Aether blankly stared at Lia's retreating figure… what had she just said now?
She didn't even know his name?
What the fuck was going on?
Aether tried to move his body, to hold her and talk first, but his fucking puppet frame felt like stone, stiff and unresponsive, not even an inch obeying him.
"Lia!" he shouted, but Lia didn't even turn back.
Not a single glance.
Did they do something to her?
What the fuck happened to her?
Aether's gaze darted toward Snowflake, her eyes following Lia's back with the same confusion twisting inside him.
"Snow… you remember me, right?"
Snowflake nodded without hesitation. "Of course, Master… Puppet."
Aether sighed in relief, forcing his one remaining hand to rise, the limb twitching with faint sparks of movement.
Snowflake's tail lifted to support him, wrapping around his weakened frame before she gently placed him on her back. Adjusting his grip with care, she slithered forward, carrying him toward Lia's cold silhouette.
