"We’re... leaving?" Kade asked, confused.

Aether nodded. "I mean, yeah? I already found the shard. Why would we stay any longer? I don’t like this place either way, it’s weird." He said, talking of the headband on his head. Putting his pin back in.

Lucien looked at Kade, both of them were surprised, and it was to be understood, after all, it hadn’t been long since they got him, and they had already found the shard. It was strangely fast, but at the same time.

What reason would Aether have to lie to them?

"And tonight? We’re not waiting for daytime?" Kade asked, which irritated Aether, since the boy was asking too many questions. He had already made it clear that they were leaving, and since he was already putting the clothes that the Inn had gifted them back, wasn’t it obvious that they were leaving tonight?

He had already told them to get food and water during the day, so what was there to even do then leave? Why waste even more money on staying the night?

"Yes, tonight, so get ready." After saying that, Aether opened the drawer, where he was keeping his mantle, and put it on. He could just have summoned it, but at the same time, he didn’t want them to know that he could do that. It would just result in more questions, and he couldn’t tell them that he wasn’t from this world, at least not yet... he was thinking of doing so, but he was hesitant. After all, revealing to the people of a book that you are not from their world, and that it’s all fake, can have a massive impact on the story, if those characters have a great importance to the story.

Though he doubted a random kid from Veyr and a lowly magician were important... and he would have been sure of that, but the fact that they awakened their Will made him think that they may have gained a role in the story, the story he was creating.

"Oh, and yeah, I’m going to be staying a little longer, I have to meet a local, he said that he might know something about... um... getting a map of the next area. So I’ll also be needing the money."

Kade, who was changing into his usual clothes, stepped forward.

"We can come with you. It’s not like there is much of a difference if we leave without you and wait for you, or if we stay back with you."

Aether smiled softly, masking all the annoyance he had inside of him at the moment.

"It’s fine, I can do it alone, I’m not a kid, Kade. Plus, he told me to come alone."

Aether said while walking towards the door, trying to convince the boy to stay back.

Kade’s eyes widened after Aether denied him yet again. But then he frowned, not in anger, but... rather mad that Aether wasn’t letting him come to protect him.

"Then we are definitely coming." He looked at Lucien, who nodded. "What if he tried to attack you? No matter what you say, I’m not letting you die-"

Aether punched the wall, which shocked both Lucien and Kade.

He slowly turned around... with a deep frown on his face. He hadn’t expected to be affected by the boy’s words so much, but he was.

"Kade, I get it, you’re strong now, maybe stronger than me, who knows, and you will continue to grow stronger. You’re trying to repay me for all the times I protected you... But I’m not someone who needs or wants to be protected. You have to understand the difference between someone who needs your saving, and someone who doesn’t."

Aether walked closer to the boy until they were face-to-face.

"And you dare say that you will come no matter what you say." His tone rose. "Don’t make me regret letting you come with me that day. You’re still my student, you will listen to me, and if you don’t want to, then you’re free to leave."

He stared into the boy’s eyes, trying to see what he was feeling at the moment.

"You can call all the names you want, you can curse me all you want, but I am the one who makes the calls. And it’s not because I’m stronger, or I’m better than you or Lucien. No, I am the leader, because this is my mission. You can leave whenever you want; there is no reason for you to stay. Getting the shards is something I want to do; it’s my goal, not yours. Plus, it’s not like I can train you anymore, or at least you don’t think that anymore, do you?"

Kade stayed silent at this question... only being able to look away, confirming Aether’s claim.

He sighed, walking away, and towards the door yet again.

"You can think I’m weak all you want, and maybe you’re right. I’m not the strongest, but as weak as I am. I was able to survive both the arena by myself and get through Stromfell, while having to take care of you..."

He turned around one last time.

"I have been trying to survive for almost half of my life now, and I don’t need someone to protect me. And definitely not you, Kade."

After that, he left. Leaving Kade and Lucien alone in the Inn’s room.

...

...

...

Aether sighed, leaning against the rail of a bridge, looking at the dark, yet starry sky. It’s funny how many stars can burn so bright, and yet they are still not able to overcome the darkness around them.

...

"Did I go too far?"...

No, he didn’t. He might be a hypocrite, but he did it to protect them, boy, if he stayed with him. Both he and Lucien were going to die.

Sure... he might have been a little rude, after all, he was doing the same thing Kade was trying to do, which was to protect him. But the boy needed to understand that even with strength, he wasn’t immortal.

He knew that Kade wasn’t going to leave if he told them the truth, which was why he had tried his best to make up a lie. To make it seem as if they were really all leaving, and he only had something to do before he came with them.

But the boy was too stubborn, too stubborn.

...

"I have to say, I did not expect that." The Abyss said, leaning against the rail near him.

Aether scoffed.

’What do you want now? Did you only come to say that I made the wrong decision, that I’m an egotistical hypocrite, or something like that? Since if you do, I suggest leaving them for later, I really am not in the mood to argue with you at the moment.’

The Abyss laughed. "No, quite the opposite, I think you made the right call. You did the right thing; you protected them, even if you damaged your relationship with them. Sometimes, the best path is the one with the bright flowers and joy, but kindness doesn’t always lead to something good."

Aether’s eyes widened. Was the Abyss really agreeing with him? It was probably the first time this had even happened.

’So, what do you want?’ Aether said, confused about why he was even here.

"Nothing. I was just surprised... on your psychology, the mental view you have of the world. To think that even now, every road leads to you being alone, even now, when you have two people with you. You don’t consider them as allies, do you?"

Aether sighed, turning his head towards the sky. ’I don’t. They are my students, my friends, I like being with them, and I enjoy their company, but this is my mission, not theirs. They don’t need to risk their life for this, only I do. This is my responsibility... so why?

The Abyss turned around, leaning his back against the rail, and looking up at the sky.

"Humans are really complex creatures, aren’t they? It’s a concept that no human could even comprehend, funny. I think you are the only being that doesn’t fully understand your own species.

...

Both Kade and Lucien had nothing when you came. Kade had just lost his brother, and his family was struggling, and he couldn’t do anything to help. And then you appeared, and gave him hope. Not that he has gotten stronger... even if it’s not his task, he considered it his mission to help you get the shard. In his eyes, he owes you his life, even if you didn’t help him that much.

And it’s the same for Lucien; his whole village was destroyed, and you saved him. In his eyes, he’s eternally grateful to you. Of course, he would want to help you.

Even if you haven’t asked him to, and even if he doesn’t have to. He will do so."

...

"If you think about it. It’s like you and the Rebellion. You have no reason to want to get them back, except the sole fact that they were your friends and helped you with the rebellion.

You think you have to repay them.

Don’t you?"