Asher gasped for air, his body trembling as he stared at Tessai's unconscious body crumpled against the wall.
His sword flickered out of existence as he exhaled, utterly exhausted.
He glanced at his palm. The bleeding had nearly stopped.
"Saint Zerei really did it…"
The murmur came from somewhere in the crowd. Heads turned. Asher recognized the speaker.
'Gorn. Right. That guy.'
Gorn stepped forward, voice rising.
"Saint Zerei really defeated a lieutenant!"
A hush fell. The crowd shifted.
Some gaped at Tessai in shock. Others paled.
But most…Most turned their gazes to Asher, eyes glinting with something dangerously close to reverence. Content orıginally comes from 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝕟𝕖𝕥
"The Saint has given us hope!"
A young hunter stepped forward, face alight.
"It's not talent we lack—it's resources! If we had more shards, more Memories… we could get strong too! Strong enough to fight alongside the Saint!"
"Long live the Saint!"
"Long live the Saint!"
Chants thundered around him.
Asher frowned, glancing from face to face, pulse still roaring in his ears.
He stepped forward, cutting through the cheers.
"I'm no longer Saint Zerei."
The crowd quieted for a beat—but the reverence didn't leave their eyes. If anything, it deepened.
Asher's fists clenched.
'What is wrong with them?'
Were they all knuckleheads? How did defeating Tessai prove that it was their lack of memories they are not strong?
Asher muttered, sitting slouched on a bench inside the lodge. Aiko knelt beside him, carefully wrapping a bandage around his palm, while Nephis stood across from him, arms crossed, her expression unreadable.
"It's not that they are all idiots. In the face of strength and success, people don't think—they follow. Power gives birth to belief. And belief… clouds reason."
Asher clicked his tongue, turning away from her like a sulking child.
"I don't fucking understand! Did they not see me use my aspect?! Where the fuck did my memories carry me!? I risked my life to knock that bastard out and the credit... goes to my memories?!" He barked before his face twisted into a grimace.
He turned to Aiko just as she tightened the last knot.
"Go slower—!" he flinched, but the words were cut short as something cool and firm slapped his cheek.
"Shut up and let me finish." Aiko growled, eyes sharp.
Hou, leaning against a pillar in the corner, chuckled under his breath.
Nephis frowned faintly at Aiko, but the look vanished as quickly as it came. Her face returned to its usual calm mask.
"You know," she said, tone flat, "you could've just let me heal you."
Asher shook his head, but Aiko caught his wrist mid-motion.
He sighed, then glanced at Nephis.
"Why would I? It'll heal in a few days. No need for you to go through pain over something this minor."
Nephis studied him a moment, then exhaled.
"Suit yourself. I do have to prepare everything for tomorrow so excuse me." She walked out of the lodge. Asher expression changed a bit as he looked at his body.
Outwardly, other than some shallow cuts here and there, he was fine. But inside, it was a mess.
His daemon physiology had prevented his bones from shattering, but even with his lineage-boosted resilience, his muscles were wrecked—tiny tears littered all over, his insides were throbbing with pain. In fact, the moment the adrenaline faded, he'd nearly collapsed outside the castle gates.
But his healing surpassed any sleeper so he was confident he would get into shape by 3 or 4 days.
That was the problem though.
Tomorrow was the Catacombs.
"Waaa…" he exhaled softly just as Aiko finished and stood up.
"Done," she said. Her eyes lingered on him for a second.
He lifted his head, giving a weak smile to Aiko. "Thanks." Aiko nodded sternly as she she got up, looking at Asher with a bit of a flattering face, "Don't do something that reckless again. Alright?"
Asher frowned, "I would do that again if someone hurt you though."
Aiko expression turned weird as her lips pursed. "Dimwit."
She pulled her hood up and stepped outside, not saying anything else.
Asher tilted his head back, staring at the ceiling.
"Still surprised she did that, though," he murmured, glancing down at the ragged bandages.
Hou walked over, settling into the stool Aiko had left behind. He grinned.
"Her way of paying you back."
He leaned in slightly.
"You saved her, after all."
Hou stared at Asher's bandaged hands, his expression unreadable.
Asher tilted his head.
Hou clenched his fists, his jaw tightening.
"Sorry I couldn't help you."
His voice dipped, hands tightening further.
'If only I had a combat-related aspect…"
"But you did though."
Hou's features relaxed a bit as he looked up at Asher.
"Escaping with Aiko while communicating with me telepathically saved me quite the hassle." He paused, grinning, "So, thanks!"
Hou looked at Asher a bit longer before shaking his head. "For Spell's sake..."
He looked at Asher once more, "So what now?" Asher flinched, "YOU?! STARTING A CONVERSATION?!" Hou sighed, "Just say it."
Asher chuckled a bit, before his expression got a bit serious.
"Right now, the entire castle is in chaos due to Tessai's defeat." He continued, "Since none of them know I am affiliated with Nephis, it's unlikely they will check here at the start." He paused, "However.."
"They will check here eventually right?" Hou finished for him. Asher nodded, "Right." Asher frowned. He thought about bringing them with him to the journey, but it was too risky. Neither could they live in the dark city like Sunny, so...
"Let Aiko take refuge here for now. Use your helmet persona and get updates from Kido if they will check Neph's place, if they do, escape to Stev's or Kido's place temporarily. And if it really comes down to it…"
Hou raised a brow."The Labyrinth?"
"Only if you have no other choice."
Asher leaned forward, eyes sharp.
"No one knows Aiko is here. Keep it that way. Protect her, Hou. I'm counting on you."
Hou nodded, standing from the stool.
"How long will you be gone?"
"About three months. If we're lucky, they won't even look here in that time."
Hou listened, nodding as he turned around. "So, 3 months of hiding, and then?"
Asher grinned, "You guys won't even be in Gunlaug's mind, trust me."
Hou smiled a bit, "I trust you." As he too left the lodge. Asher sighed, clasping his palms together as he looked down. He had to escape the catacombs. He just had to!
No way he was going to face countless undying skeletons! No way!
"I'll just tell Nephis about Harus."
[A/N: PS appreciated. It will help my fic reach out to more people.]