Prince of The Abyss

”Just, what do you want?” Aether said, gritting his teeth. ”I’m really not in the mood right now.”

Lilith tilted his head, teasing him. ”And why is that? Because you lost so humiliatingly? I thought you wouldn’t care that much, but I guess I don’t know you as much as I thought.”

”It’s not because of...” Aether paused for a second... he really didn’t know why he was so angry; after all, he knew he wasn’t going to win, and there were no hard feelings between him and Orion. He was actually a bit relieved that it was him who beat him, since he was the only one who wouldn’t publicly mock him.

If he had lost to a Celestial, it would have been much worse; his name would have gotten dragged through the mud for months by him.

But at the same time... he didn’t like that he had lost. He had spent a lot of time learning his way of fighting with the blade, just to get massively outmatched; he didn’t understand how, and it hurt his pride more than he wanted it to.

He cared more than he thought and wanted to.

”Forget it. Just, what do you want? I know you wouldn’t come to me, just to mock me... right?”

It wouldn’t be the first time Lilith had come to mock him, but at the same time, most times he did, he really did have some business with him. Like when he came to the Blue Rose, he had come to him and Orion and interrupted his tour to mock and then lead him to the King who wanted to speak with him.

If it was truly only to make fun of him, he wouldn’t have come to him, not this fast.

Lilith nodded, his smile falling for the first time, as he turned slightly serious... which shocked him. ”Remember what I said when we got the record in the Team Coordination class; I still stand by it; that’s why I want you to be the first to join my team in a special expedition in the Wonderland.”

Aether froze for a second. It was the second time now that he had heard about it. About this expedition... the first time it was with Keres, inviting his sister to his party, and how Lilith was inviting him to join him...

’Just what the heck is happening in the Wonderland?’

Was this what Keres meant by him having a feeling that they were going to meet inside this expedition? Did he know that Lilith was going to come and try to get him to help? But how?

He knew that after breaking the record together, Lilith had gotten accustomed to his powers; he knew what he could do, and liked them, but didn’t think he would go as far as recruiting him for such an important thing that two Kingdoms are putting their strongest fighters to.

And more importantly, he had been the first.

...

...

The real question was if he even wanted to join the expedition. It was tempting... since he really was curious about what was going on, and plus, he was probably going to grow in the expedition; he didn’t know how, but he was sure he was going to get power.

But at the same time, he had no idea how long it was going to last; he had responsibilities, and most importantly... he really didn’t want to fight with Lilith at all. The Team Coordination was already too much; as strong as he was, he hated him too much.

”Sorry, but I decline. Find someone else; I have my own business.”

He said, turning to leave. But as he did, Lilith grabbed him by the shoulder, turning him back to him.

”It wasn’t a question; I thought that was obvious.” Lilith seemed very angry, which surprised him even more. He really wasn’t acting like he usually did; it was as if he was a whole different person.

”What the heck is up with you today?”

Lilith frowned, but took a deep breath to control himself. ”Well, sorry, but just like you said, I’m also not in a very good mood; I haven’t been for a while.”

Aether stepped back, rolling his eyes. ”Well, your mood doesn’t change my decision, no matter if you want me to come or not...”

...

...

”I heard you came back from the dead.” Lilith pointed out suddenly.

Aether’s eyes widened, not understanding where he was going with it. ”Um, yeah, I did... why-” But before he could say anything else, Lilith summoned a dagger and stabbed it into his neck, deep enough to make blood flow out rapidly, but not enough to kill him.

Aether instantly covered the spot, shocked and frozen. ’What just happened?!’ Blood flowed through the cracks of his fingers as Lilith chuckled. ”It’s done; you are coming, no matter what you say. And if you don’t...”

...

...

”I’ll make sure to find out how to kill you and make sure you never come back to life, got that?” Aether didn’t answer, but neither did Lilith want an answer; he already knew it. So he left, leaving him alone, as he slowly died of blood loss.

Aether panicked. Not because he was dying, but because of what came after; he had experimented a bit with Gravewalker, with this specific death. If he died of blood loss, he was going to come back. But he didn’t become immune to it.

If after he came back, even more blood flowed out. He was going to die for real.

”Damn it!” He said, summoning his mantle and trying to stop the bleeding... but with a hole in his neck, it was never going to do anything.

He felt himself getting weaker as he slowly lost himself, falling to the floor.

...

[You have died]

...

[You have been revived due to your passive ability{Gravewalker}]

Aether opened his eyes again, but... there was someone standing above him. A girl, a beautiful one at that.

”So it really is true...” She said, turning back and signaling for doctors to come.

It was safe to say he was confused about what was happening.

”My name is Elise, by the way. Elise Hale.” She said, looking at him. Then leaving as the doctors treated him.