Aether jerked awake from the pain shooting through him.
The void had vanished and flashes of a metal wall appeared, but he ignored that as he couldn't breathe right.
It felt like something was pressing down on his chest.
Aether tried to move but something around his wrist and feet kept him in place. He also felt something cold pressing against his back. But before he could understand what it's, he groaned from the sharp rise in pain. It felt like someone was striking him in the head over and over.
He thought it would have gone forever but then he felt it fading quickly.
Aether quickly realized someone was touching his forehead and then the pain was beginning to fade away. Their fingers pressed against his skin, shy at first, but then slowly became more confident.
He could feel the thumbs making small circles at his temples.
Then slowly the throbbing faded away.
"Chief...? Do you hear me?"
Aether forced his eyes open, vision blurring before focusing on the figure before him.
It was an extremely beautiful woman with white hair. She had beautiful blue eyes and was clad in black shirt, pants, and short boots with black star shaped earrings.
But then Aether blinked as he saw a swirling ocean that took her place.
A strange symbol started to form in it.
It was a circle of blue light. Within it were three ripples, expanding outward with a single downward teardrop, suspended rather than falling. And then lines spreading like ocean currents.
"Chief…? Please?"
The ocean shattered.
Everything became normal, leaving the woman kneeling before him. Her trembling hand hovering inches from his face as if she were afraid of something.
"Who are you?" Aether managed. "And how do you know me?"
She flinched before she removed her hand quickly. "My name is Lyria." She said softly. "I was sent here alongside others to find you… I would like to tell you more, but there is no time to waste."
As Lyria glanced behind, he followed her gaze to see a massive open vault door.
"The others are keeping the Nightmare Creatures back. But they won't be able to last, so we will have to leave-"
Aether opened his mouth but then pain rushed through his head again.
Shackle…Her…
"Chief, are you alright?" Lyria steps closer with a concerned look. "If your injured, I can help-"
She stopped herself before closing her hands, fingers digging into her palms.
"Its only a headache." Aether shook his head, trying to clear his mind. "But it should clear up soon… You look worried."
She trembled before pulling her hands behind her back. "…I shouldn't touch you."
"Why? You already touched me once."
Lyria gaze dropped while her shoulders tensed, and she spoke softly. "…That was a mistake, I shouldn't have done that… I don't deserve to."
Aether blinked at this woman before studying her. The way she offered help but at the same time, denying any comfort.
These are the monsters you bastards screamed about? Or is it just hiding beneath the surface?
"Lyria…" Aether tilted his head and asked. "What's that you want to do? Or let me be more specific, what's your wish at this moment right now?"
Her face went blank, as though he'd spoken bizarre to her. A small shiver ran through her shoulders and down to her fingers.
Her mouth opened, but no words left her lips.
Aether waited, which was the only thing he could really do. He was still bound to the chair he was sitting in.
Lyria muttered. "I… I don't have one."
"Then create one right now." Aether says as he sees her flinching.
Lyria shaked her head. "No, Chief… I... I don't deserve one."
Then horror flashed across her face, when she realized what she just said.
The unspoken "Why did I say that?" stretched between. Lyria blinked three times quickly, and her expression shifted into something expressionless. But it was too late. Aether had already seen behind the walls she'd built around herself.
Oh wow… What a stunning contradiction you are.
He only asked her that question because people like her were depressed, beaten down, giving up, or felt guilty. They tend to feel they don't deserve anything but secretly desire many things.
Everyone had wishes, even those who denied them.
He leaned forward. "Lyria… A wish doesn't require you to be deserving. It is simply something you desire deep within. What is it that you want above all else?"
"I-" Lyria gasped sharply.
The temperature in the room seemed to plummet, making him shiver. Then he saw cracks forming on the wall at the corner of his vision while the air between them changed.
Lyria tried to speak but only made a small gasping sound. Her hands started to shake, then her arms, making her star earrings jingle against her neck.
The walls trembled now too.
This wasn't just her emotions anymore but something was happening to the room around them. The lights blinked on and off while Lyria struggled to breathe.
"I… can't…" Lyria managed, the words gritted out.
She stumbled back a step, one hand flying to her head. An invasive cold seemed to radiate from her, raising goosebumps on his skin.
Without warning, she reached behind her back. In one smooth motion, Lyria pulled out her long sword and swung it down, cutting through the straps that held him to the chair.
"Run!" Lyria shouted to him, a black coloring appearing around her iris. "Now, Chief! Don't look back!"
Her face begged him to leave, to understand the danger, to save himself.
Is this the Witch madness? He thought but he didn't move.
Behind Lyria's eyes, something else opened and it was looking at him.