A Path To Omniscience

After 'grabbing' his coat, Asher met up with the Schnee siblings, who had been waiting inside for him. Whitley led the way, but it was Winter who surprisingly broke the silence first, addressing Asher directly.

"I have to admit, you're quite talented. How long have you been practicing swordsmanship?" She glanced at Asher as they walked side by side.

Asher took a moment, thinking.

"Hmm, just under a week, I think." His answer stopped all three siblings in their tracks. Weiss, Winter, and even Whitley turned to him with looks of disbelief.

"Wait, what? But- how?" Whitley's voice carried a tone of pure shock.

"You've really only been practicing for a week?" Weiss pressed, her skepticism evident. Asher didn't seem the type to lie, but then again, none of the best liars did. Winter, too, looked doubtful, though she chose not to voice it.

"Yes, though I've been studying more than just swordsmanship," Asher explained.

"I wanted to make sure I could protect myself in any situation."

Whitley, who has started walking again, chimed in upon hearing that.

"I don't see much point in learning something so... unrefined. A security detail could protect you far better." Weiss's expression tightened as if she wanted to argue with her brother, but Asher spoke up first, nodding thoughtfully.

"I agree," Asher replied.

"It would be far more efficient to hire people for protection. That's why we rely more on the military than on Huntsmen and Huntresses, isn't it?" Weiss blinked, visibly surprised by his agreement with her brother. It wasn't the reaction she had expected.

Winter's eyes narrowed slightly at Asher's comment, while Whitley nodded, pleased to find someone who shared his perspective.

"I feel exactly the same," Whitley said, but Asher continued before he could say more.

"But as my father once told me, reality and statistics often diverge. One thing to keep in mind, Whitley, is that by solely relying on the military or any protective group, you're putting your life solely in their hands." Both Whitley and Weiss went silent, absorbing Asher's words. Winter, however, allowed herself the faintest smirk.

"In the end, society was formed because humanity needs a system to function. On our own, we're too selfish and too self-centered to make decisions for the greater good over our own interests. For example, the guards we rely on. They're not protecting you out of some noble duty. They're there because they're being paid. Some may value that paycheck enough to risk their lives, but when it really comes down to it, they could just as easily flee." 

Asher's voice shifted, becoming more vivid, almost painting pictures with his words.

"That's why it's important to remember that out of everyone in the world, the only person who will truly value your life above all else... is you." Asher's gaze, sharp and unblinking, locked onto Whitley, who had been glancing back at him. For a moment, the tension in the air was palpable.

Then Asher broke it with a smile and a light chuckle.

"Anyway, I'd say it's better to live knowing that, even if someone lets you fall, you'll be able to catch yourself instead of hoping someone else will. Don't you agree?" Whitley turned back around slowly, lost in thought. After a beat, he nodded.

"I... I guess you have a point." His voice had softened, clearly affected by Asher's words. He stayed quiet for the rest of their walk.

"You speak like someone with experience," Winter remarked, her tone sharper, almost as if she were probing. Asher responded with a small grin, shaking his head.

"Ah, nothing like that. Just a train of thought I like to stick to," he answered, but Winter wasn't convinced. She recognized that look—one of deep recollection, the kind that lingered when someone's mind wandered back to a memory they wished they could forget.

After all the time she had spent in the Atlas Military, training with veterans who had given their all for the kingdom, Winter knew that tone. Asher spoke like someone who'd seen too much of the world.

But what could a boy like him have experienced to make him talk that way?

What impressed Winter nearly as much though was the fact that Whitley actually seemed to take his words to heart instead of brushing them off. She couldn't count how many times she'd tried to get through to her younger brother when she saw him becoming more like their father.

But she never could. Ever since she'd left for Atlas Academy and then joined the military, their relationship had grown strained, to say the least.

Whitley tended to see even his so-called friends as little more than tools for his own ambitions. But with Asher, it felt different. And not just him—Weiss, too, seemed to come out of her shell when Asher was around. It made Winter think, maybe, just maybe, having Asher around would be a good influence on the both of them.

Certainly better than what they've been surrounded with so far.

As Winter mulled over that thought, they reached a set of wooden double doors. Whitley pushed them open, revealing a quaint, quiet room. A three-ringed crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, its soft, moon-like glow gently illuminating the space in a cool, white light.

The room's muted grey-blue tones and lack of windows made it feel as though night had already fallen, despite the fact it was still daylight outside.

"Oh, I didn't know you had a library," Asher remarked as he took in the sight. To their left and right, five bookshelves were built into the walls, with a sixth crammed into the upper right corner. The shelves were tall enough that one would need the sliding ladder on the far end of the room to reach the books at the top.

There was also a second level, accessed by an L-shaped staircase, where more bookshelves lined the walls of the mezzanine.

"Well, we don't often bring guests here. Not many people in... our circles are interested in books," Whitley responded after a brief pause.

"That's true," Weiss added as they all took seats on the sleek black sofas on the ground floor.

"Nearly every book in the world has a digital copy now. Most people just read on their scrolls." It wasn't long before Klein appeared, carrying a tray with four cups of tea.

"Here you are," he said, setting the tray down on the glass coffee table in the center of the room. As he handed out the tea, Asher noticed Klein's light brown eyes and the warm smile on his face.

"Ah, it's been so long since I've seen all three of you together in one place. Brings back fond memories." Klein sighed with a hint of nostalgia. Winter took a sip of her tea and nodded slightly.

"It has been a while," she agreed, a rare, soft smile touching her lips. The warm tea and the company seemed to soften her usually strict, militaristic demeanor.

"Should I expect you to stay long, Lady Winter?" Klein asked, his tone hopeful.

"I can prepare your old room if needed."

Winter shook her head gently as she placed her teacup on the table.

"No, I won't be staying long. I'm only here because Weiss insisted." Klein's smile faltered just a little, but he nodded.

"I see. Well, as always, call on me if you need anything. I won't intrude further." Weiss waved at Klein with a gentle smile as he left the room, and he returned it warmly before closing the library doors behind him.

"Hmm, he's quite the strange character, isn't he?" Asher mused aloud.

"I suppose that's one way to describe him," Whitley responded with a shrug.

"Though, as odd as he is, at the very least he's good for making a delicious brew of tea." Weiss's eyes narrowed, clearly annoyed by her brother's words.

"Oh please. Klein helped raise you just as much as he helped raise me and Winter." Whitley let out a short, dismissive laugh at that. 

"Raise? He did what he was paid to do. It's not my fault I didn't get attached to him like the two of you did." Weiss's annoyance was clear as her hands clenched slightly at the fabric of her dress. Winter, now pulled into the conversation, shot a warning look in Whitley's direction.

Unlike with Weiss, the glance didn't faze him. Instead, it only made him smirk as he turned to her.

"What? Got something to say? Some sisterly advice you want to give me?" Winter didn't respond immediately; her expression was calm, almost cold. When she finally spoke, her voice was steady, nearly monotone.

"Is this really how you want to act in front of a guest? Since you seem so certain Klein had no part in raising you, surely whoever did teach you proper manners." That comment caused Asher's eyes to flick to Whitley to catch his reaction, though he hid his interest behind a sip of tea.

For a brief moment, an irritated, almost disappointed look crossed Whitley's face, but it was gone just as quickly, replaced by a forced smile. His eyes glinted with amusement as he leaned back, crossing his arms.

"Oh, I assure you, dear sister, I was taught everything I needed to know. Including how not to make rash, selfish decisions out of a misplaced desire to defy our father. So don't mistake my lack of attachment to a servant for some sort of folly, like the two of you do." His words carried clear antagonism, but Winter didn't flinch. 

Weiss, noticing the tension between her siblings, glanced between them—Whitley's smug grin clashing against Winter's cold indifference. Still, Winter was the first to break eye contact, standing up smoothly and turning to Weiss.

"It seems it's time for me to take my leave."

Weiss looked up at her with a sad expression.

"Already?" Weiss asked, her voice tinged with disappointment.

"Yes. I wasn't supposed to stay this long, and I have a lot of work waiting for me at Atlas Academy," Winter replied, casting a glance toward Asher.

"Besides, I'd prefer not to let our family tensions sour the atmosphere in front of others." Catching that look, Asher apologized. 

"Sorry, I didn't think my question would stir all this up." Winter shook her head lightly.

"It's fine. Whether you were here or not, it would've happened eventually." With that final remark, she turned and exited through the wooden doors. The soft click of the door shutting behind her left the library enveloped in a pin-drop silence—the kind that follows words spoken from a place of emotion rather than reason.

That brief clash hadn't come from petty sibling rivalry or simple disagreements. It ran deeper, born from a shared history, filtered through countless experiences that had simmered beneath the surface, waiting to boil over the moment they were all together.

For Asher, who had observed from the sidelines, it was enough to reveal everything he needed to know about the dynamic between the Schnee siblings.

Now, how exactly should I go about this...

Asher pondered for a moment before breaking the silence, turning to Whitley.

"Whitley, you mentioned guests don't usually visit the library, right?"

It took Whitley a second to register that Asher was speaking to him. Shaking off the silence, he nodded.

"That's right. Not much conversation can happen over a book—especially when it tends to lead into business talk." Hearing that, Asher smirked.

"Well, luckily, we're not here for business, right?" Whitley stared at him for a moment, then let out a small laugh.

"No, I suppose not." Whitley responded, his tone lighter. Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Weiss, who had been silent, decided to ask Asher something.

"So, do you have a library at your home?"

"Actually, yes," Asher replied.

"But just from looking around, it seems yours is a lot more varied than my family's. I read there when I want to learn something new, but there's not much in the way of stories." Though, if he was being honest, that wasn't entirely his parents' fault. Growing up, Asher hadn't been much of a fan of fairy tales or fiction, preferring books related to his studies.

So naturally, his parents hadn't bothered to fill the library with that sort of material.

"Well, in that case, maybe I can make a few recommendations," Whitley said, standing and walking over to one of the bookshelves.

Glancing back at Asher, he asked, "So, what kind of books do you like?"

Asher tapped his chin thoughtfully before shrugging slightly.

"That's the thing—I'm not really sure. What would you recommend?" He turned toward Weiss, who was about to respond before Whitley cut her off.

"Oh, trust me, you don't want her opinion. Believe it or not, she still reads fairy tales," Whitley said with a smirk and a laugh. Weiss spun around on the sofa to face him, ready to refute.

"Not every story with a prince in it is a fairy tale! The ones I like are about more than that. They're about two people relying on each other, going through trials, and forging a relationship that becomes stronger through adversity." Weiss continued passionately, but halfway through, Whitley began waving her off, which only fueled their sibling bickering as they both started picking out books for Asher.

Yet the atmosphere didn't sour like before. For the first time since Asher had met them, the Schnee siblings actually felt like siblings, smiles creeping onto both of their faces as they debated which book he should read first.

By the time Asher was ready to head home, he had been told about over ten books, all ones Weiss and Whitley insisted he needed to read.

"You should definitely start with Echoes of the Enchanted and Chasing Stardust. They'll give you a good feel for what real literature is," Weiss said confidently, arms crossed, as Asher stood by the entrance of the Schnee Manor, buttoning up his coat.

"Hmph, please. Even if he did, Shadows of the Past would be a palate cleanser. It's a story with actual substance after all," Whitley added with a smirk, standing across from his sister.

"Alright, I get it," Asher said, amused.

"I promise I'll read everything you recommended; just give me a week. Then we can talk all about it when I visit next time." That last comment caused both Weiss and Whitley to stop bickering and look at him.

"You... plan on coming back next week?" Weiss asked, her tone uncertain.

Asher tilted his head slightly.

"I mean, if that's okay with you two. I thought since we're friends, we could meet up more often. But if not, I can cance-" Before he could finish, both Weiss and Whitley shook their heads in perfect sync.

"No—of course you can," Weiss blurted out, quickly correcting herself halfway through speaking. She had sounded so eager it made her feel embarrassed. Asher chuckled, which only made her cheeks redden slightly.

"Yeah, we'll just have to talk with Father, but I'm sure he'll be accommodating," Whitley added, his words a bit more refined, though the excitement was clear.

"Great, then I'll see you guys later." With that, Asher took his leave, stepping into the same limousine he had arrived in. A few moments later, the car disappeared through the gates. As Whitley watched it fade from view, he glanced at his sister beside him.

"You know, you forgot to bring up the duet again. After all that practice during your off time."

Weiss shrugged, looking up at the sky.

"I suppose, but it doesn't really matter, right? I'll just remember for one of the other times he visits."