*What is aether? And where does it come from?*
Inside the body of every living thing, there exists aether — a force capable of miracles.
They say that long before the civilization of Amethyst came to be, the world was said to be filled with strange, unseen particles. A kind of energy no one could truly explain. These particles held power far beyond anything considered normal, yet they were invisible. Ownerless. Impossible to grasp — like air slipping through open fingers.
And so, over time, living beings began to change. They adapted. They evolved. Just as eyes came to perceive light, something else grew within them — aether. A means to sense, and to reach.
Right now, within her, that power churned quietly. It moved through her body like a steady current, not violent, not still — just there, constant and alive. That was aether. And no two were ever the same. Each person's aether was different, shaped by something unseen. As unique as a fingerprint.
If the particles in the air were fruit hanging from a tree, then aether was the arm that reached out and plucked them. What you made from that fruit depended entirely on you. Juice. Powder. Something refined, or something crude — or perhaps something no one had ever thought to make before.
Through her mind's eye, she observed him. Carefully.
The aether within his body revealed itself to her senses — and she paused.
It was pure. Incredibly so. Clear, like untouched water. No impurities. No distortions. Just clarity.
*How does he have something like this?*
Serein's frown deepened, just slightly. No matter how inexperienced someone was, there should still be *something* — some trace, some incomplete formation, some sign that their aether had begun to take shape. Not even a single hint of an attribute formed.
It was like studying for ten years and still not understanding a single thing.
Truly baffling.
Facing her silent questions, Ren just smiled and said nothing. Neither confirming nor denying.
He'd already figured something out — when it came to things like this, as long as he played dumb and kept quiet, people would overthink it on their own. They'd question, assume, spiral, and eventually convince themselves of something. And as long as it didn't hurt her interests, she probably wouldn't dig too deep.
*…Right?*
Still, he didn't let his guard down. His eyes stayed on her, quietly watching, ready to adapt to whatever she threw his way.
Serein parted her lips, a faint frown on her face.
"I—"
"Let's not talk about this." Ren cut in gently, just fast enough to catch her before she continued. He scratched lightly at his cheek. "It's… not something I'm used to putting into words."
A beat passed.
"…I see."
She didn't push further. But something shifted — subtle enough that most wouldn't catch it. He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but the air around her felt just a little colder after that.
"Do you understand it now?"
She raised her hand slightly. The faint blue-white mist that had been drifting from her fingers — like fine snow — began to gather, curling slowly before flowing back toward her palm. Effortless. Natural. The moment her fingers closed, it vanished completely, leaving behind nothing but smooth, unmarked skin.
Ren watched carefully.
"Not quite." A small pause. "But I've got a general idea." He tilted his head. "Is that the only way?"
Serein shook her head as she stepped past him, her hair swaying gently with the motion.
A faint fragrance drifted past as she moved by. Cool at first — like winter air against bare skin. But it didn't stay that way. It softened, slowly settling into something clean, quiet, and faintly warm. It lingered longer than expected.
…Pleasant.
Watching her walk away, Ren had to admit — she really did carry herself well.
"I'm tired." Her voice came low, drifting back to him. "I'll rest now. You can keep practicing."
"Got it. Rest well."
He nodded.
Then she stopped.
A slight turn. Serein glanced back over her shoulder, her pale azure eyes meeting his calmly through long lashes.
"Is there something else?"
For a brief moment Ren felt something tighten in his chest.
"…No." A small shake of his head. "Just making sure."
She held his gaze a second longer, then turned away without another word. She walked to the bed, pulled the covers aside, and slipped in — her movements quiet and unhurried, like everything she did.
Silence settled over the room.
Time passed.
Then, muffled beneath the blanket but still clear —
"…Don't push yourself too hard. We still have something important tomorrow."
She didn't wait for a response.
Ren stood there for a moment, caught slightly off guard. Then, slowly, he smiled.
"Got it."
Nothing came back from under the covers.
*Already asleep…?*
"Better not bother her then."
He exhaled quietly, then turned and headed toward the bathroom. The space inside was wide and empty — perfect for clearing his head and thinking through everything that had happened.
As his footsteps faded, quiet settled over the room once more.