CLEAVER OF SIN
Chapter 99: Avenge

Chapter 99: Avenge

Although Asher could have easily asked Lyra to ride the horse and be done with it, he knew that wasn’t the point. He was here to enjoy the moment, the process, not to rush through it like a speedrun.

With that in mind, Lyra moved to the next lesson: mounting the horse.

Asher didn’t really require much instruction for this part; he had seen it done countless times in movies and anime. Still, Lyra demonstrated the correct way to mount a horse, gracefully swinging her leg over and sitting firmly in the saddle. Asher followed suit, mimicking the motion effortlessly.

Even if he hadn’t known how, he could have easily finessed his way onto the horse’s back with his physique and coordination. Nevertheless, Lyra made him repeat the process several times, ensuring it became second nature.

Then, they proceeded to the third lesson: sitting posture.

Lyra spent a few minutes correcting Asher’s seated position as she gave concise and purposeful instructions. "Keep your legs relaxed but close to the horse’s sides," she instructed calmly. "Hold the reins softly, with your hands low and steady, just above the saddle."

Asher absorbed and replicated every word with ease. Thanks to his Perfect Muscle Memory, anything he physically performed was done with precision. Even if Asher had wanted to slow the learning process to enjoy it more, his ability paid no attention to such sentiments.

Next came the fourth lesson: basic commands.

This involved learning how to guide and direct the horse using both physical cues and verbal signals.

Minutes blurred into more minutes, and soon Asher had absorbed every necessary instruction. Before long, he was trotting across the open field, the horse responding seamlessly to his commands.

A bright smile spread across Asher’s face, boyish and carefree, as the wind swept against him. He could easily outrun the horse if he wanted, his own speed far exceeded that of any steed, but that wasn’t the point. The experience itself was what mattered. He even found himself leaping over a few hurdles scattered across the training grounds.

’I’ve seen people shooting arrows while riding... maybe I should try learning that too,’ Asher mused as he rode without restraint. Behind him, Lyra followed calmly atop her own horse.

After nearly an hour of spirited riding, Asher switched over to an Enduron horse. Surprisingly, he handled it just as easily as the normal one. Having mastered the basics, he felt confident enough to raise the stakes.

"Lyra, let’s race," he declared suddenly.

Lyra smiled in response and nodded without hesitation. "As you wish, Young Master."

They decided to use the normal horses for the race to keep things fair. In an explosive start, a brown horse and a black one burst forward, cutting through the wind and weaving between the trees behind the Wargrave estate.

The thunderous rhythm of hooves striking the earth echoed through the field, accompanied by the sound of heavy breathing and pounding hearts, though all of it was drowned beneath the steady beat of momentum.

During the race, Asher even shouted the cliché phrase "Giddy up!" without any trace of embarrassment. He was thoroughly enjoying himself, embracing the moment fully.

And as expected, he completely lost to Lyra.

"Good race, Lyra," Asher said with a smile, dismounting as they made their way back toward his room.

"Thank you, Young Master," Lyra replied, returning the smile. She hadn’t gone easy on him, and she hadn’t needed to. Her victory had been genuine.

Once they returned to the room, Asher immediately took a bath and changed into fresh clothes. He had been riding for hours, and the physical exertion, while manageable, had still left him dusty and windblown.

Later in the evening, curiosity tugged at him. He found himself stepping into his personal training room, a place he hadn’t visited since he moved into his new room. But tonight, he couldn’t resist the urge to inspect it.

As he pushed open the heavy door, a wave of dense Astra washed over him. The moment he stepped inside, the door shut automatically behind him with a quiet thud.

’Incredible. The Astra concentration in here is over twenty times higher than the one in my room,’ Asher thought, his eyes scanning the chamber in awe.

The walls appeared to be made of some kind of heavy, unfamiliar metal. Even the floor was crafted from the same mysterious material. Everything exuded durability and strength.

’In this place, I can recover my Astra far faster. I can cultivate at an accelerated pace. This could save me an enormous amount of time,’ he thought with satisfaction, walking slowly around the chamber.

He took several minutes to inspect every corner, marveling at its construction and possibilities. Then, satisfied for now, he stepped out. By that point, darkness had blanketed the world of Crymora. The sun had long set, and the moon now cast its gentle silver light across the estate.

Within moments of his return to his room, Lyra entered with his dinner, which Asher ate gratefully. His thoughts were already drifting toward the training he planned to begin the next day.

Later that night, as he lay on his bed deep in thought, a soft knock echoed through the room.

’What’s Wuthenya doing here?’ Asher wondered, recognizing her presence through his Omni Perception before she even entered.

But before he could utter his usual "Come in," the door creaked open, and Wuthenya stepped in casually, entirely unbothered by formalities.

"Sister Wuthenya, what are you doing here?" Asher asked as he rose slightly, shifting into a seated position on his bed.

"Oh ho... can’t I visit my little brother just because I feel like it?" Wuthenya asked playfully, smiling as her eyes met his.

"You can, Sister Wuthenya. I’m just surprised, it’s already quite late," Asher replied, shaking his head slightly.

Wuthenya chuckled softly, then said, "I came to inform you of my departure. This will be our last meeting for a while, youngest."

Asher raised an eyebrow. "Isn’t it dangerous to travel at this time of night? What if you’re ambushed?"

"Don’t worry," she replied, still smiling. "No one would dare. And besides, if I die, the youngest will avenge me, right?"

She said it in a light, teasing tone, but her eyes held a spark of genuine warmth.

Asher didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he smiled, then stood. "Let me escort you to your carriage."

Together, they stepped out into the cool night air, talking casually about trivial matters as they walked. A few minutes later, they arrived at the designated location where Wuthenya’s personal maid stood waiting beside a carriage with the horses already prepared.

"See you later, Sister Wuthenya," Asher said as she began to climb into the carriage.

Wuthenya paused, then turned to look at him. "I expect to hear good results when you enter the Academy, youngest," she said, her voice carrying a hint of fond expectation.

With that, she stepped inside and gently closed the door. Yet even as the carriage began to roll away, her sharp black eyes lingered on him until the very last moment.

Asher didn’t reply. In truth, he knew next to nothing about the Academy. But he simply waved her off in silence, watching the carriage disappear into the night.

With a soft sigh, Asher turned and disappeared back into his room.