Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1504: Chad... is seducing Aether? Part-2

”That’s why it’s called... Tandava.”

Aether raised his eyebrows. ”Tandava?” he repeated, the word rolling strangely off his tongue.

Chad nodded. ”That’s what Kaelith told me. That’s the name of the dance he performed...”

Aether frowned curiously, ”You really know a lot, don’t you?”

Chad laughed lightly. ”Of course I do,” she replied proudly. ”My hubby tells me everything that happens every day without hesitation. That’s why I love him so much. He’s especially cute when he’s naked—”

”W-What do you think about that tree then?” Aether interrupted immediately, his voice a little too loud, his face clearly horrified. He turned his head sharply, desperate to escape the direction of her words.

Why did she keep bringing up that part? He was genuinely starting to fear where this conversation might go.

Chad blinked, then followed his gaze upward. Her expression softened as she stared at the enormous tree towering in the distance, its branches stretching into the night sky.

”Yggdrasil...” she murmured, her lips curving into a faint, proud smile. ”What a wonderful name you gave to that child.”

Aether slowly shook his head, his eyes fixed on the towering tree as its branches swayed gently, ”I didn’t name it,” he said quietly. ”The name just came to me, like it was whispered straight into my mind. It felt... strange. Almost like it wanted me to say it out loud.”

Chad shook her head in response, her lips curling into a soft smile. ”Still,” she replied calmly, ”you were the one who spoke its name. You called it, and it answered you. That alone means something.”

Aether shrugged slightly, not looking convinced, or perhaps not caring enough to argue.

”You know,” Chad continued after a brief pause, her tone carrying faint amusement, ”the Sacred Seeds of Zephyra were fake.”

Aether’s eyebrows shot up as he turned toward her. ”Fake?”

Chad nodded, ”Yes. All of them... except one.” She turned back to him as she spoke again.

”The seed the Royal Family protected and passed down through generations was a decoy... A Fake. It was done on purpose, to deceive enemies who might steal it if they were aware of it’s existence and even their own descendants, in case they tried to misuse its power.”

Aether blinked, absorbing the revelation, then slowly nodded. ”That actually makes sense,” he admitted. After a moment, his expression shifted. ”But then how did Kaelith get the real one?” he asked, watching her closely.

Chad did not answer right away... She simply smiled.

Aether’s eyes widened. ”You?”

Chad nodded.

”I am one of the Wood Tribe,” she said softly. ”Well... now the last one.” She let out a small chuckle, laced with both humour and quiet sorrow.

”The only one left, I suppose.”

Aether stiffened in shock. ”Shit... the last Wood Elf?” he muttered. ”Does Maelona know about this? Or was she aware at all?”

Chad smiled faintly. ”Only Kaelith, myself, and... now you,” she replied. ”No one else.”

Aether blinked and, confused by her actions, ”Then why tell me?” he asked. ”Why trust me with something like this?”

Chad shrugged lightly and turned her gaze back to Yggdrasil and said something else,

”The Ancient High Elves feared the seed falling into the wrong hands,” she explained. ”So they entrusted it to a single person within the Wood Tribe. The one who tended the previous Zephyra tree.”

She raised her hand and aligned it with the top of the great tree before slowly clenching her fingers.

”When the time comes, when the seed itself wants to be seeded... we should never tell a single soul outside of my family. That secret was never shared, not even with other Wood Tribe members, sometimes even the spouse was not aware.... It was passed quietly from one generation to the next... until it reached me.”

Aether stared at her for a long moment before nodding. Then his brows furrowed. ”I still don’t understand,” he said. ”What if one of your ancestors chose betrayal? It’s not like they were immune to power or lust.”

Chad smiled gently. ”Not everyone seeks power or lust, Mr. Aether,” she replied. ”Some people are willing to sacrifice everything for love and loyality”

She placed a hand over her chest. ”We love our nature. That is our pride and our devotion. I never wished for thrones or laws to accept me. I wanted a simple love and a peaceful life.” Her gaze softened.

”You can see that just by looking.”

Aether stared at her blankly, then slowly turned his attention back to Yggdrasil. A soft smile touched his lips.

”So you gave the seed to Kaelith,” he said, ”and he passed it to his daughter.” He paused thoughtfully. ”That’s beautiful. But... if you had used it yourself, if you had claimed it openly, maybe your love could have been accepted by law, right?”

After all, everyone bowed their head to him, didn’t they?

Chad’s smile weakened. ”That would have been selfish, Mr. Aether,” she said quietly. ”If I had done that, there would be no difference between me and.... Alaric.”

Aether glanced at her, sensing the weight behind the name.

”And besides,” Chad continued, ”the seed doesn’t grow just because of blood or possession.” Her voice grew steadier.

”It chooses its bearer. Someone who can endure its pain, protect the land, understand its people, and still love deeply.”

She looked back at the towering tree, eyes reflecting its glow.

”Only someone like that can be answered.”

Aether raised his eyebrows slightly, ”Aria—” he began.

”No, dear,” Chad interrupted softly, shaking her head with an affectionate smile.

”Aria is such a wonderful baby. Truly precious.” Her voice warmed as she spoke, then softened into something bittersweet. ”But she is not suitable for it.”

She lifted her gaze toward the stars, reminiscing. ”Kaelith once told me that she hates people. Not out of cruelty, but because she has seen how wicked they can be sometimes and when they betrayed her... she was so angry at everyone.” She sighed lightly. ”Even when she lost the throne, Kaelith wasn’t sad. He knew his daughter never wanted it.”

Chad laughed quietly, fondness clear in her eyes. ”She wanted freedom. To run, to hunt, to live on her own terms. A huntress, he said.” She chuckled again.

”Honestly... that sounds just like her.”

Aether blinked, ’If not her then...’ then frowned as another name surfaced in his mind. ”Then Liora?” he asked, ”But Kaelen is the ruler—”

”That child is not ready,” Chad said firmly but without harshness. ”Even though he has determination and support and is ready to move forward... he lost himself.” Her tone softened.

”He is confused, frightened... His heart is not stable; it’s wavering. He cannot withstand its pain, nor its love.”

She shook her head slowly. ”He is still too young for something that heavy... Well, that’s what the tree feels about him”

Aether’s frown deepened. Slowly, he pointed at himself, disbelief written all over his face. ”Then... it’s... me?”

Chad turned fully toward him, her expression serious now, almost reverent.

”When Kaelith decided to gift his heirloom seed to his daughter,” she began, ”to start a new beginning for her and.... ease his guilt, I told him the truth.”

Her fingers curled tightly into her palm. ”I told him the seed he had was fake. That the real one was with me.” She exhaled softly. ”He was surprised, yes, but he didn’t demand it. He simply told me to keep it safe.”

Her voice trembled faintly as she continued. ”But when I held it... the seed trembled violently in my hand. I could feel it.” She swallowed.

”Its urgency. It’s longing. Like it was desperate to grow, to bury its roots into the earth, to finally fulfil what it had been waiting for since ancient times.”

She shook her head slowly. ”I had never felt that before. My parents never felt it. Nor my grandparents.” Her eyes lowered.

”That was when I knew something was about to change... The words of Ancient High Elves, the ones that ordered to fulfil... It’s time for the Planting”

She shrugged, a quiet finality settling in her shoulders.

”So I gave it to him. I fulfilled my purpose.” She smiled faintly. ”...That was all.”

After a pause, Chad added softly, ”I don’t know what made him give it to you. Even though I knew Aria was unsuitable, I never uttered a single word about it.” She looked at Aether.

”You will have to ask him yourself.”

Aether blinked slowly, fatigue and confusion mixing in his eyes. ”So...” he muttered, voice low, ”I’m the one it needed?”

Chad shrugged lightly. ”Maybe,” she replied honestly. ”Maybe not.” She smiled gently. ”That decision belongs to nature, Mr. Aether. It always has.” Her voice softened.

”Everything does.”

Aether hummed quietly, staring at the towering tree.

Inside his mind, ’What the fuck does it mean I have to bear pain? FUCK, I’m already going through lots of freaking pain, you know!!!’ he wanted to scream those words out loud, but as a gentle man... he would cry later!!

Preferably alone!

While his thoughts spiralled wildly, Chad watched him with quiet amusement.

[+4000 AP]

Aether flinched hard and turned. ”What?” he snapped.

”Nothing,” Chad replied sweetly, tilting her head. ”You just look really cute when your brain is short-circuiting.”

Before he could protest, she leaned forward.

~chu~

She kissed his.... cheek!

Aether froze completely, soul leaving his body for a brief but dramatic moment.

Chad straightened, brushing dust from her clothes. ”My hubby will get angry if I stay too long,” she said casually, already turning away.

She paused mid-step and glanced back, her smile warm and oddly reassuring. ”Don’t worry,” she said softly. ”It’s not always pain and suffering.”

Her eyes flicked toward the glowing tree. ”It protects you too.”

She winked playfully. ”Yggdrasil really loves her Master~” She blew him a kiss and walked away, her laughter echoing lightly. ”Haha~”

[+4000 AP]

[+4000 AP]

Aether shuddered violently as goosebumps erupted across his skin. He hugged his shoulders tightly, trembling. ”W-What is this feeling?” he muttered.

”Why do I feel like I just got emotionally and spiritually assaulted?”

He sighed and stared at Chad’s retreating back until she disappeared into the darkness.

A small, helpless smile formed on his lips. ”Well... she’s a wonderful person,” he admitted softly. ”Kaelith is really lucky.”

He nodded slowly.

”Also... I kind of like her—”

!~Ding~!

[😏Notice: Request to change Aether’s preference from biological woman to biological ma—]

”No! NO!” Aether shouted in absolute panic.

”That’s not what I meant!

That’s not what I meant!”

[Let’s give it a try, bro... who knows~ You might like it. 😁]

”THAT’S NOT WHAT I FUCKING MEANT!!!”

A lonely, desperate cry echoed through the forest... as if someone was about to get fucked or something.