CHAPTER 146: WILLIAM

Although Asher had closed his eyes to the world, it seemed that the world, in turn, had not closed its eyes to him.

Somewhere ahead, the faint sound of measured footsteps reached his ears, each one deliberate, unhurried, and calm. Through his Omni Perception, which allowed him to sense every minute detail within the chamber with flawless clarity, Asher perceived the figure approaching.

His eyes remained closed, yet nothing escaped his awareness, the faint swish of clothing, the measured pace, the unchanging rhythm of breathing.

The moment the figure came to a stop before him, Asher’s eyelids lifted, revealing a sharp, discerning gaze. Standing before him was a boy of about five feet eight inches in height, with neatly kept black hair and deep, equally black eyes that seemed to hold a certain refined composure.

Even without exchanging a word, Asher could already tell that this boy was of noble birth, something in the way he carried himself, the subtle tilt of his chin, and the understated confidence in his expression.

Which noble house he belonged to, however, Asher neither knew nor particularly cared to know.

"It’s nice to finally meet the Tenth Sun. It is an honour," the boy spoke, his voice steady, his noble-like smile perfectly polite and practiced.

Asher, however, did not return the smile. Though he was capable of smiling and engaging in conversation when he wished to, that was reserved for people he actually knew or considered worth his time.

Here, in this place, he knew no one, and thus saw no reason to wear a mask of friendliness.

"Who might you be?" he asked, his tone perfectly neutral, neither hostile nor welcoming, merely steady, as though the answer mattered little.

"It seems I’ve made a blunder by not introducing myself first," the boy replied with a light chuckle. "My name is William Canestane, first and only child of the Canestane family." As he spoke, William extended his right hand toward Asher, offering a handshake.

Asher’s gaze dropped to the extended hand.

Though it was merely a handshake, his wariness did not waver. In a world like Crymora, where the smallest gesture could carry lethal consequences, caution was a habit one could not afford to discard.

He had not forgotten how the Emperor had once attempted to tamper with his memory with nothing more than a simple tap on the shoulder, nor how Commander Yevric had decimated an entire wave of monsters with a mere flick of his wrist.

Such displays had etched into Asher’s mind a firm reminder: in this world, even the simplest gesture might hold deadly intent.

Of course, the Emperor and Commander Yevric were beings of extraordinary might, while the young man standing before him was merely a noble heir. If William tried anything, Asher was confident he would notice immediately.

At last, Asher’s hand rose, meeting William’s in a firm yet calm handshake. "Nice to meet you," he said.

"The pleasure is mine," William replied warmly, his own tone steady. Without further ceremony, he sat down nearby, as though they were already old friends sharing a moment together.

"Why did you want to meet me?" Asher asked, his voice as direct as ever.

"Nothing in particular," William said with a casual smile. "Who wouldn’t want to meet a Wargrave? My father is merely a Baron, after all."

Asher’s eyes lingered on him for a brief moment before he gave a small nod.

It was true, most Barons chose to have only a single child, so as to avoid messy disputes over succession in their relatively small domains.

However, a few still chose to have two children, as insurance, in case fate claimed one too early.

Noble titles, after all, could only be passed down through blood. Even if a childless Baroness adopted an heir, that heir could not inherit the title unless they shared the bloodline.

As Asher began to lower his eyelids once again, William’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Do you want to explore the Canestane territory? As the next heir, I know every inch of this land."

"Are we even allowed to leave?" Asher asked, curiosity slipping into his tone.

"We are," William replied smoothly. "We aren’t prisoners, after all."

"What if the Academy leaves without us?" Asher asked, his voice steady but probing.

"The Academy won’t leave until five in the late afternoon. As long as we’re back before then, we won’t miss our departure," William said with that same calm smile.

’System, what’s the time?’ Asher asked inwardly, addressing the ever-present clock... system in his mind.

[2:01 p.m., Host] the system chimed promptly.

’So, three hours then,’ Asher thought.

"I’m afraid I’ll have to decline the offer," Asher said at last. "Perhaps another time."

William’s brows rose slightly in mild surprise, but he made no effort to press further. Instead, he simply nodded.

Although Asher technically had more than enough time before the Star Academy staff departed with their students, he was not about to risk being left behind over something as trivial as touring a Baron’s lands.

That would be the height of foolishness, perhaps even worthy of being remembered as one of the greatest blunders in Crymora’s history.

While Asher knew little about the Star Academy itself, the simple fact that every Wargrave before him had attended was reason enough to ensure he did not miss his own opportunity.

And then, there was the matter of the Principal, the woman so often praised and spoken of with such reverence. Asher found himself curious to meet her in person.

Since entering the chamber, Asher had noted the absence of the Ducal heirs. Not that he particularly desired to meet them, such encounters meant little to him, but he suspected they had chosen to head to admission territories closer to their respective Ducal lands.

Time moved steadily forward, the rhythmic sound of the chamber door opening and closing marking the arrival of more people. New students entered, some choosing to sit quietly, others breaking into lively conversation with acquaintances they already knew.

Through his perception, Asher noticed that more than a few stole glances in his direction from time to time. It did not bother him. If he were someone else, he too might have found himself looking at... well, himself.

After all, it was not every day one encountered a person possessing both such a face and such a status.

His thoughts drifted to the Royal twins, Vaelra and Vaelric Lux Vanthelmor.

He wondered just how powerful they truly were, and his mind began to wander further, to the heirs of the other Dukes. Their bloodlines alone were enough to mark them as exceptional, perhaps even terrifyingly so.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Though he was two years late to the awakening, giving everyone else a considerable head start, Asher felt no insecurity. If anything, he was certain he had already caught up to, or perhaps even surpassed, the majority of them.

He looked forward to the inevitable battles within the Academy’s walls.

Would the nobles attempt to intimidate or control the commoners through sheer status?

Would bullying be rampant? Was killing permitted in the Academy’s duels or trials? What subjects would be taught? Would techniques be handed out freely, or would one have to earn them through effort?

Was the Star Academy truly the neutral force it claimed to be? Or were some of its lecturers quietly serving the agendas of powerful noble houses behind the scenes?

One by one, these questions swirled through his thoughts, each carrying the promise of answers that only time, and the Academy itself, could provide.