Three Enduron horses could be seen galloping through the dense forest, their powerful hooves crushing leaves, branches, and loose soil beneath them as they tore through the wilderness. Mounted upon these horses were three young men. Two of them possessed black hair and black eyes; among those two, one had a chubby build, while the other carried an athletic, and unnaturally refined physique that hinted at strength beyond that of an ordinary human. The third member of the group stood out even more distinctly, he had deep purple hair and matching purple eyes, paired with an exceedingly handsome face that seemed sculpted with unnatural precision and care.

These three were Asher, William, and Finch, and they had only recently departed from the frontier.

A bright, almost uncontainable smile rested on Finch's face as he rode. His excitement was unhidden, radiating outward with every movement he made atop his horse. He could barely contain his anticipation at the thought of finally reuniting with his parents and his beloved little sister after such a long absence.

Beside him, William and Asher exchanged a brief glance before shaking their heads in unison.

The very next moment, Asher suddenly leaped off his Enduron horse. In midair, Star Energy surged forth from his body, condensing beneath his feet and forging a radiant foothold made entirely of shimmering starlight. Without pause, he created two additional footholds in rapid succession. William and Finch did not hesitate for even a fraction of a second; the instant those platforms appeared, they jumped onto them without question or delay, trusting Asher completely.

They had already spent four grueling days traveling on the road during their journey to the frontier, and Asher had absolutely no intention of wasting that much time again. With a thought, he took control of the Star Energy–forged footholds, and in the next instant, he propelled himself and his companions forward. They tore through the air at a blistering speed, one faster than anything the Enduron horses could ever hope to match, and far beyond anything William and Finch had ever personally experienced.

The sheer wind resistance and crushing pressure threatened to blast William and Finch backward, their bodies straining against the invisible force pressing down on them. However, Asher shielded them effortlessly, a subtle layer of energy protecting them from harm. As for the three Enduron horses, Asher spared them no thought. Although the frontier had provided them freely, he felt no attachment to the beasts. Without hesitation, he abandoned them entirely. After all, Enduron horses were among the most common beasts found throughout Crymora.

'How can he even move this fast?' William couldn't help but think to himself. His mind struggled to comprehend the sheer speed behind Asher's manipulation of energy. 'He wasn't this fast before,' his thoughts continued, confusion and disbelief mixing together. What William did not realize was that Asher had already been using Astra Energy during their previous journey to the frontier, particularly when forging Astra-based footholds. Now, however, Asher was no longer relying on Astra Energy, he was using Star Energy instead, a far superior and more refined power.

Hours seemed to blur together as Asher crossed vast distances with terrifying efficiency. Bandits, monsters, Emovirae, and wild beasts alike were rendered irrelevant. None dared to approach, let alone interfere, given the overwhelming speed and force with which the group traveled. Any who might have noticed them would have had no more than a fleeting impression before they vanished beyond perception.

Before long, the group arrived at the Whale Barony. A journey that would normally take three full days had been completed by Asher in just twenty-one hours.

At that moment, it was still only eight in the morning, yet a long line had already formed at the entrance gate of the Barony. People from all walks of life waited patiently, their expressions tired and resigned. Just like their previous visit, the trio did not bother joining the queue. They simply walked past the long line of people as though it did not exist.

As usual, no one dared to speak up. The crowd merely watched in silence, waiting for the soldiers or knights stationed at the gate to address the situation. Everyone present remembered the fate of the commoner who had been killed at this very location after 'insulting' the Young Master. That story had spread far and wide, and no one was foolish enough to repeat the same mistake.

As they approached the gate, the knight stationed there immediately leaped down from the high stone wall upon which he had been seated. He landed directly in front of Finch with practiced ease before bowing deeply, his posture respectful and his tone deferential.

"Welcome back, Young Master," the knight said.

Finch nodded slightly before responding, his voice calm yet familiar. "It's been a while, Knight Commander."

The man standing before him was none other than the Knight Commander of the Whale Barony.

Finch continued, curiosity lacing his words, "What are you doing here? Surely Father wouldn't send you out just to keep a group of commoners in line… right?"

The Knight Commander straightened his posture and replied without any change in expression. "News of the Young Master's return reached the manor, but you never stepped inside the estate. My lord therefore sent me here to wait, having concluded that you were likely on a Star Academy mission and could not afford the time for a proper return."

Asher, who had been standing silently behind Finch the entire time, studied the Knight Commander closely. 'He is strong,' Asher thought to himself. 'Firmstar Life Rank, I presume.'

The title of Knight Commander was reserved for the leader of a noble house's knightly Order, and such a position was never granted lightly.

The Knight Commander's gaze then shifted toward William, and he spoke with measured respect. "It is an honor to once again be in the presence of Young Lord Canestane."

William had visited the Whale Barony many times before, so it would have been strange if the Knight Commander failed to recognize him. William did not speak; he merely nodded and offered a small, polite smile. Receiving this acknowledgment, the Knight Commander finally turned his attention to Asher.

He did not recognize him. He had never seen him before. However, he did not allow this unfamiliarity to turn into disrespect. Whether Asher was a noble or a commoner mattered little, what mattered was that he was clearly a companion of Young Master Finch.

"Welcome to the Whale Barony, Young Master," the Knight Commander said, offering a respectful greeting, though he did not bow as deeply as he had for Finch or William.

Asher responded with the same simple nod William had given.

"Knight Commander," Finch's playful voice suddenly chimed in from the side, "I'm afraid the person you are greeting is the Tenth Sun, Asher Wargrave. I'm sure you'd want to be a bit more respectful… unless you wish to end up dead."

The Knight Commander froze. Shock surged through his body, his eyes widening for the briefest moment before he forcefully regained his composure. He immediately bowed deeply, "I sincerely apologize for my disrespect, Tenth Sun," he said, his voice respectful but edged with unmistakable fear. "I hope you can find it within yourself to forgive my ignorance."

"Don't worry about it. It's fine," Asher replied calmly, he could clearly sense the tension radiating from the Knight Commander's body. While it was normal for people to become uneasy upon hearing the name Wargrave, Asher couldn't help but feel that this reaction bordered on excessive. Still, he chose not to comment on it.

By now, everyone in the vicinity had overheard the exchange. One by one, people began stepping backward, instinctively creating distance as soon as the name "Wargrave" was mentioned, as though Asher himself had become a walking calamity.

"Why is everyone running?" one commoner in the queue asked in confusion. "He's a Wargrave, yes, but he wouldn't kill us just for standing nearby."

"Have you been living under the sea, or under a rock?" another commoner replied while clutching a child tightly in her arms. "Haven't you heard the rumors?"

"What rumors?" the man asked. Even before hearing the answer, the color drained from his face. Anything associated with the Wargrave name was bound to be horrifying.

The woman hesitated. Her eyes flicked toward Asher for a brief moment before she fell silent. She dared not speak. No matter how quietly she whispered, the Tenth Sun might still hear her. He was an awakened being, after all, with senses far sharper than ordinary people. If he overheard her words, she feared he might kill her on the spot.

And so, she held her tongue.

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