Aether glanced down at himself to see familiar black pants fitted perfectly to his frame. A white coat fell to just above his knees, pristine despite the chaos that had unfolded moments before. His black gloves covered his hands with a black shirt, pants and black boots.
The same clothing I wore in that void, perfect. Aether thought before his attention shifted back to Lyria.
She looked fine but what caught his focus was the symbol at her neck.
A blue circle with three ripples inside that were expanding but never completing at its center. Then a single downward-pointing teardrop with lines etched like tidal scars below.
It was the same pattern he'd seen before, now resting against her pale skin like a brand.
Aether tilted his head, curiosity pulling him forward. He moved his hand towards her throat before gently caressing the mark with his fingers.
Lyria shivered before blinking several times, processing, and then whispered in a voice still rough from strain. "Chief..."
How much does she or the people behind her know? I know those bastards had people waiting out here for me but how much do they know?
"How do you feel?" Aether's fingers remained at her neck, thumb tracing the outer edge of the glowing pattern. "My shackles were meant to suppress your madness, but this is the first time I used it."
Lyria's throat moved as she swallowed and then her brow furrowed slightly, then relaxed. "I don't feel the madness anymore." Her voice was steadier now. "Or the strain." She paused, her gaze dropping to where his hand still rested against her neck. "Is that the Shackles they talked about?"
Aether hummed as he dropped his hand slowly and took a small step back. "They are but you seem to know a bit about me. Does the organization your part of know me, or were members a part of the owners of the vault?"
Lyria straightened, some of her composure returning. "Our leader, the Paragon knows about you." Her tone was soft. "My team and I were sent to come get you..."
Aether stretched his arms overhead, rolling his shoulders with an audible pop. "Because of my ability to stop your madness?"
"That." Lyria nodded. "And you're the key to stopping the rampage of other Witches."
Aether paused mid-stretch before his arms lowered slowly. His eyes caught the dim light filtering through the vault, turning them from gold to molten bronze, and a smile spread across his face.
"You guys can't contain them?" Aether asked, wishing to confirm the words spoken previously to him by the orbs.
Lyria nodded with a sigh. "All methods have proven useless… You're the only option left, Chief."
Aether hummed before saying. "Then let's go."
Lyria blinked, caught off guard by his response and hesitation flickered across her face. "Aren't you curious about more things?"
Aether chuckled. "I'll eventually find out." He closed the distance between them and cupped her cheek. His thumb brushed across her skin in a gentle caress that made her breath hitch. "Now then, my dear guide. No need to hesitate, tell me exactly what you wish to say."
Lyria's eyes searched his face, and then after a couple seconds. "Why are you so trusting and willing to follow me? We expected more resistance or fear-"
"Because it's interesting."
Lyria blinked before then she blankly stared at him as if she didn't hear what he said just a second ago.
Aether's smile softened. "Don't think too much about it. You can call it a flaw, a blessing, or whatever." He dropped his hand and turned toward the door leading out of the vault chamber. "I simply find the meeting of more witches before shackling them something too fun to pass up."
He glanced back over his shoulder, that brilliant, dangerous smile returning.
"Now then, let's go."
Lyria processed his words before nodding. She moved toward the door as she took the lead and Aether followed at an easy pace.
They entered the corridor beyond which had concrete walls mixed with metallic alloys. The air pressed against them as if the vault itself was trying to dampen something unseen and dangerous.
While moving, something stirred in Aether's chest.
He'd been ignoring it since waking, pushing it to the back of his awareness but now, moving through this place, it demanded attention.
A stirring beneath his chest, even more insistent after he shackled Lyria. He pressed his palm against his chest, fingers splaying over his heart.
Then all sound vanished before color soon followed.
The concrete, the metal, and even Lyria's form ahead of him shifted into grey. Then a swirling ocean materialized around him with vast and hungry waves that pulled at everything. It consumed color, sound, light, and even space itself seemed to bend toward it.
Then information flooded his mind.
Not words, but understanding.
He felt knowledge downloaded directly into his mind, it was then two names appeared from the torrent.
Kinetic Diffusion and Entropy Delay. With the names came comprehension of what they meant, what he could do, how the power worked.
"Chief..."
Lyria's voice pierced through the grey ocean, then sound rushed back in a wave, and color bled into the world again.
Aether blinked with his hand still pressed to his chest while Lyria was facing him, concern etched in the lines around her eyes.
"Sorry, the place just feels strange."
"It's okay, that's how everyone reacts when they first walk through a Nightmare Zone… Actually Chief, I am curious about something. But I'm not sure-"
"Go ahead and ask, I already told you not to hesitate." Aether says, making Lyria slightly tremble.
"Why didn't you run back in the room?"
Aether blinked again and then said. "How can I abandon you? I meant what I said. I find you utterly fascinating, especially when you tried to protect me."
Lyria's eyes widened before something shifted in her expression. When she spoke again, her voice was quieter. "You're a strange person. But maybe that's something needed."
Aether grinned at her before asking. ""Do you have any weapons for me to use? I'm sure soon it will be hectic with these Nightmare creatures."
Lyria reached to her waist without hesitation and her hand closed around a firearm holstered there. She pulled it free and tossed it to him in a smooth arc which he caught it easily, his hand closing around the grip.
The weapon was lighter than he expected.
It was a grey frame with cyan filaments tracing the barrel like glowing veins. The tip hummed faintly, a halo of blue-white light crackling around it.
"Etheric Firearm, you don't need to worry about bullets as it will absorb the magic around to recharge. You only need to worry you only have fifteen bolts inside before it runs out." Lyria explained, her tone shifting to something more professional.
Aether nodded with a grin as he gripped the gun tightly.
"The Nightmare Creatures are terrifying things that will cause you pain just from seeing them. And even more if you stare at them, so make sure not to while shooting." Lyria paused, making sure he was listening. "You need to focus on fighting at the back while me and the others take the front. Your safety is far more important."
Aether turned the weapon over in his hands, examining the craftsmanship. "Normally I wouldn't agree." He tested the weight, the balance. "But I know I shouldn't get in the way in situations like these until I am ready."
Ahh this feels just like the guns in the fantasy dream. Aether thought in slight joy. I guess that would explain why they had him fighting with them.
Lyria's eyes shine with relief but also a bit of joy. "It's why I can't have you fighting in front yet." She took a step closer. "Please trust us to keep you safe."
"Then I want you all to trust I'll have your back." His golden eyes locked onto hers. "And intervene if you're in danger."
Lyria furrowed her brows before she sighed in resignation and something warmer. "I doubt you would listen if I refused."
Aether's smile widened. "It's only been ten minutes and you're already getting me. We truly are a wonderful duo."
Lyria's mouth curved upward, just slightly and then her expression became blank. They continued moving through the corridor.