Prince of The Abyss

’What a familiar feeling.’ Aether lifted his hand, the rain falling on the palm of his hand. It was... like an old friend touching him. His permit had finally been approved, after quite a long time, but from what he heard from Keres, something that he wasn’t meant to know, the Prince had told him without him needing to. Was that because they wanted to be sure he didn’t run away from their Kingdom, probably thinking he wanted to go home, and hired some people to watch?

’I think it’s stupid. If I really wanted to run back to my own Kingdom, I could just go to the Wonderland to their Anchor and talk to them for maybe a plan, but they know I haven’t.’

But it didn’t matter; he wasn’t going to let it ruin his mood. After all, he wanted to be in a good spirit today.

He had bought a shovel, spending around 12 bronze coins on it... he had some unfinished things to do. He knew that finding their bodies was going to be impossible, probably long gone, but at the same time, he wanted to at least make them all a grave.

...They deserved that much for having the courage to join him with the Rebellion.

...

...

Reaching the Library where they used to live, Aether clenched his shovel as he pushed it into the ground, starting to create the first hole. It was quite ironic how it was raining in such a moment; if rain wasn’t something that happened every day, he would have called it fate messing with him.

The hole was easy enough to do, but he didn’t have a body to bury, so what even was the point of making a hole? Simple: if he wasn’t able to put them inside, he was going to put something that used to belong to them instead; it was why he was making them near the library, since all their stuff was theirs.

But making and putting back the dirt in the hole was the easy part; the hard part was the tombstone. It wasn’t like he had big pieces of stone with him, so he had to just grab some gravel from around the place and put it on top. It wasn’t much, but it was the least he could do.

’It’s not like making them a grand grave would be nicer; they’ve lived in poverty their whole life. What point would making their death look more than their life has been? It would be insulting if I made it luxurious.’

After making the first, Aether continued on the next, until he had made one for each of his members; this way, they were all going to be together, after all... ’Most of them had lost their families, just like the majority do in this place; they lost the people they love.’

It was harsh but true; it almost didn’t feel real. After all, with living inside the Blue Rose for a while, you tend to be caught up, trying to believe that death is something that will never come; after all, everyone there is full of life, and death is quite hard, since most don’t have to risk it just to survive.

Most children there lived with their families, seeing them almost every day until they grew up, and after... But for the people of the Withered, he couldn’t say it was the same; it would be a fortune bigger than any amount of money any child could think, to see their parents until adulthood and after.

’And the Blue Rose blames them for trying to fight, how...’ Aether paused, not being able to come up with another word that followed.

He sighed, putting on his hood, as he said one last prayer before abandoning the graves. ’At least... they will have each other, in a place where they don’t have to worry about dying or losing each other anymore.

Aether walked through the streets, watching people beg, little children crying, on the street alone, dirtied and hurt.

It had been a while since he saw this part of this place; after all, since his master died, he was busy with Frozen Crown, then with the Second Rebellion, his trial, and then he went into the Blue Rose. He never had the time to just look around.

It reminded him that the world hadn’t changed, only he had.

But as Aether was about to lift his foot, something grabbed him, which made his eyes widen, as he turned back to see a little boy, one that couldn’t be older than he had been when he had left home and first got trapped inside this place. ”M-mister... could you spare some food? My mother and I haven’t eaten in days.”

Aether stared at the boy as a woman ran from behind him, putting herself in front of him; she had... a terrified look on her face. ”We’re sorry, he didn’t mean to bother you, he was just hungry, please forgive him!”

...

Of course she was scared; she probably thought he was going to kill him for asking... it wouldn’t be the first time this happened; most got beat up for asking, that’s why most people you see on the street look beat up.

Yet, for some reason, looking at the woman... her face seemed familiar...

...

’I’ve... seen her before... she was that lady I gave some bread to after Clarisse died. Her son... he has really grown up...’

Aether put his hand in his pocket, which made the woman stagger, but didn’t run, staying in front of her child... but instead of a weapon, just like she had thought, he pulled out a silver Blue Rose coin.

The woman stared at him, confused, but before she could react, Aether grabbed her hand and put the coin in her palm, before leaving, as she stood frozen.

...

...

’Needing to beg to survive, and most times being beaten up because of it, losing a loved one as if they were animals, and working all their life for something, only to be treated like something less than a human, and those who managed to succeed and get into the Blue Rose had to wear something that told everyone where they came from.

That way they could be mocked.

...

How rightful the world is.’