"Aether stood before Emily's house, his gaze locked with hers—a quiet intensity that seemed to peer into his very soul. After a heavy silence that stretched for seconds, a faint smile touched his lips."
"You look ready, I see"
"The tone made her eyes glimmer with a faint light. She ran her fingers through her hair with feigned nonchalance, a mischievous grin spreading across her features."
"What? Too excited for a 'good morning' "
"What 'good' can there be when we're dabbling with magic, girl?"
"He laughed softly, then nodded toward the eastern street with a deliberate calm. Their destination: Spikea Forest. His eyes returned to hers."
"Let's go then... Someone's waiting for us there."
"They set off in silence, careful not to attract attention—two figures moving through the early morning air."
"As they left the houses behind and reached the main road—deserted even by cars at this hour—Aether broke the silence while crossing the street:"
"Why did you decide to come, anyway?"
"When she heard the question, she didn't answer immediately, walking in silence for a moment before saying"
"That thing mentioned me... So I'm tangled in this case just like you."
"She raised her eyebrows sarcastically, knowing he'd caught her using his own excuse against him. He rolled his eyes with playful irritation, well aware she'd never drop her habit of teasing him:"
"Alright, alright... I admit my excuse for coming wasn't convincing. Could you stop with the 'I'm always right' act? It's not like this is fun or anything... Well, maybe a little."
"When she heard the last sentence,she barely stifled her laughter, before mocking him"
"Man, you're really bad at lying. You don't even know how to hide your curiosity. And to be honest, I also want to know what's happening. So... why not?"
"Honestly, I agree with you about the lying part. I really don't know how to lie. Heck, a nine-year-old could lie better than me."
"She was surprised to hear him agree with her on something—they'd always been opposites in almost everything. She hid her shock behind her usual mask and said proudly, puffing out her chest"
"Of course I'm right"
"When he heard that, he placed a hand on his forehead, but his body couldn't resist smiling. After a moment, he spoke in a tone of obvious fake annoyance"
"Ugh... I remembered why I hate you."
"Asthey moved deeper into the forest, the atmosphere shifted from mysterious to serene. The melody of birdsong and rustling leaves filled the air with an unexpected tranquility. Their eyes wandered in awe, drinking in the lush greenery and wildlife as they advanced almost hypnotized by nature's untouched beauty, Emily spoke, her features softened by a rare peace"
"This place... it's breathtaking. No human noise exists here"
"Aether watched her quietly, struck by her transformed demeanor. He wondered if this was her true self or merely the forest's magic, but the sight of her wonder was captivating. Noticing his gaze, she flushed slightly and snapped in mock anger"
"Stop staring, boy! Haven't you seen a girl before"
"Aether smiled softly, plucking a vibrant green leaf before letting it float to the ground."
"Apologies for staring, but your fascination intrigued me. I understand it though—progress and concrete have robbed us of such scenes."
"Yes—I've seen such places online, but experiencing it firsthand... It's utterly different from behind a screen."
"Aether nodded, then froze mid-step. His body turned statue-still. Emily sensed the shift and followed his horrified gaze—
A figure in a black cloak, with Aether's exact face, sat smiling before them, a sword gleaming at his belt. The book slipped from Aether's trembling fingers as time itself seemed to fracture. The stranger's calm smile was the most terrifying thing of all—as if everything were perfectly normal."
"Silence hung thick between them for a moment. The three exchanged glances—Aether's eyes darting between Emily and the stranger, Emily frozen in uncertainty. Before either could speak, the stranger greeted them in a disturbingly friendly tone"
"Hello. I've been waiting for you."
"Hearing his own voice echoed back with eerie calmness unnerved Aether deeply. Though the stranger showed no obvious malice, Aether's defensive instincts kicked in. His voice trembled with tension"
"W—Who are you? How did you get here? Are you... that person?"
"The figure regarded Aether with a gentle smile before responding"
"Yes, I am the one who asked for your help in the dream. You've finally arrived—now listen carefully. I know how you feel: a stranger whose intentions and abilities are unknown, whose very existence frightens you. You fear you've stumbled into something beyond your control. Pause and think logically about me."
"They took a moment to process his words before Emily found her voice"
"Tell us who you are and why you brought us here."
The man nodded calmly.
"I am Aether—or you may call me 'Scar' to avoid confusion. As for why I brought you here... I need a unique energy called 'Hope,' which only humans possess, specifically those in their youth. Initially, I summoned Aether alone, but it seems he brought company."
"Emily shot Aether a bewildered look before he turned back to Scar, confusion evident"
"Why do you need this 'Hope' energy exactly?"
"Listen, Aether. Nivar is currently in a state of stagnation for various reasons. I need to restore its balance—and I require your help to do so."
To be continue....