-Asher Frostblade's point of view.
Immersed in thought, Oriana stared at her coffee for several minutes as Asher watched her figure in front of him.
"Right."
Oriana narrowed her eyes, then picked up her coffee and took a sip, looking at him again.
The information provided by Asher...
Oriana analyzed it for several minutes. There was something peculiar about everything that had happened today, about the collapse of the gates and other events. However, certain details in Asher's information stood out.
The fact that dungeon management did not provide complete information and the sudden collapse of the dungeons suggested a connection.
What else was there to conclude? There was a relationship in all of this. Still, there was nothing concrete that would lead them to an immediate answer, especially since it had all happened only ten hours ago. So it was barely being investigated, and Oriana understood that.
She looked at Asher and finally spoke.
"We'll discuss the dungeon misinformation with the higher-ups in management."
"Right."
"Oh... Now that I look at you, you're in the third circle, aren't you?"
As if he was already expecting that question, Asher answered:
"Well, something unforeseen happened while I was in the dungeon."
"Unforeseen? What happened besides what you already told me?"
"You see..."
Asher proceeded to explain everything that happened with his other personality. The dungeon contained unusual elements, such as a mentally attacking fog, which caused Asher to lose control and a new personality to emerge.
This was crucial for his "Master" to know, given Asher's current state. Oriana showed no emotion, but remained deep in thought, as what Asher revealed to her was quite serious.
"Well... We're in trouble," she finally spoke, because it was true.
Next time, Asher would be completely sealed inside the blank, and his other personality would take possession of his body permanently.
Asher had christened this personality "Corruption," for it was a twisted version, the opposite of him, corrupt in every way. His actions and thoughts were bizarre, even psychopathic. The most disturbing thing was that, if this personality returned, it would try to kill Asher's friends, taking complete control of his body.
"But... How did you get back?"
He neglected to mention that Gloriana, with her affinity, had facilitated Asher's return. However, he thought about telling Oriana about Gloriana's affinity.
True, Gloriana was Oriana's sister, but Gloriana would want to reveal her affinity herself. Asher decided to calm down, thinking for a moment whether or not he should mention his sister's affinity to Oriana.
Asher possessed an affinity never before seen, with unknown abilities. Although many already knew about the dark magic he used, no one knew the true name or nature of his affinity, so they kept him under constant surveillance.
"Haaa... I don't know."
Asher spoke up.
"..."
Oriana frowned at Asher's response. A simple "I don't know" was, of course, a meaningless answer.
Oriana soon spoke with a more serious tone.
"Tell me, how did you recover? If you tell me, maybe I can help you."
"Because I don't know either," she quickly replied.
Asher also didn't understand why the light affinity had brought him back and taken control of his body, while his other personality was temporarily sealed.
"You don't know either... It doesn't feel like a lie."
Oriana could read facial expressions, emotions, heartbeat and nervousness with ease. Seeing that Asher showed none of these signs, she knew he was telling the truth.
"I see."
However, it was inevitable. Asher didn't know how he had returned, but she was suspicious. There was something strange about all this, and certainly, Asher was hiding something. For that, Oriana frowned even more.
"Tell me the rest."
"..."
Asher was puzzled, thinking the conversation would end there. He hadn't expected her to insist further, though he wasn't entirely surprised.
"What...?"
"Asher, your behavior and everything about you is in my hands. You are my disciple, and I have known you for 15 months. So, as your.... tutor, tell me what you are hiding."
"..."
He couldn't say anything, because she was right. Oriana knew Asher well: his actions, his thoughts, his emotions, everything.
Soon, Oriana frowned even more.
Asher's reaction definitely confirmed to her that he was hiding something from her. However...
"You're not someone close to me? Why should I tell you everything?"
"..."
Oriana was stunned. Asher's words took her by surprise.
"That attitude... it's different," she thought.
Perhaps it was a consequence of his other personality. Possibly that other side of Asher had left some side effect on her. Still, the problem was obvious: Asher's words had infuriated Oriana for a moment.
"It's okay... It's true, I'm nothing to you, let alone someone close. We're just acquaintances, nothing more," Oriana said angrily.
"..."
Though Asher frowned as well, he too felt annoyed.
"Fine, then don't ask. You don't know anything about me, just like I don't know anything about you."
This situation raised a question: why had Oriana taken Asher as a disciple in the first place?
"Why am I your disciple?"
"..."
Oriana didn't know what to answer right away.
"It's true..." she mumbled.
She had also asked herself that question at the time. It all started as payback, since Asher had saved Gloriana in the past, protecting her while several knights had failed to do so.
"Enough," Oriana said, visibly annoyed.
Her face tensed even more, the veins in her forehead showing signs of growing anger due to Asher's brazen words.
Asher, however, remained aloof, his expression calm and stern, with no crack in his posture.
"Haa... Now you're arguing with me... Fine," she said, rubbing her forehead in frustration.
Oriana had tried to engage in a calm conversation, but everything had taken a bad turn due to Asher's first words.
"Let's start over, shall we?"
"Good."
They both agreed. They knew that if they distanced themselves, things would become problematic for both of them.
"As you were saying, it's true that I shouldn't have even asked you anything you didn't want to tell me."
"Because you're nobody to me.... I'm used to being alone."
"..."
Asher's words left Oriana visibly shocked.
"Just..."
That word echoed in her mind, and Oriana asked herself a question.
"Asher, don't you remember your family?"
"Why should I? I have no memory of it, I didn't even know my age or date of birth until a few days ago."
"..."
Oriana looked at him uneasily.
That raised more questions in her mind, until, suddenly....
"Uh..."
Oriana turned around, as someone had placed a hand on her shoulder. As she turned, she saw a woman similar in appearance to her own, but with jet black hair and red eyes, just like Oriana's.
He knew who this woman was, as well as her status in the academy and in the kingdom, and her strength.
"Briana, is something wrong?"
Oriana looked at the woman and mentioned her name as she frowned. Briana watched her with a smile.
Then Briana looked at Asher and gave him a smile, but he sensed something strange.
"What the hell...? I feel like I've seen her before."
It was a familiar feeling, as if Briana was someone Asher knew, but at the same time not.
"I... I don't know anything."
His mind began to spin. He had no idea who this woman was, but her presence felt strangely familiar.
"I came to tell you that the principal called all the teachers to an urgent meeting," Briana said.
"Oh."
Oriana nodded, stood up and looked at Asher one last time.
"I must go."
"Okay."
They both said their goodbyes. Before leaving, however, Briana turned to Asher.
"Are you Oriana's disciple?"
"..."
Asher looked at her seriously. Briana was also a teacher, but he had never seen her at the academy or in classes before. Still, he knew she was.
"Yes," Asher replied.
"I understand. I should go too..."
Briana averted her gaze for a moment, then looked him straight in the eye, smiling suddenly.
"I see you're from the third circle."
"I am."
Asher gave quick, short answers, as he was wary of her. Something about Briana made him uneasy, as if her presence was familiar, just like that unknown woman who always visited him.
But.
"Her voice is different from that of the unknown woman? Maybe I'm just imagining it."
Asher questioned himself, trying to calm down.
"Well, goodbye, cadet," Briana said.
Soon, she caught up with Oriana and they both left. Asher watched Briana's back for a moment and then frowned.
Suddenly...
"Haa... haa... haa... haa..."
He felt his chest rise and fall hard, his breathing became ragged, and he broke into a cold sweat.
"Shit... This..."
He didn't know what to say, but a choking sensation suddenly enveloped him.