The Principal had long understood that Aether wasn’t the kind of person who craved attention or recognition.
He was an enigma in many ways, and while she couldn’t pinpoint the exact reasons, she knew one thing for certain—he absolutely hated being in the spotlight.
As much as she wanted to respect his desire to stay hidden, there were moments when the world needed to see who he really was.
Without that, people would continue to dismiss him as nothing more than a lowly servant. She wanted everyone to witness the man who had been concealing his true self behind a carefully crafted mask.
Victor had no other option but to alter his disguise. He had no idea what kind of unpredictable stunt the Principal might pull, so he decided to play it safe.
He sent a clone in his place, “Victor” to take the stage while he, Aether, himself, quietly approached the podium.
Aether truly detested fame. He had seen up close the chaos it could bring, the way it twisted and destroyed the simple lives of ordinary people…. He wanted no part of it!!
When the crowd noticed a black-haired boy, dressed in the humble attire of a servant, stepping onto the podium, a collective gasp rippled through the room.
“Is that him?”
“Could that be the servant who saved our children?”
“I can’t believe it… A servant, doing more than the chosen ones ever could?”
Murmurs of disbelief spread like wildfire, the gossip swirling around the room… A few clapped hesitantly, their applause louder than before but still unable to break the tense atmosphere.
Aether could only manage an awkward chuckle as he stood before the Principal. She approached with a broad smile, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. Leaning in closer, she whispered, “I knew you’d pull something like this for Victor. That’s why I made sure to prepare something for you, Aether.”
Aether’s lips twitched in frustration, “Was this really necessary?” he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible.
The Principal smirked, She leaned in even closer and whispered back, “Look around, Aether. Look at your friends.”
With reluctance, Aether’s eyes swept across the people, locking onto Aqualina, Selene, and the others. Their faces radiated pride, their eyes gleaming with happiness for him…. They didn’t have this much reaction for Victor.
It was undeniable!!
“See?” the Principal continued in a soft yet firm tone, “There are things you must do—not for yourself, but for the people who believe in you. Sometimes, making others happy is the most important thing.”
With a gentle yet deliberate motion, she pinned the badge onto his chest. Just as she was about to step away, she turned back, her smile widening, “Please, Aether, a few words from you would mean so much to everyone here.”
Aether’s lips tightened in exasperation. ‘She’s really pushing it this time. I’m doubling my fees after this!’ he thought, shaking his head internally.
Still, he gave a reluctant nod and stepped up to the podium.
He scanned the sea of faces before him, his pulse quickening, “I… I…” He stumbled over his words, feeling the pressure mounting. Taking a deep breath, he straightened his back and forced himself to continue, “My name is Aether, and I serve Princess Aqualina Naiadia…
I didn’t prepare a speech, to be honest.” He let out a small, self-conscious laugh, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, “Hah, I’m not much for speeches.”
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The crowd began to soften, smiling at his honesty, his awkwardness oddly… endearing.
Aether’s gaze shifted to the stone monument behind him, where the names of the fallen were etched into the cold surface.
“They fought… just as fiercely, just as desperately, as I did,” Aether began, his voice growing more serious. “Many of them paid the ultimate price so that others might live. Their courage, their sacrifice… That is what saved this academy. Not me alone.” He paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in, “It’s their memory that we should be honouring today.”
His eyes flickered with emotion as he continued, “We lost so much that day. Friends, family… People we laughed with, learned with, people who should still be standing here with us today… they’re gone. And while we know we have to keep moving forward, it’s hard to feel worthy of this honour when so many lives were cut short.” His voice faltered for a moment. “I know a lot of you feel the same.
You wonder why you survived when others didn’t. That’s a burden we carry together.”
The mood darkened as the reality of his words. People’s faces fell, and many bit their lips, trying to hold back tears.
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Aether took a deep breath before pressing on, “I didn’t fight because I wanted to be a hero. If I’m being honest, I fought because I wanted to survive—I wanted to escape that nightmare. But when I saw the others fighting, fighting until they had nothing left, I realized… they couldn’t bear to see this academy, this home, fall.”
He gave a sad, almost bittersweet smile. “So, I fought because I believed in them. I didn’t want their efforts to be in vain. That’s the truth of it.”
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Tears began to well up in the eyes of those in the crowd, the raw emotion of Aether’s words cutting deeper than they thought.
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Aether turned to leave, but then something made him stop.
He turned back to face the crowd, “Death… sometimes… Maybe it feels like it’s the only answer.
But it always has meaning… a meaning tied to all of you.” His eyes swept over the audience, and he gestured toward the monument, “The names written on that stone… they aren’t just names. They aren’t just words. They are people—people who continue to live on inside each of you. Remember this: their true death isn’t when they perished.
Their real death is when you forget them.
That’s when they’re truly gone…. The Death!”
With that, Aether turned and walked away, leaving the crowd in stunned silence. His words lingered in the air, heavy with truth and wisdom far beyond his years.
The boy who had always avoided the spotlight had, at that moment, commanded the attention of every soul in the academy.
Helena’s lips trembled seeing her beloved speech… it’s not just her everyone’s lips trembled.
And then the tears that had been held back could no longer be restrained. Sobs echoed through the academy…
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As Aether walked away from the podium, his face remained blank, but inwardly, a smirk curled on his lips, ‘Heh, not bad… not bad at all,’ he thought.
He watched as his affection points continued to climb at an exponential rate.
[Remaining: 2,084,532 AP↑]
The number ticked upward, each moment increasing faster than the last, ‘A good harvest indeed…’ Aether mused, his expression shifting into one of subtle amusement.
His eyes drifted to where Jack stood, now approaching Victor, ‘Looks like it’s time to switch again,’ he thought with a knowing smirk.
[Remaining: 2,584,532AP]
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Soon, the ceremony finally came to a close. The Principal had arranged for a small gathering afterwards, complete with tea and light refreshments. It was an opportunity for everyone to share their grief, to let out the pain they’d kept inside.
A moment of release, of connection, where each person could find comfort in knowing they weren’t alone.
In the midst of the crowd, Kai approached Lia, who was softly chatting with her friends, minding her own business. He hesitated before speaking, “Lia, please… listen to me first.”
Lia glanced at him, noting the discomfort in his posture. She sighed, excusing herself from the conversation and turning toward him. “What do you want, Kai?” she asked.
Kai smiled faintly, “I know…” he said softly.
Lia frowned, crossing her arms, “Know what?”
Kai stepped forward, lowering his voice, “I finally understand… You’ve always been trying to protect me, haven’t you?”
Her frown deepened, “What are you talking about?”
Kai’s eyes softened as he took a breath. “I’m talking about your mother.”
Lia visibly flinched, her eyes darting around the room in sudden fear. “W-Where?” she stammered, her body tensing as if preparing for an unseen danger.
Kai frowned, shaking his head, “I don’t know where she is right now, but I saw her a few days ago.”
Lia sighed in relief, though her shoulders remained stiff, “She… did? I haven’t seen her.” she said, trying to act casual, but Kai could see the tension in her body begin to unravel slightly.
Watching her reaction, Kai’s suspicions were finally confirmed. ‘So it’s true. Her mother’s been controlling her all this time. Damn it! If I’d known sooner, I never would have pushed her away… We wouldn’t have broken up!’ he screamed inwardly, his heart sinking with regret.
“Lia…” Kai’s voice trembled, filled with guilt. “I’m sorry. I finally get it now… It’s your mother, isn’t it? She’s the one controlling you, manipulating everything,” he said, his hands shaking slightly as he reached toward her.
“What are you even sayi–“
“Your mother… She told you she’d kill me if you let me get close, didn’t she? That’s why you’ve always pushed me away… Isn’t that the reason you never let me touch you?” His voice softened, filled with understanding.
Lia stared at him. After a moment of silence, she gave a small nod, “Well… yeah,” she admitted quietly, “But there’s no point in talking about it now. It’s done.”
“Lia, please!” Kai interrupted, his voice filled with desperation. “Give me another chance. I’ll fix it, I promise. I’ll make things right between us,” he pleaded, his eyes locked onto hers, hoping for a glimmer of…. hope!
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the academy, in a remote, sealed-off location where not even a bug could pass unnoticed, Jack Sparrow stood facing Victor with a calm smile.
“I’ll ask you one final time, Victor…” Jack’s voice was smooth, and calculated, “Are you willing to eliminate the Chosen Ones and bring peace to these worlds that have always been controlled by the so-called Arcane and the Mother Goddess?”
Victor’s lips twisted into a smirk, his eyes narrowing with a dangerous glint. “Of course,” he replied without hesitation. “I’d love to.”
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Jack Sparrow grinned, clearly satisfied with the answer. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a peculiar object—something that looked like a rolled-up parchment.
He approached the nearest wall, and with a flick of his wrist, unrolled the parchment. A detailed image of a door was drawn upon it, almost too lifelike to be mere ink and paper. Jack pressed his palm against the image, and, as if by magic, the door materialized, becoming real.
“Welcome to the Arcane Hunters, Victor,” Jack said with a sly grin as he motioned for Victor to step through the doorway.
!~Ding~!
[Survival rate: 67.3%↑]