Munch, Munch…
Slurp, Slurp…
Munch, Munch…
Aether watched Helena with an amused expression as she devoured the dishes in front of her. It wasn’t just eating… she was practically cleaning the plates.
By the time she was done, they were spotless, gleaming like they had just come out of the dishwasher!
“W-What?” Helena’s cheeks flushed a deep red as she caught Aether staring at her. She hesitated for a moment before gulping down the last bite of food.
“Nothing,” Aether replied, a playful smirk dancing on his lips. “I was just wondering if I should order more… seems like you’re really enjoying yourself.” He winked at her, his tone soft but teasing.
Helena’s face grew even hotter, practically burning from the embarrassment. She shot him a half-glare and stammered, “I-I’m only eating this much because y-you ordered so many and I don’t want to waste the food!”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Aether agreed, still smiling as he leaned in slightly. “We can’t let any food go to waste, can we?” He paused and then added with another wink, “So… should I go ahead and order more for you?”
“No! I don’t nee–” Helena bit her lower lip, eyes narrowing slightly, before pointing at a dish on the table, “I-It’s delicious. Why don’t you order this one for yourself, instead of watching me?”
Aether chuckled, his laughter low and warm… He nodded, watching her devour the food as if it were her last meal. Every bite she took was intense like she was fighting off an unseen hunger.
He felt the urge to tease her more, but something in him also softened. Watching her, he realized he didn’t want this moment to end; he wanted to keep seeing her like this—free, unguarded, and just being herself.
Helena noticed him still staring, her gaze flickering toward him as she awkwardly took a scoop of meat. Her hand trembled slightly as she extended it toward him. “H-Here, try this…” she offered, her voice shaky.
Aether raised an eyebrow, Leaning forward, he took a bite from her hand, their eyes locking as he chewed. He gave her an approving nod, “You’re right… really tasty.”
Helena, feeling the weight of his gaze, felt her heart stutter, “The food, right?” she asked.
Aether stayed silent, merely continuing to munch on the food, his lips curling into a mysterious smile.
Helena’s cheeks flushed further. She quickly turned her attention back to the table, focusing on finishing her meal, trying to shake off the strange tension building between them.
…..
…
“Sigh!” Helena exhaled, a content sigh escaping her lips as she walked beside Aether. The nervous energy she had earlier was fading, replaced by a lighter, more comfortable feeling.
“Wow… the night lights here are amazing!” she exclaimed, her eyes widening in awe as she looked around. The street was vibrant, lined with colourful lights, bustling stalls, and people. Everything seemed alive, glowing with energy.
“Yeah,” Aether murmured, glancing around with a faint smile, “The technology here is slightly more advanced than what we’re used to back academy.”
Helena nodded, her curiosity piqued by the new surroundings. She looked at Aether’s hand, her fingers twitching as she hesitated. Should she grab his hand? It felt different now, more real, more conscious!
“So… where are we headed now?” she asked, glancing at him.
Aether noticed the slight tremble in her hands, the way she hovered close but didn’t quite reach out. He couldn’t resist teasing her a little, “Why so shy now?” he asked with a grin. “You didn’t seem to mind hugging my arm earlier. What changed?”
Helena’s face flushed scarlet, “T-That was a mistake!” she sputtered, flustered. “I was nervous! It wasn’t intentional!”
Aether chuckled, shaking his head before gently taking her hand in his. He interlaced his fingers with hers, his grip firm yet comforting.
Helena’s ears turned a deep shade of red. She lowered her gaze, too shy to meet his eyes, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she allowed herself to be led, feeling strangely safe in his grip.
They continued walking through the lively streets, marvelling at the things they’d never seen in their own empire. The sights, the sounds—everything felt new and exciting.
“A-Aether… I-I want that…” Helena mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper as she pointed at a stall selling fluffy cotton candy.
Aether’s smile softened as he followed her gaze, “You don’t need to hesitate,” he said gently, leading her toward the stall, “You can ask me for anything you want. I’m here for you. Just say the word, lady~” His tone was playful, but there was sincerity behind his words.
Helena blushed again, but this time she nodded, more confidently than before.
“I-I want this,” she began, her voice still soft.
“I want this too, Aether.”
“Actually… I want that one… and also that!” Her voice grew louder as her excitement overtook her shyness.
Aether laughed softly, amused by her sudden enthusiasm. “Alright, alright. We’ll get everything you want.”
….
….
After buying more snacks and treats than they could carry, they finally settled down on a quiet patch of grass, the night sky stretching above them, dotted with millions of stars. It felt peaceful, almost magical.
“It’s beautiful…” Helena whispered, lying down beside Aether and inching closer, resting her head against his chest.
“Yeah, it really is,” Aether replied softly, wrapping his arm around her, and pulling her closer. After a brief pause, he added, “You know what’s even more beautiful, though?”
Helena tilted her head up, looking at him with curious, sparkling golden eyes, “What?”
Aether gazed into her eyes, “Those eyes of yours,” he murmured, his voice barely audible as he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her eyelids.
Helena’s breath caught in her throat, her face turning bright red. For a moment, all she could hear was the sound of her own heartbeat, thudding loudly in her ears.
“A-Aether…” Helena called out softly, her voice trembling slightly.
“Hmm?”
“Y-You know… I-I was born in the slums. M-My mother raised me all by herself… I never knew my father, and she never spoke about him or her past…” Her voice wavered as she began to share her story, the pain of her past evident in each word.
Aether frowned as he listened intently, ‘A white-haired man?’ He filed that detail away in his mind, but he remained silent, allowing her to finish her story uninterrupted. Once she was done, Aether couldn’t hold back. He gently pulled her closer and kissed her forehead, his voice soft but filled with admiration. “You have such a strong heart, Helena… I’m proud of you.”
Helena’s eyes welled up with tears, though a smile broke through her emotional facade. Her voice quivered with uncertainty as she asked, “D-Do you still love me? Even though I was born in such a filthy place, with no idea who my father is… do you—” Her voice cracked, barely able to finish the sentence.
Aether placed his finger gently on her trembling lips, his expression turning serious, almost stern, “I love you, Helena,” he said firmly, his eyes locking with hers. He didn’t feel the need to explain further because those three words carried everything she needed to hear.
Helena blinked away her tears and nodded, her smile growing warmer. “Yeah… I love you too, Aether!” she whispered, her voice steadier now. Then, after a moment’s pause, she added with a playful nudge, “N-Now… it’s your turn to share, Aether!”
Aether smiled softly, his gaze turning distant for a brief second. “Well, for starters, my name is Aether…” he began.
Helena giggled, rolling her eyes. “I already know that!” she teased, but then her amusement faded as she sensed he was about to reveal something deeper.
“I come from a world called Earth,” he continued, watching her reaction closely, “…and I wasn’t always from this place. I… well, I was reborn here.” As he delved into the details of his mysterious past, her expression shifted from curiosity to shock, disbelief clouding her features.
When he finished, Helena sat there, wide-eyed, trying to process what she had just heard. After what felt like an eternity, she finally managed to stammer, “Are you serious? Is this… real?”
Aether chuckled softly. “Indeed, it is.”
Helena’s mind spun, struggling to comprehend. ‘Another world? Reincarnation?…’ Her thoughts tangled together, her head feeling light from the overwhelming revelations.
Seeing her struggling to wrap her mind around it, Aether leaned in and gently pinched her nose, bringing her back to reality, “There’s no need to think too hard about it right now,” he reassured her. “You’ll understand everything in time. Okay?”
“….”
“Okay?” he repeated, his voice softer.
“…Y-Yeah…” Helena muttered though it was clear her mind still needed more time to fully process the unbelievable truth.
Aether noticed her dazed expression and decided to change the subject, “You mentioned earlier that you saw a white-haired man… what did he look like? Was he anything like me?” he asked, his tone careful.
“Hmm? Oh…” Helena thought for a moment before shaking her head, “No, he didn’t really look like you. Not as handsome, at least,” she added with a playful smirk.
Aether couldn’t help but smile as he pinched her nose again. He had the urge to bite her cheek but resisted. ‘Calm down,’ he thought, before continuing. “And your mother… she had golden hair and eyes like yours, right?”
“Yes,” Helena confirmed with a hint of pride in her voice. “But she was even more beautiful than me.”
Aether chuckled, “She might have been beautiful, but to me, you’re the most beautiful,” he said, his tone filled with sincerity.
Helena beamed like a child who had just received a compliment, her earlier nervousness replaced with warmth.
As they both stared up at the night sky, Aether’s mind wandered. ‘Her mother disappeared after that white-haired man showed up… and I’ve seen two people like that in my past…’
He pondered over two possible theories about the mysterious man’s appearance:
One was that the white-haired man was actually a future version of Aether himself, someone who had travelled back in time to save him…. Since he had this mysterious bloodline ability he thought…
But Helena had said the man wasn’t as handsome as Aether was now and he himself saw that man… Aether knew their features were not similar except that white hair… The second theory, and perhaps the more unsettling one, involved… his own family.
Aether’s thoughts raced, ‘If the Village group kidnapped me, then there must be my family out there, right? And surely they would have taken me away as soon as they saw me, right? But that man… he didn’t! And why was Helena’s mother involved with that man? Was it coincidence, or something more?’
Aether wasn’t entirely sure about Helena’s mother, since he had never seen her before but… that woman almost resembled Helena….
Meanwhile,
Helena, noticing the faraway look in his eyes, shifted slightly. She couldn’t ignore the strange fluttering in her chest, the way her heart beat faster whenever she looked at him.
Today, Aether had done so much for her—buying her things, making her feel special—and yet she felt she hadn’t given him anything in return.
Aether said that relationships were give and take… so she took her parts and now it’s giving time….
Her breath hitched as she worked up the courage to speak,
“A-Aether…”