While Xara lay on the ground, struggling to regain her footing, I… found myself screaming!!
“ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!”
My mind was ablaze with the searing pain that seemed to erupt from every corner of my being, a thousand needles piercing through my consciousness, each one worse than the last. Every nerve felt like it was on fire, every fragment of my being was unravelling in torment.
But then… as quickly as it came, the pain vanished.
Confusion overtook me… I blinked, my breath ragged. ‘What… just happened?’ I thought in bewilderment.
Suddenly—
Clang, clang!
Dark devoid black chains emerged out of nowhere and shot toward my face, wrapping tightly around my neck.
I gasped, “What the…” looking around in panic. Everyone else seemed completely unaware of what was happening to me and looking at Ether who was covered in golden chains I frowned not understanding why was I covered in black chains.
“W-What’s going on?” I mumbled, bewildered, as another dark devoid black chain shot toward me, wrapping itself around my dispersed… fragmented form.
My body, already like a dispersed particle ever since that ritual that old man did…
The chains encircled me in a strange, bulging sphere.
Unlike Ether, whose human form was clearly visible under the tight bonds, I remained an amorphous cloud of particles, constantly shifting, unable to hold my shape.
I tried to make sense of what was happening, but before I could,
Grip!
Clang!
“ARRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!”
I screamed, not from physical pain, but from something deeper…. Something was invading my mind.
A word, a memory….something familiar, something old…. began to surface.
“A-Aether?” I muttered, my voice shaky and weak. The word felt like a part of me, yet distant, like a memory from…. another life?
Grip!
Clang!
“ARRRHHHH!!!!!”
“M-Mom?”
The Black chains were slowly being forced together, the chains pulling every atom, every particle back into a solid shape.
Grip!
Clang!!
“ARRRHHH!!!”
“Actress…”
Grip!
Clang!!!
“ARRRHH!!!”
“Unfaithful Father…?”
Grip!
Clang!!!!
“Arh!!!!!”
“P-Penelop…”
Grip!!!!
Clang!!!!!
“Defective…”
I whispered these words, my eyes blank, devoid of understanding as the chains continued to pull me together…. My dispersed particles, once free-floating, were now forcibly connecting, piece by piece like a puzzle being solved against its will.
As the piece came together… Everyone slowly dawned on me!!! As if each part particle has its own memories…
Gripppppppp!!!!
Finally, the chains pulled tightly one last time.
My form solidified into something more human-like, a body forced back into shape!!! But unlike Ether’s clear figure…. My body was still shrouded in mist, only my hands and face visible, just like I had appeared in Ether’s past life memories.
!~Ding~!
[Achieved Compatibility is 95%↑]
I blinked, trying to comprehend what had just happened, my mind still reeling from the events that had just transpired…. My gaze shifted toward Ether who seemingly returned to normal…. Yet, his neck was encircled by a golden collar, glowing faintly.
I instinctively reached up to touch my own neck, feeling the cold weight of a collar, but mine was black—a stark contrast to Ether’s.
I followed the chain from Ether’s golden collar, seeing it lead directly to Kai, who gripped it tightly.
Meanwhile, my own chain extended from my collar, wrapping itself around Ether’s chain like a knot several times before veering off in another direction.
And…. My eyes widened when I saw a dark, feminine figure floating in the air, holding onto my chain with eerie calmness. Her featureless black face bore a single, chilling feature—a wide, white grin that sent a cold shiver down my spine.
Suddenly, she jerked the chain sharply, causing both Ether and me to stumble. As if satisfied with her control, the figure began to fade, disappearing. The collars around our necks vanished with her.
I frowned, trying to make sense of the situation, ‘Is she my unknown contractor?’ I mused, a sense of dread creeping up on me as I looked back at Ether. His eyes were no longer the empty void I had become familiar with—now, they were pitch black, devoid of sclera, as though I was staring into the abyss itself.
Ether—or rather, me—gazed blankly at the others in the room, sending a palpable shiver through them.
…
…..
Soon in another room,
“I told you, didn’t I? It’s definitely him!” Delphine shouted in fear and turned to Xara, her eyes wide with terror. “Listen, Sister-in-law, those e-eyes… those black, soulless eyes…”
Xara caught Delphine by the shoulders, trying to steady her. “Calm down first,” she urged her voice a mixture of authority and concern.
“B-But–“
“Shh…” Xara gently placed a finger on Delphine’s lips, silencing her, “Everything will be fine, okay?”
Delphine stared into Xara’s dark eyes, finding an odd sense of calm within them. Slowly, her trembling subsided, and she sighed in relief, her gaze shifting to the sleeping Ether.
Xara held her breath for a moment, then exhaled slowly, “Prepare for departure.”
Delphine blinked before nodding, “I’ll move out of the house—”
“Me too.” Xara’s voice was firm, her expression hardening with resolve.
Delphine looked at her with wide eyes, “Why? This isn’t your problem…”
Xara’s eyes darkened with anger, “I’m not sure what will happen, but right now… I feel like I might kill your brother.” Her voice was low, and dangerous, her fury was barely contained. “I told him to stop! But look at this child!” She pointed at the sleeping Ether, her eyes blazing with rage, “To make an eternal slave out of a boy like this… it’s worse than killing him!”
Her hands clenched into fists as she turned away, unable to look at the boy any longer. “Even if he’s not my son… I’ve come to care for him. Even in these few short days, he’s become like my own.”
With a pained expression, she bent down and kissed Ether’s forehead. “He’s already broken… how could anyone have the heart to hurt him even more than he’s already been hurt?” Her voice trembled, her emotions raw. “It’s tragic, really…”
Xara’s eyes softened as she turned back to Delphine, “I think… I’ve grown too attached to him. That’s why I have to… Hmm… No, I need to leave.”
Delphine adjusted her glasses, her face a mixture of sympathy and understanding. “I see…” She nodded and turned away, preparing to make the necessary arrangements for their departure.
Meanwhile, Xara lingered by Ether’s side, gently ruffling his hair,
“I’m sorry, Brat. I know this is like abandoning you when you need me the most…” Her voice cracked slightly as she continued, “But I have a family, Ether…. I need to prioritize them. I’m truly.. truly sorry.” Her tone softened, her eyes filled with sadness.
She turned to leave, but something held her back, “Huh?” Xara glanced down in surprise, seeing Ether’s hand gripping hers tightly.
“E-Ether?” Her voice shook, a single tear escaping her eye. There was no response, but his grasp was firm as if he didn’t want her to go. Her lips quivered as she tried to suppress her emotions.
“Not bad, Brat… not bad…” she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. “You made me cry.” A soft, broken laugh escaped her lips as she leaned down to kiss his hand…. Gently, she pried his fingers off.
Patting his head softly, she whispered, “I’ll be leaving for a while, Ether. Please… take care of Selene. She will miss me too much…. Though…” She smiled weakly, “You’re the one who needs help more than anyone else.”
With one last glance, she turned to leave.
As she walked away, Ether’s fingers twitched, his voice barely audible, “I… w..ill…”
I stared in surprise at the boy’s faint response, ‘Both mother and daughter… really something else,’ I thought to myself, a small smile tugging at my lips.
!~Ding~!
[Achieved Compatibility: 96%↑]
I looked down and saw the mist slowly clearing up.