“He has been asleep for a week—right after attacking a convoy from Edom.”
Isaac clenched his teeth, glaring at the young man lying motionless on the bed. The boy’s snow-white hair and pale skin were almost unnaturally pure.
Lord Winter sat silently at the bedside, his expression unreadable as he gazed at Asher.
“Is he really Kryos’ vessel?” Isaac asked, his tone edged with skepticism.
Lord Winter released a deep sigh. “When I looked into his eyes before, I could see it. But now… I am not so sure. His body has undergone a unique transformation. His physique isn’t the same anymore.”
Isaac pondered his words momentarily before throwing a swift punch at Asher’s face. With the kind of force that backed the blow, it was enough for the punch to reduce Asher’s head into a paste—but before it could connect, ice erupted from the ground, blocking the strike.
Isaac’s eyes widened. “Is this truly the unbreakable and unmelting ice of Kryos!” His voice trembled with astonishment as his pupils darted over the crystalline barrier.
“Kryos’ talent is capable of protecting the host. Even if the boy is unconscious, you can’t harm him as long as he retains any battle force,” Lord Winter explained, his eyes gleaming faintly.
Isaac narrowed his gaze at Asher. “So… Kryos is back. It might be one of the greatest talents ever to exist, but right now it is trapped in the body of a weak, faithless human.”
Turning on his heels, Isaac walked away.
Lord Winter’s voice fell into his ears as he reached the door. “He might not have faith in I Am, but his faith to resurrect his companion is unwavering. Having faith to do the impossible, to hope for that which is not seen—by faith, it exists. That is no different from borrowing strength from I Am. He just doesn’t know it yet.”
Isaac paused, placing his hand on the door. “I don’t care whether he realizes it or not. He will bear the consequences of killing the rat beastmen.”
Without another word, Isaac left, leaving Lord Winter in silence. The old priest smiled and rose to his feet before walking towards the window.
He gazed at the two moons hanging in the night sky and then at Asher through the corner of his left eye. “Rest while you can, Kryos vessel. The world will soon know of your existence and once they do… the old times will return. But for now, you are no longer a lord.”
_____
A day later, a man with short, snow-white hair walked into the lord’s office. Asher’s presence silenced the room as he met Isaac and Lord Winter.
“Asher. You are awake.”
Asher nodded.
“How do you feel?”
“Normal.”
“The council has agreed on what would be your punishment. You did say you are not here as a lord.”
“I did. And that hasn’t changed.”
Lord Winter’s lips curled into a faint smile, noting that Asher’s stand didn’t change even in the face of a detrimental end. “Good. Here’s what we have decided: we want you to pretend there is another human faction out there that is intent on annihilating beastmen. This should keep their fury focused elsewhere.”
Asher frowned. “Isn’t that focusing all their anger on me so that you can hand me over to them and appease them to save yourselves?”
“This plan became necessary because you killed a member of their royal family,” Isaac said coldly.
“I see.”
Asher rose to his feet, his movements deliberate yet unnervingly forceful. Instinctively, Isaac’s hand tightened around his sword’s hilt as he noticed a bit of Asher’s jarring force, forcing on the edge. Even though he knew that he was stronger than Asher, that force was just nerve-wracking!
“I shall do as the council has said,” Asher said calmly, “but I can’t fight whatever they would bring next on my own.”
“We know,’ Lord Winter replied with a soft chuckle. “A hundred men have been gathered to aid you. They shall prove useful in causing trouble to those rats.”
Asher merely raised an eyebrow. “Are they trained?”
“They know how to wield a shield and a spear just fine. And to ease the burden, we shall also assign you Simon—a veteran, diamond-ranked knight. His vast experience should give him an advantage, even against a sacred knight.”
Asher looked at Isaac, who spoke. He felt it. Isaac’s hatred for him had grown and it seemed to be more than just because of his actions; even his fighting style seemed to be a problem to this hand of Lord Winter.
“A small base has been prepared. Your men have been stationed there for days. You should hurry and join them—unless you want them to appoint someone else and relegate you to the rank of a foot soldier.” Isaac said but Asher knew that although his words were harsh, the warning behind them was valid.
Shortly after Asher left, he found Moses in the courtyard, feeding their horses while Cynthia gently stroked Bezerk’s mane. Their heads turned to him the instant they saw him.
Asher, with his short snow-white hair and striking golden eyes, looked twice as handsome as before. If he was like a young count then, he now carried the commanding presence of a young prince.
His tall, powerful frame featured broad shoulders, a slim waist, and powerful legs strong enough to crush boulders, which was accentuated by his leather chestplate over his sleeveless shirt. Tight black pants and sturdy black boots completed his attire.
Seeing all this, Cynthia couldn’t help but look away, her cheeks flushing. Her body temperature couldn’t remain the same with him in her line of sight. Her grandmother’s words urging her to win the Lord’s affection echoed in her mind, but she pushed them aside.
Knowing Asher, such an attempt would be suicidal—only Sapphira, the queen of beauty, had ever managed to get through his ice-cold heart.
“Your Lordship!”
Both of them dropped to one knee and greeted him, but Asher remained silent for a while before walking past them. “Stand. Do not portray your respect to such a magnitude in public again. Here, I am but a soldier.”
He caressed Bezerk and ran a hand along the horse’s mane.
“My Lord, why are you not wearing a coat? And your arms—you are exposing so much of your skin!” Cynthia blurted, her voice tinged with concern.
Asher’s eyes flickered, and a knowing smile touched his lips.
“Because…”
[New Talent Unlocked: Kryos, ‘The Snow Wolf.’ Congratulations, Host. You have awakened a Zenith-ranked talent, one of the Sixth Star Order! Be warned—this talent is alive and carries the heritage of its previous bearers.]