"M-Mom?" Raven mumbled, her voice barely audible as she stared in disbelief at the woman standing before her.
"Y-Yes, Raven… It's me," the orange-haired woman replied with a slight, trembling nod, her expression a mixture of hope and fear.
"I-Is it… really you?" Raven's voice cracked, and her legs wobbled as though her mind was struggling to accept what her eyes were seeing.
The woman nodded again, her voice breaking with emotion. "It's really me, Raven… I'm here." She opened her arms wide, and in an instant, Raven stumbled forward, falling into her mother's embrace.
Thalia watched them, her gaze softening. Sensing the depth of the reunion, she turned to leave, giving them a moment alone.
Aether, too, observed the scene with a faint smile. He could see the stoic woman who'd kept her emotions locked away finally surrendering to them, allowing herself to feel.
As Raven clung to her mother, her body shook with sobs. Her mother held her close, feeling her daughter's trembling, and soon her own tears began to spill over, rolling down her cheeks.
She glanced over at Aether.
Understanding immediately, Aether gave a gentle nod and quietly slipped away to give them space.
"M-Mom... Y-You're really here?" Raven's voice was small and unsteady, as if she still couldn't believe what she was seeing, afraid this might all vanish in a moment.
"Yes, my sweet Raven… I'm here. I'm really here," her mother replied, her voice choked with tears as she reached up, tenderly brushing away the tears on Raven's cheeks, "I'm so sorry... Leaving you all alone... It must be hard, right?"
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"A-Aaawwww!!"
Meanwhile, Aether walked down the corridor with a small, bittersweet smile lingering on his face.
He felt the warmth of the moment and, reaching out through their connection, called softly,
/Aqualina? Are you there?/
But there was no answer, no matter how many times he reached out. He let out a quiet sigh, sensing the same familiar silence. She wasn't answering, and even though he knew she feel her presence, his concern grew with each attempt.
/Aqua, I know you can hear me... please, just talk to me, Dear!/ he tried once more, his tone as gentle as he could make it.
Still, only silence greeted him.
Aether sighed deeply. He'd already spoken to Celestia, who had tried to fill him in on the details of Aqualina's recent actions like...
Aqualina was acting strangely, like the cold, distant princess she used to be, almost as if something had triggered a shift in her. The thought of her in that state troubled him more than he wanted to admit.
Suddenly, his thoughts shifted as he caught a glimpse of someone else, /Oh? It's Aria… Would you look at her, all grown up… good and... oh my, sexy... Damn, I LOVE H--/
/I can hear you, you idiot!/
Aether chuckled, his eyes softening with relief as her voice cut through his words.
She hadn't changed.
Not really!
There was still that familiar tone in her.
Leaning against the wall, he sighed with a hint of amusement. /Oh, so you're listening now? I wonder what changed your mind…/
/..../
Aether shook his head as his face turned serious and asked,
/What happened, Aqua? Why are you pulling away? Talk to me./
After a long pause, he heard her answer. Her voice was soft, hesitant, and filled with a vulnerability he hadn't heard before.
/I... I don't know, Aether. I just... I need time alone right now. I'm trying to understand myself, and... I don't know how to explain it./
Aether looked up, staring at the sky, his brow creased with concern. He could feel the storm of emotions radiating from her—fear, confusion, even loneliness. 'What on earth happened to her?' he wondered silently, the question filling his mind.
/I get it, Aqua… I won't press. But at least tell me where you are. Are you safe?/
/...../
/Aqua?/
/I… I'm at the Academy,/ she finally admitted, her voice barely a whisper in his mind.
Aether's eyebrows lifted in surprise. /How did you get there?/ It didn't add up.
There was no way Aqualina could just leave without his knowing. Everyone at the Teleportation Gate had strict orders to inform him of her whereabouts.
/I don't know… I was at the Origin Pillars, and suddenly, I was just… here. It all happened so fast.../ She let out a deep sigh, her voice tinged with fatigue. /Aether, I just really need some time. Please… just give me that./
Understanding her struggle, Aether nodded to himself, giving her the space she was asking for.
Without another word, he ended the connection and looked down at his shadow with a knowing smile. "She's at the Academy. Go and keep an eye on her. Don't let her out of your sight."
His shadow flickered, and after a few moments, Celestia emerged, her face alight with shock. "How did you find me?" she asked, her surprise evident.
Aether's grin widened as he leaned closer, giving her nose a playful pinch. "That's a secret~" he teased, chuckling at her reaction. Ever since he'd gained his Teleportation skill, his awareness of spatial elements had deepened, allowing him to sense subtle shifts around him—and clearly, even detect her.
Celestia shook her head, a look of amused exasperation in her eyes.
"Anyway… look after her, alright?" Aether said with a serious tone, his expression sharp. Celestia nodded, preparing to leave when—
"You know… if you can stay in the shadow of someone, then…" Aether's face suddenly took on a curious look. "What happens if the person's wearing a skirt? Can you, uh, see… from underneath? Like, do you get a view or something?"
Now, don't mistake him for a pervert or anything... He was simply curious, okay?
What if a pervert got his hands on this kind of power? Who knows what could happen!
Celestia gave him a blank, disapproving stare, her expression practically shouting 'really?'
Aether coughed, trying to regain his composure. "No problem… just an instinctive thought, you know." He shrugged and turned to walk away.
Celestia watched him go with a faint smirk, 'Pervert~' before shaking her head and disappearing back into the shadows.
As Aether walked down the corridor, he noticed Jack dragging a furious Leon somewhere. Aether couldn't help but grin, nodding with satisfaction. "Everything's going according to plan," he murmured to himself. Finally, he arrived at the balcony and spotted the person he'd been searching for.... Thalia Crimsonclaw.
"Nice view, isn't it?" Aether said casually as he leaned on the railing beside Thalia, gazing out over the mountains and skys
"Hmm," Thalia responded, her gaze fixed on the sky.
Aether glanced at her, noting her indifferent expression. "Aren't you going to spend time with your friend?"
"Hmm." Thalia hummed again, still lost in her thoughts, staring up at the sky.
Aether studied her face for a moment before his own expression turned serious. "Life is full of surprises, you know..."
"Hmm."
"Especially when you realize everything's been… manipulated by someone you thought you trusted."
Thalia's expression darkened as she finally turned to look at Aether, frowning. "What exactly are you getting at, Aether?"
Aether gave her a knowing smile. "Oh, I know exactly what I'm talking about, Thalia. Surprises!
Ever since I came here, it's been one revelation after another. Like this place is hiding all the answers I've been searching for, just waiting for the right moment."
Thalia frowned, clearly struggling to understand what Aether was getting at.
Aether simply turned his gaze to the sky, and for a while, there was silence. Then, he spoke again, his tone soft but pointed. "Tell me... do you believe in coincidences?"
Thalia narrowed her eyes. "Just cut to the chase, Aether."
Aether chuckled. "Always so impatient… just like I've heard about someone. I wonder why?" he teased, grinning at her.
Then, his expression turned thoughtful as he continued, "A girl with a past strikingly similar to Raven's. Someone who wanted revenge just like she did.... And suddenly, they're friends... No, best friends, in fact. She's always there when Raven needs her, even risking her life to help her new friend… isn't that just a few too many coincidences?"
Thalia's face went blank, her tone taut with irritation. "I don't know what you're insinuating, but if you think I'm manipulating Raven, you need to get your head checked, human." She turned to leave, but—
"Are you going to keep running away, Thalia Crimsonclaw?" Aether's voice called after her as he gazed up at the sky.
"Or should I call you... Noirix... Pyra Noirix?"
Thalia froze, her eyes widening. She stopped in her tracks and looked back at Aether.
"Indeed... Pyra Noirix," Aether said with a satisfied grin, watching her reaction closely.