After dealing with Naiadia family, Aether moved to his current situation around the Frostblade territory and decided to focus on what he had implanted many days ago.
Aether walked through the woods… deep into the dense forest, searching for something hidden deep within.
“Hello… are you guys here?” Aether called out softly, as if speaking to someone unseen… but there was no answer.
Aether removed his illusion as his body returned to its usual appearance, and he said, “Now?”
Chirrrppp!!
KKrrrrr!!
All of a sudden, a few birds and animals appeared before him, as if they had been hiding and waiting all this time.
Aether nodded with a slight smile, “Now… have you done what I asked before?”
Chirrp!! == [Yes!]
Wwoooo!! == [Finished, Master!!]
Aether hummed thoughtfully, even though he wasn’t completely sure what they were saying. But seeing their bright, proud expressions, Aether knew they had done what he had asked. An deer eagerly pointed to a tiny bud… a small, fragile plant that had appeared recently.
Aether moved towards it with a calm step and gently touched its tender bud leaves, “I guess… it still needs more time to grow…. doesn’t it?”
Chirrpp == [Of course]
Another animal hurriedly showed him another small bud nearby… and like that, there were many small buds scattered throughout the forest.
Aether hummed softly, turning his gaze to the animals—the very ones he had once threatened to take their precious females from—and now, those same creatures were working for him with tireless devotion.
“Not bad… I’m genuinely surprised you guys managed to seed everything… hmm,” Aether said, nodding in acknowledgment, a hint of admiration in his tone.
But then,
“However… I don’t have time to wait for it to grow naturally….” Aether muttered with a defeated sigh.
Chirp? Chirp… chirp.. == [What? But it needs time to grow!]
A small bird chirped with an annoyed tone, clearly frustrated by the human asking for the impossible. Some animals even snorted with amused expressions, shaking their heads at the greedy impatience of humans.
Aether, even though he couldn’t understand them, simply grinned mischievously, “Well then…” He raised his hand over the tiny bud and, in a low commanding voice, “Activate… King of Woods,” he muttered.
Suddenly, the small bud under his palm flickered faintly, almost as if it were breathing, making every animal around gasp sharply.
But it wasn’t over yet.
Before their very eyes, the once fragile bud began to stir. The stem quivered slightly, reaching upwards, and the tiny leaves unfurled with slow, trembling movements as if waking up from a deep slumber.
The green hues deepened into a rich, vibrant colour. The stem thickened, growing taller and stronger as tiny veins spread like delicate patterns across the leaves. A moment later, at the very top of the stem, a small bloom began to form—petals slowly peeling open one by one, each layer unfolding like a silky whisper against the air.
From that simple bud, a stunning red flower blossomed—its petals glowing with a brilliant, almost ethereal lustre under the soft light filtering through the trees.
The flower shimmered as if kissed by morning dew, delicate and yet full of life, releasing a sweet, fresh fragrance into the forest.
Aether smirked, watching the magical sight unfold, “Not bad… Not bad at all…” he muttered with a satisfied tone, gently ruffling the vivid red petals with his fingertips, feeling the living warmth of the newly bloomed flower.
The animals stared at him with horrified awe, as if they couldn’t comprehend how someone like him could force nature to such a miracle… growing a full, beautiful plant in an instant.
However, it was not over at all.
Aether raised both his hands high into the air and declared with a commanding voice, “I am the King of Woods…. Obey me!” As soon as those words slipped from his lips, the entire forest—trees, plants, and every blade of greenery—shivered and trembled, as if answering his call.
The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly as thick veins of roots slowly slithered towards him. They wrapped around his legs, his thighs, winding up across his abdomen, chest, neck, and finally reaching his head… slowly weaving together to form a crown-like structure atop him, living and pulsing with vibrant energy.
Crack… crack….
The bending and cracking sounds of the veins echoed through the silent forest, making the animals shudder in pure fear.
Aether gasped sharply as a flood of information from every plant and tree surged into his mind… as if he had become one with the entire green soul of this Empire. He felt every leaf, every root, every breath of the forest within him.
That overwhelming sensation of softness and calmness was unlike anything he had ever experienced…
Aether felt utterly at peace, almost as if he could fall asleep here without a single worry… such freedom, such oneness with nature.
However,
Aether then smiled tenderly and whispered, “Now… grow up~” His voice was gentle, almost loving.
In an instant, the countless buds that had been seeded across the territory began to tremble. Slowly, surely, they grew upwards, reaching toward the sky, bursting open with vibrant red colour flowers more stunning and full of life than the next, creating a breathtaking sea of blooming beauty.
The animals could only watch in stunned silence, their horrified expressions frozen as they witnessed a miracle they never thought possible.
… Meanwhile, in the Frostblade household,
Inside the house,
Xara let out a long, heavy sigh, her entire body slumping with a tired face, “So much work… way too much work… arrgh,” she groaned dramatically as she collapsed back onto the soft couch, an annoyed expression firmly planted on her face.
“Fu~Fu~ My mom really works so hard every single day…” Selene giggled sweetly, watching her mother’s theatrical rambling about her exhaustion while she sat gracefully beside her, legs tucked in a relaxed manner.
Xara shot her daughter a sideways glance, “You don’t even know, dear… my work is beyond annoying, and even my boss is a real pain in the ass… I have to finish everything without getting anything in return… You know how miserable it is… working without any sort of proper blo–argh… just forget it,” she grumbled, waving her hand in the air with an exasperated tone.
Selene smiled softly, the corners of her lips lifting with affection, and gently shook her head as she returned her attention to the book resting in her lap, her face remaining calm and serene.
Xara wore a pitiful, almost defeated expression, groaning softly under her breath before stealing another glance at her daughter. After a moment of hesitation, she asked with slight curiosity, “So… any news from that brat who ran away?”
“Kai? I don’t–“
“No, not him, that new brat…?” Xara interrupted, waving dismissively with her hand, though there was a clear glint of curiosity and worry flickering in her tired eyes. “It’s been some time now, you know… I haven’t seen him around lately.”
Selene smirked, a playful sparkle dancing in her eyes, “All I know is… he said he would bring you a big surprise. I’m not really sure about anything else he’s planning.”
Xara’s lips twitched in irritation, “I cannot believe that brat is out there doing who knows what… He still carries the slave mark, and if something happens to him… does he even understand the risk? His life, even if he’s within our territory, is still dangling in danger!
Wait… he is still inside our territory, right?” she asked sharply, her gaze narrowing suspiciously at her daughter.
Selene shrugged lazily with a tired expression, “Come on, Mom, I’m just like you. I don’t know where he disappeared to.”
Xara huffed again, the sound heavy with exasperation, as she sank back into her restless thoughts. As she drifted deeper into her pondering, she glanced at her daughter again and asked quietly, “Sel…”
“Hmm?” Selene responded casually, her eyes never leaving the page she was reading.
“Are you… interested in Aet–“
“MY LORD!! YOU NEED TO SEE THIS!!”
Suddenly, a panicked voice shouted from outside, making both mother and daughter flinch in surprise. They quickly turned toward the source of the commotion.
Velc immediately stormed out of his office, his heavy footsteps echoing through the mansion, rushing straight toward the entrance, followed closely by a swarm of concerned guards and maids.
Selene grinned, her excitement bubbling, “Mom, come on!” she said, grabbing her mother’s hand with a giggle and dragging her out of the mansion at a half-run.
‘Sigh, what now?’ Xara wondered with a tired, resigned thought, just as she stepped over the mansion’s door…
The moment her feet touched the outside ground, her mind went completely blank.
Her entire body froze, her breath stolen away. It was as if the very flow of time around her had come to a grinding halt… everything slowed, muted, softened.
All she could see before her stunned eyes was… a single beautiful red petal, twirling gracefully as it floated down through the air.
But… it wasn’t just one.
It wasn’t just a hundred petals… nor even a thousand…
It was far, far more.
It was an overwhelming ocean of vibrant crimson, countless red petals cascading down from the heavens, as if the entire sky itself had bloomed open just to rain them down in an endless, breathtaking storm of beauty.