Aether blinked in surprise when he noticed a bat fluttering outside the window, its tiny wings casting a faint shadow under the grey light.
A soft sigh left his lips as he carefully, almost reluctantly, slid his shaft out of Nyx’s warm body. Slowly and gently, he moved her aside, making sure not to wake her. Her skin still glistened faintly with sweat, and her breathing remained slow and peaceful. He got dressed, fastening his clothes without rushing, and gave her one last glance—just to make sure she was still deep asleep.
Turning silently, he walked toward the door. The mont his foot crossed—
Her eyes snapped open.
They glowed faintly in the dim light.
anwhile,
Aether eased the door closed behind him, the wooden fra barely making a sound. Just outside, the small bat hovered in midair, circling him once before flapping upward into the sky.
Aether chuckled softly as his feet began to rise, air humming beneath him like a gentle whisper. His body lifted slowly off the ground, drifting upward with a calm grace. He followed the bat without hesitation, its wings a blur against the grey sky.
Just then—
Thud!
"Who the hell is making that noise..."
Nightfire, wearing loose pyjamas, stepped out of the next room. Her hair was a ss, and her eyes drooped as she yawned. But the mont she spotted Aether floating off into the distance, her sleepy expression vanished.
Her face twisted with irritation. "Motherfucker... he’s sneaking off to fuck another bitch!" she hissed through clenched teeth.
With a sharp inhale, her pyjamas shimred and instantly transford into her usual form-fitting outfit.
She was about to fly after him when—
Thud!
Nyx stepped out of the room.
The two girls stared at each other in silence. Sothing unspoken passed between them. They nodded, their gazes sharp, intense... and in sync.
anwhile,
The bat led Aether far away to a secluded landscape where the air felt untouched and clean. The wind brushed gently through the open plain, rustling the grass beneath.
A small, clear river flowed nearby, its waters descending from the distant mountain, reflecting the cloudy grey sky above.
The bat hovered one last ti before bursting into red mist. The particles swirled and pulsed, slowly forming into the shape of a woman—Lia.
Aether landed gently beside her, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he saw her familiar figure. "Looks like soone couldn’t control herself," he teased, his voice playful.
Lia didn’t turn around. Her arms were folded, and she let out a dramatic huff, "Hmph!" Her pout, however, gave away her mood.
Aether’s grin widened. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin against her shoulder.
She stiffened at first, caught off guard. But then her shoulders slumped as she let out a long breath, tired yet relieved. Slowly, she turned and wrapped her arms around him, holding him close.
"I... was worried, you know..." she murmured softly, her voice trembling just a bit.
"I know," Aether whispered back. His hands rested on her lower back as he looked into her eyes, warm and gentle.
She lifted her head slightly, her cheeks flushed. Her eyes had that shy sparkle, vulnerable but glowing.
He couldn’t resist. He reached out and pinched her cheek. "You’re really cute, you know that?"
"S-Stop it~" she whined, trying to act annoyed, but her smile betrayed her. It stretched across her face—radiant, happy, uncontrollable.
"How did you even get out of the palace? I thought your mother had you locked in"
Lia gave a mischievous grin, her lips curling up as she leaned close. "I snuck out..." she whispered with a wink.
Aether let out a low laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. ’Your mother’s going to lose her mind,’ he thought as he gently ruffled her hair, letting his fingers slide through the strands.
"It’s been so long..." Lia whispered, her gaze softening as she took in his face. He was right in front of her, yet it still felt like a dream. So close... almost like that day.
Her cheeks heated at the mory of the mont they almost kissed. She bit her lip and looked away, flustered. If her mother hadn’t barged in back then...
Trying to shake the thoughts, she turned her attention to the river ahead. "Co on," she said quietly, "I want to show you sothing."
She took his hand, her fingers warm and a little shaky. Together they walked toward the river. She removed her boots, placing them neatly to the side, and Aether followed suit.
She dipped her toes into the water first, gasping sharply.
"Ah~ Cold!" she squeaked, her toes curling as the icy chill crept up her legs. A visible shiver ran through her spine, her body reacting instinctively to the sudden temperature.
Aether stepped in after her, wincing a little, but he watched her more than the water.
The way her brows furrowed, the way she clenched her fingers at her sides, even the way her lips parted in small breaths... he found himself smiling.
They waded deeper into the river, step by step, until they reached the centre. The water rose steadily up their legs, soaking through their clothes. Her skirt slowly clung to her thighs, the fabric turning heavy and translucent as it drenched fully. The water shimred around them, rippling gently under the sky’s grey hue.
They stood there, hips barely above the surface, surrounded by silence and the faint sound of flowing water.
"Hmm?"
Aether tilted his head, his brows pulling together in a confused expression. Just then—
Splash~
Lia suddenly lunged forward and shoved him, and with a surprised gasp, he stumbled and crashed into the water.
"Haha... you deserved it!" she shouted, bursting into laughter as she saw Aether fully subrged in the freezing water.
He ca up slowly, water streaming down his hair and face. His clothes clung tightly to his body, completely soaked. Wiping the water from his eyes, he looked up at her, half amused and half bewildered.
"I deserved it? What did I even do?"
Lia puffed out her cheeks in a pout, her hands already scooping more water toward him. "Of course you did! For being reckless!" she snapped, splashing more water onto his face, not even giving him a chance to speak.
"You did sothing so stupid... diving into the cycle of Samsara like that! You have no idea... I thought I really lost you this ti... you idiot!"
Splash!
"You bastard!"
Splash!
"Reckless man!"
Splash!
Each word ca with another wave of water hitting his face. Aether didn’t dodge or argue. He just stood there, drenched, blinking through the barrage of cold splashes.
Despite her anger, he could see it—her trembling lips, the glimr in her eyes, the raw emotion she was trying hard to contain. Her voice quivered, her body shook, and though she was furious, she was clearly holding back her tears.
Without a word, he walked forward through the shallow river. She paused, caught off guard.
Then—
He pulled her into a sudden embrace.
Lia gasped and squird in his arms, her fists lightly hitting his chest. "L-Let go... I’m not done teaching you a lesson!" she muttered, but her voice broke, and tears began slipping from her eyes.
Aether didn’t say anything at first. He simply held her, firm and warm, letting her feel him there, real and alive.
Then, lifting her chin gently, he looked into her teary eyes. They stared at each other, breathless. His voice was soft, filled with quiet guilt and sincerity.
"I’m sorry..."
Lia bit her lower lip, the taste of salt mixing with the water on her skin. Only she knew how much she had suffered—how hard she cried the ti her mother told her he was dead.
Aether could see it all now... The pain, the fear, the heartbreak. It was carved into her eyes. His own gaze softened, his hand brushing a wet strand of hair from her cheek.
"I’ll tell you the truth, Lia... even if sothing happened to you, I wouldn’t hesitate to step into danger. I know it’s selfish... and I know it hurts others. But that’s the way I show my commitnt to each of the won I love, and I made a promise... so that I know there are won waiting for ... to co back to all of you. No matter what it costs. Just... believe in ."
Lia’s eyes trembled, her breathing shaky as more tears spilt freely down her cheeks. She wanted to scream at him again, to scold him, maybe hit him once more. But the way he looked at her... so serious, so full of love and regret... it lted everything inside her.
Her fists loosened.
She shook her head slowly. "You’re... just too much, you know that?" she whispered, and gave his shoulder a soft punch, more affectionate than angry.
Aether smiled, warm and gentle. "Well, that’s just who I am."
Lia let out a soft breath, then nodded, her eyes locked on his. Droplets of water dripped from his chin, his lashes wet, his face open and honest. She couldn’t look away.
Her hands moved up, wrapping around his neck like a slow, sensuous embrace. In turn, Aether’s arms slid down and circled her hips, holding her tightly against him.
"A... Aether..." she breathed.
"Lia..." he murmured back.
Their faces inched closer, their breaths mingling, the heat rising between their drenched bodies.
Then, her soft lips touched his.
"Hmm~"
A delicate sound escaped as the kiss deepened slowly, tender and longing, water dripping around them, the cold forgotten in the warmth of their bodies.
... anwhile, not too far away, behind a wide tree trunk—
Nyx and Nightfire stood quietly, watching the scene unfold.
Nightfire scoffed, her arms crossed, clearly annoyed. Her expression was a mix of disbelief and jealousy.
Nyx, on the other hand, stood still. Her eyes were focused on the pair in the river. Her face didn’t show much emotion—blank, unreadable—but her fingers clenched slightly at her sides.
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