Prince of The Abyss

Who knew a tutoring session would be more exhausting than fighting, and he wasn’t even trying to make a joke; he was more serious than ever. He was completely done with the day after Avius kept him for so long.

Well, at least from what he heard, they weren’t going to have classes over the weekend, so he could relax for some time, and he really needed that relaxation, since he was actually just done; he had no energy.

Aether groaned to his bed, lying down on it.

It was probably the best bed by far he had slept in in these last years, ever since he left home.

Though... he had no plan for tomorrow; ironic, he had all the time, yet nothing to spend it on. He could go to the Wonderland, but, with so little he knew about it, entering a story was pretty dangerous; he had two days to complete it. So probably not a good idea, since Seekers’ books usually took a bit more than Readers.

He could enter a Reader story, but he wouldn’t get any sync from it, so it was pretty useless.

’I’ll just see what happens tomorrow...’

...

...

...

Aether’s eyes shot up, as there were knocks on his door. He got out of his bed, slowly limping to the door, and opening it. Who even was at his door so early?

With his hand on the doorknob, he cracked it open to see who it was... what he didn’t expect was to see a whole group of students. His eyes widened as he fully opened the door. Seeing him open the door, they staggered a bit before one of the girls spoke up. ”Y-You’re Aether, right?”

Aether tilted his head, a bit confused, looking at the group; there were five girls, all noble, since there was the Blue Rose on their uniforms. Well, it wasn’t like he expected them not to be nobles; he was in the Blue Rose.

”That’s me... why do you ask? And more importantly... what brings you so early... how did you even know where my dorm is?”

The girl scratched her cheek; she was a bit nervous. ”That’s... not that hard to learn.” The other girls nodded. ”We were just wondering if you wanted to hang out with us, oh my name is Zael if you were wondering.” She smiled, offering a handshake.

Aether glanced down, confused, hesitantly shaking her hand... ”Um yeah... It’s nice to meet you.” She continued to smile, staring into his eyes... ”So?”

’Oh, I forgot to answer her question.’

He smiled widely. ”No thanks.” Before closing the door and rushing back to his bed.

...

But then there was another knock. Aether groaned, stomping his way to the door before opening it quickly.

”Sorry, but I’m really tired right now, so I-”

”Shhhhh,” Sena said, putting a finger to his lips.

Aether stopped talking, confused... since when did she get here... and more importantly, what did Fate want with him so damn early in the morning, like come on. Could he not get any rest, and what was it with everyone so early?

”Has someone ever told you that you... talk too much?” The girl said bluntly, taking the lollipop from her mouth. Aether rolled his eyes. ”I can say the same thing to you-” Before he could finish, she stuck her lollipop to shut him up. ”You’re proving my point.” She smirked.

Aether froze before pulling back, taking the lollipop out. ”What the heck, Sena?”

She groaned, rolling her eyes in annoyance. ”Calm down, it wasn’t poisoned or anything like that.”

Aether had wanted to say something, to talk back, but he knew he had no chance of doing so, not with her. So he just sighed. ”What do you want so early in the morning?” He said, frowning.

Yet... what he didn’t expect was for her to be surprised. ”Morning?” She said, dumbfounded... before starting to laugh. ”You overslept, dumbass; it’s not morning, it’s the afternoon.”

...

...

’What?’ Aether turned his head to the clock in the room... and indeed, it was the afternoon.

...

’Would you look at that... maybe the bed was too good.’

But as he was shocked by the fact that he overslept, Sena just entered his room and sat on his bed. Aether turned his head to her; for a second, he hadn’t even processed what had happened. ’She’s the strangest girl I’ve ever seen.’

He walked over to the bed, crossing his arms. ”Doesn’t matter what time it is, you still didn’t answer my question... what are you doing here?”

Nova swung her legs on his bed with a smirk. ”You betrayed me; that’s why I’m here. You went with Lilith instead of me? That’s quite rude, you know?”

Aether’s jaw dropped. That is why she was here? Out of all reasons, that’s why? Because Lilith had chosen him before she could? What was it with the other Vessels and him? He got that they were supposed to be connected or some sort, but come on.

”It wasn’t like I could say no, you know? Also, where the heck did you go? I didn’t see you when I got back.”

”I just left.” She responded quickly. She leaned forward until their faces almost touched. ”I mean, what did you expect me to do? I only came for you, and since you weren’t there, I just left.”

’Of course, because that is a normal thing a student does!’

Aether sighed, pinching his nose. ”So what, you’re mad?” He said, still confused about why she was here.

Sena nodded, making Aether even more dumbfounded. ”You’re something else, you know that?” He rolled his eyes, almost not believing what he was about to say. ”What can I do to make it up to you?”

Her face lit up. ”Become my pet, you will have many friends, and I promise it won’t hurt.” She said, as a string appeared in her hand.

Aether instantly pulled back. ”No thanks!”

’I knew she was weird, but this is beyond it... and the worst part is that a pet is probably what she considered those she can control.’

Before Sena could respond, there was another knock at his door.

They both turned their head at the door before Aether walked towards it.

’What is with everyone today, and why do they all want to bother me?’

Opening the door, Aether saw Iris.

’Great... another Vessel... and why is it only girls!? Why doesn’t someone like Lilith come...’ He slapped his mouth three times so he didn’t jinx it.

Iris’s golden eyes lit up as she saw him. ”Aether, it’s really you! How have you been?”

He smiled back. ”Pretty good... getting used to it.” He said, glancing back at Sena so that she wouldn’t do something stupid.

Praise chuckled. ”That’s a relief... sorry for not coming to talk earlier, I thought you might have forgotten me... or even worse hated me after the whole rebellion stuff.”

Aether scoffed, waving his hand, as his eyes wandered even more behind him at Sena, who had gotten up from his bed and was looking around his room. ”Pfft, no way, there... is someone I hate after that rebellion, but it’s not you, or your brother... or Avius... or any of the scouts... forget it.”

Iris blinked twice before laughing nervously. ”I see, well, I came to greet you, and make sure you’re not mad at me. So I won’t disturb you anymore. See you in class, oh, and let’s talk more.”

Aether nodded as Iris left.

Closing the door, Aether stood still for a moment... before frowning and turning to Sena, who had accidentally taken down his closet?

”What the heck are you doing! Just get out!”

Sena rolled her eyes. ”You don’t have to shout... it was an accident... we’re even now.”

’Even... even? What do you mean, even! I had no choice but to go with Lilith; he chose me. You had every choice not to take down my closet!”

But he didn’t say that; instead, he opened the door and showed it to Sena.

She rolled her eyes before making her way out. ”See you later-”

Aether slammed the door shut before she could finish.

Had he expected this when he woke up... heck no. This was one of the strangest days of his life, if not the weirdest.

But at the same time... this might not be that weird for the people in this Academy... after all, this has been their life for years; they had gotten used to it, they didn’t consider it strange... maybe he was the weird one.

...

’Maybe I should try to get used to it... socialize more... at least until Summer... after all, either way he was just wasting time for Summer to come faster, why not use that time to enjoy himself a bit, get used to the Academy life... it would be like a break... that will be over when the practice season comes.

’I still doubt this will feel normal after.’