Chapter 12: Misunderstood?
Asher watched with quiet intensity as Malrik Wargrave, the First Sun, advanced with unhurried, deliberate strides. A perpetual smile played on his lips, but it did little to soften the weight of his presence. His eyes shimmered an icy blue, matching the hue of his hair, and his broad shoulders carried an air of effortless authority.
Unconsciously, Asher swallowed hard. Though newly awakened, he could already feel the overwhelming pressure that radiated from Malrik, a presence so immense it seemed to bend the very air around him. The smile, calm and confident, only served to make him appear all the more formidable.
Despite standing at an impressive 6’1", Asher felt insignificant in comparison. Before Malrik’s towering eight-foot frame, he seemed no greater than a child standing before a titan.
’I wonder what the First Sun of this family is truly like... Is he mad, or merely misunderstood?’ Asher thought, carefully maintaining a neutral expression. From what he could recall, the original Asher had never actually spoken with Malrik.
In fact, their only encounter had been a fleeting moment, when Malrik observed him in silence from a window during training, their eyes meeting just once.
Malrik came to a halt before Asher, then slowly lowered himself to Asher’s eye level, placing a firm yet gentle hand atop his head.
"Congratulations on your awakening, youngest," he said, a rare smile gracing his lips, his eyes reflecting genuine warmth.
Asher remained motionless, momentarily stunned by the unexpected gesture. He had anticipated intimidation, not praise, from the man known for his fearsome reputation. After a brief pause, he composed himself, forcing a polite smile.
"Thank you, First Sun," he replied carefully. He had never met Malrik before, and it felt wiser to use the man’s title rather than his name.