Thalia Crimsonclaw’s POV
"Am I... truly the one you need?"
I blankly looked at him when he said those words.
What was he talking about? Did he doubt , after everything?
Of course, he was the one. Did he not see it? Then why would I try to seduce him, risk so much, bare myself in ways I never had before?
Was he a fucking maggot, or just pretending not to understand?
It only infuriated , knowing this bastard didn’t know what I needed.
My hands clenched around his collar, fingers digging into the fabric as if to anchor myself to reality. I muttered with a furious tone, every word edged with trembling,
"Truly the one I need? So all this ti you thought I was just teasing you around? Huh? What about the kiss we shared, that fire, the things you made feel? What about the other things you’ve done to —do you forget so easily?" I was almost on the verge of shouting, breath shuddering as I tried to hold back.
How dare he question !!
Aether smiled softly... I really hate his smiling expression. Why, of all monts, am I getting pissed off seeing it now? That gentle curve, so calm, almost taunting, as if he knew a secret I could never reach.
So annoying!
He said softly, "Let rephrase it correctly... Do you truly love , not because your sister loves , but because it’s your own heart? Is it really you want, Thalia?"
I squinted my eyes, confused about what he was talking about.
Did he think my feelings were just an echo of hers, that I was so shallow reflection?
"Of course I do! Do you think I did it because of my sister? What makes you think that?!" I shouted.
How dare he question my love! The idea hurt more than I expected.
Yet,
He asked the question that I was unable to answer,
"Then tell , why are you trying so hard to compete with others? Who are you, Thalia?
Why do you look.... lost, even when you’re right in front of ?"
"Huh?" My hands that had been gripping his collar suddenly loosened, the world tilting as his words dug into places I tried to bury.
"After saving Raven, you have changed so much. The woman I knew—she was wild, bold, always ready to fight, chasing thrills just for fun, fierce in loving her family.
Now... you seem like soone just trying her best, but not being who she truly is," he said with a calm tone, as if peeling back my skin to see what hid underneath.
"I was very happy when you decided to learn to do things supporting your sister but... the reason you wanted to change was because you saw soone trying so hard to support , so you wanted to do the sa," he said.
... Was he talking about the ti when Selene ca and taught the children?
"However, you didn’t finish what you started, did you?"
When he said that, I... I lowered my head.
"I... I... didn’t an to..." I muttered, but was unable to finish it.
I knew why—I backed off, knowing it was more annoying and boring to keep trying, not like at all.
Aether still had a calm expression, "You’re trying to change for everyone. Soone like you... You’re searching for a shape to fit in, trying to define yourself, even though you already know who you are deep down.
Are you lost after Raven was saved? Did you not think about what cos after? My darling... Look at ." He touched my trembling cheeks, his palm warm and steady.
"You seem so confused and lost... I just want the real Thalia, not a shadow of soone else’s hope."
I looked at his eyes; he looked painful. My body trembled as he said, "You just... flowing. Just... going with others with no definite future... don’t tell , you never thought of living after saving Raven?" he muttered as he looked directly into my eyes.
My body shivered... as I gulped... Yeah, I never ever thought after that... It’s true!
It’s fucking true!
All my life was to save my big sister... that’s all!
And once she found her future... I... I am really happy with it. After that... I... I just went with everything, not sure what to do.
He... looked through ?
All this ti I thought he didn’t see ... yet... yet...
"Oh dear," he muttered, his voice softer than before, as he rubbed his finger on the corner of my eye where small tears had ford... as I muttered with a trembling tone,
"I... I lost... I truly lost... I don’t know what I want anymore... I don’t have a purpose anymore. I pushed myself because I found a reason for my sister... I had to do it! But now, seeing you, I felt..." I couldn’t finish the next words that stuck in my wet throat.
Aether humd and smiled, "So in the end, I beca your wall, ah?"
"N-No, it’s not like... that," I muttered, trying to say he was not, but... sowhere in the corner of my mind, I know, he was more than enough to protect my sister and my family.
As if... I had to leave everything to him! Even in this powerless situation, we depended on him as if I knew everything would be fine as long as Aether was there...
"You are the girl who wanted nothing but to get stronger to protect your family, yet now... You are the weakest of them all?" He muttered those words that sent a shiver down my spine.
Aether smiled as he slowly stood up, pushing aside as he patted his clothes before saying,
"Even today, the reason you wanted to go out was not for you... But for , right?"
I... I nodded my head. I wanted to say sothing, but... I... I didn’t know what to say, as if saying anything would only hurt him!
Aether humd again, and before I knew it... he hugged from behind and black particles swirled, surrounding us before teleporting outside of the barrier.
I was shocked and horrified, almost thought my body was going to explode, but then,
"Don’t worry, you’re still in the barrier," he muttered, as he held a small crystal ’X’-shaped artefact in his hand.
I blinked as I looked around and noticed a small barrier around us.
I sighed, "You almost gave a heart attack," I said with huge relief. He looked at with an amused expression, "So you do care for your life?"
My lips twitched, "Of course I would, it’s just... I... I don’t know what to do with it." I bared my feelings.
That’s the real !
Powers? I don’t care anymore, as my family were in safe hands.
Ruling? It’s annoying to take care of the Empire.
Then what?
I... I really don’t know.
Aether nodded with a sly expression. I am not sure, but I didn’t like his fucking expression as he said, "That’s why I brought you here...
There is a saying, life is boring until it smashes you like nothing!"
Who would say that? I wondere—
Grrrllll!
Just then, a growling sound echoed from the barren land. I flinched and turned back to see... from the cracked valley, a bull-like creature stepped out from the fissure.
My face turned pale.
The bull-like creature’s body shimred and crackled with rainbow colours as its flesh split and reford. Two enormous horns, curved into a strange, nacing shape, stood prominently on its head. Smaller horns, like thorns in a monstrous flower, jutted out from its body. Its eyes glowed with an unholy crimson, and around its thick neck was placed a shimring... the Origin Crystal.
"MMMOOOOOO!"
The bull snorted when it saw , as if I had trespassed in its territory! Hot fus poured from its nostrils, swirling in the dry air.
"W-What the? Aethe—" As I turned to ask him... There was nobody behind .
My face turned grim. Before I could move,
BOOM!!
The ground shook beneath my feet. A thunderous roar ripped the air apart as the bull charged—its hooves striking sparks, every step cracking the hardened earth like thunderclaps in rhythm. Dust exploded around , and the light from its crystalline veins scattered into spectral rays.
I rolled sideways as the beast ramd through where I stood. A shockwave erupted from the impact, shattering stone and hurling sharp fragnts like knives through the air. The creature roared, the sound so deep it rattled the marrow in my bones.
"FUCK!" I hissed, steadying myself. If it was just a bull, sure, I could handle it... right?
And since we were in the barrier, neither of us could use full power or even magic, right?
The beast lunged again. This ti, I was ready.
I caught both horns with my bare hands, but it moved like dirt!... My feet dragging furrows in the dirt. The force nearly dislocated my shoulders.
’Fuck!!!’ My teeth clenched as I tried to hold, my boots grinding deeper into the ground.
"Stop... damn it—!"
The bull’s power was overwhelming. Every muscle in its neck felt like steel. It pushed forward, forcing to bend, inch by inch.
I tried to twist its neck, but the fucking thing didn’t even budge a bit!!
My knees trembled, my back curved, fingers slipping on the rough, burning horns. Its heat scorched my palms.
"ARRHHH!!!!"
I scread furiously and twisted, trying to use my weight... but it threw aside like nothing.
"Ouch!"
My body slamd against the ground, rolling hard. I coughed violently, pain shooting through every limb. Yet before I could even steady myself, the bull pawed the ground again... a low growl vibrated through its chest!
When the bull ca again, I ducked low, sliding under its legs, desperate, clawing for any chance. I reached, fingers brushing the glowing crystal around its thick neck... but before I could pull, its hind leg kicked back.
CRACK!!
The blow smashed into my ribs, throwing several ters across the field.
My already broken body felt even more shattered as I clutched my chest in pain and abdon, "It hurts... A-Aether," I muttered, calling him, knowing he must be sowhere nearby, but the motherfucker didn’t even respond!
"Damn... it..." I gasped, pushing myself up again. Every bone scread.
Blood dripped from my mouth. I was already pissed off at what happened today, and now... this?
This was fucking humiliating at this point!!
DON’T LOOK DOWN AT !!
The bull snorted once more, muscles coiling, ready to end it!!
’Flas... I still have that...’
I inhaled sharply and opened my mouth... a flicker of reddish yellow light burst out, a shimring breath shot toward the monster that was raging at ...
But then the flas turned to smoke in the wind.
I froze in shock, my jaw snapping shut. Why did it disappear into smoke? How?
"What the fuck—!!!"
The smoke barely cleared when the bull erged through it, charging full speed, unstoppable.
I saw the reflection of my own terrified eyes in its crimson glare—
"AETHER!!!" I scread, desperate, knowing my beloved would save ... he definitely would save ... he was just teasing , right?
It’s not like he was going to stand there and watch die—
Chucck!
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