Chapter 32: "That Time Lena Fought an Ancient Cultivator (Bad Idea)"
In which Asterion wrecks the family living room, Lena learns she's not the main character—yet—and we all realize ghost-proof security has its limits.
Toby dropped his smoothie.
Mara's eyes did this weird wide-blink thing, like her brain had just soft-rebooted.
And me?
I casually strolled into the living room of Mara's extremely expensive gothic mansion and tried not to look smug about the fact that Asterion freaking Ardyn was lounging on the velvet sofa like he belonged there.
Asterion didn't say anything at first.
He just nodded at us.
Relaxed.
One arm stretched across the back of the sofa.
Completely comfortable in a house he'd never entered before.
For a second, I half-expected him to ask where the remote was.
"So..." Toby whispered, "either I've overdosed on gnome fumes..."
He pointed.
"...or there's an ancient glowing man sitting in Mara's living room."
Mara blinked.
"Is this some kind of illusion?"
"Nope."
I gestured toward Asterion.
"That's him."
They looked at me.
"The mysterious mentor."
Then back at Asterion.
Then at me again.
Toby's mouth opened.
Closed.
Opened again.
"Bro."
"I know."
"You've had that living in your head?"
"Technically, yes."
Mara slowly turned toward me.
"You left out several details."
"I noticed."
Asterion stood.
He smiled slightly.
"You both handled yourselves well tonight."
Mara straightened.
Toby suddenly looked very attentive.
"You didn't know I was watching," Asterion continued. "You didn't know whether help would come."
His expression became more serious.
"But you stayed."
He looked between them.
"You fought despite being afraid."
Then he nodded once.
"That's courage."
Toby looked like he might combust from pride.
Mara tried very hard to pretend the compliment hadn't affected her.
I may have felt slightly emotional.
Only slightly.
Asterion folded his arms.
"From now on, I'll train you directly as well."
Toby's hand immediately shot into the air.
Asterion looked at him.
"...Yes?"
"Quick question."
Toby pointed between himself and Mara.
"What exactly does that mean?"
"And what exactly are you?" Mara added.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Are you haunting Evan? Possessing him?"
I inhaled at precisely the wrong moment and nearly choked.
Mara continued.
"Because there are approximately twelve ways that sentence becomes disturbing."
Asterion chuckled.
"No haunting."
He glanced at me.
"And nothing romantic."
"THANK YOU."
"I am Asterion Ardyn."
He inclined his head.
"Or rather, a fragment of his soul."
Silence.
Toby slowly lowered his hand.
Mara stared.
"A... soul fragment."
"Yes."
I stepped in.
"Basically think Force ghost."
Asterion looked at me.
"But considerably more useful."
He gave me a dry look.
I grinned.
Mara pointed at Asterion.
"So you're dead."
Asterion paused.
"Yes."
Toby's eyes widened.
"That's incredibly cool."
"TOBY."
"What? Sad too. Obviously sad. But also objectively cool."
Asterion looked strangely amused.
Mara crossed her arms.
"And the whole body-control thing?"
Asterion's expression sobered.
"I can take control of Evan's body when necessary."
Both of them immediately looked at me.
I raised my hands.
"Before you freak out—yes, I know when it happens."
Asterion nodded.
"I don't simply seize him whenever I feel like it."
Toby stared.
"You realize that's still incredibly weird?"
"Completely," I said.
Asterion continued.
"But now the two of you will begin your own training."
Mara's suspicion immediately turned into interest.
"How?"
"Mental training first."
Asterion gestured toward his head.
"Your bodies will still need real work. Strength doesn't appear because someone wishes hard enough."
Thank God.
No mystery ghost steroids.
"But inside a mental training space, I can accelerate how quickly you learn."
Toby leaned forward.
"Accelerate how much?"
"Footwork. Reaction drills. Technique. Repetition."
Asterion's smile appeared.
"Hours of instruction without requiring hours to pass outside."
Toby's eyes lit up.
"So..."
He pointed at himself.
"Superhero boot camp."
"In your head," Mara added.
Asterion nodded.
"Essentially."
Toby looked delighted.
"Can I name my upgraded form?"
"No," Mara said immediately.
"Toby Version 2.0: Tactical Floof Commander."
"We are absolutely not calling you that."
"I already am."
Asterion actually laughed.
Then his expression softened as he looked at all three of us.
"You'll improve faster together than separately."
That got our attention.
"Trust matters."
His gaze moved from Mara to Toby, then to me.
"If one of you becomes stronger but leaves the others behind, you've weakened the group."
He paused.
"Protect the bond between you."
Then his spiritual form began fading.
"And I'll teach you how to protect everything else."
A few seconds later...
he was gone.
Asterion had barely disappeared before I found myself in the crossfire.
"YOU KNEW?" Toby shouted.
He pointed at me with the betrayal of someone who'd just discovered his best friend had been hiding emergency snacks during an apocalypse.
"A soul fragment, Evan?" Mara snapped.
"You've had a thousand-year-old cultivator whispering in your ear this entire time and never thought your actual best friends should know?"
I raised both hands.
"Okay!"
I was still wearing part of the Mercer armor, which made surrendering look significantly more dramatic than usual.
"First of all, Asterion told me not to tell anyone."
Mara stared.
"That's your defense?"
"It was ancient-secret-mission stuff!"
Toby threw both hands up.
"We fought an army of possessed garden gnomes with a combat drone today!"
He jabbed a finger toward me.
"I named my drone before I even knew this was ancient-cultivator business!"
"You would've named the drone anyway."
"That's not the point!"
Mara crossed her arms.
"You could've at least warned us your mentor was an ancient supernatural warlord."
"Former Sect Head."
She stared harder.
"That did not improve the sentence."
Fair.
"I genuinely didn't know how much I was allowed to tell you."
Mara touched the pendant around her neck.
"I almost threw this into a river."
"Okay, that would've been bad."
"It started pulsing, Evan!"
"And then it saved you!"
"The gnomes tried to burn my house!"
"Technically they mostly tried stabbing us."
"NOT HELPING."
Toby collapsed dramatically onto the sofa.
"Evan gets secret martial arts training, ancient cultivation knowledge, motorcycles, armor—"
"The armor came from my parents."
"—while we were out here doing push-ups like peasants!"
I stared.
"You literally just got told Asterion is training both of you."
"Yeah, but you're like six episodes ahead!"
He pointed accusingly.
"I haven't even gotten my tragic backstory."
Mara rolled her eyes.
"You almost got killed by a garden ornament today."
Toby looked deeply offended.
"That's not tragic."
He placed a hand over his heart.
"That's humiliating."
I dropped into an armchair.
This was my life.
Not long ago, I was avoiding gym class and trying not to think about my future.
Now I was wearing supernatural combat armor while reassuring my best friends because they were offended that their ancient cultivator training hadn't started soon enough.
"Guys."
They stopped.
"I wasn't trying to leave you out."
My voice came out quieter.
"You're my team."
I looked at Toby.
Then Mara.
"My family, basically."
Mara's expression softened slightly.
"I was figuring this out as I went."
Silence.
Then Toby sighed.
"Okay."
He pointed sternly.
"You're forgiven."
"Thank you."
"But I reserve the right to complain about being behind."
"Naturally."
Mara watched me for another moment.
Then came over and sat beside me.
Her head settled against my shoulder.
"Just..."
She hesitated.
"No more secrets unless there's a really good reason."
I nodded.
"Deal."
Toby raised one finger.
"And next time an ancient dead legend moves into your brain..."
I groaned.
"...put it in the group chat."
I laughed.
"Fine."
I raised my hand solemnly.
"No more secret mentors without a group text."
If I'd known walking into my own house would lead to a full paranormal intervention...
I would've used the basement window.
Too late.
"EVAN MERCER!"
I froze.
"You have ten seconds to explain your suspicious transformation before I call Mom, Dad, and every containment system in this house!"
"Lena—"
FWUMP!
The net hit me like a volleyball spiked by a mutant gorilla.
I went down.
Hard.
One second I was standing.
The next I was wrapped in glowing anti-spiritual mesh, lying on the floor, and staring down the barrel of a Mercer Ghost Rifle.
Lena stood above me.
Calm.
Composed.
Like she was offering tea during a hostage negotiation.
"Uh..."
I wriggled.
"Lena?"
She didn't blink.
"Little intense for a family greeting."
"Your arms have visible definition now."
I stopped moving.
"What?"
"Two weeks ago, you struggled through basic exercise."
She adjusted the rifle.
"Now you're stronger, faster, trained in martial arts, mysteriously employed, riding an expensive motorcycle, and apparently involving yourself in supernatural incidents."
Her eyes narrowed.
"So either you've discovered the most effective training program in human history..."
A pause.
"...or something supernatural is involved."
"You've been monitoring my arms?"
"I'm your older sister."
"THAT DOESN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION."
"It answers enough."
I groaned.
"Lena, I'm not possessed."
Mostly.
Technically.
Occasional body-sharing complicated the wording.
Her rifle didn't move.
"Then who's your mentor?"
My mouth opened.
Closed.
She'd already known there was one.
Thanks, technically, to Asterion himself while using my body.
"Because," Lena continued, "this rate of change isn't normal."
"I've been training."
"With what?"
"A person."
"Human?"
"...Complicated."
Her eyes narrowed.
Wrong answer.
"Lena, I didn't sell my soul."
"Good."
"I haven't made a blood pact."
"Also good."
"I didn't talk to a vampire."
"Surprisingly reassuring."
"And the closest I've come to necromancy is reheating Mom's leftovers."
Her grip on the rifle didn't ease.
"Lena."
I sighed.
"I'm not evil."
Her expression softened just a little.
"I know."
That surprised me.
Then she crouched.
"But that doesn't mean whatever is helping you is safe."
Ah.
There it was.
Big Sister Mode.
"In our line of work, teenagers are exactly the sort of people dangerous entities target."
She counted on her fingers.
"Power."
"Validation."
"Shortcuts."
"Promises."
Her eyes returned to mine.
"I've read enough case reports about young people getting involved with things they didn't understand."
"I understand enough."
"Do you?"
...
That one landed.
"I passed algebra," I muttered.
Lena stared at me.
"Barely."
"Why does everyone know that?"
Asterion apparently decided that was enough.
His spiritual form appeared directly beside the sofa.
No explosion.
No dramatic thunder.
Just a shimmer of pale spiritual light...
and suddenly there he was.
"Good evening."
Lena reacted instantly.
She spun.
Rifle up.
Aimed directly at his head.
Asterion looked at the barrel.
Then at her.
"You must be Lena."
Her eyes sharpened.
"And you must be the mentor."
I struggled inside the net.
"Please don't fight my sister."
Lena ignored me.
"You've been influencing my brother."
"Yes."
"Entering his mind."
"Yes."
"Controlling his body."
"Occasionally."
Her finger tightened around the trigger.
Asterion added:
"With considerably more context than that sentence suggests."
She fired.
PEW!
Asterion moved his head slightly.
The blast passed straight by.
He looked over his shoulder at the smoking wall.
Then back at Lena.
"That was unnecessary."
Lena grabbed a charged baton with her free hand.
"You've involved a minor in supernatural combat without medical supervision, informed consent procedures, or even telling his family who you are!"
She swung.
Asterion stepped aside.
The baton missed.
She pivoted.
He caught her wrist.
Not violently.
Just...
completely.
Lena tried to break the grip.
Nothing.
Asterion raised an eyebrow.
"Good technique."
"Don't compliment me!"
She twisted.
He released her before she could hurt herself.
She attacked again.
Asterion redirected the strike with two fingers.
I finally managed to roll onto my side.
"LENA!"
She tried a judo throw.
Against a nearly thousand-year-old cultivator.
This went about as well as you'd expect.
Asterion shifted his stance.
Lena suddenly found herself turned around, off-balance, and gently placed onto the sofa.
She blinked.
He stepped back.
"I don't want to fight you."
Lena immediately stood again.
"I'm not convinced."
"I noticed."
I would've found this hilarious if I wasn't still trapped in a glowing net.
Lena pointed at him.
"Why Evan?"
Asterion's expression changed.
The teasing vanished.
He became very still.
Very calm.
Sect Head.
"Because his fate is unusual."
Lena stopped.
Asterion continued.
"Events are gathering around him."
His gaze shifted briefly toward me.
"Danger. Opportunity. Power. People."
I swallowed.
"If he continues without preparation, he'll be overwhelmed eventually."
Lena's arms crossed.
"Then why don't you deal with those threats?"
"Because I won't always be here."
Simple.
No drama.
"And this world doesn't need one person solving every problem."
His eyes returned to Lena.
"It needs people capable of standing when that person isn't there."
She looked toward me.
Then back at him.
"You're training teenagers."
"I'm training people who are already walking into danger."
That shut her up for a moment.
Asterion glanced at the rifle in her hands.
"Your brother was doing that before I arrived."
Ouch.
True.
"I can make him better prepared."
Lena's jaw tightened.
"And Mara and Toby?"
"They chose to stand beside him."
Asterion folded his arms.
"So I'll prepare them too."
Then:
"And if you choose the same..."
He looked directly at her.
"...I'll train you."
Lena stared.
Meanwhile, the Mercer security system sat quietly in the corner.
Green lights.
No alarms.
No containment field.
No warning.
Nothing.
Lena slowly noticed.
Her expression changed.
She looked toward the detector.
Then Asterion.
Then back toward the detector.
"Our security system doesn't detect you."
"No."
"At all."
"Apparently not."
That bothered her more than the fight.
I could see it.
Lena let out a long breath.
"Fine."
Asterion smiled faintly.
"I'll listen."
Then she pointed at him.
"That is not the same as trusting you."
"Reasonable."
"And if you hurt Evan—"
"I know."
Lena paused.
Asterion's expression was completely serious.
"You won't need to finish that threat."
That shut even her up.
Finally, she lowered the rifle.
I exhaled.
Asterion looked toward me.
Still trapped.
"Are you comfortable?"
"Do I look comfortable?"
"Not particularly."
"THEN HELP."
The ghost net finally retracted.
HISSS.
It folded back into its launcher like a disappointed Venus flytrap.
I hit the floor with a thud.
My arms flopped outward.
Starfish position.
Honestly, I wasn't sure whether I was more physically bruised or emotionally exhausted.
Either way?
Done.
Asterion offered me a hand.
I took it.
Lena's rifle was lowered now, but her eyes remained sharp.
"You alright?"
I stared at her.
"Yeah."
I stretched one shoulder.
"Apart from the ambush."
Another.
"The interrogation."
I pointed toward the net launcher.
"The kidnapping equipment."
Then toward Asterion.
"And watching you attempt Mortal Kombat against my mentor."
I smiled.
"Fantastic."
Lena ignored the sarcasm.
Then looked at Asterion.
"We need to talk."
I froze.
"Alone."
Oh no.
"Please don't shoot him again."
"I'm not going to shoot him."
Her tone was dry.
"I have questions."
Then:
"And boundaries."
Asterion gestured toward the sofa.
"Fair enough."
They sat opposite each other.
I remained near the hallway.
Lena looked at me.
I knew that look.
The:
Leave now or I reveal your browser history at dinner
look.
I left.
Mostly.
Technically.
I stood around the corner.
Which is different from eavesdropping because...
Okay.
It was eavesdropping.
Their conversation began calmly.
"So," Lena said, "first..."
A pause.
"Thank you for apparently not being evil."
Asterion chuckled.
"A low standard, but I'll accept it."
"Second..."
She rubbed her forehead.
"Please reduce how often you take control of my brother."
Asterion raised an eyebrow.
"It's generally done during training, emergencies, or situations where he agrees."
"I understand."
Lena pointed toward him.
"It's still strange."
"Also fair."
She hesitated.
"And..."
Asterion waited.
Lena looked deeply uncomfortable.
"That outing."
Oh.
Oh no.
My eyes widened.
Asterion looked confused.
"The university?"
"Yes."
"When I picked you up."
"While using Evan's body."
Asterion paused.
"...Yes."
Lena closed her eyes briefly.
"Do you understand how weird that feels from my perspective?"
Asterion blinked.
"I thought I was spending time with my brother."
"You were."
"Except sometimes you were speaking."
Asterion went silent.
I bit my fist to stop myself from laughing.
Lena's cheeks had turned slightly red.
"So when you said something unusually thoughtful, or complimented me, or acted completely unlike Evan..."
She pointed accusingly.
"I later realized there was a nearly thousand-year-old stranger piloting my little brother."
Asterion looked genuinely caught off guard for perhaps the first time since I'd met him.
"...I hadn't considered that."
"No kidding."
"I meant nothing inappropriate."
"I KNOW."
Lena immediately covered her face.
"That's somehow why it's more awkward."
Silence.
Then Asterion chuckled.
Lena dropped her hands.
"Don't laugh."
"My apologies."
"You are not sorry."
"Not entirely."
She narrowed her eyes.
Asterion inclined his head.
"Very well."
His tone became more sincere.
"I'll avoid unnecessary control around you."
"Thank you."
"And if I wish to speak to you..."
He gestured toward himself.
"I'll appear like this."
"Much better."
Asterion nodded.
"Agreed."
Another pause.
Then Lena finally smiled.
A little.
"You're incredibly irritating."
"So I've been told."
"And apparently impossible for our security system to detect."
"That seems to bother you."
"It bothers me immensely."
Asterion smiled.
"Then perhaps we should improve it."
That caught her attention.
"You can do that?"
"I can help."
Lena stared.
Then slowly leaned forward.
"...Okay."
Oh no.
I recognized that look.
Science look.
The exact same one Mom got before something exploded.
Asterion had just accidentally made friends with my sister.
This was either excellent news...
or the beginning of something deeply dangerous.
I backed quietly away from the hallway.
There were some conversations I didn't need to hear.
Especially after phrases like:
spiritual co-piloting
and
nearly thousand-year-old stranger piloting my little brother
had permanently entered my memory.
Some things cannot be unheard.