A Path To Omniscience

"Log-032, current date: June 30th, 2033. It's been only been a few days since I gave the demonstration to my parents. At first, they were... reluctant, which didn't surprise me. But there was something more. They seemed worried—maybe even scared. Not of me, of course, but for me. I didn't get it at first, until they mentioned a condition. They wanted me to sell the drones under an alias, so they couldn't be traced back to me. That was the root of their concern. They even lectured me on why. I think they expected me to be angry or argue, but I didn't. I'd planned on using an alias regardless."

Fame didn't matter to him; he could care less about being famous. Yes, he needed power, but power and fame weren't the same thing, not even close. The ones who really control the world don't have their faces plastered everywhere like some celebrity. Their names are only known by the people who matter, while the rest of the world remains in the dark, blissfully ignorant. 

Whether I use an alias or not, Atlas Academy will still be able to trace the drones back to me. It doesn't change anything in my plans.

As Asher journaled, his thoughts moved as quickly as his hands, his eyes scanning the makeshift platform in the Nexus Space. Scattered all around him were countless parts, like a high-tech junkyard floating in a white void. Yet despite the chaos, Asher was looking around with a clear sense of purpose. 

His connection to the Nexus Space let him identify each piece with just a thought. A simple gesture made them rise into the air, and another allowed him to assemble them together with precision. The process was faster than even the most advanced factory line, and in seconds, a drone was complete.

It was an SU-P, though without its sleek white casing or power source. In the next few minutes, Asher created several of them, assembling part after part in perfect sync, all while continuing his log.

"In any case, the contract should be ready by next week." He couldn't legally sign it himself—he was only fourteen after all. Normally, his parents could just co-sign, but since they were the contracting party, that would be a conflict of interest.

So, they were busy finding a trustworthy lawyer to co-sign for him. Which left Asher with only one real task: preparing all the drones for shipment.

"The drones are pretty complex, but thanks to the Nexus Space, that's less of a problem. The most expensive part is the gravity dust crystals, which acts as both the anti-gravity system and power source. All things considered, it's not costing me much. But I didn't expect how long it would take to assemble all the components. Even with the Nexus Space speeding things up, I have to keep leaving to make more parts before I can finish the drones."

The problem with the components that made up the drone was that they couldn't all be assembled telekinetically. Some needed soldering, others had to be printed or built from scratch. That required machines and tools he didn't have access to in the Nexus Space, which slowed down his production speed.

"Simply put, this has made it clear: the first thing I need to do when I get the pre-payment from the contract is buy a warehouse. I'll set it up with all the equipment I need to automate the production of the parts. That way, I can use my workshop for testing prototypes before sending the designs to the warehouse for mass production."

As Asher spoke, he used the last few components in the Nexus Space, completing the tenth drone. Once it was done, he waved his hand, and the drones floated off to the other side of the platform, joining several others he had already finished.

He didn't need to be in the Nexus Space to control things telekinetically, so instead of letting the drones clutter the platform, he had them hover off to the side, out of the way.

"At this rate, I should be able to finish a hundred drones within a week or so," Asher muttered, stretching his mental form. It was strange—stretching without a body—but it felt like giving his mind a massage. Oddly therapeutic, especially after running at full capacity for hours.

"We'll see how things go from there. End log."

=====================================•=====================================

The soft sound of piano notes floated through the archways, flowing into the long hallway just beyond them. At the heart of it was a grand, ornate piano, black and silver, polished so flawlessly it could've been made of glass. Weiss sat on the stool, her fingers gliding effortlessly over the keys, not missing a beat.

She didn't need to look at the sheet music. It was as if every note was already etched in her memory.

In the midst of her playing, the sound of footsteps echoed on the smooth stone floor.

Without looking up, Weiss spoke, her voice cool and controlled. "What do you want, Whitley?"

Sure enough, her brother appeared around the corner, his usual calm smile in place, arms casually behind his back.

"Can't a little brother check on his big sister once in a while?" He teased, his tone making it obvious he didn't mean a word of it.

"If you're just here to bother me, then go away," Weiss shot back, her gaze never leaving the piano. Naturally, Whitley ignored her, strolling over to lean against the side of the piano, just within her peripheral vision.

"So, what are you doing?" he asked, the amusement clear in his voice.

Weiss huffed slightly.

"What does it look like?" A hint of irritation slipped into her tone, her fingers faltering slightly as she missed a few notes under his gaze.

"Yes, yes, you're playing the piano," he replied, unfazed.

"But I'm curious as to why. You've already completed your lessons for the week. Normally, you'd be busy with dance practice or studying with Father." Seeing he had no intention of leaving, Weiss exhaled softly and slowed her playing, the melody becoming gentler.

"You know I don't have lessons on Sundays," she muttered.

"And as for Father, he's been busy. Our sessions have been put on hold."

"Ah, that's right," Whitley mused.

"The contract with Frostvale Enterprises. Their son is quite something, isn't he? Not only is he some kind of mechanical prodigy, but you lost to him in a debate about dust of all things. I suppose he just knows more about it than you do." That jab struck a nerve. Weiss's fingers stumbled, hitting two wrong notes, and she pressed harder on the keys than she intended.

"I didn't lose anything!" She snapped, her voice rising just a fraction. 

"Based on the information I had, I was correct. How was I supposed to know he'd invented technology that defies everything we've been taught about dust stabilization?" Whitley's smirk grew as he shrugged, clearly enjoying the rise he'd gotten out of her. 

"Sure, sure, whatever you say. But this piece... it sounds a bit off," Whitley remarked, tilting his head slightly as he listened to her play.

"It's not off. It's a duet piece. I'm just practicing my part," Weiss replied, her tone a bit defensive now.

"Oh?" Whitley dragged out the sound, a hand moving to his chin.

"A duet, huh? Don't tell me you're practicing because of what he said to you when we left Frostvale Manor? I remember you saying you were looking forward to it, but I didn't think it was enough to make you practice in your free time." That did it. Whitley's words threw Weiss off completely, causing her fingers to stumble over more keys.

She finally let out an irritated huff, slamming her hands onto the keyboard in frustration before turning to face him.

"I'm not looking forward to it. I just want to be prepared. Father was the one who suggested the duet in the first place, and I don't want to disappoint him," she snapped.

"Besides, I'm not the only one looking forward to something, am I? I overheard you talking. You wanted to show him something, didn't you?" Whitley blinked, caught off guard for a moment, but quickly recovered with a shrug.

"Oh, please, that was nothing. I was just planning to show him a few of the more... interesting parts of the manor that most guests overlook. It's called a tour. Maybe you'd know about it if you actually interacted with people in our circle."

"Hmph, 'our circle'," Weiss muttered, arms crossed in irritation.

"All the girls my age care about are fashion trends, fancy events, and setting up pointless parties. And somehow, all the boys are just as obnoxious as you."

Her frustration softened into something more somber, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"Besides, what's the point in talking to anyone if they're just going to disappear..." Whitley's smug expression faltered, his gaze shifting as he noticed the darkness in his sister's tone. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond. But after a few seconds of awkward silence, an idea seemed to cross his mind.

"You know, I heard Winter will be dropping by in a few weeks." That piece of news seemed to immediately lift Weiss's spirits, and she turned to her brother with wide eyes.

"Really!? Why?" She asked, barely able to contain her excitement.

"I'm not sure," Whitley replied, shrugging.

"I just overheard she'd be coming over. If I had to guess, it's probably another military matter. That's usually why she visits... aside from checking on you, I suppose." His voice dipped slightly on the last part, but Weiss didn't catch it. She was already on her feet.

"Maybe I'll get a chance to show her how much I've improved in my fencing!" Whitley rolled his eyes.

"I still can't believe you bother with that. What's the point? Do you really plan on becoming a Huntress?"

"If Winter can do it, then there's no reason I can't." Weiss's tone sharpened with determination.

"Besides, when people hear that a member of the Schnee Family has become a Huntress, they'll see our family isn't just about business. We can still uphold the same values our grandfather did." The respect in her voice when she mentioned their grandfather was unmistakable.

Whitley, however, wasn't moved.

"Right. Well, you have fun with that," he said dismissively, already turning to leave. Weiss watched him round the corner and disappeared, letting out a quiet sigh once he was gone.

"I don't know why I even bother trying to talk to him about these things."

=====================================•=====================================

"Wow... this is, um... quite the place," the tall, older woman said as she took in her surroundings. Her grayish-blue skin was mostly hidden beneath a dark brown suit, though her skin seemed to pale close to the center of her body. Her deep blue eyes, with even darker blue irises, scanned the space carefully, though she made an effort not to turn her head too much.

She stayed professional, suitcase in hand.

"This house was actually built a few decades ago," Lia responded. She was leading the woman through the halls of the manor.

"It fell into disrepair when no one bought it. At the time, the design was fine, but it was soon considered outdated compared to Atlas's current architectural style. It wasn't until Sir and Madam Frostvale purchased the property and renovated it that it became what you see now."

"I see. I've heard quite a bit about Vance and Nillia Frostvale, but I only recently looked into them. They seem like quite the success story. Is it true they only have one child?" The woman asked, glancing at Lia.

"That's right, his name is Asher Frostvale. Though I'm sure you already knew that, considering you've signed on to be his personal attorney," Lia said with a knowing smile.

It's a bit odd that a fourteen-year-old boy needs a private attorney. I mean, surely a family this rich has an army of lawyers ready to handle any family-related matters.

The woman kept these thoughts to herself, while Lia continued.

"The Young Master is actually quite mature for his age. Sir and Madam tend to let him make his own decisions, which is why he's been meeting with potential lawyers by himself."

"Lawyers?" The woman raised an eyebrow.

"You mean he's already met with others?"

Lia nodded.

"You mean he's already met others?" She asked, with Lia nodding.

"That's right. You'll be the sixth lawyer the Young Master has met. He didn't... seem to like the others," she added, laughing awkwardly. The comment didn't exactly inspire confidence in the woman. 

The requirements for this job were incredibly high. I can't imagine there are many attorneys in Atlas who qualify. And yet, he's already turned away five...

They arrived at a set of large double doors. Lia turned to the woman with a friendly smile, one that seemed to say, "Good luck".

"The Young Master is waiting for you inside."

"Thank you," the woman replied, taking a steady breath before opening the door and stepping inside. The room was modest—a small meeting space with a simple chandelier hanging from the ceiling. A grandfather clock stood against the far wall between two windows that offered a view of the backyard. In the center of the room, atop an ornate carpet, were two sofas facing one another with a low, long table separating them.

Already sitting on one of the sofas, the woman saw a young boy. He wore a white suit over a black dress shirt. Unlike most children in formal attire, who often looked either too big or too small for their clothes, everything about him fit perfectly. Even his shoes were clearly tailored to match his appearance.

Asher appeared momentarily surprised by her appearance but quickly smiled.

"Welcome. I hope your journey here was pleasant." He gestured to the sofa opposite him, and the woman took the cue, sitting down and placing her briefcase on the floor by her feet.

"It was. I don't often come to this part of Atlas, but it's beautiful. Especially your home," she replied, feeling a bit strange holding a professional conversation with a child but doing her best to maintain her professionalism.

"Good to hear," Asher said smoothly.

"My mother's responsible for most of the manor's design. She loves receiving compliments, so when you meet her, do let her know what you think."

"I'll be sure to do that," the woman responded with a slightly nervous smile. Asher's gaze shifted subtly from her face to the large tail behind her. It was much bigger than the usual Faunus tail, and from a glance, Asher could tell what kind of animal it belonged to. It also explained her distinct appearance.

"You're a shark, Faunus?" He asked.

The woman stiffened slightly at the question, taking a deep breath before nodding.

"That's right." She seemed to brace herself for something. But Asher, noticing her tension, raised his hands in a gentle, apologetic gesture.

"I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I was merely curious. Whether you're Faunus or not has no bearing on how I'll evaluate you." The woman exhaled in relief, shaking her head.

"No, it's fine. Sorry, it's just..." Her voice trailed off, though the rest of her thought didn't need to be said. Discrimination against Faunus was prevalent, especially here in Atlas. Her reaction was a testament to that reality.

"I understand," Asher replied, not pressing her further. Instead, he reached down and sifted through the stack of papers on the table in front of him. From where she sat, the woman could make out that the papers were profiles. Though she couldn't see them all, she recognized two faces—both belonging to highly respected attorneys in the field.

"So, your name is Liv Melone, correct?" Asher asked, his tone calm. The woman quickly realized she hadn't introduced herself when she entered.

"O- Oh, yes, that's right. Sorry for not introducing myself. Um... you can just call me Liv."

"It's fine, I didn't either," Asher replied.

"I'm Asher Frostvale, but you can just call me Asher." He barely glanced at her profile before shifting his attention back to her.

"So, tell me a bit about yourself, Liv," Asher said, leaning back against the sofa, his gaze steady. Liv blinked, caught off guard.

"Huh? About me?" she asked, unsure of what he meant.

"Yes. You're going to be my personal attorney, so it makes sense for us to get to know each other a little, don't you think?" His question was casual, but Liv hadn't expected this when she stepped through the door. Still, she nodded a second later.

"Um, sure. Well... my mother was a Faunus from Menagerie, and my father was a market researcher for a company here in Atlas. He was conducting a field survey in Menagerie, and that's how he met my mother. I won't bore you with the details, but they fell in love, and my father offered to bring her back to Atlas with him. He made quite a bit of money, so he was able to support her and get her citizenship here. A few years later, I was born." Asher listened intently, nodding as she spoke.

"I see. So, you didn't follow in your father's footsteps and become a market researcher?" Liv shook her head.

"No... I wanted to become a lawyer." She hesitated before continuing.

"My parents shielded me from a lot of the discrimination, but I saw how Faunus were treated here in Atlas. I wanted to do something about it. So, I decided to become a lawyer to advocate for Faunus Rights and handle cases involving them. But... opportunities like that don't come around often, and I had to support myself, so I take on other jobs too."

Asher's expression remained thoughtful as he responded, "Impressive. Not many people can decide on something at a young age and actually see it through into adulthood. I'm sure your parents are proud of you."

Liv gave a faint, slightly disheartened smile at that last sentence.

"They were. But they passed away a couple of years ago in an accident."

"Oh. My condolences." Liv waved it off gently, saying it was fine. The conversation then shifted toward something that caught his attention in her file.

"I see here that you were... fired from your last position as a private attorney. Can I ask why?"

Liv tensed slightly at the question, pausing before she answered.

"I can't disclose information about my former clients."

"I'm not asking for specifics. I just want a general idea," Asher responded almost immediately; his voice was still calm but firmer. It was clear to Liv that this wasn't something he would drop easily.

"Well... he was accused of something that violated my ethics," she admitted.

"So, I refused to represent him. Naturally, he fired me after that." Asher raised an eyebrow, intrigued. 

"Oh? Forgive me if this sounds blunt, but as a lawyer in Atlas, I would expect you're accustomed to representing... morally gray clients. Especially given how highly recommended and well-reviewed you are." Liv's expression hardened slightly at that remark.

"Most of those recommendations come from the Faunus I've helped over the course of my career. As for 'morally gray clients,' I don't associate with people I can't see myself defending. I know many attorneys don't have the same boundaries, but their choices don't reflect mine." There was conviction in her voice—steadfast and unwavering. She didn't seem concerned that what she was saying could get her turned away. 

"So, if I hired you and ended up in court under... let's say, unfavorable circumstances, you would refuse to represent me?" Asher asked, his eyes fixed on her.

"If I believed you were guilty, then yes," Liv responded curtly, without hesitation.

"Hmm. You know, that mentality is definitely limiting your options. I'm sure a lot of people in your field would call you naive," Asher remarked, his tone casual but pointed.

"They can say whatever they want. I won't let someone else's ideology pressure me into compromising my own. If that means losing out on certain jobs, then so be it," Liv responded firmly. Of course, that was exactly what it meant. Atlas was far from a beacon of morality. To be a lawyer here, if you wanted to move up, you had to compromise your principles.

At least while you worked. Liv had experienced that firsthand. It's why she had been 'dismissed' so many times, despite her solid track record.

"You know," Asher began, his voice dropping to a tone far too cold and perceptive for a boy his age, "they say in a world of wolves, the sheep who stand on principle are often the first to fall. It's one thing to see the world as it should be, but reality won't bend to that view."

Liv didn't seem phased by the gravity in his words.

"In that case, I'll do what I can before I fall," she answered, her voice steady. Asher stared at her for a moment, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. It was subtle, brief, and gone in an instant—but it was genuine. More genuine than any smile he'd ever shown the people around him since waking from his coma, even his own parents.

"Alright then," Asher said, rising from the sofa. Seeing him stand, Liv exhaled softly, already convinced she'd blown the opportunity.

"Thank you for the opportuni-" she began, but Asher cut her off.

"You're hired."

Liv blinked, stunned.

"Wh-what?" She muttered, not quite believing what she'd just heard.

"You're hired," Asher repeated, glancing out a nearby window as if the matter were already settled.

"What I said still holds true. In a city like this, it's easier to do what everyone else does, even if it's questionable. After all, doing the right thing doesn't feed you; it doesn't pay the bills, and while some people might admire you for it, others will hate you. It's a thankless path, and honestly, you're likely to suffer for it if you keep going," Asher said, his words heavy with a sense of foreboding.

"But," he continued, "someone who's willing to suffer for their beliefs is stronger than someone who bends their ideals just to make life easier. And though I have no issue with people who live like the latter, for the projects I have planned in the future, I need someone who won't fold under pressure. Even when the world turns against them."

He extended his hand toward Liv, meeting her gaze. She still seemed to be processing everything, caught between shock and intrigue.

"So, are you willing to walk the thorny road?" Liv stared at his hand for a moment, her mind spinning.

Huh. I wonder when it happened. At what point did I stop seeing this fourteen-year-old boy in front of me as just a child?

The way he spoke, the way he carried himself—it went beyond maturity, beyond philosophy. There was experience behind every word, as if he'd lived through the very things he warned her about. She didn't fully understand what he meant by "projects" or the "thorny road," but she had this feeling. This deep-seeded feeling of wanting to know.

Something about Asher felt like a gateway into something far larger than herself.

This kid... he's going to be something incredible. I just know it.

Before she even realized it, Liv reached out and took Asher's hand, a slight smile forming on her lips.

"Of course," she said softly.

"That's why I chose this job in the first place."