The group looked at Aether with a gaze of caution and respect.
Silence lingered in the air for a moment, before Scar gestured for Aether to approach him.
With heavy steps, Aether stood before Scar, carrying a strange coldness.
"Very well. Though you lack passion, you have proven you can hold your own in real combat. I will take you there—to prove to you that trying to change fate is pointless."
"Alright, kid. Come with us. We'll head first to Nara, the capital of the Eastern Kingdom, and then we'll discuss a plan to reach the Southern Kingdom."
Scar said firmly. Aether replied,
"Fine... whatever."
The team headed toward the capital of the Eastern Kingdom, the city of Nara. There, Aether witnessed many unfamiliar sights: people laughing, children playing, women clinging to their husbands, companions on the road, secret glances of love. Aether said to himself, "They seem happy... I feel a little envious."
Scar led the team to the capital's protection camp headquarters. The soldiers greeted him warmly, and one of them approached Scar, asking,
"Commander, we received a report that you encountered Shado. Were you able to get any information from him?"
"He fled as soon as I attacked him. Inform the guards that the night did not pass peacefully—they must remain vigilant. Also, deploy some guards at the capital's gates. Shado is still nearby, and it's not unlikely that he'll attack if he learns we've lowered our defenses."
"Understood!"
The soldier said and hurried off to execute the orders.
Scar turned his attention to Aether.
"Now then, you need to explain to me exactly what you want."
Aether replied with strange, cold simplicity.
"To change my fate."
Scar responded,
"Well, honestly, that was an expected answer. And why?"
"A personal goal. I don't wish to disclose it."
Aether said.
Victoria interrupted with suspicion,
"Commander, are you really planning to take him with us to the Valley of Shadows? What if the gate opens for him? We don't know what his true purpose is."
Scar replied,
"Have you forgotten? The first line of the prophecy... 'The door opens only to one with a pure heart.' That means whether the door opens for him or not, we lose nothing."
Victoria fell silent for a moment... before nodding in agreement, though some doubt remained.
Scar said firmly,
"Whatever your goal may be, I repeat what I told you: Don't be an obstacle in our path, and you have our protection."
Aether looked at him calmly, with those cold eyes and that stone-hard face.
"Alright."
After that, Scar invited them to a great feast. Everyone sat down, one facing the other—except for Aether, whose seat in front of him remained empty.
Soft music played, filling the vast hall's quiet atmosphere. The torchlight illuminated the place, easing the tension and bringing an air of serenity and comfort to the knights.
Aether quietly asked Scar,
"You mentioned a prophecy earlier. Does it have something to do with the chamber?"
"Yes. Regarding the prophecy—it tells the story of a hero chosen by the divine will to carry the burden and change humanity's sins, to give them another chance... The prophecy says that fate can be changed within that chamber by using the magical threads, and that every thousand years, two signs appear indicating the existence of a chosen one in that era:
Calamity and The Flow.
The calamity, in our case, is Shadow.
And the Flow is a gift from the divine will granted to a human being, enhancing their body to a level that enables them to face the most formidable creatures. Other people can also experience the Flow—those who have endured immense pressure that nearly killed them and survived. Their bodies then undergo a natural state of Flow, though it's often weaker than the divine gift."
For a moment... Aether fell silent. His grip on the fork tightened. Bitter memories flashed through his mind for a brief instant. His thoughts wandered slightly, a pulse of pain throbbing in his head from the disturbing recollections. The crises intermingled within his mind.
Scar interrupted that moment, saying:
"Aether? Are you alright? You seem lost in thought."
"Yes," Aether replied, with the same rigid tone.
"Aether..." Victoria said hesitantly before completing her question:
"Are you from Nivar? Where exactly did you come from?"
"I... I don't know. I don't know how I reached this point... My end is clear... but as for my beginning... I have no answer."
"You have no answer? Why? Is it because you forgot, or something like that? Don't you remember anything about being a child, or a young teenager?"
"I cannot answer... My answers would be somewhat confusing... But perhaps this journey will reveal many details about me..."
Footsteps are heard from behind...