Chapter Text
“Shit, Paimon!” Aether yells as a gust of wind flings his companion from his side, almost knocking him over in the process. Beside him, Jean curses and jerks him back by the collar, narrowly dodging the boulders that fall their way, the bloodied shards of glass and stone. Aether gags as she throws him to the ground, diving on top of him as the sky is ripped apart with the howls of demons and monsters, screeching hoarsely for blood and for murder.
Aether groans and covers his ears with his hands, putting all his force into blocking out the horrible sounds from above. Around him, his comrades all drop the ground, clutching their heads in agony.
A symphony of hatred and anguish swells into the air, continuing to crescendo until there’s no sensation other than hearing. Or perhaps his ears have burst, and any sort of hearing that he had has now been reduced to the thrum of pain. Aether feels the pressure of the choir as it forces his head down, down into the dirt and grass. Jean’s body trembles with the force of the vibrations, shaking as she doubles over in pain and slides off Aether to lay beside him.
Aether squeezes his eyes shut as the howling gets louder and louder-
Oh, what a mistake. What a foolish, stupid mistake.
The screeching stops.
It takes a second for Aether to realize the pressure is gone from his head, and he forces his eyes open in surprise. He’s alive.
A bloodied glove drops into his lap. Shocked, Aether whips his head up and his heart drops as panic floods his veins, sending adrenaline through every nerve in his body.
“JEAN!” he screams as he runs towards her limp figure, clutched in the talons of a demon. Its batlike wings pound in time with Aether’s footsteps as he runs toward them. Around him, the battle continues, mixing the sounds of fierce clashing with hoarse calls for help. His lungs burn with effort as he sprints to catch up to the demon, boots thudding in the bloodstained grass, ripped and torn under piles of weapons and bodies. He's racing to the top of the cliff, the upward slope littered with bodies and weapons.
Just a little more- just a little more-
The winged beast screeches in pain, dipping treacherously close to the ground as the arrow in its shoulder twists and explodes, sending scales and blood splattering to the ground. Aether sees an opening, or rather, he feels the opportunity as it arises, a split-second decision that he instinctively knows will be his only chance.
Jean’s hair flutters in the wind. A second, stretched to an eon.
Aether jumps.
His foot slips as he lands on the beast’s back ridges, feeling the tremors of its howl travel up his legs and up his arms, holding on for dear life. The beast thrashes and Aether grits his teeth in his effort to find some form of grip while also holding his sword in the other hand.
The wind whips his hair across his face, catching in the scratches and scrapes that are spread across his skin, making him wince. The beast picks up its speed, beating its wings faster and faster until they’re a frantic blur. The world below speeds by him so fast that Aether’s eyes sting with the air pressure.
C’mon!
Aether drags himself higher up the beast’s back, throbbing with the effort of clenching his thighs around its neck while raising his sword in both hands. Below him, Jean’s eyes flutter open and she opens her mouth to scream-
Aether’s arms are shaking in desperation as he prays to every archon he knows for strength and courage, willing his sword to be strong and true as he raises it high above his head-
It arcs down, sunlight glistening off the silver and gold and steel. Right before the sword tip pierces its neck, the winged beast whips its head upside down, immediately meeting Aether’s eyes in a brilliant, emerald stare.
Flecks of gold.
Without warning, Aether’s mind goes blank.
The world washes away, like it was never there in the first place.
Time halts. His vision is nothing but a white haze, unending and hostile, yet finite and blissfully indifferent at the same time.
There is only-
There is only.
There is only… what?
Ah. Little one, you have come very far, haven’t you?
A deep voice echoes throughout the caverns of the unknown. Neither kind, nor unkind, not friendly nor hostile. An overbearing aura of… interest. No, perhaps interest is too strong of a word.
This is more akin to… slight amusement.
Aether nods. Or maybe his consciousness just sends out a wave of mild agreement because his body is nothing and everything anyway.
Nothing and everything? How interesting. You are quite awake for someone who is dead.
Dead?
Ah, not in the traditional sense. Your body and mind are alive. Your… spirit is dead. Or rather, it will be. Soon, if it runs its natural course. Later… during any unforeseen circumstances.
Aether absorbs the words like they are the puzzle pieces of the universe, fitting together to fill in the incomprehensible parts of the void. He doesn’t hear them, per say. They would have seeped into his skin if he had any, dripped like honey over his eyelids and over his cheeks.
Unforeseen circumstances?
You are remarkably verbose. Normally, one would have difficulty even comprehending this.
This?
… So many questions. You’re rather amusing, traveler.
I will answer one.
Think carefully.
Aether’s mind is blissfully still. Each fragment of thought is nothing more than the smallest ripple of a pool of water so clear it resembles glass. One answer, for a question he doesn’t know.
It rises slowly, taking shape and form, breathing itself into existence. He cradles it in his mind and offers it to the light.
Who are you?
The aura curls in on itself in amusement. Who am I? Who are you?
I will make us… we.
I am you.
And then Aether’s mind bends.
In a way that minds are not meant to be broken.