Darkness went on forever all around.
Nothing to see but black emptiness that felt alive somehow, with dozens of golden balls floating around.
They moved in slow circles around a golden throne like you'd see in an ancient place. It didn't belong here where nothing else was man-made.
On this throne was a man with golden hair that shined when the lights passed by. He had one leg crossed over the other, his face resting on his hand with his elbow on the throne arm.
He waited calmly, like someone whose ride was running late but wasn't worried about it.
"Soon." One of the orbs bobbed closer, its voice reverberating through the void without sound. "It will be time for your awakening soon."
Another sphere drifted forward, pulsing with urgency. "Remember, Aether. You must not trust those monsters."
A third orb swayed up and down in an anxious rhythm. "They may look like women, but they have long since lost their original selves. They are terrifying monsters now."
"They have caused too much destruction," another voice chimed in.
"And not carrying how many people they have killed!"
"Even plunging the world into hell."
The orbs began to orbit faster, their golden light bleeding together into streaks.
One broke from the pattern, hovering directly in front of the chair. "Which is why you must chain all of them and then make them pay for their sins."
"Treat them like the monsters they are."
"Once the plan is completed... once the plan succeeds... you just need to end them."
The last orb spoke with something that might have been hope. "And then everyone can finally be free..."
Aether's eyes opened slowly, and his golden eyes tracked the movement of the spheres with the interest of someone watching dust motes in afternoon light.
He sighed before asking. "Are you all done yet?"
The orbs froze mid-flight.
"You don't want to hear more?" one orb asked, its light dimming.
"No, I don't." Aether sat up a bit in his throne, still resting his face on his hand. "I'm tired of hearing about things I don't care about."
The golden spheres trembled, their light emitted flickered like candle flames in the wind.
A feminine voice emerged from one of them, softer than the others but no less insistent. "Aether, this isn't a joking matter. You understanding the plan is extremely important. One that will determine the future of the world-"
"World?" Aether's lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Why should I care about this world?"
One of the orbs shook, its light flaring bright. "How could you not care about this world after living in it for ten years..."
"Living?" The word dripped from Aether's mouth like poison. He uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. "You mean how you bastards place me in a dream where I can experience it? Don't be ridiculous. That is not even close to me living."
The golden balls shook even more but Aether didn't wait for them to speak again. He reached out fast and grabbed one and the black empty space around them rippled like water when he touched it.
He yanked the ball closer to his face and its bright yellow glow lit up his eyes, making them shine like melted gold.
"Don't forget." Aether said in a gentle tone. "You bastards took me from my own world and forced me to be here."
The orb in his grip shuddered and quickly spoke. "We had no choice. A person was needed."
Aether laughed.
First just a small sound, then bigger and deeper until his whole body shook with it. His head fell back as he laughed so hard the sound bounced all around them.
Finally, he began to calm down but still smiling. "Well, I expected that response." He released the orb, and it fled back to join the others. "I guess I should thank you guys for one thing. You let me live in a nice dream for a while." He leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers on the arm. "It felt good to be rich and have a family that actually cared about me."
The orbs pulsed with renewed energy. "See? Coming here isn't so bad, Aether! If you can save the world, then you can fulfill any goal and desire of yours!"
"You can even go check on your old world!"
Aether hummed. "Regarding the plan I am curious. Aren't you guys being pretty harsh on those Witches?"
The orb quivered in the darkness before all at once, the dark space filled with angry voices shouting about the Witches.
"They wrecked our cities and homes!" one voice shrieked.
"They killed so many people!" howled another.
"Don't even for a moment think they're good!"
"Especially after they made our world a living nightmare!" Each golden ball flashed brighter as they got angrier, their light pulsing with pure hate.
Aether didn't move an inch during all this yelling while his face stayed calm and tranquil. Only when their anger was at its loudest did the side of his mouth lift slightly in a small, knowing smile.
"I gotta say, these Witches might not be so bad after all if they can pissed you all off this much." Aether said lightly.
Silence crashed down like a physical weight.
"Huh?"
"What... What are you talking about?"
"Aether, they are the ones who destroyed-..."
"I know they destroyed the world." Aether waved his hand dismissively. "But I know you aren't telling me everything, and I don't like believing the one-sided bias of you bastards."
One of the orbs floated closer, its light dimming to something almost pleading. "We understand your doubt, Aether but you aren't ready for everything."
Another joined it. "But we can guarantee this. These witches have killed many and destroyed much of the old world. Can you really say they aren't bad? You who have lived in the fantasy..."
"Shut up."
The orb flinched back as if struck.
Aether clasped his hands together, fingers interlacing slowly. "I never said I wouldn't deal with the Witches but I just decided on a better route."
A pause and then hesitantly one of them asked. "A better route? Why didn't you discuss it with us..."
"Well, because I wanted to wait for this moment." Aether's smile widened. "The path I plan to take will drive you disgusting insects into the ground after all."
"What are you…"
He held out his hand, spreading them wide as if he was embracing them. "I will love all Witches. I will not suppress them like you all want, but embrace them all."
The orbs froze in disbelief, it was to the point none of them were swaying and moving.
As if the words spoken were unimaginable.
Then they erupted!
They were screaming all at once with their voices overlapping in rage and disbelief. They called him crazy, and foolish before shifting to scolding him on his stupidity and criticizing his idotic words.
Before then finally demanding he change his thoughts.
Aether let them rage for several seconds with a faint smile before clapping his hands together once. The sound cracked through the void with an ear-splitting sound and stunning the orbs.
"There it is." His eyes shone with something fierce and alive. "That's the reaction I want from you all."
The golden light in his eyes intensified. "You bastards think you could take me away from my world, place me into this body, and have me continue acting as your lap dog?" His laughter came again, wild and free. "You pests have truly messed with the wrong person! I will rip apart that shitty script you made and walk a path that I want!"
The orbs screamed in rage, telling him to stop acting childish, petty, and ignorant.
Aether laughed harder.
Then cracks began appearing in the darkness, which were faint at the start but then gradually grew. The fractures spread across the void like breaking glass with the golden orbs rage turned to panic and fright.
They realized what was happening.
"Please!"
"Aether, wait!"
"Follow the plan! You have to follow..."
"My only regret..." Aether says softly. "Is that you bastards don't have bodies so I can look at your expressions." He tilted his head, considering them with fascination. "But alas, my hope is that you bastards somehow continue this journey with me. So, you can see how your hard work, sacrifices, and planning get buried."
He gave them one last beaming, beautiful and stunning smile.
"Now fuck off, you vermins."
The darkness shattered.
The golden balls screamed once more.
And Aether laughed as every shattered.