Clayton stayed silent for a moment longer.
This wasn't just casual curiosity anymore. Asher Augustus had peeled back the surface, and now he was reaching in—not to threaten, not to expose, but to… what, exactly?
Understand him?
Clayton wasn't sure if that was better or worse.
Still, he kept his voice steady. "Alright. I'm listening. What do you want from me, Asher?"
The third prince tilted his head slightly, like a bird examining a new tool. "Not much. Just a conversation. One between people who know how to look beneath the surface." He said it in such a warm and friendly tone that could make anyone trust him
Clayton raised his guard and crossed his arms, leaning back against the stone railing behind him. "That's vague."
"It is," Asher admitted, without a trace of shame. "But so are you."
Clayton narrowed his eyes. "And how exactly do you see me?"
Asher's smile didn't change, but his voice lowered just slightly. "I see a boy who arrived with no affiliations, no real training… and yet has won a sanctioned duel, built unlikely relationships, and somehow manages to stay beneath everyone's radar while being at the center of too many events."
Clayton didn't respond.
Asher continued, his tone calm and deliberate. "I also see someone who's afraid. Not cowardly—but cautious. Like someone who's fallen into a world they didn't expect and is trying not to drown."
What the hell?
Clayton's jaw tightened.
That wasn't a guess.
It was too close.
He didn't like that.
Even though I used to read a ton of novels, comics, and different sources of entertainment to escape, I did not remember most of it after some time. Arcane Gambit was different; it was one of my favorite, not just because of world building and power system but mainly due to Asher; he was the best protagonist fo me, while others novel main characters felt like either too hearted or just pure cruel Asher was normal; he was a human with emotions, someone I can feel for.
"Am I wrong?" Asher asked.
Clayton looked away for a second, then back. "You talk a lot like someone who's never had to scramble to survive."
Asher's smile dimmed for a beat. "You'd be surprised."
Clayton raised a brow.
"My life may look polished," Asher said, "but being royalty means everyone wants something from you. And most of the time, it's your downfall."
That didn't sound like a performance.
And that was the unsettling part—how genuine Asher could be while still wearing that perfect smile.
"So?" Clayton said. "You saw through me. Now what?"
"Now," Asher said, clasping his hands behind his back, "I make a choice. I figure out whether you're a threat… or a potential ally."
Clayton scoffed. "You sound like you're running a spy network."
"Not yet," Asher said mildly. "But factions are forming faster than most realize. Everyone's too focused on their electives, their training, their rivalries… but the real game is starting under all that noise."
He paused, letting his words settle.
"And I don't want to play it without knowing which side you're on."
Clayton looked at him, measuring the prince.
"You think there's a side to be on."
"There always is," Asher said. "Even when people pretend otherwise."
He stepped a little closer, his voice softer now. "So… tell me. Who are you, Clayton?"
For a second, Clayton wanted to lie. Say something vague. Push the conversation away like he always did.
But something about Asher—the quiet precision, the way he asked without demanding—it made it hard to deflect.
"I don't know yet," Clayton said finally. "I'm still figuring that out."
Asher nodded once. "That's honest. I appreciate that."
He let the silence linger, but not awkwardly. Then, casually, he added:
"You know, I had someone trace your enrollment records."
Clayton's pulse ticked.
"Most files can be faked," Asher went on. "But there's always residue. Paperwork moves through channels; people sign things they don't understand. Yours had… smudges. Like someone had to make you fit where you didn't belong."
Clayton's expression didn't change, but inside, his thoughts spun like a wheel.
Asher watched him carefully.
The statement landed like a stone.
Clayton didn't confirm it. Didn't need to.
His silence was enough.
But instead of prying further, Asher just nodded thoughtfully.
"I had a feeling."
"You're not going to tell anyone?" Clayton asked.
"I'm not interested in ruining you," Asher said. "You're far too valuable for that."
Clayton frowned. "You keep saying that. Valuable how?"
"You're an anomaly," Asher said simply. "An unknown. And unknowns make things interesting. They break patterns. They force others to adapt."
He stepped back a little. "And I think this academy is going to need people like that. Sooner than most realize."
Clayton exhaled slowly. "You're really planning something big, aren't you?"
"No," Asher said, eyes gleaming. "I'm preparing for something big. There's a difference."
Clayton studied him for a few seconds. "So why approach me now?"
"Because I've watched you long enough to know you're worth the risk."
Clayton gave a small, tired laugh. "You're not the first person to say that. But most people who gamble on me don't end up getting what they expect."
"I'm not most people," Asher said, still smiling.
Then, after a pause: "I'm not asking for loyalty. Just awareness. When things start moving, I want you to know who's watching your back."
"And what do I have to do in return?" Clayton asked warily.
"Nothing… yet," Asher said. "Just keep doing what you're doing. Grow. Adapt. Survive."
He turned, starting to walk away.
Then he stopped and glanced over his shoulder.
"Oh—and one last thing."
Clayton raised an eyebrow.
"You don't need to hide your strength so much," Asher said. "It's obvious to those who actually know how to look."
And with that, the third prince of the Lunar Kingdom walked away—calm, quiet, and dangerous as ever.
Clayton stood there for a long moment, watching the space where Asher had been.
Part of him felt like a trap had just been laid.
But another part?
It felt like a door had opened.
And whichever side he stepped through… there'd be no turning back