The night was hazy. The crackling campfire burned the dry wood within. Aether sat beside it, staring into the blazing flames as sparks danced and burst into the air.
"Aether's cooking is still as delicious as ever. Just for your culinary skills alone, I'd follow you anywhere!" Paimon patted her belly, let out a satisfied burp, then leaned against Aether with a relaxed and content expression.
Aether affectionately ruffled Paimon's tiny head before stretching out his hand to feel the warmth of the fire.
"Mmm… I don't know if you're willing to talk about it, but I'd like to hear what it was like when you traveled with your sister."
Traveling together…
Aether raised his head, gazing at the ever-familiar starry sky—unchanging, as if frozen in time.
"We would look up at the stars like this, pointing to the planets we wanted to visit. We journeyed through the sea of stars, never once separated. We witnessed all kinds of hope and despair across the universe… But being torn apart like this is the first time…"
Aether paused, his expression dimming slightly.
"At the very least… I want to know what really happened…"
Paimon could sense Aether's sorrow and patted her chest reassuringly.
"Tonight, you should rest. I'll keep watch. Don't worry, I won't let any monsters eat you!"
Aether raised an eyebrow. Letting Paimon stand guard… somehow didn't feel very reassuring.
...
Rover glanced around before finally stepping forward.
Passing through a vast hall, he arrived at a side chamber.
The interior was clearly renovated. The walls were not made of ordinary stone but resembled the material of that door back in The Chasm. In other words, this place was likely connected to Khaenri'ah.
The murals on the walls made Rover pause for a moment. They depicted people in kneeling postures. Following their line of worship, he saw an even more bizarre scene.
Chains stretched in all directions, binding a glowing object at the center. Floating boulders emphasized its power. In the lower right corner, two lines were inscribed:
"O life, why do you kneel? Do you kneel out of fear for the unknown? Or out of greed for power?"
"O life, why do you kneel? I am no god—I am but a sinner."
Though he didn't fully grasp the meaning, the eerie imagery felt familiar to Rover. It reminded him of that inverted Statue of The Seven—the composition was nearly identical.
"Who's there?!"
Rover swiftly drew his blade. The shadows at the entrance writhed, and only after his sharp call did a figure slowly emerge into his line of sight.
A… child?
Rover grew even more puzzled. Cautiously, he stepped forward, examining the child's attire.
It was unlike any clothing from the four nations Rover had visited—unique, with a primary palette of pale purple and white.
Considering his earlier discovery, the child's identity was all but confirmed.
"Are you from Khaenri'ah?"
The child nodded, eyes tinged with fear as he shrank further into the corner. Rover maintained a respectful distance.
"My name is… Caribert…"
...
The voice in his mind struck like a hammer, as if pounding relentlessly against thick walls, producing dull, heavy thuds.
The surrounding darkness pressed down on Aether, making it hard to breathe. His head throbbed as he weakly collided with his surroundings, unable to muster any strength.
He felt as though he were trapped in a swamp—struggling desperately, only to be dragged deeper into the murky mire. All that remained was a faint echo in his mind.
BANG!
The sound of something heavy hitting the ground reverberated like thunder, shaking his entire consciousness.
Aether's eyes snapped open as he bolted upright, gasping for air.
"Hah—!"
He clutched his head, limbs weak and unresponsive. His hand instinctively reached back for support, but instead of dirt, he felt something soft.
A thick, broad leaf.
The surroundings were still the familiar fields. Aether remembered falling asleep last night while leaning against a tree trunk, yet now he lay on the ground, cushioned by leaves.
Crack—thud—
The strange sound reached his ears again. It was peculiar, almost like… someone tinkering with something.
"Paimon?"
A line of footprints was imprinted on the damp soil. Aether recalled that the ground had been dry the day before.
The campfire before him had turned to white ash, yet oddly, there were a few extra pieces of dry wood beside it. This surprised Aether—could Paimon's tiny frame really have gathered so much firewood?
And… Paimon wouldn't just leave without a word unless something urgent had happened.
The noise inside the house stopped, snapping Aether out of his thoughts. He patted his cheeks and followed the sound to the front of the house.
"Stop! What do you think you're doing?!"
As if sensing movement outside, a tall man stepped out, eyeing Aether warily.
Aether was puzzled by the man's hostile demeanor. He seemed afraid of something—or perhaps just extremely tense.
"I'm just looking for my traveling companion."
The imposing man nodded.
"The one who was watching over you last night? I saw them head toward the forest early this morning."
Aether frowned. What could have made Paimon leave him behind and go into the forest?
"Were you nearby last night?"
Aether eyed the man suspiciously. The house had been empty yesterday, yet now this man was here. It was all too strange.
"Why does it matter to you? I claimed this house first. What I do is none of your business."
His words were full of holes and oddities. Aether didn't press further but was determined to uncover what the man was hiding.
"Why aren't you leaving?"
The man seemed unwilling to return inside until Aether was gone. Aether sighed.
"I need to wait here for my companion to return."
The man snorted coldly and turned to go back inside.
"It's cold out here. Mind if I come in?"
Aether glanced through the door's crack—light spilled out, and a pair of feet rested on the bed.
"You—!"
The man glared at Aether before glancing back inside. He sighed, as if resigned.
"Fine. It's not like I can hide it anymore. Come in if you must. But once you're inside, no fussing around. Understood?"
Aether nodded, curiosity and unease growing within him.
Too many things were different from yesterday. Had his memories been altered, or had so much truly happened in a single night?