Lysandra's composure momentarily faltered, visibly shaken by Asher's revelations.
It was as if a thousand thunderbolts struck her mind.
She had always dreaded the scenario where she would hear these words coming out of a certain someone's mouth, but she never thought it was going to come from the new bloodburn king, a young alien at that.
However, she quickly regained her poise, her eyes narrowing as she instinctively countered his claims, "Even if we assume it is true, Agonon would never disclose such a secret to anyone, not even his most trusted aide," she asserted her voice tinged with both skepticism and a hint of uncertainty.
She had spent so much effort for years to keep this secret from ever seeing the light. The last person who would come to know would be him.
Pointing the finger at Asher, she added firmly, "I don't know who you're colluding with to fabricate such slanderous lies, but I'm not going to entertain this any further," Despite her outward dismissal, Lysandra couldn't shake off a nagging doubt within her, as she knew the secret was known only to two people. And she was sure both of them would never betray her.
Asher, sensing the turmoil beneath her composed exterior, sighed, "I told you. Agonon and I developed a certain unexpected friendship due to what we went through and how he thinks I helped him out. He sees me somewhat like a savior, and I understand it might be difficult for you to grasp. So, let's try this instead," he proposed, "Ask me something that only Agonon would know. With my connection to the dimension he's trapped in, I'll get the answer from him."
Lysandra's skepticism was evident in her tone as she questioned Asher's ability to communicate with her son, "You can communicate with my son now using your connection to that dimension? How is that possible?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
Asher responded with a shake of his head, indicating his own lack of complete understanding, "I have no idea how it's possible, but after that mini-quest, the devils seem to have tethered a part of my soul to that dimension. It allows me to talk to Agonon, but I can only do it once a day, after which it requires the sacrifice of some of my life force."
Lysandra's skepticism persisted, but she recognized the opportunity to verify Asher's claims potentially. There was no harm in doing so, no matter how absurd all this was.
Deciding to test him, she proposed a question only Agonon could answer, "Fine then. Ask my son... what was the last thing I told him before he left for the quest."
Asher nodded in agreement and settled down on the floor, "Don't disturb me. I will be back real quick," he stated before closing his eyes and entering a meditative state.
Lysandra observed him intently, her gaze cold and skeptical.
Yet, beneath her disbelief and skepticism, a faint glimmer of hope began to take root in her heart.
Asher's confidence and the high stakes of his claim suggested that he was not engaging in a frivolous deception.
As Lysandra watched Asher, her heart was torn between hope and doubt, wondering if there could indeed be a sliver of truth in his extraordinary assertions.
A minute later, her expression intensified as Asher opened his eyes and rose to his feet, "So? What did my son say?" she asked, her voice tense with expectancy yet with doubt as well.
"He said that you told him, 'Return victorious, and you will be one step closer to righting all wrongs we suffered'," Asher revealed, his gaze steady.
Lysandra's reaction was immediate and profound. Her lips parted slightly, and her eyes shimmered with untold emotions as she softly repeated, "You really can talk to him..." The confirmation of her words, the very same she had spoken to Agonon before his departure, ignited a glimmer of hope and relief in her heart.
The realization that her son was still alive, albeit trapped in another dimension, was overwhelming.
Not everything was lost.
Asher's lips curved into a slight smile as he responded, "I told you not that I would blame you for doubting me so much. Hell, even I wouldn't believe it if I were in your shoes unless I personally experienced it."
Lysandra, emboldened by this newfound revelation, took a deep breath and stepped closer to Asher. Her eyes blazed with determination as she declared, "Take me to him. I will break him out of there."
Asher, however, chuckled lightly and shook his head, "Did you forget what I said earlier? This is a totally different dimension that doesn't even exist in our realm. How can we mere mortals dream of breaking someone out of a dimension created by the devils?"
Asher continued to maneuver the conversation strategically as he circled around Lysandra, "Besides, why should I help you? I didn't sacrifice my precious life force for the past few days to make you or Agonon happy," he stated, his tone matter-of-fact.
Lysandra's expression turned icy, her eyes reflecting a cold bitterness, "You despicable man..." she muttered, recognizing Asher's attempt to exploit her desperation regarding her son.
Even if anybody would do the same with the cards he was holding, she hated him for putting her in such a situation and fooling Agonon.
"If you're expecting to get out of my kingdom alive, then you're asking the wrong person. I am the last person who can help you. You have to enter the trial or spar to death. I can't stop that, and even if you run away, you're only going to make it worse. But if you let me see my son and tell me how to free him, then I will ensure Drakar doesn't try to provoke your kingdom any more. I can influence him in matters like that," Lysandra stated confidently.
Asher responded with a chuckle, "Of course, you are his favorite consort, and I have no doubt you can make him do that. But that's not what I want. And if you want to talk to your son again, then you're going to help me when necessary, whether you like it or not. The choice is up to you. Are you willing to let go of your son again and let him watch helplessly?"
Lysandra clenched her jaw, the thought of Agonon believing she would abandon him twisting her heart.
With a cold gaze, she confronted Asher, "What stops me from torturing you to make you listen to me? You wouldn't be the first to break."
Asher maintained his composure under Lysandra's threat, countering her with a calm yet firm response, "You're free to try that if you wish, but if you do, you'll lose your son forever," he warned, "Even if you manage to break me, I have to willingly sacrifice my life force for the connection to work. But if you break my mind, then the connection will be lost forever since it requires a sound mind to maintain."
Lysandra's frustration was evident as she clicked her tongue. She had a feeling he was lying, but she couldn't afford to be sure of it. He was young, but he was far too cunning for his age.
Asher, sensing his advantage, continued with a slight curve of his lips, "Besides, I've already made arrangements to send a little letter to your husband if I suddenly disappeared during my stay here. I'm sure you might know what the letter might contain."
Lysandra's expression shifted to one of seething rage mixed with a hint of fear, "Don't you dare..." she muttered.
But then her demeanor shifted to a more composed state, despite the internal turmoil she was grappling with, "Even if you did that, there's no way to prove it, especially since my son isn't with me," she pointed out, trying to undermine the threat posed by Asher's letter.
Asher, unphased, nodded in acknowledgment of her point but countered, "You're right. But all it takes is a seed of doubt, even more so in a man like Drakar, to cause some ripples, don't you think?" His words implied the potential for significant upheaval, even without concrete proof.
Lysandra's eyes briefly closed as she battled her frustration. When she reopened them, her gaze was filled with cold determination, her voice measured yet laced with a hidden edge, "Then tell me, what help do you want from me?" she asked.
Asher's response came with a smirk, "Not so fast. Let me first survive the tower," he said.
Lysandra's skepticism was evident in her scoff, "Do you really think I'm foolish enough to believe that? Or are you deluded enough to think you can actually clear the tower?" she challenged, her tone laced with strong skepticism.
Asher's response came with a confident smirk. He pulled his hood over his head and began walking towards the door, his steps deliberate, "You let me worry about clearing the tower. All you need to do now is wait until I'm back," he said.
Reaching the door, Asher paused and turned to face Lysandra. His smile was enigmatic, almost taunting, "So, since it's in your best interest that I return alive, I hope you pray well to the devils and make sure my people are comfortable here. Don't want anyone disappearing while I am away," he quipped before exiting the cellar, leaving Lysandra alone with her thoughts.
Lysandra clenched her fists in frustration. However, the revelation that Agonon was still alive, albeit trapped in another dimension, was overwhelming to process but ignited hope within her, making her cling firmly to it.
