While the girls were busy chattering and throwing harmless insults at each other, completely lost in their unusual banter and gossip...
Aether stood still, his gaze locked on the throne before him.
The throne—massive and ancient—was sealed beneath a thick layer of glistening ice. Yet, through the frosty barrier, he could clearly make out the wooden carvings buried within.
He tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing.
Aether was looking for sothing... sothing specific.
A Missing Key.
Yes, just like before—just like the throne he encountered in the Naiadae Empire.
’Could this one be the sa?’ he thought to himself, chewing gently on his lower lip in thought.
What if this throne, too, was similar to the others... requiring a key to activate its hidden functions?
Could it be a part of a pattern?
A puzzle waiting for him to piece together?
The Origin.
But despite his intense search, brushing his fingers along the icy edges, inspecting the patterns on the ground, he found nothing. No gaps. No suspicious grooves. No missing pieces.
Everything appeared... complete.
Perfectly intact.
Aether took a step back, his brows furrowed in confusion. ’Does that an... those two thrones were special?’ he wondered. ’Different from this one?’
Knock. Knock.
He didn’t turn around.
Without shifting his gaze from the throne, he asked calmly, "What is it, Liora?"
Her voice ca through softly, almost teasing, "Your son wants to et you."
Aether humd lowly, lips curling into a thoughtful smile. He kept his eyes on the throne for a mont longer before glancing back. "Where is he?" he asked, casually but with interest.
Before Liora could even respond, Kaelen hesitantly peeked out from behind her.
The boy looked unusually shy today.
"What is it, Kaelen?" Aether asked, raising a brow at his son’s nervous posture.
Kaelen’s ears twitched slightly, and his tail gave a little flick. "W-Well... if you’re busy, I-I can co back later, D-Dad," he stamred, starting to retreat a step.
But Liora, standing behind him with an amused look, quickly grabbed his tail and gave it a tug, pulling him back toward Aether.
"Go on... Don’t act like a scared puppy," she said, snorting.
Aether smiled, descending the steps from the throne slowly, eyes focused on Kaelen. Sothing was clearly making the boy nervous... And judging by Liora’s annoyance, she knew exactly what it was.
Aether threw a subtle questioning glance at her.
Liora rolled her eyes and looked away like she wasn’t going to help.
’What happened to her now?’ Aether thought briefly, then returned his focus to Kaelen, "Alright, out with it. What’s going on?"
Kaelen lowered his head, ears drooping a bit. "W-What do you think of my race, Dad? You haven’t really said anything since I changed... I-I just... wanted to know."
Aether blinked.
He shook his head with a small, exasperated chuckle. "Do you even need to ask that?"
He stepped closer, placing a firm, warm hand on Kaelen’s shoulder. "You did absolutely splendid, my son. Truly. I’m not just saying that... I genuinely an it." His voice softened, "I honestly... I don’t even have words sotis."
Kaelen blinked in surprise.
Aether continued, eyes filled with pride, "To save soone... even if it ans losing your own dream... That kind of strength is rare. Most don’t even understand it, let alone act on it. You had every right to chase your own path, but you chose soone else’s life over yours."
He patted Kaelen’s shoulder again, more gently this ti. "That’s... sothing I deeply admire."
Kaelen’s eyes shimred slightly. His lips trembled just a bit, but he tried to hold it together. Then he blinked again, confused. ’Wait... is he seriously complinting right now?’
Liora, arms crossed and watching from the side, raised an eyebrow and smirked, "Obviously, he ans you could’ve done better."
Kaelen turned to her, bewildered. "H-Huh? Wait... are you disappointed in then?" He looked back at Aether, startled.
Aether gave a short laugh and shook his head. "No, Kaelen. Not at all. You did what needed to be done without giving up. That’s what matters the most, regardless of what anyone else thinks. If you’re at peace with your choice, then that’s good enough for ."
But then Aether’s expression grew serious.
"Still... take this as a lesson," he said, stepping a little closer. "In life, no matter what happens, never let soone else’s expectations force you into a decision you’re not ready to make. The mont you pick one path, you may have to let go of another. If you’re not strong enough, the world will push you into corners.
It will make you choose even if you don’t want to.
That’s just how it is. Don’t let it."
Kaelen stared at him for a long mont.
For so reason, Aether felt... different. Not just wise—but like soone who had once made a hard choice and still carried the weight of it.
Had he chosen sothing... and regretted it?
Aether sighed softly and shook off the thoughts. "Anyway, like I said earlier—what matters is that you didn’t give up. That alone... ans a lot."
Then suddenly, his face lit up again with a grin.
"So—can you show your wolf form?" he asked, eyes gleaming with excitent. "I haven’t had a good look yet."
Kaelen blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in tone, but then smiled shyly and nodded. "O-Okay... just a second."
His body shimred and slowly shifted, fur sprouting, limbs adjusting, muzzle elongating, until finally, standing before Aether, was a majestic wolf with glimring eyes and a proud tail wagging slowly.
Aether knelt down, eyes wide with admiration. "Wow... look at you," he whispered. "You’re beautiful."
He reached forward, placing both hands gently on Kaelen’s furry face.
Then, without warning, Aether grinned mischievously and began tickling Kaelen under his chin.
"Who’s a good boy? Huh? Who’s the good boy~? Is it you? Is it you~?"
"Ah—Da~Ha~ha what~ are you doing~ah~ah~aha" Kaelen started laughing, his tail wagging uncontrollably.
Aether chuckled, continuing to tickle, "That’s right, it’s you! You’re the best wolf in the whole Empire, aren’t you~?"
Kaelen’s wolf form flopped sideways playfully, giggling like a child, paws wiggling in the air.
Liora stood nearby, arms crossed, a warm smile tugging at her lips.
And for a mont, just a mont...
Everything felt happy. Real. A father and his son.
Aether giggled like a kid who’d just seen his favourite toy. "You beat the shit out of a thousand people—and even outran your whole damn race! Damn, man... that’s so... freaking cool!! That zoom, you just—boofff!!" he exclaid, throwing his arms forward and mimicking Kaelen’s crazy burst of speed, complete with sound effects and wide eyes.
Kaelen blinked in surprise, staring at his father’s face.
Aether was... genuinely happy.
Even though he had given Kaelen so serious advice earlier, here he was now, laughing and praising him with such real excitent.
It felt... comforting.
Aether continued rubbing Kaelen’s fur with the utmost care, as if he was touching sothing precious. His hands were gentle, his smile soft.
Watching them, Liora stood to the side, blinking slowly. Her lips twitched slightly, and sothing unfamiliar stirred in her chest.
Jealousy.
It blood without warning, an aching, bitter feeling she hadn’t expected. She folded her arms, glancing between Aether’s smile and Kaelen’s relaxed, happy face. Father and son... getting closer by the minute. Laughing. Sharing monts.
Her eyes narrowed.
Liora snorted, trying to shake off the emotion, and then suddenly snapped, "Tell him what you ca for, my bastard son!"
Her voice dripped with a mix of annoyance and... sothing else.
Jealousy?
Aether blinked, his hands pausing as he turned his gaze toward her with mild surprise. Kaelen sighed, ears flicking at Liora’s tone.
"Well... Dad," he said, raising his head with a hint of nervous pride, "Tomorrow... my love is coming. I wanted to introduce her to you."
Aether raised an eyebrow, then leaned forward and pinched one of Kaelen’s furry ears. "Oh? Look at this brat," he grinned. "You don’t even know who’s gonna end up ruling tomorrow, and you’ve already gone and picked yourself a Queen? Aren’t you a clever little bastard!"
"Haha! I didn’t an it like that, Dad!" Kaelen laughed, trying to dodge the ear pinch. "But whatever the future brings—she’ll be my Queen, no matter what," he said, his tone suddenly turning serious.
Aether looked at him for a mont, then let out a soft hum. His expression turned proud—warm and fatherly—as he glanced over at Liora.
Liora snorted again, clearly not hiding her disappointnt.
She still hadn’t co around to accepting Kaelen’s love choice.
Aether sighed softly, rubbing Kaelen’s head again with fondness. "Well, we’ll et her tomorrow. We’ll talk then," he said gently, letting the mont settle.
His fingers traced down Kaelen’s furry neck as he chuckled, "Now then, who’s the good boy? Who’s the dangerous boy? Who’s my proud little wolf~?"
"I am!" Kaelen barked proudly, tail wagging.
"Indeeeed!!" Aether laughed.
"Haaha..."
"Haha..."
Their laughter filled the chamber, light and joyful.
And Liora?
She’d had enough.
With a quick shimr of light, her body transford into her majestic wolf form. Her large paws thudded against the ground as she nudged Aether forcefully with her head, pushing him slightly to the side, then turned her glowing eyes on Kaelen with a cold glare.
The look clearly said: Back off. He’s mine.
Aether and Kaelen blinked in sync, staring at her.
Then suddenly—
"Hahaa!"
"Pfft—haha!"
They both burst out laughing. Neither had expected her to act like such a possessive, sulking mate.
Liora growled with a low, furious sound. Her large body towered over Kaelen as he nervously stepped back, tail low. She turned her attention to Aether, and without hesitation, lunged forward and licked his entire face with her long, wet tongue.
Aether let out a choked laugh, caught off guard.
"Okay—okay!! My wolfy is so possessive~"
He giggled between licks as Liora kept showering his face in overly dramatic affection, her eyes glowing with hunger and frustration.
anwhile...
Outside the chamber, Delphine stood silently, peeking through the slightly opened door.
Her face was blank, unreadable.
"He’s not faking it..."
A sudden voice behind her made her flinch.
Delphine turned sharply and found Emberlyn standing there, wearing simple nightclothes borrowed from Maelona’s quarters.
Emberlyn gave her a soft, knowing smile.
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