A few moments ago, while Aether was busy listening to the details of what was going on with Kai, meanwhile, back at the party,
Thalia’s gaze lingered on Aether’s back, her eyes glimmering with something unreadable. She swirled a drink in her hand, her thoughts running at a pace faster than anyone could notice.
There was a reason she wanted him here tonight. Her fingers traced the rim of the glass absentmindedly as she glanced at the bottles of alcohol arranged on the table. The selection was decent, but none of them felt… special.
“Hmm…” She picked up a few different drinks, bringing them to her lips and tasting each one. The warmth of the liquor trickled down her throat, some sharper, some smoother, but none of them were what she was looking for.
Meanwhile, Raven turned toward Maelona, her voice casual yet carrying a trace of curiosity. “Aether wanted to know whether you guys buy Thrusters or not.”
Maelona blinked, taken aback by the question. “Buy? Why?”
That made no sense. Aether practically held this Empire together. Why would they need to purchase something from him?
Dora, noticing Maelona’s confusion, took the initiative to explain, detailing the situation and the reasons behind the need to buy from Aether.
As the explanation sank in, Maelona’s expression shifted. She took a moment to process everything before speaking again, this time with a more calculated tone. “And… how much will it be?” she asked, her curiosity laced with wariness.
Raven exhaled, her fingers tapping lightly on the table. “Well, I can’t say for sure. But from what I understand, it might come around… 10,000,000,000ˀ”
Aria, Liora, and Maelona nearly lost their mind, their breaths catching in sheer disbelief.
Even Dora blinked in utter shock. ‘What in the hell?! That costs more than rebuilding my academy from scratch!’ she screamed inwardly. Heck, she could build two more academies, even more advanced, with that kind of money!!!
Maelona stammered, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to process the ridiculous amount. “A-Are you sure… it costs that much? I mean…”
Raven merely shrugged, her expression calm. “Like I said before, I’m not sure. Only Aether has the final say on the price. I’m just estimating—it could really be that high.”
Maelona swallowed hard, “W-Well, if it’s Aether, I’ll talk to him…” Her eyes flickered toward Aether’s back before shifting to her daughter and Liora. Their expressions were serious, and a silent agreement passed between them—they needed to do something about this.
Their Empire was not in a position to pay such an absurd amount.
Just then,
“Okay…” Thalia muttered under her breath, as if coming to a decision. Her gaze sharpened as she suddenly called out, “Maelona, tell me, is there no strong alcohol here?”
Maelona’s brows furrowed at the unexpected request. “You want strong?” she asked, a hint of disbelief in her voice. The alcohol on the table was already potent enough to make even a thousand-year-old elf blackout in mere seconds.
Thalia chuckled, her amusement evident. “Well… We have a strong tolerance for alcohol, so that’s why,” she said smoothly, as if it were a simple fact.
Maelona hummed in thought, her eyes flicking over the table before shaking her head. “These are the strongest ones we have here.”
However, Thalia was not willing to let this moment slip away. Her expression softened into one of pure pleading, her violet eyes shimmering with sincerity. “Pretty please?” she coaxed. “My sister is finally safe after so long… I just want to make sure this night is one to remember for the rest of my life. Please…” Her voice wavered just the right amount, making her look both desperate and sentimental.
Maelona hesitated. The emotions in Thalia’s words struck a chord within her, stirring up her own feelings… she would anything too if her daughter’s life was safe!
After a brief pause, she exhaled. “I see…” A knowing smirk played on her lips as she nodded. “Well… I do have one. Something special. I made it myself,” she revealed, a hint of pride slipping into her voice.
With a simple clap of her hands, a maid entered the room, awaiting orders. Maelona gave a brief command, and the maid disappeared to retrieve the hidden liquor.
Thalia’s lips curled slightly.
Dora, however, had sharp eyes and immediately picked up on her friend’s true intentions. Something was definitely up.
Soon, the maid returned, carrying an old, beautifully aged bottle. The glass was dark, almost black, and the faintest golden shimmer ran through the liquid inside. The moment Maelona laid eyes on it, a pang of sadness flickered across her face.
This was a relic—a thousands-year-old vintage she had preserved for centuries. Giving it up wasn’t easy, but compared to a person’s life, especially someone as important as Aether’s… she was willing to part with it.
With a quiet pop, she uncorked the bottle.
The table was instantly filled with an intoxicating aroma—rich, deep, and layered.
The scent carried hints of aged oak, dark cherries, and the softest touch of vanilla, woven together with the bite of something dangerously strong.
It wasn’t just alcohol; it was a masterpiece.
Even those who hadn’t taken a sip felt as if they had already drunk it, the mere fragrance enough to leave a tingling sensation on their tongues.
Maelona carefully poured the thick, deep-red liquid into a crystal glass. The way it swirled, leaving delicate trails on the glass, hinted at its sheer potency.
“Since it’s strong… I’m giving you only a little,” she stated firmly, pouring only a few drops.
Thalia clicked her tongue in mild annoyance, “You cannot be serious.”
Maelona remained unfazed. “Just drink it, and you’ll understand.”
Thalia sighed, then handed the glass to her sister with a smirk. “Here. You’re the party girl—enjoy it.”
Raven took the glass, raising a brow at the minuscule amount, ‘This isn’t even enough to get a baby tipsy,’ she thought before shrugging. “Oh well…” She lifted the glass to her lips and took a sip.
The moment the liquid touched her tongue, her eyes widened slightly.
“Hmm… good… It’s really good, you know,” Raven murmured as she savored the taste. It was like liquid silk, smoother than any alcohol she had ever tasted.
The initial sweetness of honeyed fruit melted into a deep warmth that spread through her chest like a slow, burning fire. It was addicting, each layer of flavor unraveling into something more complex.
Thalia sighed, ‘It’s still not strong enough,’ she thought with a defeated tone, her gaze settling on Maelona with a disappointed look.
Maelona’s lips twitched in mild amusement, “These things take time… just be patient—”
Thud!
A dull sound rang through the room, making everyone flinch.
All eyes turned to Raven.
Her face was flushed a deep red, her pupils slightly unfocused as a tiny hiccup escaped her lips. “W-What? More…” she slurred, reaching blindly for the bottle.
Seeing this, Thalia’s grin stretched wider.
Her eyes drifted toward another glass on the table, filled with nothing more than almost dark-colored juice—just juice.
What juice?
Well, in this kind of world, there are different kinds of fruits with different kinds of colours… so nothing wrong with it… Even the earth had those dark juices.
Anwya… Thalia’s fingers twitched with anticipation as her gaze flickered between the innocent drink and Aether, a devilish smirk creeping onto her lips.
Yes… This night was about to become far more interesting.