Meanwhile…
Back at the castle, Before Aether’s dangerous situation, tension filled the air as Selene and her father, Velc, engaged in a heated argument within her private chambers.
“What is wrong with you, Selene? Are you out of your mind?” Velc’s voice was strained with frustration as he paced back and forth, glancing at her with a mix of disbelief and exasperation, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! You could be the Empress! Any woman would kill for that chance, yet you act as though it’s beneath you!”
Selene leaned back in her chair, folding her arms with a cool, unimpressed expression, “But, Father,” she replied calmly, shrugging, “I’m not just any woman. I’ve told you, I’m not interested in marrying some ‘lizard’ or whatever he is.” Her eyes narrowed. “If you’re so fascinated, maybe you can go lick his boots—”
Slap!
Velc’s hand shot out, delivering a harsh slap to her cheek. His face contorted with fury. “Have you lost your mind, Selene?” he hissed. “Ever since you entered the Academy, you’ve become… insufferable.”
Selene held her cheek, a blank expression crossing her face as she stared at him, her eyes icy and unyielding.
Velc shook his head, his frustration boiling over. “First, that pathetic brother of yours goes off, ignoring his duties, cavorting with some lowborn—”
“Father!”
Velc turned his glare to Kai, who was sitting beside Selene, his fists clenched tightly, “Don’t you dare call me father, you insolent brat! Running around with some commoner girl—she’s probably just after your title!”
Kai’s jaw tightened. “And so what if she’s a commoner? Didn’t you marry Mother, who was one as well?”
Velc’s eyes flashed with fury, “And when did you start talking back? Ever since you met that peasant girl, you’ve become defiant and reckless. Let me make this clear—she’ll ruin you! That girl will use you for everything you’re worth, and you’re too foolish to see it!”
Kai’s teeth ground together, barely holding back his anger. The disrespect toward the woman he cared for stung deeply, but he bit his tongue, trying to contain his outburst in front of their domineering father.
Velc let out a heavy sigh, as if his children’s defiance were an unbearable burden. His voice dripped with sarcasm and disdain, “So, this is what they’re teaching you at the Academy? To talk back to your family, to throw away your birthright for a fling with some nobody? I swear, this must be because of Delphine. She must be doing this to piss me off!!”
He shifted his gaze back to Kai, jabbing a finger in his direction. “As for you, I don’t care about your dalliances with nobodies. But the Empress herself has been watching you, hoping for a political match with the Princess. Do you know how many sleepless nights I’ve had, trying to smooth over your reckless behaviour with her?
Do you want her wrath on this family? I need you to think like a man, Kai. We can’t afford for you to waste your life on childish whims…. I can get you hundreds of women!! Do you understand?”
Kai lowered his head, swallowing hard, “Y-yes, Father… I understand.”
Satisfied, Velc turned to Selene, his expression hardening further. “And you,” he declared coldly, “you will marry Leon Dragonheart. That is my order, Selene.”
Selene’s eyes narrowed, “What about Mother’s permission? Or have you forgotten that she wouldn’t want her daughter forced into a marriage without her say?” She glanced briefly at Kai, then back at her father, “Mother may be gone, but I doubt she’d be thrilled about you arranging another marriage without her consent.”
Velc’s nostrils flared, his teeth gritted as he struggled to contain his anger, “What are you talking about, Selene? Your mother ran away, abandoning us, remember? I don’t need approval from a coward who couldn’t even handle her own responsibilities….. She is just a bit–”
“Careful…. Father,” Selene’s voice dropped, a dangerous edge in her tone. Her gaze became piercing, sending an involuntary shiver down Velc’s spine. For a moment, he looked away, unnerved by the intensity of her stare.
Clearing his throat, Velc composed himself and spoke firmly, “Tomorrow, you will be ready for your engagement ceremony. Do you understand?”
Selene held her father’s gaze, her expression steely. “I don’t care what you say—I will not.”
With a huff of finality, Velc stormed out of the room, leaving Kai and Selene alone.
As soon as the door closed, Selene’s frustration bubbled over, “I don’t care what he says! I won’t go through with it!” Her fists clenched as she vented.
Kai sighed, glancing at his sister sympathetically, “Sel, it might be for the best. Think about it… he’s the Crown Prince. Not many would dare cross you as his wife.”
Selene rolled her eyes, crossing her arms, “And what about you, Kai? You’re throwing away your chance to be Emperor for someone who our father will never accept.”
Kai’s lips tightened, but he didn’t flinch, “Who says I’m giving up anything? I’d never abandon Aqualina, not when I know she’s the one. I’ll find a way to make it work… someday, she’ll see reason, and she’ll accept me with open arms.”
Selene snorted, shaking her head in disbelief. “Dream on, brother… honestly, I am not sure whether you are naive or too dumb to understand anyhow that is embarrassing.” She cast him a pitying look, ‘If only he’d learn a thing or two from my future husband,’ she thought, a sly grin curling her lips, “And what about Lia, huh? Do you actually think you still have a shot with her?”
Kai’s face hardened, a flicker of apprehension in his eyes as he rubbed his hand, but he quickly masked it, replying with forced bravado, “I tried to help her, but she’s too stubborn to listen. If she’s foolish enough to ignore me, that’s her loss.
Let her regret it for the rest of her life…. No, I will make sure she will regret it!!” With that, he turned and strode from the room, his expression one of grim determination.
Selene watched him go, raising an eyebrow in amusement. As she rubbed her temples, a faint smirk played on her lips. “Looks like there’s a bloodbath brewing slowly… this should be interesting.”
….
…
Meanwhile…
Chucckk!
“Hmm… Now this is a fitting look for you.” Arkanis chuckled, his voice dripping with malice as he set down a glinting, blood-stained instrument. He took a step back, admiring his work with an amused expression as he gazed upon Aether, who was bound and bruised, each cut and bruise evidence of his merciless torment.
But Aether’s clone merely stared, hollow and unresponsive, his gaze empty yet defiant.
Arkanis sighed, feigning exasperation as he shook his head, “You’re one stubborn—just as that wretch Victor warned me you’d be.” He ran a finger over his tool, pondering with dark glee. “It’s going to take ages before you break… or awaken. What should I try next?” He mumbled to himself, as if relishing the thought of fresh torments.
Thrum!
A faint tremor rippled through the ground, causing the chains on the wall to rattle softly. Arkanis stopped, glancing around but quickly shrugging it off. He turned back to Aether with a smirk, “Come on, pretty boy. Just awaken that bloodline of yours, and all this will end. No more suffering… though, by that time, you’ll be long dead.” His smirk widened, cold and deadly.
Thrum!
The tremor came again, stronger this time. Arkanis frowned, glancing at the ceiling with narrowed eyes. “Well, it seems something’s amiss. I’ll leave you for now, my friend, but don’t worry—I’ll be back before you know it.” Arkanis’s laughter echoed cruelly as he exited the dimly lit torture chamber, leaving Aether alone in the oppressive silence.
As soon as his footsteps faded down the corridor,
Tang!
A faint clatter rang out as a metal pipe fell from an overhead line, and a small, dust-covered bat slipped through the shadows, dropping silently to the ground.
With a burst of red particles, the bat shifted, limbs stretching, wings reforming into arms and legs until, at last, a girl stood there, her face streaked with grime and her clothes tattered.
It was Lia.
Her gaze fell on Aether, and she staggered back, hands flying to her mouth as a choked sob escaped her lips,
“A-Aether?!” she whispered, her voice thick with anguish, her face crumpling at the sight of her friend. Tears welled up, her breaths coming in shallow gasps as she struggled to hold back her cries.
For a day she’d tracked his suffering, helpless, watching Arkanis torture him again and again. She knew the risks of revealing herself, the stakes of challenging the Dragon Emperor, but seeing Aether in such a condition broke something deep inside her. Her heart pounded with fear and rage.
She took a trembling step forward, “A-Aether…” she managed, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face, “I’m so sorry… sob… I-I couldn’t get here sooner… I was so scared he’d…sob… he’d kill you if I tried to step in… P-Please forgive me sniff, sniff” She choked on her words, her hands quivering as she reached for his bonds.
With delicate fingers, she unclasped the metal cuffs binding his wrists and ankles to the cold, metal chair. Every move hurt her heart more as she took in his injuries—bruises layered on bruises, cuts both deep and shallow covering his body.
Her hand reached into her bag, pulling out a vial of high-grade healing potion, a last-resort remedy she’d saved for emergencies. She uncorked it, tilting it gently to his lips. “Please, Aether… sniff, sniff j-just swallow a little.” Her voice was shaky as she tried to coax the liquid into his mouth, wiping her eyes as the tears spilled faster.
And of course, it would not work on Clone Aether however the clone knew what to do…. slowly reverted to it’s original condition…. his broken form began to revert, slowly returning to its unblemished appearance.
Lia smiled weakly, though his unconsciousness weighed heavily on her heart. She took a deep breath, her hands cupping his face tenderly, “You don’t have to worry… I’ll get you out of here, I-I promise. Just stay with me, okay?”
Her fingers brushed his hair back, her gaze fierce as she looked at him. And then, the grief in her expression turned to something darker—something simmering with wrath.
“This isn’t over, Aether.” She leaned close, her voice a barely contained growl. “Both that dragon bastard, and that wretched Victor… they’ll face me after this is done.” Her eyes glowed with a dangerous crimson light, a fury so intense it could almost burn, “They’ll pay, and I’ll make sure they never hurt you again.”
