Asterion could have restrained her himself, but he chose to send an Awakened soldier forward instead. It was a psychological attack meant to weaken her mind, without doubt — after all, the soldier could not defy the command, and Cassie had no choice but to defend herself.
Killing another innocent human was going to weigh on her, and that would shake her mental defenses, even if only a little.
She steeled herself for the inevitable...
But, to her surprise, the Awakened soldier did not move.
Asterion seemed surprised, turning to look at the man with interest.
It was only when the soldier spoke that Cassie finally recognized him.
Trembling as if under an immense strain, the man — Yutra — met the inquisitive gaze of Asterion's golden eyes, scowled stubbornly, and then said in a shaking voice:
"N... n... no."
His legs buckled, and he would have fallen if not for the two soldiers near him — a man and a woman — who caught and supported him.
The three of them face the Dreamspawn, united in quiet defiance.
Asterion studied Yutra intently, then smiled.
"Curious."
Cassie, meanwhile, could not help but let out a short, desperate laugh.
She took one last step back, reaching the stairs, and said in a scornful tone:
"It seems that even your power is not absolute, Dreamspawn."
There were those who had fallen to the plague of Asterion, and those who had not — a very small number of them. However, Cassie had never witnessed someone who refused Asterion's command after succumbing to the plague.
It seemed that such a feat wasn't impossible, though. And that... there was hope in that, somewhere.
Cassie just didn't have time to find it. Asterion studied the trembling figure of Yutra for a while longer, then turned away and headed across the hall.
"Power... do you want to witness power, Song of the Fallen?"
Reaching the motionless figure of Wake of Ruin, he paused for a moment and looked down.
After observing the hollow Saint, Asterion asked quietly:
“You aren't going to be of much use to me, are you?"
Then, he said in a calm tone:
“Then die.”
And hearing his command, the empty shell of Wake of Ruin, crumpled like a broken doll. Life drained from his empty eyes, and he fell to the floor, motionless.
Saint Cor, one of the few remaining champions of the First Generation, was dead.
Asterion shifted his terrifying gaze back to Cassie and smiled.
"This is power."
He took a step forward.
“Are you satisfied with my demonstration?"
Cassie shuddered with her entire body, froze for a moment, then turned around and ran.
Asterion’s chuckle caught up with her like a terrifying whisper.
“Where are you going, Song of the Fallen? There is nowhere to run."
Cassie knew it... she knew that it was pointless.
But she still couldn't stop herself from trying to run away.
A bestial panic flooded her mind, and all she could think about was getting away from that terrible man.
So, she ran, and ran, and ran...
She only stopped on the penultimate floor of the Ebony Tower, in the hall of the forbidden runes.
Because Rain and Smile of Heaven were on the last level, and no matter how desperate and frightened she was, she couldn't lead Asterion to them.
Turning to face the stairs, she slowly backed away.
Soon enough, Asterion emerged from the darkness and looked at her with a ruthless finality hidden in his eyes.
"It's over. There is no point in struggling anymore, Song of the Fallen. Won't it be easier to simply give up?"
Cassie felt... that he was right. Giving up would certainly be simpler, easier, and far less painful.
It would be comfortable, even. Soothing, and full of solace.
But solace, solace...
Solace was a sin.
So even if there was no hope of winning, she raised her dagger instead of giving up.