Chapter 526: Lightning Strikes Twice

Aether exhaled, watching as steam came out of his mouth. He wondered how the others saw it from the outside, how the steam came from the darkness of his hood. Was it funny? Maybe he could fit in slightly if he made them laugh, since he was getting a bit tired of just standing alone always.

It’s been two days since they started walking through the mountains, and they still had a long way to go. When it came to food, they had managed it quite well, not using that much. He had to say he was impressed. It just went to show how smart Keres was to distribute food perfectly to so many people.

’I’ve said it many times now, and I will say it again: he’s a true leader, natural-born. It’s the thing he was meant to do.’

So far, no one has died, and really, there hasn’t been a reason for one to die that he didn’t know what to think about; it was quite strange. After all, this route was meant to be dangerous, and yet, there hasn’t been anything that scary.

Which he was happy about, really happy, even if it meant he was losing him bet... of course, he still didn’t think this was going to last forever; it was always like this with his curse. ’Always quiet and peaceful before everything happened.’

He walked through the middle of the crowd, glancing at the others around him as they gossiped, laughing while making jokes; the atmosphere was... great, really, and again, it was all Keres’s fault.

But not only because of the way he leads, but also because of his character, he is in no way a strict person, one who hates when people talk; he’s someone who likes to crack unfunny jokes and tries to make every situation seem like it isn’t that bad.

Of course, people are going to be comfortable around him, because they know they can; he allows this type of attitude, and really, he was all for it.

Hearing the sound of wings clapping, Aether stopped for a second, looking back as Inky flew down and landed on his shoulder. He smiled behind his hood, scratching the raven under its head, its favourite spot. He had sent it earlier to see if there was really something in these mountains.

"So?" He asked?

The bird turned to him... and made the signal he had taught it to do when there was something.

He froze for a second, but as he did, he heard someone’s voice.

"Gosh, is that cute thing your pet?" A boy said, coming close to him, or rather, to Inky. Aether nodded as the boy tried to pet it, only for Inky to go back into his shoulder.

The boy seemed quite sad, but also surprised. "How... did it do that?"

"It’s a relic of mine." He said, after looking to see where Sofia was, so he was sure she wouldn’t hear him.

"A relic... how does that make any sense?" The boy said, confused, putting a hand on his own shoulder.

Aether shrugged it off as he continued walking, not wanting to explain it, since he also didn’t really fully understand how Inky worked.

Yet, while he wasn’t paying attention, he almost ran into someone. Confused, Aether looked around to see that they had stopped. Looking at Keres, he seemed to move towards the edge; they were quite high up, so he really didn’t know what he could be looking for...

Yet when he activated Eden... he sensed something, rather a lot more than one thing... monsters climbing up. ’Damn,’ he thought, as he tried to see what they were. They were small in size, by what he could tell, but they seemed to be agile, really agile... four arms, and their torsos and legs really long, as were the horns on their head, which also seemed to curve inwards, almost as if they used them to pierce their opponents.

But he also sensed something else, a bigger one... one that was a lot bigger than them.

Keres seemed to frown as he gestured for them to move away from the edge, while the stronger people in their party stood their ground.

There was just one problem... he also sensed them from above.

Aether lifted his gaze just in time to see these creatures jump down from above; there were a lot fewer, but still a lot. He cursed under his breath. "They are also coming from above!" He screamed, catching the attention of the others just in time to dodge the attacks of monsters, but still, there were too many... and they were fast, jumping around.

There was no way not one of them died...

Aether blinked... but when he opened his eyes again, he saw his sister... slaying the monsters, she... was moving fast, very fast, he could barely track her, and really, when she moved she seemed to leave some sort of illusion of herself for some small seconds, that was just how fast she was.

She killed most of the creatures, with the other Readers helping her in their own way... he could sense more above, meaning not all had yet to attack...

But... they had cleared the first wave, without... anyone dying or getting badly hurt...

He opened his mouth, surprised, but before he could think of anything, the main monster had arrived, its giant hands almost breaking the edge as he climbed on top. He towered over them; if he had to approximate, he was around five meters tall.

...

And yet, he could hear Keres’ laugh clearly. "I’ll take care of this guy; can you handle the others, Sofia?" His sister quickly nodded. "Of course." She said, dashing towards the small monsters that climbed up from the edge.

Seeing this, Keres didn’t waste any time, getting the big monsters’ attention as he ran away from them.

...

It was weird; everyone else seemed to be getting ready to fight... without worrying that they might die.

...

’Have I become too afraid of death?’ Aether sighed as he summoned his blade, just in time to cut a monster coming from above for him.

’Funny.’

He smiled as the monsters started flooding in; some were stronger than others, but... no one seemed afraid.

So he wasn’t going to be either.

The battlefield was big, giving the monster a good attacking plan, to section them out, and to overwhelm each one of them, that was why he now found himself cornered by ten of them.

He sensed them as they dashed forward with their speed, but he was also fast, dodging their attacks desperately as he waited for an opening to kill one, but the problem was that they covered themselves too well.

Aether’s eyes widened as he tried his best; he finally found an opening. Aether waited as they all jumped him, dashing away through the opening they seemed to create. ’As organised as they are, they are too small, so they leave openings.’ Before they could recover, Aether grabbed one by its horns, breaking them in too, killing it, as he threw its body into the others.

But with the help of their speed, they were able to dodge the body, quickly recovering and dashing towards him, as he waited for them...

...But before either he or they could do anything... it was as if lightning itself passed, killing them all. Aether stood still for a second, confused, as he turned his head towards Sofia, who was holding one of the last remaining monsters in her hand by its horns.

"Quite... annoying-looking, aren’t they?" She smirked, turning to him. Yet he was still shocked by her powers... he knew them, of course, but still, seeing how much they’ve grown...

His sister Affinity was lightning, but not actually; whenever she struck somebody, she created a mark, and when she struck it again, the damage intensified. ’Lightning strikes twice.’ He also knew this ability of hers, this fast dash, she got it as a Reader.

Aether nodded at her remark, but her smirk... was oddly unsettling.

...

"You know, you don’t need to keep quiet; I already heard your voice... It’s somehow familiar, which makes me wonder even more who you are."

She walked towards him as the others behind them cheered for their win, and Keres turned from his own fight quite quickly; he was almost completely unharmed... and the damage he got was already healing at a fast pace.

"I’ll figure out who you are, mark my words." She passed him, walking towards Keres, as Aether sighed in relief... it was good that she didn’t recognize his voice; it had been a rookie mistake he didn’t realize he was making.

He acted out of impulse, wanting to help the others...

And... maybe it had helped... as no one had died, not a person. ’But it’s probably not because of me, but rather the others, like Keres... and Sofia.’

Even so... this battle did make him question...

’Is what Keres said actually possible?

Is my curse just me making an excuse?’

...

He wasn’t so sure yet... he was going to have to see what happens next.