“And then… I hid my eyes. If any other dragon had seen it, they would have immediately sensed something was off. So, I concealed my eyes, and after that, I left the academy. I had nothing left there after my sister… I wandered aimlessly, scouring the world for any trace of the summit, or for clues about the phoenixes…
Until just a few years ago, when fate took a sudden turn, and I was chosen by Arcane itself, becoming an Arcane Queen,” Raven said softly, her voice tinged with a quiet sorrow.
Aether nodded thoughtfully, his gaze fixed on Raven as she stared blankly at his eyes. Yet, he knew her focus wasn’t truly on him; she was lost deep in her memories.
After a moment, she snapped out of her thoughts, glancing at Thalia before pulling her closer, her grip protective. “While I was drifting between worlds, searching for a way to enter the Pyra Empire without letting Arkanis aware of me, I stumbled upon this girl a few years ago. Like me, she lost everything…..”
Aether’s curiosity sparked, and he leaned in slightly, “What exactly happened?” he asked.
Thalia’s face hardened, a storm of sadness and rage playing across her features as she clenched her fists, “It… it was all due to political manoeuvring in the Empire. My family was on the verge of becoming second in command, but the other households, driven by jealousy… they couldn’t stand it. One day, they struck. My entire family…
they were all slaughtered. I escaped only because of my parents’ sacrifice,” she said, her voice shaking with suppressed fury.
Her eyes blazed a deep, blood-red hue as her body trembled in anger. Raven placed a soft, reassuring hand on her shoulder, and Thalia drew a shaky breath before continuing. “I confronted the Arkanis, demanding justice, but that damn lizard sneered at me. He said, ‘Just fuck off! If you couldn’t protect your own household, how do you expect to safeguard the Empire’s second-in-command?!’ Then…
he banished me, forbidding me from ever setting foot in the Empire again.”
Aether could feel the sheer hatred radiating from Thalia, her whole body vibrating with the intensity of her emotions. She was barely holding herself together, and Aether couldn’t help but chuckle under his breath, shaking his head slightly. “Hehehe…”
Both Thalia and Raven flinched at the unexpected sound. Raven narrowed her eyes, her tone sharp. “Is something funny?”
Aether raised a hand, his smile widening. “Hm? Oh, no, it’s not like that. I was just thinking… it seems we all share a common enemy. It’s amusing in a way…
because we all loathe that bastard,” he said with a faint grin.
Raven frowned, “You too?”
Aether blinked, realizing he might have said too much. He scratched the back of his head with a sheepish laugh. “I mean… I hate him because, well… you hate him. You know, like that,” he mumbled awkwardly.
[+500 AP]
Raven continued to stare at Aether, her expression unreadable. Meanwhile, Thalia let out a mischievous smirk and gave Raven’s shoulder a light slap. “Looks like you’ve found yourself something good~,” she teased, her voice filled with playful amusement.
Raven shot her a warning glare, though the faint blush creeping across her cheeks didn’t go unnoticed.
“So… can you tell me now what’s really happening in your body?” Aether asked, his voice gentler this time, wanting to understand the full truth.
Raven hesitated, her eyes flickering with uncertainty, but Thalia stepped in to explain. “Well… it’s complicated. Unlike her sister, Raven’s phoenix bloodline only awakened halfway. It’s not pure, but she managed. The real problem came when she was chosen…
her father’s bloodline, the Lung Dragon, awakened at the same time. And… well, two powerful bloodlines can’t exist in the same body without tearing it apart. She’s had to fight constantly to keep from losing her mind… Going Insane!” Thalia explained gravely.
“Insane?” Aether repeated, his thoughts flashing back to when Raven had attacked like a mindless beast, thrashing wildly. In that time….. Thalia had died because of it.
Raven nodded slowly, her voice barely a whisper. “Yes… when I get too emotional, my bloodlines clash. They become more volatile, more violent… and there have been moments when I… I’ve attacked her without realizing it…” She trailed off, her voice faltering.
Thalia took over, her voice unwavering. “She almost killed me.”
Aether’s suspicions were fully confirmed now. ‘So, it’s true… she did lose control, must be because of the game…’ he thought to himself.
Thalia continued, her tone sombre, “And because of her two warring bloodlines, her body is breaking down. It’s just… not strong enough to sustain both. Her time is running out.”
Aether was taken aback. “So that’s why…?”
“Yes,” Thalia replied, her eyes heavy with understanding. “That’s why Raven wanted to leave an heir before her death… to ensure her sister’s dream lives on, even if she doesn’t.”
Aether’s gaze softened as he looked at Raven. Her head was bowed, her eyes brimming with guilt and sorrow. “I-I’m sorry… I thought it was the only way… I’m so sorry… I didn’t mean to force you….”
Aether’s expression filled with sadness as he gently pulled Raven into his arms, pressing her against his chest in a comforting embrace, “I understand now… Raven, I truly do. I understand everything.”
Raven blinked, her surprise evident in her wide eyes.
Thalia arched an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smirk. “Oh? And what exactly do you think you understand?”
Aether met her gaze with a steady smile, “She won’t die…”
Thalia shook her head, about to speak when both she and Raven froze at the sound of a cold, emotionless voice, “Not on my watch… No one dies this time. I’ll make sure of it.”
[+500 AP]
[+200 AP]
Raven and Thalia stared at Aether, utterly perplexed by the sheer determination radiating from him, unable to fathom what had just transpired.
Discover hidden content at empire
Aether sighed softly, his mind swirling with the new information he had gathered.
Though there was nothing concrete about the Origin Emperor, he had still uncovered a wealth of other details, ‘This changes my plans,’ he mused to himself, casting a glance down at Raven. She was still lying against his chest, seemingly content to remain in his embrace.
A small smirk tugged at his lips. “Do you enjoy lying on me?” he teased, tugging gently on a strand of her hair.
Raven flinched, her body stiffening as she quickly pulled away from him. Her cheeks flushed a deep red, her eyes wide with embarrassment.
Aether chuckled, his amusement obvious, “I guess I know what I need to do now…” he said, rising to his feet. As he casually reached for his dried clothes, he continued speaking while slowly dressing. “We’ll stick to the plan… we’ll kill that damn lizard.”
Thalia, who had been watching the exchange with a frown, interjected, “And what about the offspring?”
Aether’s expression softened as he finished dressing. He walked over to Raven, gently lifting her chin with his hand. She instinctively recoiled at first but then stopped, allowing him to touch her face. His fingers brushed lightly beneath her crimson eyes, “As much as I would like to become one with you,” he said softly, his gaze steady, “you don’t love me… not yet.
But that doesn’t change the fact that I will protect you. You won’t die—no matter what.”
Raven stared at him blankly…. For a brief moment, there was a flicker of life in her once-lifeless gaze, but it quickly faded again, leaving only the emptiness behind.
[+600 AP]
Aether smiled inwardly, satisfied with his actions, and began to walk away. But before he could leave, Thalia’s voice called after him, filled with scepticism,
“Are you sure about this?” she asked, her frown deepening. “This isn’t something anyone can fix. The bloodlines of the Phoenix and the Dragon cannot coexist in one body… not even the power of a Sovereign could make it possible. Raven doesn’t have much time left.”
She hesitated for a moment before adding, “A Pure Phoenix is born only once every thousand years. It’s been exactly a thousand years since her sister died, and now… with you awakening… the others will come for you, Aether. We can’t lose you. You’re our hope for the future.
Just… give her your seed. It’s the only way to preserve her legacy.”
Aether’s eyes narrowed slightly, a small smile tugging at his lips, “If you truly believe that I carry the Pure Phoenix bloodline and that it’s about to awaken… then maybe, just maybe, I can do something more than you think,” he said, his tone light but purposeful. Without waiting for a response, he turned to leave.
Thalia let out a weary sigh, shaking her head. ‘Looks like we’re all fucked then,’ she thought grimly.
Just as Aether reached the door, Raven’s hand suddenly shot out, grasping his wrist with surprising gentleness. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she said,
“I didn’t sleep with you because you have the Phoenix bloodline.” She lifted her gaze, locking eyes with him. “I did it because… I saw the same loss and pain in you… the same agony I carry inside.”
Her words were raw and vulnerable. She had always sensed that Aether was different after the incident at the academy. There was something broken in him, a deep grief he hid behind a facade of smiles. It mirrored the way she concealed her own suffering. It was that shared pain that had made her believe they were alike…. that he might be the one capable of protecting her child, should she not survive.
Aether blinked, taken aback by the intensity of her confession. He stared into her heterochromatic eyes, trying to find the right words, but none came. Instead, he smiled—a gentle, understanding smile—before stepping closer and…
“~Hmmm~”
Raven’s eyes flew wide open in shock as Aether’s lips pressed softly against hers. Her body froze, completely still, as if she couldn’t quite comprehend what was happening. It was just a simple kiss, but somehow, it felt different—strange and unfamiliar. And yet… there was something about it that made her want more, a strange sensation stirring deep within her for the first time.
Thalia, witnessing the sudden kiss, slapped a hand over her mouth in surprise. “Oh!” she exclaimed, muffling her reaction as she watched the scene unfold before her.
Aether slowly pulled away, his lips curling into a small, knowing smile. “I see…” he murmured softly before turning and leaving the two stunned girls behind.
…..
….
Aether arrived at the Principal’s house, heading straight for the Training Room. But just as he was about to enter, the Principal appeared, blocking his path with an irritated scowl.
“Where the hell have you been, brat?” the Principal demanded, arms crossed as she eyed Aether with suspicion.
Aether scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “Well… I was kind of busy, I guess…” he mumbled.
The Principal’s frown deepened.
She let out a heavy sigh, shaking her head “Fine. Whatever you were up to, make sure you don’t have any plans tomorrow. We’ve got something important.”
“Plans? What for?”
“The commemoration,” She said firmly, “You’ll be there.”