When part of the ocean itself froze, and the waves of the tide were disrupted, the Empress of this Empire, of course, sensed the anomaly.
Yet, she chose not to interfere with Aether, allowing him to face the Mortimer alone.
To her amazement, he emerged more victorious than she had anticipated… She thought he would at least struggle but… ‘Not bad’ she thought.
Next,
She had no doubt in her mind that Aether would eventually visit the place—the one he once called home.
With this in mind, she stationed her spies around the broken slave building, which was the last lead she had on him. Her instincts proved correct, as Aether did indeed show up. As soon as he arrived, so did she, following him discreetly, her curiosity piqued.
Aether, however, was no fool.
He had sensed someone tailing him for a while…. Assuming it was Celestia playing spy on behalf of the Empress, he paid little heed. But what he hadn’t expected was the Empress herself stalking him!
Aether removed his mask and facing Sandra with a surprised expression, “I didn’t expect you to follow me personally. What happened? Did you miss me already, Empress?” His voice carried a mix of amusement and teasing arrogance.
Sandra’s lips twitched at his audacious tone, but she quickly recovered, a sly smile gracing her face. “Miss you? Why, of course, I miss my ‘Son-in-law,'” she replied, deliberately emphasizing the title with sharp precision. The words struck Aether like a dagger, his haughty expression faltering instantly.
Sandra’s grin widened at his reaction. “Who knows what kind of trouble my precious ‘Son-in-law’ might get into after killing a Hero!” Her tone dripped with amusment.
“Ouch.” Aether winced theatrically, clutching his chest as though her words had physically wounded him. Yet, he quickly composed himself, forcing a smug smile. “Hey, for the record, I haven’t killed him… yet.”
“Yet?” Sandra raised an eyebrow, her face turned disbelief, “You’re telling me you’re still considering it? After everything? How noble… and How charming.”
“Ahem… Anyway,” Aether cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to redirect the conversation. “Come on, Empress. You know what happened between me and Aqua, don’t you? She was…” His voice trailed off as he noticed Sandra had already lost interest in his explanation, her gaze fixed on the empty grave before them.
“So, what exactly are you searching for here?” she asked in a calm, measured tone, not even bothering to look at him.
Aether let out a weary sigh, “Well, there was an old lady here… someone I could almost consider a grandmother.” His expression darkened. “She died trying to use me as a sacrifice.”
Sandra’s eyebrows rose in mild surprise. “A grandmother who tried to sacrifice you? Fascinating. But what are you looking for on her grave?”
“It’s just…” Aether began, rubbing the back of his neck. “There was an unknown artifact required the blood of the Origin Emperor… So I came looking for her body”
“Origin Emperor?” Sandra repeated, her voice tinged with curiosity. “Looks like there’s much I still need to learn”
“About me?” Aether asked with smirk but Sandra ignored him,
She knelt and ran her fingers through the sand, her brow furrowing. “This grave… it’s been dug up recently.” She pointed to the faint moisture still clinging to the soil.
“Recently?” Aether echoed, his frown deepening.
Sandra rose to her feet and surveyed the broken village, “This place… it doesn’t look like the aftermath of a monster rampage. What exactly happened here?”
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“Beats me,” Aether replied with a shrug.
Sandra crossed her arms, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, “The Ebon stone you mentioned… it should be somewhere around here, shouldn’t it?”
Aether nodded, pointing toward the twin peaks in the distance. “It’s hidden between those mountains. But heading there now would be pointless,” he said, glancing at the darkened sky.
Sandra frowned “We could just use the fire to—”
“First, I need to figure out what happened here,” Aether interrupted firmly.
His gaze swept over the desolate landscape. “Before I left, there were at least dozens of people still alive. They had plans to rebuild, to live better lives. But now…” His voice faltered, “Now, it’s all gone. Something doesn’t add up.”
He needed to know what happened to the people here, as well as the body of the old lady, and… his black ring that he gave to her.
He really needed to know about that!!
And also… His eyes shifted toward Sandra. He knew he needed to calm this stormy beauty before things spiraled further out of control.
Sandra observed him for a moment before letting out a long sigh. “Alright. But how do you plan on uncovering the truth when there are no bodies here, no leads?”
Aether gave her a faint smile, “Yes, but I have my ways…” as he walked.
Sandra arched an eyebrow, clearly skeptical of his vague response.
Not knowing exactly what Aether was planning, Sandra chose to follow him!
They left the village together, walking along the path that led to a deserted wooden hotel nearby.
“This?” Sandra frowned, her skepticism returning as she took in the rickety structure.
“Yes,” Aether replied with a nod. “You might have noticed there’s some kind of restriction preventing teleportation directly to the village, right?”
Sandra nodded slowly, recalling the odd restriction, “So, you think everyone—whether outsider or villager—had to pass through this path and this hotel?”
“Exactly,” Aether said, his eyes fixed on the hotel’s entrance.
Sandra stepped forward, ready to enter, but Aether stopped her with an outstretched arm. “Hold on, Empress. Those fancy clothes of yours practically scream your title .What will you do if the person seeing you?”
Sandra sighed, rolling her eyes before she waved her hand. Water droplets swirled around her body, transforming her ornate attire into a worn, shabby outfit.
“Still sexy as ever,” Aether quipped, unable to resist.
Sandra shot him a blank stare. “You shouldn’t say that to your ‘Mother-in-law,’ ‘Son-in-law.'”
“Ouch, ouch…” Aether clutched his chest in mock agony, muttering under his breath as he led the way inside.
Clink, Clink…
As the door creaked open, the soft chime of a bell echoed through the old wooden hotel. Two figures stepped inside, their presence an unusual sight in such a remote location.
Moments later, a middle-aged couple appeared, the man offering a warm smile. “Welcome to our hotel, Sir and Madam,” he greeted politely.
Aether and Sandra both nodded in acknowledgment. Stepping forward, Aether spoke with an easy smile. “I’d like to book a room for the night.”
Sandra frowned slightly, ‘I thought we were just investigating? What’s this about staying the night?’ Still, she chose to remain silent—for now.
“Ah, that would be 20 Zenith, Sir,” the man replied, his tone courteous but measured.
Aether reached into his pouch, drawing out more coins than necessary. “Here, take 100ˀ” he said, handing the pouch over with a nonchalant air.
The couple exchanged surprised glances before the man beamed. “Oh, thank you, Sir and Madam! Please, have a seat. What would you like to drink while my wife cleans the room? I’ll make sure you get the best one we have.” He turned, shouting instructions to his wife, who nodded eagerly before hurrying upstairs.
Aether settled himself into a wooden lounge chair, gesturing for Sandra to join him. “I’ll have a hot coffee,” he said, his gaze shifting mischievously toward Sandra, “And for ‘My Wife’ bring her a cold coffee.”
The man blinked at the remark but quickly recovered, nodding with an accommodating smile before leaving to prepare their drinks.
Sandra, however, wasn’t so easily amused.
“Ouch!” Aether winced as she pinched him sharply, her expression darkening. “‘My wife?!’ What in the world are you—”
Before she could unleash her fury, Aether raised a hand, his face suddenly serious. “Empress, listen. Who knows what that couple really is? Doesn’t it strike you as odd that they’re running a hotel in such a deserted place? What kind of guests could they possibly get here? It’s suspicious, don’t you think?”
Sandra’s lips pressed into a thin line. She’d had similar doubts herself, but that didn’t give him the right to go around calling her his wife!
“Just go along with it for now,” Aether added, his expression softening into something resembling innocence. Inside, however, he was thoroughly enjoying himself, the hint of a grin tugging at his lips.
Before Sandra could retort, the man returned with their drinks, setting them down with care. He took a seat across from them, his demeanor friendly.
“So, are you two on a trip?”
Aether sipped his coffee, his movements slow and deliberate. “We’re on our…. Honeymoon, actually,” he said smoothly, flashing the man a relaxed smile.
“PUFFFF!!!” Sandra choked on her cold coffee, spraying a fine mist across the table.
The man’s expression shifted to one of mild concern, “Oh dear, was it not to your taste, Madam?”
Sandra quickly dabbed her mouth with a handkerchief, her movements precise and graceful despite her embarrassment. “No, it’s just… a bit colder than I expected,” she replied with an air of calm composure, though her glare at Aether could have frozen a ocean… far better than what he did!
‘I’m going to kill you,’ she thought furiously, her cheeks blazing red as she clenched her teeth.
Aether, unfazed, ignored her simmering rage and turned his attention back to the man, who chuckled. “Haha, I suppose a place like this—at the very edge of the Empire—is a great choice for young couples on their honeymoon. No noise, no people, just peace and quiet. A perfect escape.”
“Exactly,” Aether agreed with a nod, “By the way, I was curious about something. There’s a twin mountain nearby, isn’t there? My wife here absolutely adores scenic places like that. It wouldn’t be a problem if we visited, would it?”
At the mention of the twin mountain, the man’s face turned ashen. His smile faltered, replaced by uneaseness.
Aether’s brow furrowed, “Sir? Is something wrong?”
The man hesitated, his hands fidgeting nervously. Finally, he sighed. “It would be better if you didn’t go there,” he said quietly, his voice tinged with fear.
“Why not?” Aether pressed, leaning forward slightly.
The man struggled to find the right words, his reluctance evident. Sensing the need to coax him further, Aether casually reached into his pouch and placed another generous sum of coins on the table.
The man’s eyes widened at the gesture. “T-This is…”
Aether waved it off with a smile, “I came here to make my wife happy, and she really wants to visit that place. For her happiness, I’ll do whatever it takes.” He turned toward Sandra, brushing a kiss against her forehead with practiced ease.
[+2000 AP]
Sandra’s face turned beet red, her fury barely contained as her fingers twitched with the urge to strangle him.
Aether, meanwhile, chuckled inwardly at her predicament, savoring every moment.
Moved by what appeared to be genuine devotion, the man sighed deeply. “Well… what can I say? After all, it’s not my place to interfere with a couple’s happiness. But I must warn you,” he began, his voice lowering, “something terrible happened there.”
Aether’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean? What happened?”
The man swallowed hard, glancing around as though afraid of being overheard, “Two months ago, Mysterious people came….”