Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1365: Maybe I am not special?

Thalia Crimsonclaw’s POV

After Aether left the room, we were lying on the mat as we discussed the language that Selene was talking about, and it seemed Nyx and Nightfire didn’t know his past situations… or neither did he seem to want them to know.

“Selene, where did you even hear about this language?” I asked, propping my chin on my hand.

Selene shrugged, “He taught me a few words… I think Aria might know more than I. Maybe we should ask her to teach us,” She tilted her curious eyes at Nyx, “Didn’t you guys know about this all?”

Nyx snorted, arms crossed behind her head. “As if Aether ever tells anyone about his past. If you ask him, he just dodges the question or distracts you with a smile.”

Nightfire’s lips twitched, eyes half-closed. “He keeps his secrets locked up tight. Makes you wonder what he’s hiding. Or protecting.”

Well, I guess there was no point in dwelling on the past anymore, but I think he should have told them.

After all, they were his wives, right?

… What about me then?

I thought with a confused expression, and honestly, I was a little lost as to why he didn’t mark me yet.

Technically speaking, since Nyx was some kind of half-soul, which I didn’t understand how, but anyway, he said it was kind of hard for him to put his seal on her.

But what about me?

I stared at the ceiling.

I was perfect… right?

A small and tired sigh left my lips as I looked at Selene, who said that she would teach them tomorrow about this new language, though she didn’t even know how to pronounce it clearly and if we wanted more, we could ask Aria about it.

Maybe those girls wanted to impress him, that’s why?

Honestly, I was not interested in learning another thing… except if it made the man look at me too!

And before I knew it, everyone dozed off without even eating dinner… looks like everyone was pretty tired… ah?

Well, I cannot blame them, can I?

After all, they went through deep shit today, and without Arcane energy, their bodies really needed rest to naturally heal.

I chuckled, shaking my head as I tried to close my eyes… slowly drifting into sleep…

THUCK!

THUCK!

THUCK!!

The sound of punches hitting the gut echoed around my ears. My head twitched as I flinched and opened my eyes before looking down at my stomach. Those black bruises… my fingers slowly grazed over them.

The reason I didn’t take the healing potion was… well, one part was similar to the others; it would heal naturally, but the main part was… to remember what I had become!

I clenched the blanket…. I wanted to remember—pain made things real.

It reminded me of how far I’d fallen.

I slowly sat up and clenched my fist with a disappointed expression. Looking at my own battered body… I felt disgusted.

If Dora were to see this, she would be laughing her ass off…

That fucking bitch!

I shook my head. I haven’t talked to her since the day she left. Looks like I need to catch up with that woman very soon. Otherwise, she would be looking down on me.

Either way, let’s focus on things now… I was weak!

I was fucking weak. My fists didn’t even sting—they felt like a bug bite, worthless. I swung and swung, but it was nothing.

I was angry at myself, really.

When that metallic figure stood without hesitation and didn’t even feel my attacks… I knew… I fucking knew I was losing the fight!

It wasn’t just the energy being removed. No! That would be an excuse, a lie I could tell myself.

But even stripped of my power, shouldn’t I have had something left? I failed! I let myself get beaten down by some random shit—like I was just an extra in my own life.

I clenched my fist as the anger boiled up inside me.

I don’t know how long it’ll take for Xara to find the cure, but right now the world is shifting around us, everything spinning out of control, and… I couldn’t just sit here and be protected by Aether.

I wasn’t like this before… why did I become like this?

Was I too lazy? Too comfortable in this palace?

But I shook my head, trying to push away the self-loathing, and I remembered Aether’s worried face. He was always tense, paranoid about anything that could touch me or Raven. That’s why he never let us leave the palace.

Honestly, I couldn’t even complain—if I were him and it was Raven’s life at risk, I’d do the same.

I would lock down the world for her.

If I want to blame someone… then I have to blame myself for my incompetence!

Taking a deep breath, I looked around. The other ladies were sprawled across the mat, sleeping soundly. Nightfire, especially—her body stretched and relaxed, but for some reason her ass was sticking up in the air, like a cat sunning herself.

Why the hell is her ass in the air?

Did she always sleep like that…? I stared for a moment, then just shook my head, amused and confused.

I shook off my thoughts, rising quietly. Careful not to wake anyone, I tiptoed to the door. I glanced back at them… my odd, complicated family—then slipped out, closing the door behind me with barely a sound.

I took a breath, filling my lungs with the cooler air from the corridor. The sky was darkening outside the palace windows. My footsteps echoed in the empty hall—each one sounded too loud, and it annoyed me, made me feel exposed.

Just then, I nearly ran into my mom, who was carrying another tray of ointment jars for everyone.

“Thalia? What are you doing here? Are you fine to walk now?” She asked with concern. “Are you hungry? Do you want soup, or maybe something sweet?”

I tried to give her a real smile, softening my face. “I’m fine, Mom. I just… needed some air.” My voice dropped to a whisper, almost lost in the corridor’s quiet.

Honestly, I was glad to have her here, to call her mom again after everything.

Still, something about her and Aether… it didn’t sit right with me.

I couldn’t explain why, just a gut feeling… Maybe I was overthinking?

She looked me up and down, then smiled and nodded. “Don’t be hard on yourself,” she said, gentle and knowing, like she could read my whole soul in a glance. As if she knew I wasn’t just going out for fresh air.

I smiled weakly. Sometimes I hated how well this woman understood me… she saw through every mask I put up, unlike that bastard Aether. I shook my head, turned away, and walked back to my room while she continued down the hall with her ointment jars for the others.

Once inside, I eyed the punching bag. As much as I loved to train in here, the air felt too close, too heavy.

I needed space, wind, a sky above me. I unhooked the bag, hefting its weight, and carried it outside to the yard where the gentle night breeze could cool my skin and fresh air could fill my lungs.

My face was grazed by the wind as my hair floated around me, loose and wild.

I stood under the tree before hanging the bag from one of its thick, sturdy branches. The leaves rustled quietly above as if watching me in silence. I clenched my fists and started punching the bag.

THUCK!

THUCK!

THUCK!!

The bag barely moved from my attacks. I blinked, staring at it with a defeated expression.

“Just how much have I gotten weaker?”

This bag was filled with stones and enchanted sand, the kind that absorbed punches infused with Arcane energy. Back then, it used to swing at least a little. But now… it didn’t even flinch.

“Does that mean I’m useless without Arcane energy?”

I muttered, disappointment scratching deep into my face.

“That… fuck.”

I kept punching the bag again and again, each strike sharper than the last. I tried everything… momentum, breath, rage, but it didn’t even twitch. My knuckles turned beet red, and soon, the skin tore open, blood beading down my hands.

“FUCK! FUCK YOU!!”

I screamed at the top of my lungs, kicking the damn thing. The impact barely made it sway.

I was lost at that moment… completely lost and defeated. Now I understood why that metallic figure hadn’t even felt my punches. Without Arcane, I was—

“Looks like someone’s being serious~”

That teasing voice drifted through the night air, like silk brushing over skin. I didn’t even need to turn to know who it belonged to.

When I did, Aether stood a few steps behind me, arms crossed, a faint smile on his lips.

My lips twitched. “I had to be. Otherwise, I’d be a pathetic loser again!” I snorted, throwing another punch at the unshaken bag, ignoring him entirely.

Aether tilted his head, studying me with those calm, curious eyes. “You know you’re wounded, right? I thought you were supposed to take rest?” he said, voice laced with quiet confusion.

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, my irritation spiking. ’Even my mom knows what I’m thinking, but not this so-called bastard!’ I groaned inwardly, then exhaled through my teeth.

“Rest is for the weak ones…”

THUCK!!

My fist connected with the bag again, this time harder, the shock biting up my arm. Blood dripped from my knuckles.

Aether’s expression shifted… his smile faded, replaced by worry. He stepped closer and caught my wrist firmly but gently. His hand was warm against my skin, steadying.

“Look, you’re hurting your knuckles,” he said softly. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and began wrapping it around my bleeding hands.

His tone wasn’t angry. Not even close. He wasn’t shouting, wasn’t lecturing, wasn’t annoyed.

Just… calm. Too calm.

And that hurt more than any punch I’d thrown.

He had yelled at us earlier, furious at our mistakes—but now… nothing.

Just a soft calmness that felt distant.

D-Does that mean… I’m not special to him?

An inexplicable fear crept up inside my chest!