“I wish I could give you answers… but honestly, even I don’t know much about my bloodline,” Aether said with a weary sigh, his expression distant as he stared down at the almost broken book.
Sandra continued to watch him, her gaze unwavering—sharp, suspicious. She looked at him like he was a sealed chest, hiding secrets behind a lock only he could open.
Aether exhaled again, slower this time. “Come on now… I already told you, I’m not hiding anything anymore, remember?” he said, forcing a soft smile onto his lips, trying to ease the tension in the air.
But Sandra wasn’t buying it. Not entirely.
Not when she knew there was one thing—just one thing—he’d never shared with anyone.
She let out her own sigh and rubbed her forehead, clearly frustrated. “I just don’t get it… Honestly, I’ve never even heard of the word ‘Ether’ before. When I first read that part, I practically skimmed over it. Thought it was just some kind of myth… like some made-up god or legendary force or something. If you hadn’t been connected to the Ether bloodline, I would’ve completely ignored it.”
Aether hummed at her words, thoughtful. It did make sense—it was just one vague line in that ancient text.
Something easy to miss. Something anyone would’ve dismissed.
He probably would’ve too… if he hadn’t been so damn cautious.
“Ether… ah,” he muttered to himself.
Every time he thought about his bloodline, a strange feeling crawled over him. His body felt… worse. As if something big—something dangerous—was on the verge of awakening. Especially whenever his mind drifted to that white-haired man… and that suicidal dog who somehow had the same twisted ability as him.
His thoughts drifted deeper, darker.
Sandra watched his expression grow distant, his face frozen in some storm of thought. Quietly, gently, she closed the book, careful not to break its frail spine.
She too had searched everywhere for even a scrap of information about ‘Ether’. Even Isadora, who was practically the strongest, hadn’t heard of it.
That alone made her stomach twist.
No… the fear wasn’t about Aether.
It was about what was inside him.
Something no one else had.
Something unknown.
Something dangerous.
Something so unique, so powerful… it made him a walking target.
She didn’t know what the Ether bloodline could truly do, or what it meant. But one thing was painfully clear—if the world found out about it, everything would go straight to hell.
‘Sigh… I can’t believe I’m getting tangled up in all of this,’ she thought with a wry, resigned smile. Yet there was no frustration on her face. No bitterness. No hint of regret.
Because, in her heart… it had become her strange, messy version of love.
Her cheeks flushed, pink slowly blooming across her face. Then, almost under her breath, she whispered, “… I… I’m sorry.”
It was barely audible.
Aether blinked, pulled abruptly from his spiraling thoughts. He turned toward her, confused. Had he heard something just now?
Sandra was staring down at the table, her face still as stone—except for that subtle, almost invisible blush dusting her cheeks.
Aether’s lips curved into a wide grin. “Hmm? What was that? I don’t think I heard you clearly,” he said, leaning in with a playful sparkle in his eye.
Sandra’s lips twitched. Oh, she knew he heard her. He was just messing with her now.
“Come on now… say it again. Maybe a little louder?” he teased, leaning in even closer like a devil that smelled its treat.
But before he could finish his teasing—
“I’m leaving!” Sandra suddenly blurted out, her face crimson as she stood up abruptly, ready to walk away.
However—
“ARRHH!!” Aether let out a loud scream, making Sandra jump like she’d just stepped on a live wire.
She spun around in alarm, her expression instantly shifting to concern. “What?! What happened? Are you okay?!” she rushed back to him, her voice quick and full of panic.
“It hurts! Aaarrrghh!” Aether groaned dramatically, clutching his face tightly.
“Where? What hurts?” Sandra was nearly shaking, her hands hovering near him as her eyes searched his face.
“My cheek… it hurts… no, it burns! Aarrhh!!” he wailed, pointing to his right cheek with a pained expression, as if it were on fire.
Sandra’s eyes widened, worry overtaking her. She leaned in, inspecting the cheek he was pointing at.
It was pale.
Not even a scratch. But the way he writhed in pain made her chest tighten.
“This spot…? But there’s nothing here!” she said anxiously. “Why does it burn?!”
“Because… you slapped me,” Aether suddenly muttered in a pitiful voice, throwing in a little whimper for effect, “and now I’m dying.”
Sandra blinked…. Then stared.
For a second, the entire room went silent.
“…I slapped you on that side,” she said flatly, pointing at his left cheek.
“Arrrr—” Aether stopped mid-wail, blinking rapidly. Then—
“Arrrhhh!!” he started again, switching cheeks, “Because of your monstrous slap—so much power that the pain traveled! It radiated across my face! I think my whole jaw’s dislocated! My nerves are in trauma! Arrrhhhhh!”
Sandra’s expression was deadpanned harder than stone.
She watched him, arms crossed now, as he dramatically writhed on the table like he was auditioning for the lead role in a tragedy.
His cries, his twisting, his bullshit—all of it.
She almost smiled.
Almost.
“What do you want?” she asked bluntly, going straight to the point without hesitation.
Aether was still writhing, his face twisted in exaggerated agony. Through gritted teeth, he groaned, “Y-You need to soothe this… burning sensation.”
“I have high-level healing potions—” Sandra started but,
“Who needs some artificial junk like that!!” Aether shouted furiously, his cheek trembling as if the pain was unbearable. His eyes were wide, almost begging for her to take him seriously.
Sandra’s lips twitched.
“… Then what exactly do you need, huh?”
Aether lowered his gaze—not to her chest, but to her lips.
Her cheeks flared instantly as her eyes widened in panic. “Hell. No–.”
“AARRHHH! It’s burning! It’s hurting! Nobody even pities me!” Aether wailed louder, voice cracking theatrically. “Even though I’m the one who helps everyone, they just toss me aside! Like I’m used garbage! Is this… is this what it’s like to be used and thrown away?! ARRHH!! What a cruel, heartless world—”
“Shut up!” Sandra yelled, her voice sharp with fury as she glared daggers at him. This bastard—he was blackmailing her, wasn’t he?!
She could see right through his damn performance… the overacting, the fake agony—but still! She had slapped him earlier.
In the heat of the moment.
And not just out of duty—no, that slap was personal.
Way too personal.
It stung her just thinking about it.
So she clenched her jaw, muttering, “Fine… a kiss, right? That’s what you want? Fine then,” she growled, every word dipped in reluctant venom.
Without another word, she grabbed his chin, forcefully turned his cheek toward her, leaned in close, and, with a frown carved deep on her face, puckered her lips and…
Chu.
Her soft lips landed on his cheek for barely more than a fleeting heartbeat before she yanked herself away.
“That’s it. Done.”
“…Huh?” Aether blinked at her. His expression twisted into something between mock confusion and theatrical offence. “That’s it?! Seriously? That was like… nothing! Tell me, when you slapped me… what did you feel? Hmm? Anger, right?”
Sandra looked away and gave a stiff nod.
Aether nodded sagely, like a smug professor explaining universal truths. “Right, right. That raw, bubbling fury. That deep, primal rage. The sheer frustration… and then…” He paused, locking eyes with her. “…That betrayal.”
Sandra flinched, her eyes darting away instantly. Of course he had to bring that up.
That slap—yeah, it wasn’t just about her daughter.
It was about him.
His words.
His betrayal.
She’d smacked him with all her tangled feelings knotted into one brutal strike.
Aether leaned forward, his grin widening as if he could taste her guilt. “You mixed it all together and bam, slapped the hell out of me, didn’t you?”
Sandra took a shaky breath and nodded slowly, finally meeting his gaze again… only to see that damn smirk. A wicked, sly curve that made her heart thump—and not in a good way.
She felt like she’d just signed a deal with the devil.
“Then kiss me the same way,” Aether murmured, voice low and teasing. “With every last drop of emotion~”
He leaned closer, lips barely an inch away.
Sandra gulped audibly.
What the hell happened to his pain?
Who cares?!
“I-I’m supposed to kiss you with every bit of emotion?! What does that even mea—HIK!!”
Before she could finish, his hand shot out, gripping her waist tightly, yanking her in until she went stiff as a board. He leaned in close, brushing her cheek with his breath, warm and intoxicating.
“My love~ Chu~” he whispered, planting a bold kiss on her cheek.
[+8000 AP]
“Just like that… now it’s your turn~” Aether purred, pulling back with a shit-eating grin.
Sandra was frozen, her face burning a shade of crimson that could melt steel. She looked like her soul had just left her body.
Then—
Snap!
Aether snapped his fingers right in front of her nose, snapping her out of her moment of death-like stillness.
“Y-You—!” she stammered, her voice on the verge of breaking.
“Aaarrgghh! The pain! It’s still burning!” Aether wailed, dramatically clutching his other cheek, now not the same one before, he cried, using that, “No one helps me! I’m dying over here! My soul is melting!
Where is love and mercy?!”
Sandra’s lips twitched… Hard!