46 C46: Forgotten Captor [Behind the Scenes of the ‘Secrets’ Arc]

It was still twilight when all of them packed their bags to set off to Monorith. It was a day-long journey to the outer skirts of Monorith if they went on a carriage.

But for the Argoth's best thieves, Katie and Rick, this was absolutely nothing.

An unknown carriage was halted before the inn when all of them carried their luggage out of the inn.

"Finally, we're setting off to a city," Alan muttered as he threw the luggage into the back of the carriage. "Dammit... Is it even possible for all of us to —"

Alan's jaw dropped open when Katie came riding another carriage from behind.

However, Alan felt like something was missing. Something that all of them had overlooked, all this time. Something...

'Where's Aether?'

***

'No one is coming for me... I'm dying here... no, maybe they need my help! I — I can't fucking escape... Not like this.'

For more than a day, he was hung in that rope, beaten to half death. Aether, one of the Woodland Foxes was still hung on the rope, chained and entirely forgotten.

As a thief, there was no possible way he could escape. A few minutes ago, he even received an achievement.

[Congratulations! You have achieved, the Prisoned Thief Badge!]

It was just an utter disgrace for him.

However, he didn't let go of his life. He kept clinging on to his breath, no matter what it took.

"I want to see to the end, be with Captain Leaf to the very end!" Aether muttered, breathing heavily. His hands felt like they were going to fall any moment, but he endured the pain.

His mouth was sore, his throat dried out like never before. He could feel his heartbeat gradually decreasing, as his life's breath slowly faded.

The image in front of him started to get blurry. His mind was reaching its very end when he finally managed to see a daring light flickering above him.

"Poor soul," it spoke.

'What the fuck is happening?? Did the light just speak... Is it my...' he blinked with a dumbfounded expression on his face. 'I think I'm going off to another world. This little light had come to escort me.'

"I said, poor soul... Now you should beg for my help! Hmph!"

Finally, he could hear what it was saying. A faint girlish voice came through. However, he did not like the slightest bit how she agreed to help him.

"Beg for fucking help? Just who the fuck are you! I was trapped in this goddamn cell for hours!!! Why the hell am I still trapped in here again!? Where are the Foxes!?" Poor Aether yelled out.

"Oh my God... I hate helping arrogant humans like you." The little light spoke once more.

"The hell are you!? Are you a kid... How are you speaking through that light?? Do you have sound magic!?" Aether questioned the little light floating above him, remembering the magic power he had heard Lucy wielding.

Because the image was blurry for him, he could not see what it was. He could only see the yellow illumination around it.

"What are you!? And are you here to help me!?" The prisoned thief questioned her once more.

"Hmph! Be more grateful for my blessing, you lowly human!" The light huffed. "I'm a fairy!"

'Heh? A fairy... As in... A fairy who comes only to a Bizarre!? Have I become... A weirdo!?' Aether gobbled upon hearing this.

A fairy, a spirit that can only be seen by a Bizarre. However, these Bizarres can use these fairies' powers to attain new magic and new capabilities.

"What!? Have I become —"

[A fairy had answered your call. You are destined to be Bizarre. Unique possibilities and many adventures await you, with Elena]

"Who!? Are you Elena!??" Aether asked from the little fairy, hovering above him.

"Yes... Do not call me by my name, you lowly creature. Call me as your master... Hmph! Your savior! Call me Goddess..." the little fairy huffed, again and again, getting into Aether's nerves.

"Jeez, your arrogance is beyond limits! Please... Tell me why you are here... and if you can help me, now is the time! Cause my energy is running out and I'd be dead any moment now!"

Upon hearing this, the little golden fairy crossed her arms and flew around Aether's head. "Hmph! Ok..."

"...and how the hell did you choose me?"

The little fairy, Elena, raised an eyebrow at him and answered.

"I am the fairy of loyalty, you see. Fairies are creatures of arrogance, and they are meant to have twisted fates like me and you. For your sense of loyalty to... Whoever this Captain Leaf is, I was awakened. I was prisoned within a glass bottle in this house until I felt your composure and got awakened by your keen sense of loyalty."

Aether stared at the golden light and finally, sighed out of relief. "The loyalty for you, my Captain Leaf... My Goddess. This loyalty had come to save me from this ill fate. Thank you."

"WHAT ARE YOU THANKING HER FOR??? THANK ME!!!!" The little fairy screamed out, impudently. "HMPH!"

"Sheesh... Arrogant little Goddess... Please, untie me from this ill fate and take me back to the place where my G — Captain is..." Aether finally said what the fairy wanted, not in the exact way she expected though.

"Hmph! You're a good person..." she finally muttered, looking away from the boy. "Now... I shall share my powers with you, Aether Lockheart, be grateful for the fairy of loyalty, 'Elena Lockheart!"

"Say what?" Aether was dumbfounded upon hearing her words. "My sister is a fairy —"

The little fairy came closer to him and kissed his lips with the tiny lips of hers.

A blinding flash occurred in front of Aether's eyes. A bright golden flash dominated his whole mind.

"Now... You and me, are Bizarre." Elena's voice echoed inside his head. When Aether opened his eyes, a tall woman was kissing him on the lips, caressing the back of his head as she did so.

"MMM!" Aether tried to pull away, but the woman did not let him. After another few seconds, she finally broke the kiss, as a bridge of saliva forged between their lips.

"Wha..." upon seeing the flushed face of the girl, Aether was speechless. "You're Elena?"

"Yes... Now I am your partner. You and I... Are connected in love."

"WHAT!??"

Flash! Another bright golden flash occurred in the entirely white space he was standing on, and he felt a massive amount of information flowing into his head.

Moments ago, that knowledge wasn't there, but now, it was.

Break! The chains he was tied with, broke and he fell to the floor.

[Energy: Full]

[HP: Full]

[Mana: Full]

[The fairy manifestation will only hold for 100 more seconds... 99... 98...]

The countdown began, and he knew exactly what to do.

He raised his hand and pointed it at the wall in front of him. "Light Push! Fairy Dust!"

Boom! A bright light flashed from his hand and it blasted the whole wall down to the ground, making clouds of dust cover the whole floor.

Finally, the outside air blew against his chest, making him feel more invulnerable than he ever did.

"Haaaa..." he sighed in relief. "I'm free."

****

Authors' Note: So guys... Something real crazy happened and I forgot this guy 'Aether.' LMFAO! So I wrote a separate chapter for him to solve the matters. Also, after chapter 47, the upcoming Arc, you will need to buy chapters using coins. I hope you all will enjoy the journey, also, do support me to become a full-time author so I can just do what I like... Which is 'write.'

[Good day to you all!]