Death

The garden stretched out beside the mansion, lush and alive, a sanctuary in the wild, rugged terrain that surrounded it. Every inch of the grounds burst with color, vivid greens intertwining with blooms of every imaginable shade. Each petal, leaf, and branch seemed to hum with life, a symphony of nature carefully curated within this pocket of serenity.

Henri and Aether strolled along a winding path, their feet crunching softly on the gravel, blending into the whispers of the garden. The crisp air was filled with the sweet perfume of blooming flowers and fresh earth, invigorating and intoxicating.

"So," Henri began, his voice casual but teasing. "You're going to talk about the kinds of alcohol I can drink?" His gaze shifted to Aether, one brow raised, a hint of mischief in his tone.

Henri chuckled, shaking his head as he glanced over at Aether with an amused expression. "Oh no, not quite—though that's a conversation we can have another time." He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping conspiratorially. "There's a new rohmal fur drink coming out soon. Supposed to be quite the experience."

Aether nodded, interest flickering in his eyes. "Rohmal, huh? Sounds like it's worth a try."

Henri smiled, watching him with a newfound curiosity. "I could get used to you, you know. When we first met, you seemed like the type who'd be asking questions left and right, and I was preparing for an interrogation. But it turns out I was wrong."

Aether shrugged, a small grin creeping onto his face. "Ah, yes…" His gaze drifted to the text that materialized in front of him, hovering for him alone to read.

"Rohmal: large, gray furballs with minor hands where their eyes should be. Highly rare and only found in the 78th city."

"Turns out," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else, "asking a Pletora of questions is annoying. Even to me."

Henri chuckled, reaching out to give Aether a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Don't take it the wrong way. I don't mind someone wanting to know more, but just… in moderation." He paused, then stepped back, sizing Aether up. "Say, is it me, or have you grown taller? When I first met you, you were definitely shorter than Aymara. And now…" He raised an eyebrow, the difference between them more noticeable than before.

Aether smirked, rolling his shoulders back. "I suppose so. Attachment skill has its perks."

Henri's eyes glinted with something unreadable as he raised his hand, the space around it warping slightly, almost as if bending reality itself. "I know someone who speaks like that." His hand hovered there, the edges of his fingers becoming a blur as if defying the rules of physics. "I didn't hit Ryuji with everything I had, you know. If I had…"

Before he could finish, Aether pushed him lightly in the chest, interrupting him. Henri staggered back a step, laughter bubbling up as he steadied himself, amusement brightening his face.

"Exactly that," Henri chuckled, thinking about Anna with an entertained smile. "She told me you were a bit slow. But it turns out you're not so easy to predict."

Aether's smile faded slightly, a more serious expression crossing his face. "I mean, I did die, Sir. That's enough trauma to completely alter someone's psyche." His gaze was distant for a moment, lost in thoughts he didn't care to share. He turned back to Henri, his eyes sharp. "So tell me, Sir, what drives you? What gets you up in the morning? What's your heartbeat?"

Henri rubbed the back of his neck, glancing out at the horizon as if searching for an answer in the distance. "You can call me Henri, don't feel shy," he muttered towards Aether, who nodded in agreement.

"I want to reach the top of the pyramid. It sounds like a pipe dream, but the benefits are incredible. Imagine having your own city. Even though most cities aren't nearly the size of Ghent, they're still massive." He sighed, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "This upcoming quest… it could make it possible. And you, Aether?"

Aether chuckled, looking down as he ran a hand through his hair. "Oh, me? Nothing so grand." His eyes darkened. "I have two: to understand and to kill, in the simplest terms." He tapped his head lightly, giving Henri a small, bitter smile. "But right now, that quest is all I can focus on."

Henri's face darkened, and he nodded, understanding in his gaze. "You and I might make great allies, Aether."

Aether returned the nod, his expression solemn. "I hope we will."

They continued along the path in silence, the garden's quiet beauty wrapping around them like a comforting embrace. Henri's gaze drifted to Aether's empty sleeve, a faint frown creasing his brow. "That hand… it still hurts, doesn't it?"

Aether looked down at his sleeve, his expression unreadable. "It does. I think a mystical took it."

Henri's frown deepened, a puzzled look crossing his face. "A mystical can't enter the Stem, Aether. There's compensation in place—they wouldn't last long if they tried." He hesitated, as though reluctant to continue. "But I did hear about one in the central district. Huge thing. So big it'd barely fit on one floor, just barely…"

Aether's eyes widened, disbelief evident on his face. "A whole floor? Are all mysticals really that big?"

Henri chuckled softly. "Oh yes. Think of mysticals as an endangered species. Well, you could count them if you had the time. They're diverse. You might see one the size of an ant, but it could still destroy a district if provoked."

Aether blinked, stunned, the information almost too much to process. "What?" He shook his head, as though trying to shake off the surprise. "How many? Do you know the exact number?"

Henri shrugged, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Hundreds maybe. Why the sudden curiosity?"

Aether sighed, muttering, "I just like knowing things."

At that moment, a message materialized before Aether, floating in midair for him alone to see: "In the thousands."

Henri straightened, clapping his hands together with a grin. "Alright, Aether, tomorrow we're visiting the Grand Bibliotheca. And in a few weeks, the Squidi will arrive. Just act like you are now—they'll love you." He held Aether's shoulder and patted it.

Aether's brow furrowed. "The Squidi?"

But when he looked up, after feeling the air getting heavier, a rustle of leaves, his breath caught in his throat. Henri had already vanished.

Aether shook his head, then noticed another message appearing before him: A cursed group named by a sage over three thousand years ago, known for their manipulative and persuasive ways.

"Well," Aether muttered, frowning slightly. "That'll be fun."

He continued down the path, his footsteps carrying him deeper into the garden. Ahead, he spotted a small pond, its surface glassy and calm, surrounded by thick patches of grass and shaded by a single, ancient tree. It was beautiful, the type of place that seemed plucked from a dream, existing in a realm untouched by time.

Two chairs sat by the pond, facing out over the water. Aether paused, taking in the serene scene. His body felt heavy, the fatigue from his journey weighing on him more than he cared to admit. He looked down at the chairs, debating for a moment before finally giving in. But before that.

Aether gazed down at the clear waters, watching tiny, luminescent creatures dart and sprawl beneath the surface.

With a glimmer of curiosity, he slowly dipped his hand into the water, feeling the cool liquid ripple around his fingers. The moment his hand made contact, the creatures rushed toward it, swirling and gathering around like ants drawn to sugar. They pulsed and glowed softly, forming a shimmering, lively ring around his hand. He let out a sly chuckle, intrigued by their reaction, before slowly lifting his hand from the water. Droplets clung to his fingers as he observed them, brushing the moisture off his freshly shaved head with a casual swipe.

"Just five minutes…" he muttered, sinking down into one of the chairs with a sigh. He leaned back, closing his eyes as the garden's tranquility wrapped around him like a warm blanket. His thoughts began to blur, slipping away as sleep tugged at him.

"Just… five… minutes," he mumbled, his words fading as he drifted off, leaving the garden to hold its peaceful vigil around him.