Prince of The Abyss

Aether stood in front of the mirror, staring at himself.

He was going to a party today.

...

A nine-year-old’s birthday party, but still a party. So he had to look good, right?...

It was just an excuse to try out something out with his hair, really.

Taking out the pin from his hair, Aether used his relic to grow it long until it reached his chest. Blowing his bangs off his face so he could see, he used some of Sena’s pins to keep them off his eyes.

"Now what? What style should I try, short... long? I liked it when I was inside my trial, but at the same time, the whole Academy knows me with short hair... plus, I do like how it’s lighter on my head; I also don’t sweat as much."

Summoning Voidpiercer to cut some of it off, he first cut his bangs, just enough to stand above his eyes so he could see, but long enough to pass his eyebrows. "That’s good, longer than before but not that big." He smiled.

But the problem came now: his sides and the back of his head. He had to leave some volume in so that his pin would stay in, but at the same time, not too much. So he cut his sides just enough to sit on his ears, cutting from the top to give himself some volume, the best he could with a blade, and when it came to the back, he cut everything off that was lower than the start of his neck, so two fingers above his jaw.

His hair was longer than it had been before, by some good margin, but at the same time, it was definitely shorter than it had been as a Reader in his trial, since he couldn’t put it in a bun or ponytail.

...

’Maybe should have gotten someone else to do it for me... since I can go to someone to do my hair... but I don’t care that much.’

For clothes, he just took the ones he had stolen: the black shirt and jeans; it wasn’t something people went to parties for. But for one in the Withered... that, if he was honest, wasn’t even a party; it was beyond anything.

But of course... the last missing piece was not one of clothing.

...

Aether smiled as he summoned a blade in his hand. ’That old man really outdid himself.’ A Seeker Beast blade, not as good as Voidpiercer, but for someone who hasn’t awakened yet... it was way more than he could ever want; he couldn’t even use it. ’Maeve would probably hold it until he awakens.’

The hilt of the blade was made from this grey wood, and it was slightly arched up at the end, making a place for his hand to rest, the part of his hand under his pinky resting slightly. The blade itself also wasn’t straight. It was single-edged and curved near the end.

"What did Avius call it... a scimitar? Never fought with one; also don’t think it’s the original design. The hilt is weird, not like any normal blade. Does it even help? I mean, at least for me, it’s more getting in my way, but maybe I’m just not used to it."

Either way, he wasn’t keeping it, so did it matter that much?

Putting the pin back in his hair, Aether left his dorm. Closing the door behind him, but not locking it; after all, there wasn’t anyone who could enter because all the students were inside the Wonderland.

...

...

...

Reaching the Library in the Withered, Aether opened the door to see Maeve and his child, but he didn’t enter instantly; instead, he waited until Maeve saw him and called her over, moving from the doorframe so the boy wouldn’t also see him.

The woman walked out to him, confused.

"What’s his name?" Aether asked, a bit embarrassed.

Maeve’s eyes widened. "What?"

Aether sighed, resting a hand on his face. "The name of your child- what is it? I never asked."

Maeve paused for a second before laughing. "His name, that was what this was about? Rune, that’s his name."

Aether sighed, relieved, before walking past Maeve and entering the Library. "Rune, happy birthday. Got a gift for you." He was never good with giving gifts; he had no idea how to approach someone and just give them something, so he just... gave it right away.

Seeing him, the boy ran up to hug him... which touched him... he had seen him grow, but more importantly... he was this happy living in such a place; not even he was like this when he first got trapped, and he used to live in a paradise.

If he had everything he used to have, he wondered, just how big his smile would have been.

Rune lifted his head to look at him. "A gift? What is it?" The boy said, excited.

Aether smiled, summoning the blade.

...

...

’Why did it get silent all of a sudden...?’ Aether looked at the boy, who was pretty confused, and then looked back at Maeve, who looked... terrified.

...’ I should have chosen someone else to help me...’

With nothing to do, he decided to just play into it. "It’s a powerful relic; it will help you once you awaken. But until then, I will have to give it to your mother, since you can’t use it. But be sure that once you turn of age, which is just one year away, you will love it." He winked. Before turning to Maeve, who was still shocked.

"You can also use it in your trial." He said as he requested to transfer it to her. She was frozen for a second before getting back to her senses and accepting it. But once she did, and saw its class and rank, her eyes widened further. "Are you really giving this to us?"

"Yeah, why not?" But then he remembered something, going outside and coming back with a box.

"I also brought cake." He smirked at the boy, whose smile only got bigger.

Putting the box down on a table, he watched as the boy rushed to it. Putting a finger in to taste it.

It made him laugh... but glancing at Maeve, she looked as if she was about to cry... seeing her child this happy probably meant the world to her.

"And just think of it, Maeve... if you get stronger... you can do this yourself." The woman turned to him, nodding, since she had no words.

...

"Tomorrow we will start again, and when summer ends, I promise I will be seeing you leave to challenge your trial."

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