Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1502: Kaelith and Chad’s Marriage: Part-2

/Aether... there is no need for you to do this. You have already proven enough to everyone here./

/Come on, husband. Don’t hold back. Show them everything!/

/Darling, I believe in you with all my heart, but this is more than just a dance./

Maelona, Liora, and Aria’s voices echoed within Aether’s mind. Their concern, faith, and fire reached him, yet our hero did not waver.

Aether wanted to prove something, not only to the watching crowd but to himself, to the quiet doubt that sometimes lingered even within his own chest.

He had watched Kaelith dance, watched the way each movement carried intent, love, and promise. The memory of it lingered vividly, the way Kaelith poured emotion into motion, turning steps into meaning.

Aether felt admiration bloom, followed by resolve.

Since Kaelith had offered his dance as a blessing to Aether’s engagement, Aether decided to offer his own dance as a gift to Kaelith’s marriage.

It felt right, and it was, in its own quiet way, repaying a debt of the heart.

With that thought steadying him, Aether stepped forward onto the open ground. Kaelen and the Elders moved the chair aside at once, clearing the space as anticipation spread.

Some Elders wore amused expressions, wondering if Aether would stumble and humiliate himself. Others leaned forward, brows furrowed, eager to see whether the young man truly possessed such depth and discipline.

Kaelith shook his head, lips curved with faint amusement. ’No way he could manage this after seeing it only once...’ he thought, a subtle smile lingering, already convinced Aether would fail.

Aether inhaled slowly and closed his eyes. His hands curled at his sides, fingers flowing with deliberate grace. His legs shifted with measured intent, settling into the first stance with grounded balance and quiet strength.

Thud!

The sound alone drew gasps, eyebrows lifting across the crowd, Kaelith among the most startled.

Aether inhaled once more, deeper this time, and his hands swept to the right as his foot transitioned into the next form. The movement was smooth and impossibly precise, as if memory and instinct had fused into one.

Aether found the rhythm, and once it claimed him, his body followed without hesitation. The crowd fell silent as realisation dawned. He was moving exactly as Kaelith had yesterday, every motion mirrored.

Kaelith stared, stunned, watching himself reflected through another’s form. ’Just how could he...’ he murmured under his breath, disbelief softening into awe.

The ground trembled faintly beneath Aether’s steps as his movements grew broader, more fluid.

He swirled, arms carving through the air, hands forming words and symbols that Kaelith had revealed only once.

Those who had hoped to see Aether embarrassed now watched with widened eyes.

Maelona’s gaze clung to Aether, unblinking. The dance felt vivid, alive, and deeply personal, made even more striking by the soft smile on Aether’s lips, as though he found joy and freedom within every motion.

”Beautiful,” Maelona whispered, her voice trembling with quiet wonder. Aria and the others nodded beside her.

But... It lacked something they couldn’t quite say exactly.

Chad hummed thoughtfully, her eyes never leaving Aether as he danced. ’It’s impressive... but let’s see how deep that focus truly goes,’ she thought. Her gaze shifted to the large wooden spoon resting in the bowl of sacred water. She reached out, scooped it up and weighed it briefly in her hand.

”Can you handle this too?” she called out, her tone sharp with challenge as she hurled the spoon forward in a clean, horizontal arc.

The sacred water trembled within the spoon, shimmering as it spun through the air toward Aether.

Aether, who was moving rhythmically within the dance, twirled and caught the spoon mid-motion. He did not stop even for a breath, knowing that hesitation would spill the sacred water. Instead, he flowed with it, allowing the spoon to become part of the dance.

His body rotated smoothly on its axis, momentum controlled and deliberate, before he calmed his stance and settled his feet firmly on the ground. With a slight pant, he lifted his gaze toward Chad, then glanced down at the spoon still holding water.

A smirk curved his lips.

”Of course~”

Chad raised her eyebrows as she watched closely. Aether yanked the spoon upward, sending it arcing through the air.

His footing nearly faltered, yet at the last instant, he corrected himself and caught the water back into the spoon. A few drops escaped, splashing onto the ground, but most remained.

The crowd nodded, murmurs spreading, and hands clapped in growing approval.

”I can do even better,” Aether said, his voice steady with confidence.

He yanked the spoon again, slipping into a strange, unfamiliar stance, his body bending at an angle that looked impossible to hold.

The water dipped dangerously close to spilling, yet he caught it again just before it hit the ground.

He repeated the motion several more times, each attempt calmer than the last, his movements smoother, his control sharper. What began as tension slowly transformed into mastery. He was adapting, learning at an insane pace, growing frighteningly good with each breath.

Aether smirked as his eyes flicked toward Kaelith and Chad. Kaelith’s lips twitched, amusement mixing with disbelief, while Chad nodded in quiet acknowledgement.

Applause broke out across the clearing. Even the animals seemed impressed by his movements.

Chrirpp~ == So cool

Krrr~ == Yeah

Grrlll == Except for the threatening.

Chrip == Yeah. Not so cool, dumbass!!

Aether’s confidence continued to swell with every step. Sweat drenched his face, trickling down his temples and neck, yet his eyes burned with excitement. ’I... can go further,’ he thought, exhilaration overtaking caution. His right hand began to tremble slightly, and the water started to spill in small drops.

”I can do even more~”

With renewed determination, Aether hurled the spoon skyward once again. He swirled beneath it, using the hilt to guide the water delicately, coaxing it to obey the rhythm of his motion, drawing it toward the edge in a controlled arc—

Splash~

Cold water crashed over Aether’s head, soaking him instantly. His movement froze mid-step as water streamed down his face, clung to his shirt, and darkened his pants, dripping onto the ground below.

”...”

Silence swallowed the space.

Then—

CHRRIPPP!!

KKRRRRR!!!

GRRRLLLL!!

OOOOWWWW!!

There was no need for translation. They were laughing wildly, openly, and without restraint, the sound bursting through the air as Aether stood there drenched.

Aria’s cheeks turned red, as though she felt Aether’s embarrassment as keenly as her own. Still, she brought her hands together and clapped,

”That’s good, darling!”

Everyone followed her lead, clapping without judgment. After all, it was his first attempt.

He had tried. He had given everything he had, and that alone deserved recognition.

The Elders, of course, understood better than most. Age granted perspective, and they would not laugh openly. He was young, curious, and bold. Still... it had been painfully embarrassing.

They all shared the same silent thought.

’He should have stopped at the first one.’

Kaelith, however, was laughing his ass off inwardly. His face had turned red, his elven ears twitching uncontrollably with delight, his body trembling as he struggled to keep his composure.

’That’s what you get for trying to show off in front of my wife!! Hmph!!’ he thought smugly, sneaking a glance toward his beloved as if seeking validation.

Chad met his look with a deadpan expression before slowly shaking her head.

That only made it worse!

The surrounding animals were still laughing without restraint, their sounds echoing across the clearing, merciless and loud.

Aether’s cheeks burned with humiliation. He shot a sharp glare toward the laughing creatures, his eyes flashing with warning. They flinched instantly, panic overtaking them as they scattered and ran without daring to look back.

CHRIP! CHIRPP! == I AM NOT!

OOOWWW! == SCARY!!

NRRRRR! == MOMMY!!

Aether shook his head and walked away from the area, refusing to look behind him even once.

Aria and Liora instinctively moved to follow him, but Maelona stopped them with a gentle yet firm grip.

”I don’t think he would be ready to see his wives right now...” Maelona muttered weakly.

Honestly, who would be? Being embarrassed in front of strangers was one thing, but in front of one’s wives and children?

Hell no!

And it would only become worse if they tried to comfort him immediately.

In time, the moment passed. The rites were complete, the brides had been blessed, and one by one, the crowd began to leave.

After the Elders departed, Maelona’s expression hardened as she said,

”We need to talk, Kaelith.”

Kaelith frowned slightly, then nodded.

Chad glanced between Maelona and Kaelith before leaning in and whispering something into Kaelith’s ear.

Without another word, she turned and began to walk away.

Maelona spoke immediately. ”It’s not a problem if you stay.”

Chad glanced back over her shoulder. ”Do I need to?”

”Well, no need, but—”

”Okay then.”

Chad continued walking, lightly holding the hem of her wedding clothes as she headed in the direction Aether had gone.

Kaelith watched her leave.

He sighed softly before turning back toward Maelona, Aria, Liora, and Kaelen, all of whom were watching him with serious expressions.

”Come. Let’s have a talk, then.”

Meanwhile, Aether stood beneath a tree. His fist slammed into the bark with a dull, violent thud.

”Fuck. That’s so... fucking shit!!” he growled, his voice rough with humiliation as the moment replayed mercilessly in his mind. He could not believe what had just happened, not after all that confidence, all that pride.

His overconfidence had taken over completely, and he had paid for it in the worst way possible.

He had fucked up, thoroughly and publicly.

Being embarrassed in front of his wives was bad enough, but Kaelen... that awkward, disappointed look on his face cut deeper than any mockery ever could.

Aether’s jaw clenched as his cheeks burned, shame crawling up his spine. Just remembering Kaelen’s expression made the embarrassment feel fresh and immediate, as if it were happening all over again.

”Fuck... I should have stopped at the first try,” he muttered bitterly.

BOOM!

”FUCK!”

”Fuck it!!”

BOOM!

Another punch struck the tree, the bark cracking slightly under the force of his anger, leaves trembling above him as if startled by his outburst.

”I think you are hurting the poor tree, Mr. Aether.”

The soft voice cut through his rage like a blade wrapped in velvet. Aether flinched hard and spun around....

There she was.

A gorgeous beauty draped in elegant, silvery clothes that caught the light with every step. She walked toward him calmly, her presence strangely soothing, like an angel descending not in judgment, but to ease his burning embarrassment and wounded pride.

BOOM!

Chad flinched as Aether suddenly punched himself square in the face.

’THAT’S FUCKING ”HE”!!’ he screamed inwardly.