Rains dripped steadily on Aether’s shoulders as he wandered aimlessly through the streets, unsure of where to go or what to do.
His face was an unreadable mask, hiding the turmoil inside. All he could remember were his mother’s words….words that cut deeper than he had ever imagined they would.
‘How could she say that to me?’ Aether thought, words still fresh in his mind. He clenched his fists, his body tense with the pain that her words had caused.
“Aether!!”
The sudden call of his name made him stop in his tracks.
He turned slowly…. saw Penelope, drenched from the rain, running toward him, her eyes wide with concern.
When she finally reached him, she stopped, panting heavily, staring up into his face. Her chest heaved with both exertion and worry, “Aether… what happened?” Her voice was soft but edged with fear. She didn’t know what was wrong, but something about the blankness in his eyes told her it wasn’t good.
He remained silent, staring past her as if she wasn’t there, lost in his own world. Penelope bit her lip, unsure of how to approach him, but without a second thought, she gently took his hand, “Come with me,” she whispered. “You shouldn’t be out here.”
Aether didn’t resist as she led him to her house, his mind still stuck on his mother’s last words.
Drip, Drip…
Penelope’s mother saw them as they entered the house, soaking wet, and she immediately hurried over with towels, “Goodness, what happened? You two are drenched!”
“Mother, I’ll take him to the bath,” Penelope murmured, gently pushing Aether forward as he continued to stare blankly at the floor.
Her mother raised an eyebrow, clearly concerned, and asked with her eyes, ‘What’s going on?’
Penelope gave a small shrug, her expression saying, ‘I have no idea’.
Her mother’s lips pressed into a thin line as she glanced at Aether, who seemed completely lost in himself. She gave Penelope a long look before making a slitting gesture across her throat, her face serious.
Penelope’s eyes widened in shock, her cheeks flushing, ‘Are you kidding?!’ she replied silently, her expression a mixture of disbelief and embarrassment.
Her mother’s face remained stoic as she nodded firmly, not at all backing down from her suggestion.
[Author’s Note: Don’t ask how they talk with their eyes…. It’s definitely not magical and beyond any Man’s comprehension!]
But seeing her daughter’s hesitation, she stepped forward and reached for Aether’s hand, “I’ll take care of him, dear—”
“N-No need!!” Penelope exclaimed, quickly intercepting her mother and practically pushing Aether up the stairs.
Her mother stood there, watching her daughter rush him upstairs, a knowing smile playing on her lips. But as they disappeared, her smile faded, replaced by a more serious, thoughtful expression.
…
Water splashed down hard on Aether’s head as he stood motionless under the shower. His thoughts swirled in chaos, replaying the moment when everything had shattered. His mother, who had always been somewhat supportive, had screamed at him to leave.
‘Why did she tell me to leave… why now?’ he thought, staring blankly at the tiles. His chest tightened as memories flooded him. ‘I shouldn’t have let my anger take over. I… I should’ve controlled myself better…’
He felt a deep, gnawing sense of regret that he couldn’t shake… his second regret!! It was as if everything he had tried to build had crumbled in an instant,
‘I shouldn’t have touched that bastard…’ The words echoed in his mind, accompanied by the image of his stepfather’s face. The man he despised. Tears, masked by the water, flowed freely down his cheeks.
Just as he was sinking deeper into despair, lost in the weight of his thoughts, a soft, gentle touch enveloped him. He flinched, startled, and turned to find Penelope standing behind him, her arms wrapped around him, holding him tightly.
Her voice trembled as she whispered, “I don’t know what happened, but I’m here, Aether. You’re not alone.” She hugged him tighter, her body pressed against his, trying to offer comfort.
Aether stared at her, her face flushed from the warmth of the shower and the emotions she was holding back. Despite her uncertainty, her presence was like a lifeline, pulling him out of the darkness. A small, weary smile formed on his lips as his eyes began to regain some of their lost color.
Without thinking, Aether turned and kissed her, his lips brushing softly against hers, “Thank you,” he whispered against her mouth.
“A-Aether…” she gasped, her cheeks burning red as her hands slid up to his shoulders, her eyes meeting his.
She looked at him with a mixture of surprise and something else—something that made her eyes shimmer with desire. Aether’s heart pounded in his chest, and for a brief moment, the weight of his troubles vanished.
He lost himself in that moment, in her warmth, in her care….. For a little while, everything else disappeared.
Penelope’s mother stood by the door, listening intently to the sounds coming. A satisfied smile crept across her face. She hummed to herself as she walked back to the kitchen, a bounce in her step. She even twirled a little, her heart light with happiness.
…..
…
Later that evening, Penelope’s mother sat at the dining table, watching as her daughter came down the stairs, her face flushed with a blissful glow. Her mother’s eyes gleamed with a knowing smile, and Penelope immediately turned bright red.
“W-What?” Penelope stammered, trying to maintain her composure.
Her mother merely shrugged, saying nothing as she took her seat. The three of them ate in silence for a while before Aether, now looking more like himself, finally spoke up.
“How did you find me?” he asked, turning his gaze to Penelope as she fed him another spoonful.
Penelope’s hand froze mid-motion, her eyes shifting nervously. But Aether’s curious gaze remained fixed on her, and she couldn’t avoid the question. She swallowed hard before answering, “I… I tracked your phone.”
“I see…” Aether said quietly, he didn’t think too much.
“Always,” her mother muttered under her breath, barely loud enough for anyone to hear.
“Huh?” Aether asked, looking confused.
“N-Nothing!” Penelope replied quickly, her face flushing again as she glared at her mother, continuing to feed him.
Her mother shrugged once more, her eyes gleaming with mischief, ‘I’m telling the truth’ her expression seemed to say.
‘He doesn’t need to know that!’ Penelope shot back with her eyes, clearly exasperated.
As they continued their meal, Penelope’s mother suddenly spoke up, “Here, Aether, you like this dessert, don’t you? I made it especially for you.”
Aether nodded absentmindedly, but Penelope’s mother, expecting more enthusiasm, pouted a little….. Then, in an exaggerated gesture, she twisted her jaw in an impossibly weird way, mimicking a cartoonish expression.
“FUCK!!”
Aether stared at her in horror, his mind flashing back to silly cartoons he’d seen as a child. ‘What… what the fuck did I just see?!’ he thought, his heart racing from the sheer absurdity.
“Hahahaha….” Penelope’s mother burst into laughter, unable to contain herself, and Penelope, despite her earlier embarrassment, began to laugh as well, “Hahaha… stop it.. ahaha… Mom!” she exclaimed, but her own giggles betrayed her.
Aether blinked, utterly baffled, ‘What… did I just witness?’ His expression was a mix of confusion and mild horror, though he couldn’t help but think, ‘Is… is she cute, or is she evolving into something else?’
Penelope, noticing his discomfort, gave him a quick explanation. “My mother has this… small problem. Her facial muscles can move in strange ways.”
Her mother chuckled lightly, her face shifting into an exaggerated pout. “Weirdly? That hurts, darling.” She then turned her attention to Aether, her voice playful as she added, “I wouldn’t call it a problem…. Maybe a little but, I just enjoy making faces to see people’s reactions!” She winked at him with an impish smile.
Aether’s heart skipped again, his chest tightening slightly. ‘T-This woman…’ He had to stay on his guard around her.
Just then, Penelope’s father entered the house, his expression neutral as he noticed Aether sitting at the dining table. Without a word, he headed straight to his room.
“Don’t worry about him,” Penelope said softly, glancing toward her mother, who sighed before following her husband.
Later, Penelope led Aether to a guest room, where she let him rest for the night.
However, at midnight, she returned, and they shared an intimate, passionate moment~~
Current Aether watched this scene…. He saw his younger self the very next day, vulnerable and easily swayed, being collected by his mother and father from Penelope’s house. Although he resisted at first, his mother’s soft, worried expression made his heart waver…
‘That was another mistake…’ Aether thought bitterly as he watched the reel of his past play out, his younger self giving in to his mother’s warmth, unaware that everything was part of his stepfather’s plan.
Back at home, the manipulation continued…
“Here…” His mother shoved a pamphlet into his hands, the cover showing a mundane job advertisement.
Aether blinked in shock, “What is this?”
Explore more adventures at empire
His mother’s tone grew firm, “If you’re not going to pursue your studies anymore, the least you can do is find a way to support yourself. You need to learn how to live on your own.”
Before Aether could process her words, his stepfather stepped in, a sorrowful look plastered on his face, “Since you’ve decided to drop out of school, I spoke with the director and principal. They’ve officially dismissed you.” He placed Aether’s certificates on the table, a finality in his tone.
“….What?”
Meanwhile, in another chamber,
“-Huff-Huff-” Raven Noir gasped for breath, her body soaked in sweat and blood. Her sharp claws gleamed as she finished slashing through the neck of a monstrous creature, its body collapsing in a heap at her feet. Behind her, a trail of dead monsters littered the battlefield, each fallen by her hands.
“Damn,” she muttered, wiping the blood from her face, “Dealing with this defence mechanism was more trouble than I expected.”
But her attention shifted as she noticed another group of creatures gathering in the distance, their large, grotesque forms standing guard over something.
Raven adjusted her sunglasses… before moving forward!