Asher waved goodbye to Mika and Bran as they went their separate ways, walking down the dimly lit streets of the Delta Region toward his home. His headphones were on, and his mind wandered back to the conversation on the train. The thought of Squad Zero, and the challenge it presented, swirled around in his head. His friends believed in him, but did he believe in himself?
As he rounded a corner, lost in thought, a terrible scene unfolded before his eyes. A nobleman was standing over a small girl, his boot pressing down on her frail body as she cried out in pain. The man was laughing, amused by her misery. The sight made Asher's blood boil.
Without hesitation, Asher walked toward them, rage building with every step. Just as the nobleman was about to press his foot down harder, Asher grabbed his leg mid-air. The nobleman looked at him, startled.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Asher's voice was low but filled with anger as he threw the nobleman to the ground effortlessly.
He knelt beside the small girl, gently dusting her off. "What's your name?" he asked with a soft smile, trying to calm her down.
The girl sniffled and wiped her tears. "My name is Kia."
Asher nodded, his anger still simmering as he listened to her story. "What happened?"
"I... I just asked him for some money because I haven't eaten all day," Kia said, her voice trembling. "Then he started hitting me."
Without saying a word, Asher reached into his bag and pulled out some money. "This isn't much, but it should help," he said, handing it to her. The little girl stared at him, unsure of what to say.
"Thank you, sir," Kia said, her eyes wide with gratitude. It was the first time Asher had seen such genuine joy and appreciation directed toward him, aside from Mika and Bran—or his mother.
Asher smiled gently. "You're welcome. Now go on, get home safely."
Kia nodded, clutching the money tightly in her small hands as she ran off, leaving Asher to face the nobleman again. His expression hardened. "You heartless monster. How could you bully a child?"
The nobleman, now scrambling to back away, was terrified. "Stay away from me, you filthy monster!" he shouted, calling for his men. Several burly guards stepped forward, weapons drawn, ready to face Asher.
Before the fight could begin, a calm yet commanding voice echoed from behind a sleek black limo that had pulled up nearby. "What is all this nonsense?"
The guards quickly stood at attention as the door to the limo opened. Asher turned, confused, to see a young man step out. He was tall, about 6'2", with striking blonde hair that gleamed like the Morningstar itself. His piercing blue eyes, as deep and cold as the ocean, surveyed the scene before settling on Asher.
The young man (he was only a year older than Asher as )the young man smirked, an air of superiority hanging over him. "What's your name, peasant?" he asked, his voice laced with arrogance.
Asher clenched his fists, his annoyance clear in his voice. "Don't call me that. My name is Asher. Get that through your head."
One of the guards, enraged by Asher's words, was about to attack, but the young man raised his hand, stopping him. "No need to fight this... *peasant*," he said, a sly smile curling his lips. "As for you, Asher, my name is Logan Pendragon. Remember that—you stand in the presence of greatness."
Logan then turned to the nobleman still cowering on the ground. "Snknifes, what are you doing here? You told my father you were ill. So, you lied?" Logan's voice was icy, sending a shiver down Snknifes' spine. "You know how much my father despises liars."
Logan snapped his fingers, and his men grabbed Snknifes, dragging him toward the limo. "Take him to my father. He'll deal with this." As the men threw Snknifes into the car, Logan gave Asher one last look, his smirk still present. "We'll meet again, peasant . I'm sure of it."
Without another word, Logan stepped back into the limo, and the car sped away, leaving Asher standing alone on the street, still fuming from the encounter. He had a strange feeling that this wouldn't be the last time he'd cross paths with Logan Pendragon.