Chapter 466: A Returning Companion

Walking through the Academy halls, Iris saw just how hollow they were. Winter had come, and most had left for Wonderland, but she had already reached Enlightenment... but since the King wanted the three Vessels to challenge their Bearer trial together, she had to wait for Sena and Lilith.

Which while Sena was also in the Blue Rose, from what she heard, Avius had taken her under his wing for a while to train her mental powers in case of the worst scenario.

What did " worst scenario " mean? She had no idea. When it came to stuff like that, it felt as if no one wanted to speak to her. It was annoying...

She was the Vessel of Praise and the Princess; she could protect herself to some extent, and, plus, she was of huge help, and yet every time it came to it... she was always kept out of the important stuff.

She knew she didn’t have her brother’s powers, but she had her own values.

She hated it...

But at the same time, she had no idea what to do about it... she had tried her best until now to get strong, to help others as much as she could, and to be as kind as she could. The perfect girl, the one that everyone is friends with.

And yet it doesn’t feel like people cared about or respected her at all; she was just known as the Princess, nothing else, only her title has worth, not her.

She also never managed to befriend Sena for some reason; they spent time together, even saw her as a child, and she had only been nice to her. And yet the Fate seems like she hated her more than anything.

But she had no idea for what reason.

Iris sighed, looking out of the window at the people on the street. It was ironic, since if she were to go to them, they would praise and worship her, and yet, at the same time, she didn’t feel appreciated at all.

It felt as if she was just some outsider, someone to use in a little mission, someone good to have around in a day-to-day life.

She had known about the expedition in the Wonderland since it was just one squad, before they found the mysterious zone and saw the error screen that made them rethink their plan, and which led to what it is today.

She had begged for months to be a part of it; after all, since recently, there were more Seeker squads, she could have definitely fit in, but her father and brother would not let her...

Orion went, her own Knight had been picked, but not her... but also Aether.

She didn’t understand him at all... she knew he had been strong ever since the Withered. But to think her father would actually allow someone from the Withered to join probably the biggest expedition in the Blue Rose’s history...

She had no idea how powerful he had gotten... and how.

Iris clenched her fists... ’I also want to be strong... to be able to help them...’

...

’I also want to stare someone in the eyes and threaten to kill them.’

Her smile faded slightly... as she knew she could never do such a thing; it was too evil for her, even if she saw killing every day, to do it herself... it wasn’t so easy; she was too nice to do such a thing...

...

’If I changed, would people finally see my worth?’

...

...

...

Aether breathed heavily, as he could hardly even hold his blade. He was exhausted, having walked for two days, now... without any rest.

He stopped for a second to regain his breath, but as he did, an arm came from the ground to try and drag him into the ground. Gripping Voidpiercer with his remaining strength, he thrust it into the hand, killing it before starting to move.

That happened every time he stopped... he didn’t know what it was, but he knew that it was keeping him moving without being able to recover at all. The Codex also just didn’t work, so he had no idea if he was even killing them, or if they were just another part of a giant monster.

How much he regretted coming to this place... it was already proving to be a hotter hell than he had ever been in.

He didn’t know if his mind was stable, since, again, the Codex was not working, he couldn’t see his mental fortitude, and so... he had no idea if he was hallucinating or not when he had first seen a cabin in the distance.

The closer he got to it... the less hope he had, not that it looked faker now... but he was just starting to become really pessimistic. He was hungry, thirsty, tired, and his body was hurting like crazy; how could he ever think positively?

Suddenly, as he wasn’t paying attention, he messed up his footing, falling slightly into a hole filled with green liquid, which, after his foot touched it, proved to be acid. He quickly pulled it out and watched as his skin had melted slightly, just from a second inside it... If he fell with his whole body.

He was dead.

But luckily, he had reached the cabin. His hand moved towards the knob, scared that it might be fake, but... to his relief, it was real. Aether smiled, twisted it, and walked inside... where he saw a figure... it had its back towards him, so he couldn’t really see what it was... but it had a long black cape and a very long pointy hat.

Turning towards him, the figure revealed herself: she had black hair, like onyx, and her green eyes reminded him of two emeralds. She was also small in frame... it reminded him of someone.

"Oh? And may I ask who you are?"

"Um..." Aether scratched his head, confused about who she was; after all, he had not seen her in the camp. "My name is Aether..."

...

"I see... My name is Avrie."