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In the evening twilight, Asher walked to the balcony. The evening breeze brushed his face, bringing a slight chill and clearing his mind. In the afternoon, he had asked Morgan Le Fay a question about the White Dragon's body. This would be a crucial factor in disproving the rumors, and he had received the answer he wanted.
So, the next course of action was simple. He just needed to publicly refute the rumors at the investiture ceremony No, that wasn't refuting, it was lying. Lying to everyone.
"Thinking about something?" A soft voice came from beside him without warning. Asher seemed completely unsurprised; he merely glanced at the woman who had transformed from a raven into human form and nodded gently.
"How boring. If it were before, you'd definitely have jumped in surprise," Morgan sighed. "It seems that after last night, you've started to become a boring adult too."
"Wow wow, how scary, you almost scared me to death," Asher recited in a flat, emotionless tone.
"You dare to tease your sister now? You're much bolder than before," Morgan Le Fay pinched Asher's face. "It's quite something that I specially gave you and your Shishou some alone time today."
"Didn't you leave because you suddenly had something to do?" Asher said subconsciously. He remembered Morgan received a letter today before leaving, and her expression seemed a bit unpleasant at the time. Perhaps she saw something unfavorable? Thinking this, Asher continued, "Did you encounter any trouble?"
"If it's inconvenient, you don't have to say," Asher quickly added when Morgan didn't immediately answer. Morgan gazed at Asher's expression, sighed helplessly, and patted his head, "You're still very unconfident in yourself."
"I'm quite confident..." Asher said.
"The confidence I'm talking about is in our feelings for each other," Morgan Le Fay said. "If you really trusted me, you wouldn't have asked me in such an unconfident way."
"You just have to directly ask me what was in today's letter," she continued.
Asher showed a thoughtful expression, then looked up and asked, "So, what was in the letter you read today? I always felt your expression seemed a bit off when you left today."
"I'm not telling you," Morgan said with a mysterious smile.
Asher: "..." Since you weren't going to tell me anyway, why make me ask?
It seemed that teasing Asher made Morgan Le Fay feel genuine joy from the bottom of her heart, and her smile grew even wider.
"Standing outside in the wind for too long makes you susceptible to colds. Let's go inside and chat."
"We can talk about anything you want~"
Asher didn't turn back into the room; instead, he hesitated. "Let's not today."
Morgan tilted her head and looked at Asher. "Worried about your Shishou finding out?"
Asher nodded gently.
"Wouldn't that be better?" Morgan said.
Asher silently rubbed his forehead, "Sister Morgan, don't play with me."
From his understanding of Morgan, Asher knew very well that Morgan didn't intend to do anything right now. She was just simply bored and wanted to tease him
"You're quite smart, aren't you?" Morgan looked at Asher in surprise. He usually seemed a bit slow, but tonight he was very clever. Had Scathach's arrival somehow boosted Asher's intelligence? Or perhaps it was just a pure survival instinct?
Morgan Le Fay thought of this, then turned to leave the room. Asher looked back at Morgan, "Sister Morgan, where are you going?"
"Lily's problem needs to be dealt with, right?" Morgan Le Fay didn't turn back, but continued, "Or do you want to go talk to her yourself and ask her, 'What do you think about me and your Big Sister having a relationship?'"
"Uh... then I'll trouble you," Asher could only say. He didn't have the courage to discuss such matters with Lily yet, because Lily's behavior during the day made Asher feel inexplicably guilty.
"You just need to handle the rumors," Morgan Le Fay glanced back at Asher, "I'll take care of everything else."
With that, she opened the door and left. Asher averted his gaze, turning to look at the distant night sky again.
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A while later, Asher left his room and walked towards the training grounds. According to his previous agreement with Scathach, he was now going to the training grounds to practice a new spear technique.
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After about two hours of Scathach's torment, Asher lay sprawled on the training ground, gasping for breath, looking up at the jewel-blue sky.
"This is quite a familiar scene, I truly miss it," Asher said between breaths.
"Miss it?" Scathach said, "Have you not experienced physical exhaustion for a long time?"
"Yes, it's been a long time," Asher said, "so I miss it."
He hadn't been without training here; in fact, he trained almost every day. But he never felt this exhausted. Neither the Knights of the Round Table nor Morgan Le Fay would subject him to such "cruel" training. Only Scathach would do so. But Asher didn't dislike it.
In fact, if he did, he probably would have snuck out of the Land of Shadows years ago because he couldn't stand Scathach's training methods.
"You sound like a masochist," Scathach said, sitting beside Asher and placing her weapon to the side. She turned her head to look at her disciple.
"It's as if you're looking forward to this kind of training."
"I just look forward to being trained by Shishou like this again," Asher said.
"Is that so?" Scathach's lips curved into an arc. "Then let's add another two hours of training."
"Please be merciful, Shishou. If I train any more now, I'll probably be bedridden for the entire day tomorrow,"
Asher said helplessly. Shishou was good in every way and usually very approachable, often acting as a confidante at night. However, when it came to training, she never held back. This was the real reason why so many disciples had a psychological shadow about training with Scathach.
"If it were the old you saying that, I'd believe it, but now... with your White Dragon body, you shouldn't be unable to recover your strength even after one night,"
Scathach said lightly. "You still have energy, don't you? Get up.
"Humans have limits, Shishou." Asher lay on the ground, completely unwilling to move, like a dead fish.
Scathach's stern expression softened slightly, and a hint of indulgence flashed in her eyes as she looked at Asher. She sighed softly, "You never used to openly slack off in front of me. It seems after half a year here, you've forgotten how I punish lazy disciples?"
The moment Scathach's words fell, Asher suddenly remembered the fear he had once been dominated by, and he immediately sat bolt upright. Scathach, seeing this, chuckled inadvertently and looked at Asher, saying, "Looks like you still remember."
"How could I forget that punishment?" Asher looked away guiltily. He never wanted to be punished by Scathach in that way again, and he even refused to recall the punishment method. It wasn't a punishment method that a human could even conceive of, so much so that even Asher, who particularly admired his Shishou at the time, developed a psychological shadow of her.
If Scathach hadn't treated Asher gently that night, he probably would have seen Scathach as a monstrous beast, just like other disciples. She was a very beautiful woman, and usually very approachable, but her battle-crazed demeanor in combat... was charming, yes, but to an opponent, she was simply a devil.
Scathach gazed at Asher's face, his once slightly youthful features now much more mature. His soft black hair clung to his forehead with sweat. He truly looked much more mature than before, or rather, more charismatic. Or perhaps it was because of his confession that night that she started paying special attention to him?
Looking at her disciple sitting on the ground, Scathach's eyes flickered, and she suddenly said, "It seems even if I force you with punishment, you're not getting excited, are you? How about this: I'll add another hour of training, and then I'll give you special treatment."
"I told you, humans have limits"
Asher hadn't finished speaking when he heard Scathach continue, "If you can perform the spear technique I taught you today, I can grant you one wish." In Asher's gaze, Scathach then said, "Any wish."
Asher silently stood up. "Come to think of it, the White Dragon's body isn't human itself, so... I'm not human anymore!" Under Scathach's slightly amused gaze, Asher raised his red spear and began a new round of training.
"Try using the method I just taught you to throw that spear at me," Scathach said.
"But if I throw it and can't avoid it, wouldn't it be very dangerous...?" Asher hesitated.
"Trust me," Scathach said with a sadistic smile, "If that could kill me, it would only prove my strength isn't enough."
"What's more, how could you, as you are now, possibly throw an unavoidable(magic spear)?"
Asher no longer hesitated. He gritted his teeth and raised the red spear. Just as Scathach said, an unavoidable magic spear couldn't be Shishoued in a day or two, so he had no need to worry. Asher closed his eyes. After letting his mind calm down, he opened them. Scathach's perfect figure was reflected in his dark pupils. She held her twin spears, calmly facing Asher, waiting for him to throw the weapon.
Asher gripped the red spear and took a step back. Just as Scathach said, he couldn't throw an unavoidable magic spear yet, so there was no need to worry.
However For some reason, as he gripped the red spear, Asher seemed to see a thread, a thread connecting to Scathach, almost like a thread of fate. Asher's face showed hesitation as he threw the red spear along that thread.
Whoosh!
The red spear, with a whistling sound, flew towards Scathach. Scathach watched the rapidly approaching red spear, her expression unchanged, merely commenting calmly, "Good power, but... this isn't an unavoidable magic spear."
She slightly shifted her body, and the red spear flew past her. However, at that moment, the red spear seemed to change direction, slightly deviating. In Scathach's slightly widened eyes, the spear tip grazed her arm, a spray of fresh blood flew out, and the red spear pierced the earth, standing proudly upright.
Scathach sharply turned her head to look at the red spear behind her, showing a surprised expression.
Was that a magic spear with a "sure-hit" effect attached just now? But this feeling, it's not what I taught my disciple... Did someone else teach him?
"Shishou, are you alright?!" At this moment, Asher quickly stepped forward, grabbing Scathach's arm. When he saw the shallow bloodstain on her arm, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the wound wasn't very deep; it could be healed with Rune script. Asher unhesitatingly raised his hand, and the healing effect of the Rune script was activated.
"Did someone teach you this kind of sure-hit magic spear before?" Scathach didn't care about the wound on her arm at all, and asked Asher, who was carefully helping her heal.
Asher shook his head. "This is the first time."
"You learned it the first time...?" Scathach was slightly taken aback. And this wasn't what she had taught Asher at all... It was almost as if he knew it already.
The sky had unknowingly completely darkened, and in the distance, faint wisps of cooking smoke could be seen drifting towards the sky. Scathach looked at Asher, who was still concentrating on healing her, and a thoughtful expression appeared on her face.
It seems... is there still some secret hidden within my disciple?
"Try again," Scathach suddenly said. "I need to confirm it again." Asher hesitated, still not drawing his weapon.
As if reading Asher's thoughts, Scathach calmly said, "This is my responsibility as a Shishou. Don't worry about me getting hurt. Try again."
Asher knew he couldn't argue with his Shishou, so he reluctantly drew the red spear and, following his previous movements, took half a step back. However, this time he didn't see that thread.
"What's wrong?" Seeing Asher hesitate to throw the red spear, Scathach couldn't help but ask.
"I didn't find that feeling from before," Asher said with a wry smile. "Maybe it was just luck earlier?"
Scathach pondered for a moment, then looked at Asher's tired face and decided to stop. "Let's call it a day here."
After throwing that one spear, Asher felt as if all his magic had been drained, but he had been forcing himself to endure it. Now, hearing Scathach's words, he immediately sat down. Then he looked up at Scathach, who was standing beside him.
"Shishou, how was it?"
"If that throw wasn't luck, then you're truly amazing... At least among all the disciples I've had, none have higher talent than you," Scathach openly praised him. To be able to hurt her, even if it was due to carelessness, was already quite remarkable. Hearing Scathach's undisguised praise, Asher felt greatly satisfied. Since becoming King Arthur, training had basically been like clocking in for work. Even when others praised him, Asher rarely felt any emotional fluctuations. But being praised so highly by his respected Shishou made Asher incredibly excited.
Scathach naturally saw the joy on Asher's face, but she merely smiled casually. "Have you thought about what wish you want to achieve? Anything within my capabilities is fine." Asher's earlier joy subsided somewhat. He sat on the ground, using this resting time to think about the wish he wanted to fulfill. There were so many wishes he wanted to achieve... It was rare for Shishou to offer such generous terms, so he had to think carefully.
Asher thought for a while. Then, the scene with Morgan Le Fay from last night suddenly flashed through his mind, and the excitement he felt slowly subsided. In the end, Asher just shook his head.
"Forget it, I don't have any wish I want to achieve." He continued, "Training is just for myself, after all. Shishou doesn't need to put in any more effort."
"You don't have a wish you want to achieve?" Scathach was slightly taken aback, then looked deeply at Asher.
It seems something happened to this child here? Is it because of that rumor, or is there some other trouble? Scathach didn't press further; she just picked up her weapon.
"Then let's go back first. Tell me when you've thought about it... You still have the strength to walk back, don't you?"
Asher nodded, pushed himself up with his hands on his knees, and left the training ground with Scathach. After dinner, Asher led Scathach to the door of the room prepared for her, and then he left distractedly. Since leaving the training ground, Asher had been thinking about one thing. Should he confess to Shishou sooner?
Although he really wanted to, he just didn't have the courage to speak up. Heaven knew what would happen if he told her. He'd wait until he was mentally prepared.
Asher shook his head, shaking off the thoughts in his mind. He returned to his room, lay on the velvet bed, and quietly waited for night to fall.
There were still many things waiting for him: the investiture ceremony, dispelling the rumors, repelling the foreign tribes, and the issues with neighboring countries. If it weren't for his relationship with Morgan last night, he might not even be in Britain right now. When he thought of this again, Asher let out a heavy sigh. It seemed to be getting more and more complicated.
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Knock, knock.
A knock sounded from outside the room. Someone at this late hour? Could it be Sister Morgan? Asher thought as he walked to the door and opened it. Scathach, dressed in casual clothes, appeared before him, her long reddish-purple hair flowing naturally down to her slender waist.
"Shishou." Asher secretly glanced at Scathach, then quickly forced himself to look away. Scathach was very sensitive to such gazes; if he looked at her for even a few more seconds, she would probably notice.
Scathach nodded slightly, scrutinizing Asher, and then casually scanned the room, seemingly searching for something. After a moment, she seemed to murmur to herself. "She's not here, then?"
"Shishou, is something wrong?" Asher called out, puzzled.
Scathach then averted her gaze, her expression calm, and said, "Mm a disciple's martial arts are one thing, but it's also necessary to check on their mental and physical well-being, so I came to check." Asher's reaction that afternoon had made her concerned.
Hearing Scathach's words, Asher's heart skipped a beat. For some reason, just hearing the words "mental and physical well-being" made him feel a little guilty.
"Please, come in, Shishou." Asher quickly composed himself, trying his best to remain calm, and took two steps back to let Scathach enter the room.
Scathach sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze sweeping around the room. The room's layout hadn't changed much since she was last here, but... Scathach turned to look at Asher, who was standing beside her. "Are you nervous?"
"A little," Asher admitted frankly.
"Why?" Scathach asked. "I've never seen you nervous when we were in the same room before."
"I never revealed my true feelings before..." Asher mumbled.
But I already knew... Scathach silently replied in her heart, a faint smile on her face. "Come sit here. If even you are so reserved, then I'll only have that child, Uathach, left."
Asher paused slightly. Come to think of it, Morgan Le Fay and Scathach seemed to have similarities. One was the Princess of Britain, and the other was the Queen of the Land of Shadows, both usually high and mighty, making people hesitant to approach them. Apart from Artoria, no one dared to easily approach Morgan Le Fay.
Similarly, apart from Uathach, very few others dared to approach Scathach.
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So, Asher finally walked over and sat down beside Scathach.
"Not going to lie down?" Scathach tilted her head to look at Asher. If it were before, Asher would probably lie on her lap and chat naturally, but today he seemed very reserved, or perhaps nervous?
"Let's not today..." Asher shook his head. Lying on Shishou's lap now would make him feel a little guilty, even though Shishou's words were truly tempting.
Scathach looked at Asher a few times, then raised her hand and placed it on his face, gently pressing his head down so that he lay perfectly on her smooth, snow-white thighs. As if seeing Asher's slightly surprised gaze, Scathach merely smiled. "I haven't been able to be by your side for a while, so at least for now, I'll let you relax a little."
Under Scathach's gentle gaze, perhaps due to guilt, Asher slightly turned his head, quietly avoiding her gaze, and softly said, "Don't worry, Shishou, with Sister Morgan and the others here, the pressure won't be too great."
Scathach paused slightly, her fingers, which were combing Asher's hair, briefly stopping.
Sister Morgan, you say?
It was precisely because that woman was present that she felt uneasy. Judging by her disciple's reaction, something really did happen to him, didn't it?
Scathach silently gazed into Asher's eyes, and recalling Morgan's reaction today, for some reason, a very strange feeling welled up within her. Could it be that my disciple's current reaction is related to Morgan Le Fay?
It seems I'll have to find an opportunity to talk to that woman.
Just as she thought this, Scathach suddenly noticed a creature outside the balcony. A raven stood on the balcony railing, silently watching Asher's room.
"Shishou?" Seeing Scathach remain silent, Asher's gaze returned to her face. For some reason, he felt that Scathach's eyes just now seemed to hold a surprising kill