pink apron that suited her unique physique. She carried a large container with two cups of tea and a plate of sandwiches.
Nixia walked over to them and set the container of food on the sleek, black coffee table that sat between Alexander, Kaliyah, and Aster.
"Now that everything is settled, feel free to dig in and continue your conversations," Nixia said politely, placing the dish on the table between them.
Alexander's eyes lit up as he reached for a sandwich and his green tea. Aster calmly took his normal tea, his expression unreadable. Kaliyah took two sandwiches and began eating, her eyes fixed on her father.
"Before I start talking..." Alexander began, taking a sip of his tea. He turned to Kaliyah, "Kaliyah, would you mind stepping out so I can have a word with Aster?"
Kaliyah's expression turned stubborn. "No way, Dad. I'm not leaving. I came here to listen to this conversation."
Alexander's expression remained calm, but his tone turned gentle. "I'll fill you in later, okay? For now, can you go help Mom with something? I'd like to have a talk with Aster."
Nixia smiled, agreeing with the idea. "Actually, that sounds great. Kaliyah, want to go to your room with me and chat?"
Kaliyah's eyes narrowed, her mind racing. "Dad's about to share something with Aster, and I'm not sure what it is. It could be about me or something completely different. But given Valtira's interest in Aster, I think Dad might be connected to that somehow. There's definitely more going on here than I know."
Kaliyah sighed, knowing she wouldn't win this argument. "Fine, but you have to tell me everything later."
Alexander chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Good girl, always listening. You're such a sweetheart."
Kaliyah's eyes rolled, but she stood up and walked with her mom to the stairs. As they left, Aster continued to drink his tea, his expression calm and unreadable.
"Let's get down to business," Alexander said, his tone turning serious. "Aster, I think it's time we had a talk."
Aster's gaze lifted, his eyes locking onto Alexander's. "I'm listening," he said calmly, his voice devoid of emotion.
"Before we begin, I'd like to hear your thoughts on why I wanted to talk to you," Alexander said, his tone serious and measured.
Aster's gaze locked onto Alexander's, his expression unreadable. "You're trying to keep something from Kaliyah, so I'm guessing it's either something you don't want her to know or something entirely different," he replied calmly, his voice devoid of emotion.
"That's correct. Actually, this concerns you personally," Alexander replied, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Aster's gaze didn't waver. "About me? You're quite confident in your assertion," he stated, his tone flat.
Alexander's smile was calculated. "That piqued your interest, didn't it? Very well, I'll elaborate."
"I've been told you're an outsider," Alexander added, his words dripping with intrigue.
Aster's response was immediate. "By whom exactly?" he asked, his voice calm and detached.
"The gods themselves informed me," Alexander said, his tone getting even more serious. "Apparently, you're powerful enough to enter this world on your own terms. The gods don't even know who you are."
Aster's expression remained impassive, but his mind was racing. "Valtira's mentioned this before. I'm not surprised he's aware." He thought.
"If you think there's been a misunderstanding, I should warn you that I'm not the only one who knows about this," Alexander continued. "The gods may have already informed others. Who knows."
Aster's gaze locked onto Alexander's. "Assuming what you said about me being an outsider is true, what do you think the gods will do next?" he asked, his tone devoid of emotion.
"I'd say they'll either try to eliminate you or use you for their own gain," Alexander replied, his smile growing wider.
Aster's expression remained calm. "Then why advise me if the gods themselves told you about me? Isn't this a form of betrayal?" he asked, his tone flat.
Alexander was taken aback by Aster's words, but he quickly regained his composure. "Honestly, I don't think the gods' intentions are safe... And besides, I could tell you can manage your own during the fight we had earlier this morning. I'm fully sure that you were holding back.The Vice-Chairman said you're a C-rank, but I don't believe it."
"How so? Even an E-rank could potentially do that," Aster stated, his tone dripping with skepticism.
"That's true," Alexander replied. "But what I'm trying to say is that the gods watching over the world can easily spot an outsider. Since they don't know you, that implies you're genuinely an outsider. Which raises the question... are you really a C-rank?"
Aster's gaze locked onto Alexander's, his expression unreadable.
"My abilities speak for themselves. Feel free to speculate, but it won't change the outcome," Aster said calmly, his expression unreadable.
Alexander's eyes narrowed slightly as he thought to himself, "He's mysterious and hard to read. His calm demeanor makes me think he's not one to be underestimated."
A smile remained on his face as he said, "If that's how you want to play it, I'll figure it out myself."
"I don't mind," Aster replied, his tone flat and detached.
"You've just given me the push I needed to take action," Alexander said, his eyes gleaming with interest. Aster didn't reply, his gaze fixed on Alexander.
Alexander thought, "He's a master player. I'd love to know what makes him tick."
He paused, then said, "Now that we've got that cleared up, let's talk about my daughter, Kaliyah. What's your honest opinion of her?"
Aster gazed at Alexander for a second before responding, "Kaliyah's got potential, but her self-interest is a liability. It's a delicate balance to maintain." His tone was analytical, without any hint of emotion.
Alexander chuckled. "That's a blunt assessment. But there's more to her story."
Aster's expression remained impassive. "I'm sure there is."
Alexander's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Then you want to know more about her past?"
Aster's response was immediate. "Are you really sure though? Anyone would like to use this as an advantage to get Kaliyah."
Alexander's smile never wavered. "You don't strike me as someone who'd compromise your position for personal gain. And I have my reasons for sharing this with you."
"I'll take your word for it," Aster said, his tone non-committal.
Alexander nodded, a gentle and calm smile still on his face. "Alright, let's start from the beginning. It all happened a few years ago..."