Prince of The Abyss

It was a quiet walk... it was awkward, really awkward.

Funny.

Aether looked at Lucien, who looked the most nervous out of the three of them. And who was also the cause of the stillness that stood in the air.

”You know you can speak your mind, I told you, even if I don’t forget, I forgive... I know better than most that humans can change, plus, I gained what I wanted; there is no reason to have hard feelings.”

The magician clenched his fists before letting out a deep breath, almost like a weight that had been lifted off his shoulders.

”Thank you... And, you are a Will-less right?”

Kade stepped closer to Lucien, nudging his shoulder playfully.

”That’s right, but while he doesn’t have a Will...” He chuckled a bit nervously, taking glances at him between words. ”He is as strong as some powerful Will users, in my opinion.”

Aether rolled his eyes; it was by far an overstatement. Sure, he might be strong, probably as strong as he can possibly be, probably stronger than any normal reader. But there was something he lacked, which was a power. A Will user who has good experience and strength can probably easily take care of him.

Even a Reader that is a longer rank could probably beat him in a fight.

His biggest advantages were his mantle and blade, two powerful relics, and his night advantage because of his relic skills. But you can compare the power of a skill to an ability...

Even more to an Affinity.

The Abyss, while it was a nice Affinity to have now that he didn’t have a god constantly trying to break him, it was still something that was only convenient; so far, with his power, it only made it so he was harder to spot, nothing special.

Compared to someone like... Lilith, who could create those massive shockwaves, stands no chance.

The reason he lost wasn’t that the beast was a Class higher than him, but rather because his affinity was stronger.

Really, Lilith was going easy on him. He probably hadn’t even used any of his abilities, just the power of his Affinity.

Which was something he lacked.

Really, you could say that he was just... unlucky. If everyone had the same Affinity and abilities, he would be quite strong, maybe one of the strongest readers. After all, for someone his class to almost reach the beast class... it was unheard of.

Ranking up to even echo happens either in the trial for those powerful, and as a Seeker for most.

Because rising in class was something that was fair for everyone, you couldn’t just take someone to help you. The only way you could get close to doing that is getting someone to help you kill hundreds of Reader Fragment ranks...

Which is why it was so hard to believe a Reader was close to getting to the Beast rank.

That was thirty thousand shards... one thousand five hundred Reader Fragments, that was how many you would need to kill before ranking up. It was unreal.

Aether sighed, shooting Kade a glance to take a little distance.

”I am a Will-less... the only one in this... team?”

Lucien stared at him, slightly confused, before he laughed. ”You know I’m also a Will-less, you know?”

Aether waited until he finished, knowing what he was about to say.

”No, you’re not. You have awakened... the moment you... saved me, you awakened a Will.”

The magician stopped in his tracks, his face looking troubled. It must be a shock, but at the same time, it was evident on his face that a part of him already knew that, but just couldn’t believe it, maybe because of what his life had been until now, a life full of pretending, that it was weird that he finally became what he pretended to be.

”But... that’s not possible, if you’re not born with one, you can’t just awaken one later in your life, everyone knows that-”

”That’s what everyone thought.” Aether cut him off. Stopping his tracks.

”I know it breaks everything you know, but think for a second, why would I lie about something like this, you know im someone who doesn’t do useless things without thinking of getting something in return... even with your village, even if it was Kade who said he wanted to help, a big part of why I helped was that I knew that there was a big chance of getting the shard from you, dead or alive.”

Kade glanced at him, a little offended, but rolled his eyes.

”Plus, you have an example of a late awakening just next to you.” He smiled, pointing to Kade.

Lucien looked at the boy, then looked back at Aether, and continued to do so for a while. Was it really that hard to believe that you awakened in this world?

When he had awakened as a Reader, the moment his Codex came, how much he would have paid to be this happy, to the point you just can’t believe it with proof in front of you... But no, instead, his awakening was filled with despair, anger, sadness, and many other negative emotions.

Kade chuckled at his reaction, maybe because he had also been in his situation not a long time ago.

”I can teach you some things if you want... though my style of using my Will isn’t the normal one... I don’t really know how to use it any other way than on my blade... but it’s also my option.”

”Which leads to my next point,” Aether said, both Kade and Lucien turning their head to him.

”Have you wielded a blade before?”

Lucien shook his head, a little embarrassed.

Aethers sighed. ”I think this is a good time to ask, since before, your life was on the line...”

...

”Do you really want to come with us? It is going to be really dangerous, and neither Kade nor I is going to be able to train you. I mean, if you were fond of the blade, you wouldn’t have avoided it for so long and pretended to be a Will user. So there is no point in my trying to teach it to you if it’s not what you enjoy. And while Kade could try to show you some of the basics, it all depends on you, since your Wills are so different.”

...

”So let me ask you again... Lucien, do you wish to come with us?” Aether extended his hand once more.

The boy frowned.

”I really don’t know... It’s just a lot to take in. My home got destroyed, everyone I knew died... every memory I have is gone, I have nothing left to remind me of it... and I also suddenly awakened? I’m happy, I really am... but I’m also disappointed. I’ve been chasing this for so long that it feels... like a letdown. I am also weak, I don’t know how I could ever get to any of your level, even now that I have awakened. After all, you said it yourself, I am going to have to train myself.”

...

Kade walked close to him. ”I understand how you’re feeling... You want to know how I met this bastard?” He said, pointing to Aether.

And now it was his Aether’s turn to get offended.

”I was born into a weak and poor family in Veyr, and my brother left for the colosseum to make a change, just to be killed by him. He came to our home to give back the bracelets we had made for my brother... and at that moment, I knew I had to follow him. I didn’t know why, after all, I had just lost someone from my family, everyone was devastated, and plus, he was the one to take his life... and yet, I didn’t feel any resentment towards him... I was weak... I had no place on the battlefield.”

...

”And yet here I am. And trust me, this guy isn’t that good of a teacher; he would have made you adapt on your own either way.”

Aether rolled his eyes... but Kade was right, their stories were similar. There was no reason that Lucien couldn’t also achieve greatness. And you could also say he was right on him not really training him all that much. But the brat has to remember that he did spend a lot of time just killing lowly beasts because he kept letting his guard down.

”It’s your decision... You shouldn’t let anything influence what you decide on. Your gut knows what is best for you. You can always just go to the next village in the desert and start a new life if you don’t want to come with us. And live a much safer life...”

...

”Either way, it doesn’t matter what you decide on; it will still be a new beginning, a new life. With your past all left behind you.”

...

Lucien looked at his hands... pausing for some good time, thinking of his decision, after all, what path he took was going to decide what happens next in his life, how he will grow, and the memories he will make.

He sighed.

Before taking Aether’s hand.