Chapter Text
Aether was tired, so very very tired. Natlan was by far the best and worst nation he had been to so far. Everyone was so nice and the Archon was aware that throwing him right into battle was not the best welcome gift. But it was what he did, Aether was always compelled to help anyone who needed it and Natlan needed it. Badly. However, he couldn't shake off that feeling of disdain and utter loathing of what was expected of him. Helping people was what he did, it was almost always rewarded with kindness but free food and friendship can't fix the trauma and exhaustion set in his bones. Each step toward the stadium felt like he was trudging through deep Fonatinian waters. But he was almost there… almost to his bed. Thank Archons.
“Traveler! Have you been listening to a single thing I said!” Paimon screeched in his ear.
He looked over at her sheepishly, “Yeah… you were talking about… uhh food?”
“No,” Paimon teased, “I was saying we should probably check in with Mavuika before we turn in!”
Aether looked over at his floating companion, he made a face of confusion, “Why? She said that she would find us when she was ready for the… thingy.”
“Traveler!” Paimon huffed with alarm.
“What? I know what we are doing… I… wait what are we doing?” Paimon gave him a puzzling look. She was about to fuss over him, wondering if he got a concussion during the war but the two saw Mualani bouncing up to them. She looked the same as ever, cheerful and bright. Before Aether was always happy to see her, but right now she was just a nuisance to him. Someone in between him and his bed. But nevertheless, he forced a smile and waved hello
“Traveller, Paimon! Good to see you, what are you doing!” Mualani questioned. Her boisterous voice shot a pang of hurt through his head and he flinched a bit. He saw a shift in Mualanis' expression but he couldn't tell what it was. Though she kept that bright-as-ever smile and kept talking, just in a lower-tone.
“You two on your way to the Stadium? I just came from there, everything seems to be going well for all the other tribes! You were just in the Feather-Flower clan right?” Aether's mouth opened to respond but Paimon beat him to it. It just seems like he is too slow today.
“Right! We helped stop a bit of mischief and we were just coming back to sleep in more familiar beds.”
Aether nodded along as Paimon explained what they had accomplished in the last week. He really tried to keep up with the conversation and even add some of his own input, but whatever he tried to say came out in half-finished sentences or plain gibberish that Aether thought was right. He didn't even notice that they started moving toward the stadium. He was leaning on Mualani as the three trudged along the path to the Stadium. He didn’t know why he was feeling so… off? Off wasn't the right way to put it. He felt as if something was missing, or more as something was missing before and now it has become known to him that said thing was missing. The feeling was the same as when he had lost his sister and powers to that god lady. Lost and missing a part of him that seems so close but so far. Now the feeling is intensified by 10 and he just might pass out. But he can't, if the people see him this week who knows what will happen. The people who rely on him will feel like their sense of security will be gone, and those who hate him see him as an easy target. The traveller hasn't really made any enemies but he can't help but think like that… he doesn't know why though.
“T-..-Tra– TRAVELER!” Aether jumps and opens his eyes that he didn't know he shut. They are already in the Stadium with a worried Citlali and Ororon standing over him.
“Eh?”
“Don't you ‘eh’ me! I was trying to ask you about your time in the Feather-Flower clan and you just stared at me like a dunce! Staring off into space with that confused expression, you are starting to remind me of my grandson during a lecture!” “Granny-” “Ororon!”
“Where… hm.” The duo’s look of worry grew mildly concerned.
“Where what, Traveler?” Citlali said with a softer tone, still as brash as ever though.
“Mualani and Paimon… they- where- I-I… the fuck.” He couldn't seem to speak, everything was spinning and he was sure he was hallucinating now. There was a black figure, watching him from behind a cart. It was like the abyss, or the night kingdom, or just an unknown spirit. It was something more, familiar, but he couldn't make it out. There was one eye that was watching him, burning into his soul. When the traveler looked into the thing's eye, it seemed to widen in surprise and it quickly disappeared. Aether tried to move, he tried to do anything to go after it but as soon as he blinked he was on the ground. Blurred faces crowded around him as the smell of the crisp air and roasted meat left him, the sound of frantic talking faded, the feeling of the hard ground left. And soon he stopped seeing, nwo he was nothing. Just floating.