In a chamber designed with extreme opulence, exquisite paintings hung on the walls, and golden lanterns were spread out, illuminating the room with a warm, majestic glow.
Within the room, a figure stood facing the window, gazing out at the world before him. He was draped in white and black robes interwoven with golden accents. His cape billowed gently behind him as he stood with a small, thoughtful smile on his face.
Emperor Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor.
His mind was on Asher. He couldn’t quite understand what the boy had done, how he had so effortlessly dismantled Ryan Silvershade without breaking a sweat.
’I shouldn’t have imposed that rule that limited the spar to physical combat only,’ Zolthemir thought with a hint of regret.
He had established that rule to protect Asher, whom he had believed to be weaker than Ryan. After all, if Ryan had been allowed to use his bone manipulation abilities, who knew what kind of damage he could have caused to the Tenth Sun?
’I could have gained insight and valuable information about his abilities,’ Zolthemir mused, the smile never leaving his lips.
’He even resisted my Memory Manipulation ability... Does that mean he has awakened some kind of mind protection ability and just doesn’t realize it?’ Zolthemir was lost in contemplation.
Someone who possessed a mind protection ability would have known the moment their mind was being intruded upon. They would have reacted, even if subtly. Their eyes would have darted around to find the source, their muscles would have tensed, ready for a fight.
But Zolthemir had seen none of these signs in Asher. The boy didn’t even flinch. He spoke and walked away with calm strides and steady eyes, completely unaffected.
’Is it the ability of that soul weapon of his, the rapier?’ Zolthemir wondered. It seemed like a plausible explanation. He could remember the rapier floating silently behind the boy as he walked past him.
’Besides, in the Wargrave Household, there are records of soul weapons possessing mind protective abilities... Just like them...’ Zolthemir thought, his ever-present smile sharpening ever so slightly.
’Although I didn’t use the full extent of my ability, just to keep it hidden from the Dukes,’
Zolthemir reflected calmly.
He hadn’t unleashed the full power of his Memory Manipulation ability on Asher due to the presence of the Dukes and other nobles.
Maintaining the secrecy of such a rare and dangerous skill was more important than a brief probe into the boy’s mind. He didn’t believe Asher, or his weapon, at their current levels, could possibly resist him if he truly tried.
Although his ability was called Memory Manipulation, it allowed him more than just altering memories. He could also read them.
After all, one must read a memory before they can manipulate it.
He could choose to read and then simply not tamper with it. That had been his plan, to scan Asher’s mind quietly, then decide his next course of action on a later date.
But his ability had a notable limitation, it required physical contact. That was why he had placed his hand on Asher’s shoulder.
’Did Azeron’s tenth son really awaken only a week ago? If so, how is he already this strong? And if he didn’t, and instead awakened at fifteen on his first try, why would the Wargraves hide it? If they had planned to keep it secret, Azeron would never have allowed Asher to win. He wouldn’t have accepted Rhydion’s bet in the first place...’ Zolthemir’s thoughts spiraled.
Based on the information his spies had reported from within the Wargrave Household, Asher Wargrave had awakened recently, something that now seemed more suspicious than ever.
’Have the Wargraves finally started using their brains?’ Zolthemir scoffed inwardly.
’I should adjust my plans, but I’ll need to tread carefully. I don’t have to worry about Azeron, he doesn’t care about politics, only his spear. But his first son... Malrik Wargrave is a problem.’
Malrik was ridiculously talented, to the point that no one had ever witnessed the full extent of his abilities. Because if they had... they’d already be dead. His only supposed weakness was his love for his siblings, but that wasn’t a weakness at all. They were a family of monsters.
What truly set Malrik apart wasn’t just his strength. It was his mind. He could think, deeply, strategically, coldly. He could act on impulse when needed, but remain calculated and docile when the moment demanded it.
Zolthemir recalled the time he had kidnapped Malrik’s personal butler, attempting to extract information from his memories. But before his people could even reach the secure destination, Malrik was already there, waiting.
As if he had planned the entire thing. As if he had seen it all coming.
Although Malrik was younger than Azeron, it had been speculated repeatedly that he had already surpassed his father in terms of power.
Of course, many dismissed this as absurd. Azeron was monstrously strong, ridiculously so, and to surpass him, one had to be a god among men.
Even Zolthemir didn’t believe the rumor and had tossed it aside as nonsense. But whatever schemes he threw at Malrik, the boy responded with terrifying precision, not just defending, but counterattacking in brutal fashion. He wiped out everyone involved, down to their families, their friends, and even their allies.
Malrik was ruthless in every sense of the word.
Sometimes, Zolthemir wondered if Malrik even loved his siblings, considering the kind of merciless behavior he displayed. He remembered clearly the time Malrik wiped out an entire Count noble household, because the Count had looked at the Fifth Moon with suggestive eyes and an inappropriate smile.
Zolthemir had suffered immense losses under Malrik’s hand in his efforts to discover the young man’s weaknesses, to find some kind of hold over him... anything, really.
But in the end, neither of them could move directly against the other. One was the Emperor. The other was already set to be the next Primarch. They couldn’t just clash in the open, not yet.
’Sigh... This Wargrave family keeps giving me a headache every new day, How many monsters can a single bloodline possibly produce?’
Zolthemir thought with a sigh.
He had once entertained the theory that Malrik had awakened an ability that allowed him to see the future, but it remained just a theory. And besides, the future was ever-changing.
In terms of political power and raw combat strength, Malrik stood untouched. Nobles didn’t even dare blink in his direction. Even the Dukes exercised caution around him, because no one knew what truly lay behind that unnerving smile of his.