ch. 3

As Aether returned to the palace, he noticed that everyone was staring at him and murmuring something. He ignored them and headed straight to his room. Days passed, and the time had come for Aether to examine the mysterious book. As he shook the book, the code once again began to appear before his eyes, but this time, he could understand it.

With the code memorized, Aether attempted to open the book by reciting the phrase, "Sheiveenizb hsisbej hsvshaj qyv djsbs hsvsjs." To his surprise, the book opened, and a man's voice emerged, pleading for help as if he were in agony. Aether was frightened but listened carefully.

The man's cries for help echoed loudly, "HELP! Help me, please. I don't want to be here. Help!" Aether was taken aback by the man's pleas and quickly closed the book. He gathered his courage and reopened the book, hoping to speak to the man. However, the voice suddenly stopped, and the man spoke.

"Give me," he demanded.

Confused, Aether asked, "Give you what?"

"The gem," the man replied. "The gem with incredible mana in it. Give it to me."

Aether had no idea what the man was talking about, so he asked for more information. After learning everything, Aether promised to retrieve the gem and left the book open, warning the man not to say a word or the book would be taken away. The man agreed to the contract, and Aether left.

The next day, Aether dressed in disguise and sneaked out of the palace to search for the gem. He stopped at a gem shop and found a red blackish gem that caught his eye. The gem seller boasted about the gem, saying that it was found in a dragon lair protected by six dragons. Aether was intrigued and asked for directions to the lair.

Despite the warnings to avoid the lair, Aether ventured forth, and the lair was like nothing he had ever seen before. It was vast and dark, and he could not use his powers. Aether wandered around for half an hour but saw no dragons. Disappointed, he questioned the gem seller's story.

Suddenly, the gem he bought began to glow, and Aether got an idea. He followed the gem's glow until he stumbled upon a room filled with gems of different colors and auras. Aether couldn't resist the temptation to take them all, but he heard a loud roar deep inside the lair. He knew that it was time to leave, so he grabbed one gem and ran.

Aether slipped back into his room unnoticed and collapsed on his bed in exhaustion. He fell asleep instantly, unaware of the dangers that lies ahead.