"Oh, because that's not vague at all," Weiss shot back, crossing her arms with a touch of sarcasm.
Whitley chimed in, "Honestly, it sounds more like a company slogan."
For once, the two Schnee siblings wore the same unimpressed expression. That kind of agreement used to only happen when they were putting on a show for others, but lately, it felt more genuine.
"It's not done yet, so I can't really give you all the details," Asher explained, glancing at them both.
"But since you two are genuinely curious... think of it as a new kind of construction tool. See that limb over there?" He pointed to the animated hologram being projected by the Optical Interface Terminal.
"I'm building the first prototype right now." Asher's gesture shifted their attention to a nearby workbench.
Whitley frowned, hand to his chin, as he realized what he'd assumed was a pile of random parts actually resembled a limb. It was all exposed circuits and wiring, six joints visible, with no frame holding it together yet. Asher wasn't even working on it directly; the Automated Assembly Arms were handling it for him.
The robotic arms worked with precise coordination, grabbing newly constructed parts from various machines scattered around the workshop and putting them together for welding. It was all happening at a rapid pace.
"Everything's moving pretty fast. You've already run tests?" Whitley glanced sideways at Asher, clearly skeptical.
"Of course," Asher replied, nodding confidently.
Every invention he built in the real world started as a blueprint he put together in the Nexus Space. With his projection abilities, he could animate the designs and check if they worked on a basic level before ever picking up a real tool. That way, he made sure each blueprint was at least fundamentally sound.
But projections had their limits—they were too perfect. The designs functioned exactly as they were supposed to, never showing more subtle problems that might pop up in reality.
Faulty wiring, worn-out parts, power fluctuations, overheating, or cooling leaks—none of those issues ever showed up in the simulation, or if they did, they didn't actually cause any breakdowns.
So while his projections saved him a lot of time by filtering out bad designs early on, he still needed to build real prototypes in the workshop to see how they'd actually perform.
Moving on, Asher rubbed the back of his neck and stretched a little.
"Anyway, it's still going to be a few days before anything comes of that. I'll show it to you when it's ready. For now, I was wondering if you two wanted to join me for… well, a celebration."
Weiss raised an eyebrow, curious.
"A celebration? I don't remember anything important happening around this time of year."
"It's not for any big event," Asher explained.
"Just a personal invitation from a friend of mine I've gotten to know since working with the Atlas Military. They haven't really had a chance to host something like this before. Winter's probably going to be there, maybe even the General. Not sure how long they'll stick around, though."
Asher's mention of Winter got a reaction from both siblings.
Weiss's eyes brightened immediately. Even though she could call her sister whenever Winter wasn't busy, it was rare for them to actually meet in person, even living in the same city.
Whitley, on the other hand, just looked uneasy. He didn't roll his eyes or make a snide remark like he once would have, but it was clear he wasn't thrilled at the idea of seeing their eldest sister.
The silence stretched for a moment until Asher gave a small shrug.
"Just let me know if you're interested. It's on the twenty-fifth, nothing formal, so you don't have to dress up or anything. Should be fun." With that, the conversation shifted naturally back to the three of them.
"So, how's your summoning coming along?" Asher turned in his chair, directing the question to Weiss while Whitley kept his eyes on the Automated Assembly Arms at work.
Weiss's eyes flicked over to Asher, and she couldn't help but show a confident smirk.
"Why don't you see for yourself?"
She held out her hand, palm up. A shimmering glyph formed just above her skin, spinning slowly. In a brief burst of light, a butterfly took shape, delicate as if it were made from sparkling dust.
With a flick of her finger, the butterfly fluttered into the air, circling above their heads. As Weiss closed her hand and let the glyph fade, the butterfly dissolved into glittering particles that drifted down like snow before disappearing completely.
Asher let out a low whistle, giving a round of applause.
"That's impressive. Been practicing on your own?"
Weiss lifted her chin, hand resting proudly on her chest.
"Naturally. You know I'm a quick study."
Asher's eyes narrowed a little, a hint of mischief in his voice.
"Oh, I remember. You picked up quite a few things that night—very quickly, too... didn't you?"
The implication landed instantly. Weiss's cheeks turned bright red. They hadn't done anything like that since that time in the shower, which was fine by her—she'd been busy recovering and putting her energy into practice. Still, all those memories came rushing back, making her glance away in embarrassment.
"You- You're impossible… I need a glass of water." She stumbled over her words, face still flushed, then turned and hurried out. Asher couldn't help but grin as he watched her go, the workshop hatch sliding open automatically to let her out. He figured one of the staff would help her find the kitchen while she cooled off.
With Weiss gone, it was just him and Whitley.
Asher crossed the room to join the youngest Schnee, who finally looked away from the half-finished prototype and met his eyes with a sly grin.
"Finished teasing my sister for the day?" Whitley asked, clearly amused.
"Honestly, since you came around, I've seen her turn red more times than I can count. It's almost impressive."
Asher smirked.
"Yeah, well, I'll try not to melt all the snow at once. Anyway, how's our business arrangement been going for you? I've been going through a lot more dust crystals for my projects lately."
That seemed to perk Whitley up.
"It's working out well, actually. You're not buying enough for it to make much of a difference to my father in terms of profits, but the types of crystals you're asking for? We usually have plenty of extras, so moving them helps clear out some storage space."
"So it's mutually beneficial, then," Asher summarized.
"Absolutely," Whitley agreed, his tone turning businesslike.
"Glad to hear it. You can expect my orders to go up soon," Asher added, then shifted the topic.
"And speaking about contracts—have you finished thinking over my offer?" The mood changed at once. Whitley knew exactly what Asher was talking about and took a moment to collect his thoughts.
"You mean your offer to join your company?"
"That's right," Asher confirmed with a nod.
"Everything's already being set in motion. It'll be called Karatheon. There's still a lot to do, but I'd rather have you involved from the start, not just coming in after the groundwork's already done. It's always better to have people who were there to help build the foundation, not just those who show up after it's finished."
Whitley didn't answer right away. He was quiet, his gaze drifting from Asher to the floor.
Asher's invitation had been on his mind for a while now. He was definitely interested—he believed in what Asher was building—but joining his company was a big step.
He couldn't help but wonder how his father would react.
I'm not Winter, and I'm not Weiss. Being heir to the Schnee Dust Company isn't even possible for me, unless Father somehow takes the title away from Weiss. Otherwise, I'd probably just end up with a position meant to support her... but still. There's no rule saying I can't be part of two companies at once.
The real question is, am I ready for that? For that kind of responsibility? For whatever Asher might expect from me?
Whitley was usually sure of himself and his abilities—after all, in most situations, he could hold his own. He and his sisters were all talented in their own ways.
But Asher's something else entirely. I'm not sure I could keep up with him…
Across from him, Asher waited patiently, reading the tension in Whitley's posture. He didn't try to push or interrupt, just stayed silent until Whitley finally lifted his head to meet his eyes.
"If I did agree, what position would I have?" Whitley asked. The moment the question left his lips, Asher couldn't help but smile to himself.
He'd been waiting for this.
"I'd bring you on as my strategic partner and Chief Operations Officer," Asher answered, already prepared.
"As for equity, we can talk about that as things develop, but I'm willing to offer you a share of the annual net profit. Your main responsibilities would be supply chain negotiations and business policy—areas you're already well-versed in."
That made Whitley chuckle.
"Should I even ask how you figured out those were my specialties?" His tone was joking, but his face grew more serious a moment later.
"Tempting offer... but what kind of strings are you planning to tie me down with?"
"Well, for starters, you'd be under a strict NDA," Asher replied.
"But if you ever want to get into inventing, I'm open to giving you co-inventor rights. You'd have a seat on the board, veto power, and a few exit clauses built in to keep things from getting messy. But honestly…"
His voice softened, turning sincere.
"This is your shot, Whitley. For both of us. The chance to build something with our own names on it—something that could outlast both of our families. It's a way out of that shadow you've always felt hanging over you." Whitley's eyes widened at that. He hadn't expected Asher to say it out loud, and for a moment, he wasn't sure how to respond.
A stillness settled over the room, broken only by the hum of machines working around them.
One moment stretched into the next.
Finally, Whitley let out a quiet sigh.
"Alright… but I'll need some time."
Asher raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to explain.
Whitley gestured with his hand, choosing his words carefully.
"First, I have to make sure this doesn't cause any trouble at home. I need to convince my father to let me do this. I have a few ideas, but still. And of course, I've already signed contracts with the Schnee Dust Company, so I'll have to watch out for any hidden clauses. Most important of all, I can't be put in a position where I'm working against the Schnee Dust Company."
That last point wasn't just a matter of paperwork—it was personal. He wanted Asher to know where he stood.
Asher nodded, understanding.
"That's fine. My goal is to see your sister running the Schnee Dust Company, with you supporting her, while you also work with me. If everything goes well, our companies should be allies, not competitors. And if things ever change—if I go back on that, or you feel like you have to choose—you'll be free to walk away."
With that, everything important had been laid out between them. By the time the lab's hatch slid open again and Weiss returned, she only caught the end of their conversation, just as Asher and Whitley shook hands.
She took a sip of her water and walked over, giving each of them a curious look. Lowering her glass, she arched an eyebrow.
"So, what are you two up to, shaking hands like that?" She asked, her tone half-probing.
"Just working out a business deal," Asher replied, a teasing note in his voice.
Whitley rolled his eyes, unable to hide a smirk.
"Yeah, stop being so nosy, dear sister."
=====================================•=====================================
December 21st, 2033
It had been a few days since Asher set everything in motion.
He'd already called the general contractor Lionel usually worked with for construction projects. Just as Asher requested, the old butler arranged everything, passing along every detail perfectly. Because of that, today was the day—the general contractor's core team was coming to inspect the building that would soon become the home of Asher's company.
"I still can't believe you agreed to this job. We're not even getting paid by Frostvale Enterprises or the family itself—just their son. Are we sure this is a smart move?" The team's estimator, who handled finances and project costs, voiced his concern.
A little farther back, another team member nodded, adding, "Seriously, it feels strange. We're supposed to work with a kid on a full construction job? Sounds like a bad joke."
Most of the core team was middle-aged or older, well into their careers. Naturally, they were skeptical—after all, their years of experience didn't line up with the idea of taking orders from someone still in school.
"Oh, come on, relax. We haven't even accepted the job yet. We're just going to check things out," the man—Stephon, the General Contractor and leader of the team—said calmly, unfazed by the doubts floating around.
"Stephon's right. And don't forget, we're talking about Asher Frostvale here. He's not your average kid; he's a genius for his age. Even if you want to doubt that, those renovation plans he sent saved us a ton of time and effort," added a middle-aged woman, putting a stop to the complaints with her words.
After a pause, the Site Superintendent spoke up, "Honestly, it's still hard to believe a kid made those plans. They were flawless. It's not like Lionel or the Frostvales have ever lied to us before about a project, but I'm still not completely convinced he actually drew them himself."
Stephon nodded and faced the group again.
"Exactly why we're going to see the site ourselves. Now, come on—it's just up ahead."
Soon, the core team reached their destination: the gate of the abandoned research laboratory Asher had explored with Russet not long ago. The entire lab area was walled off, so only when they reached the gate did they get a real sense of what they'd be working on.
"Well, this is definitely a bigger project than that warehouse," someone said, eyeing the size of the place.
"When's the client supposed to arrive?" Another asked.
"He should be here by-" Stephon's sentence was cut off by the sharp beeping of a truck backing up.
Heads turned just in time to see a truck pulling slowly up to the curb nearby. Not far behind, a convoy of vehicles waited, with several men in black suits standing guard. One of them opened the back door of an armored truck.
Out stepped Asher, dressed as usual for the occasion. He scanned the street quickly, spotted the group, and waved as he started toward them. Two bodyguards followed closely, while the others stayed by the vehicles.
Once he was close enough to be heard, Asher greeted them with a smile.
"Hello, everyone. Glad you could make it. Sorry for being late—I wanted to arrive with your new construction equipment."