Prince of The Abyss

"You know, I was quite surprised to see that you weren’t going to reveal your identity after all." He grabbed the cup of tea from the table and took a small sip, then put it down and smirked. "If you had taken off your hood and revealed your identity, your sister would have done everything to take you back from his grasp, and it wasn’t like your father would have stayed quiet. You could have been free. So... why?"

Aether leaned back in his seat and stayed quiet for a while. He hadn’t thought of it that way. Sure, he was scared to know if Sofia would still know him, but if she did, it was true: he was basically free from the grasp of the Blue Rose, and his family would do anything to get him back. So then why?

Aether lifted his gaze slowly, staring Keres in the eyes. "At the moment... that is not the freedom I desire.

Keres tilted his head, confused by his response. "What does that mean? What’s the difference? I don’t see any."

Aether sighed; he wasn’t so happy he had to elaborate. "Sure, it would mean that I could go back home, but I’ve long grown out of my phase where I wanted to go back. I have other goals, things that require time and strength. And while going back wouldn’t mean I couldn’t get stronger, after all, my father would probably hire people to help me if he heard I wanted to get stronger, but it isn’t how I want to do it."

"Still makes no sense, at least in my eyes, well, at least unless one of my goals isn’t related to the Blue Rose or the Withered.... So what are you planning? You wouldn’t have asked for permission to go to the Withered for nothing.

Aether chuckled, teasing. "What makes you think I have bad intentions? I’m just paying a visit to the place that has been my home for years now, nothing else. What makes you think that I would have plans inside it?"

Keres took another sip of his tea. "Come on, Aether, do I really have to answer such an easy question? ’You were part of the Abyss’s rebellion; that is all I need to know that you do have something planned... and really, a lot of high nobles, including me... have a theory that the Abyss isn’t dead... and rather he’s standing in front of me."

Aether smiled; he hated that this statement had come, since he knew his reaction was going to be tested. That’s why he had tried his best to keep a smile on his face and not seem bothered by it. "I wish, but I could never get to his strength."

Keres rested his elbow on the armrest. "Really? Can’t say I believe you; we don’t know your strength, but from what Sena said, you were able to beat a Seeker Demon story with her. It’s not something that just anyone can do- not the hardest, but not easy. Plus, your mantle is quite familiar."

Aether looked to the side. He was caught on the mantle part; he hadn’t expected him to go after him, so he didn’t know to take it off. But to think he would remember the way his cloak looked after this much time, it was annoying.

"He had given it to me after Lilith came to kill us, and inside my trial I was able to upgrade it; that’s it. Nothing special, and Sena did most of the work. I’m not saying I did nothing, but if it wasn’t for her, I would have died many times."

Keres stared at him, not knowing exactly how to make him tell the truth. After all, he knew that he was lying; he was sure that he was the Abyss, but he didn’t know how to make him say it. "I don’t know why you don’t want to admit it. What does it hurt you with? I already consider you the Abyss even if you deny it, and treat you as if you were, so what does it even matter? Are you scared that I will tell the whole District? I’m not that big of a bastard, you know?"

...

Aether sighed, he didn’t know if this was the right decision, admitting it, but at the same time, Keres, as much as he hated him, with all his heart, after all, he had been the one to trap him in the Withered, he was strong, and he had already saved him once with his sister, so you could say he had to return his favour...

"Fine." He said nervously, not knowing exactly how to reveal his identity. "I am the Abyss’s Vessel."

Keres nodded, finishing his tea. "See, it wasn’t that hard, and what even changed, nothing." He paused for a second before staring into his eyes. "I do have one question... back before the Rebellion became something massive, you attacked Avius and Iris. Why?" Keres’ grip tightened on the chair.

Aether noticed, his gaze following his hand. He didn’t exactly remember at first what he was talking about, but then it did come to mind; he knew that the Abyss had taken him over, but not exactly what had fully happened.

"I wasn’t in control at that moment, and if you don’t trust my word, you can ask Avius. I had used my manifestation in that fight, something I couldn’t have done myself, since I was a Reader."

"I see," Keres said, his grip loosening. "I’ll choose to believe you, after all; if you had been able to beat Avius as a Reader, that would have been embarrassing. But if I see you hurt Iris again, no matter if it’s you or the Abyss, I will kill you. It’s already annoying knowing you tricked us and made us run around the Withered for you."

Aether chuckled. "Don’t worry, I don’t plan on really getting that close with her. She just doesn’t prove to be... that big in my plans."

...

"Also... what’s happening in the Winter?"

Keres burst into laughter; he hadn’t expected him to switch the subject so fast. "You want to know what’s happening? The war has been put to rest for a while, and the two Kingdoms are planning on sending teams inside the Wonderland to try and find weird things. After a while of searching before, we have found quite a strange zone, so that’s where all of us will go...

...

And I have a feeling I will see you inside this expedition."