“Master Xander!” Stelter finally found his voice, though it came out as more of a croak. “This is surely some kind of misunderstanding. Asmon is just… well, he’s from the Thrumpwood family in Goldenridge City! He’s never studied alchemy. How could he possibly—”
Xander raised a hand, cutting him off with a sharp scoff. “Spare me. I know exactly who Master Thrumpwood is, and I don’t need you telling me otherwise. Now take your grandson and leave before I lose my patience.”
Desperation gleamed in Harris’s eyes as he dropped to his knees with a loud 'thud'. “Teacher, please!” he wailed, his voice cracking. “It was my mistake! Just give me one more chance—”
“Chance?” Xander snapped, his gaze like ice. “You had your chance. Show some respect to Master Thrumpwood or consider your alchemy career dead in the water. And if you so much as breathe a word of disrespect again, I’ll make sure you’re blacklisted from every alchemist’s guild in Goldenridge City.”
Harris wobbled, looking like a marionette with its strings cut. His future—his 'entire' future—was crumbling before his eyes, all because he’d dared to cross Asmon.
Stelter, his last ounce of pride deflated, turned to Asmon with trembling lips. “We’re still family, Asmon,” he pleaded weakly. “Harris is your cousin. Isn’t this… going too far?”
Asmon’s smile was cold, but his eyes glinted with triumph. “Family? Now you remember we’re family? Where was this concern back at the Thrumpwood estate when you treated me like a dog? And let’s be clear—it was mr.Xander’s decision, not mine. Don’t pin this on me.”
“Exactly,” Xander interjected, his voice firm. “My decision. And let me assure you, it’s final. Now leave before I make things worse.”
Realizing the battle was over, Stelter snorted bitterly, grabbing his grandson’s arm. With one last glare at Asmon, he dragged the dazed Harris away, their figures slinking off like defeated villains from a low-budget drama.
Once they were gone, Xander turned back to Asmon, his demeanor noticeably softer. “Mr.Thrumpwood, about all this…”
“It’s fine,” Asmon said with a dismissive wave, his tone light. “I know it wasn’t your fault.”
Xander looked visibly relieved. “Thank you, Mr.Thrumpwood. Is there anything I can do for you?”
Asmon’s eyes gleamed. “Actually, there is. Keep an eye on Harris. Make sure no one in alchemy circles takes him in as a disciple. As for your job I will tell Travis to give you a position, since I cannot work all the time, you can make the rest.”
Xander blinked, then nodded firmly. “Consider it done.”
With that, Asmon strolled off, looking for a leisurely lunch. His appetite was ravenous—nothing worked up a hunger like serving justice. After his meal, he made his way toward Silvercrest Martial Institute, where a lively crowd at the entrance piqued his curiosity. What new chaos awaited him there?
Grinning to himself, he pushed through the throng, ready for whatever spectacle the day had in store.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Standing atop the stone lion guarding the grand gates, a breathtaking beauty in a flowing white dress commanded everyone’s attention. Her delicate features and serene demeanor gave her the air of a fairy who had somehow wandered into the mortal realm. Every movement seemed to carry an ethereal grace that set her apart from the bustling crowd below.
As Asmon looked up, two clear, robotic notifications echoed in his mind.
[You’ve uncovered the Lunar Destiny Physique. Comprehension enhanced, insight amplified, potential maximized, achievement unlocked. You’ve mastered the Solarflare Pill.]
“Ding! You have successfully comprehended the ancient Solarflare Pill!”
Asmon blinked. “Wait… The Solarflare Pill? Isn’t that the pill that can cure the Lunar Destiny Physique?” he muttered to himself, stunned. His system’s random bursts of generosity never ceased to amaze him, but this time, it felt oddly… specific. As if fate itself was nudging him forward.
Meanwhile, the murmurs of the crowd swirled around him.
“Isn’t that Merilyn Snow , the number one beauty of Silvercrest Martial Institute?”
“Yeah, and she’s ranked second on the genius list! What’s she doing standing there on a stone lion? Looking for someone?”
“Whoever it is must be someone extraordinary. I mean, Merilyn Snow doesn’t wait around for just anyone!”
Asmon’s curiosity deepened. Was this elegant, otherworldly woman with the Lunar Destiny Physique truly the famous Merilyn Snow ? As if to answer his unspoken question, her gaze swept across the crowd and locked onto him. Before he could process what was happening, she leaped gracefully from her perch. Her movements were so light and fluid that it seemed gravity had decided to take the day off.
She landed in front of him, her frosty aura sending an involuntary shiver through those nearby. Her icy voice broke the silence. “Are you Asmon? The one who injured my brother, Big Monty?”
The collective gasp from the crowd was loud enough to scare off nearby birds.
“So that’s why she’s here! Big Monty got thrashed this morning. I’d be mad too if I were her.”
“Hah, this Asmon guy is toast. Merilyn isn’t just a pretty face. She’s a top-tier genius!”
But Asmon, true to his nature, remained calm. In fact, instead of addressing her accusation, he casually stepped forward and, in a tone more suited for diagnosing a patient than speaking to one of the academy’s most untouchable figures, said, “You’re ill, and you need treatment.”
The crowd went silent, their disbelief palpable. Merilyn Snow ’s face darkened, her frosty demeanor turning downright arctic. “Care to repeat that?” she asked, her tone razor-sharp.
“Sure,” Asmon replied, unfazed. He met her glare with a faint smile and leaned in slightly. “You were born on July first, weren’t you? And every year since, you’ve fallen into a coma on that day. Am I wrong?”
Her icy expression faltered, her hand freezing mid-motion. “How do you know that?” she demanded, her voice trembling ever so slightly. Only a handful of people knew about her condition. How could this random guy know?
Asmon didn’t gloat, but he did allow himself a small, knowing smile. “It doesn’t stop there, does it? Since you turned sixteen, it’s been happening every month, on the first.”
Merilyn Snow ’s usually composed expression cracked further, shock flickering in her eyes. This stranger didn’t just know her secret; he knew it 'too well'. “Do you know why?” she asked cautiously.
“Of course,” Asmon replied smoothly, his tone confident. “You possess the Lunar Destiny Physique—a rare blessing for cultivation but cursed with a fatal flaw. If untreated, you won’t live past seventeen. On your seventeenth birthday, you’ll fall into a coma and… never wake up again.”
Merilyn’s heart skipped a beat. She had spent years searching for answers, even seeking out Jack, one of the greatest alchemists in the Avalon Empire. Yet here stood a boy from the outer branch of Silvercrest Martial Institute, casually diagnosing her like it was just another day.
“And what’s the cure?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
“The Solarflare Pill,” Asmon answered plainly. “The problem? The recipe’s been lost for centuries. Good luck finding anyone who can make it.”
Her icy facade cracked slightly. Desperation glimmered in her usually composed eyes. “What are your terms?”
“Terms?” Asmon raised an eyebrow, as if the thought had only just occurred to him. Then he grinned. “Be my personal attendant. I need someone to do works for me.”