Drip.
Drip.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Could he have done anything different? Should he have been more careful? Where did he go wrong? What could he have done differently? There were so many what if's, but there was nothing he could do about it now.
He blinked. The water trickled into his eyes, blurring his vision even more than it already was. He could faintly hear the cries and screams around him, but the sound of water was drowning them out.
He blinked again. His breathing came out even. Despite all the pain his mind seemed to clear and all he could think about was what had transpired that led up to this.
He was awoken bright and early, dressed, given food, and dragged outside before the sun even rose. Mina and Neal were at his side dutifully making sure not even a speck of dust rested on his shoulders. His father stood in front of him talking with a woman who was idly fanning herself. From first glance Aether could tell that she didn't mean well and it looked like his father knew that as well.
It didn't take long before his presence was noticed. His father turned around, his eyes that contained nothing but pure hatred widened with delight when he saw him, "Aether, come introduce yourself." He gestured next to him.
Aether put on his usual smile and walked up to his father. He gave a short nod to his father in a greeting before turning his attention back to the woman who was hiding half her face behind a fan. She was tall, even taller than his father. Her dirty blonde hair seemed chopped, like a child had accidentally taken a knife to her hair and cut it while she was sleeping. Perhaps that was why she was hiding behind her fan.
She caught Aether's lingering stare and her brown eyes narrowed in hostility.
Aether chose this moment to quickly introduce himself, "Hello, my name is Aether. It is a pleasure to meet you."
The Lady slammed her fan shut, her eyes widening in what should have been a surprise, but Aether could tell that she was only pretending. After all her eyes held a scheming glint that he had grown all too familiar with. "Oh my. You never told me that your youngest was this pretty and…" She gasped, "…no abilities as well. Tsk. If I were you I would have kept him locked up. Who knows what scheming fiends are running amok nowadays." She took a step closer, her hand reaching out towards his hair.
His father stepped in, brushing off her hand he grasped Aether by the shoulders and maneuvered him to the other side of him. The lady's eyes never left his figure. "That is entirely unnecessary. Aether is fully capable of protecting himself."
Aether grimaced as his father squeezed his shoulders.
The lady scoffed, "You know just as well as I do that he isn't capable. Ah, don't give me that look. You know how fast rumors spread, especially in that horrid school." She smirked as she flipped the fan back open.
The pain on his shoulders grew. Aether pursed his lips. If he didn't do something then before he knew it his shoulders would be dislocated. He let out a small cough, "Pardon me for intruding, but a Lady as noble as you should know better than to believe in rumors. Although I have no abilities, I believe a person's capability should not be judged solely based on their physical strength."
The lady hummed, her eyes calculating as she stared at him, "How very Frenzel-like of you." She shook her head and let out a small mocking laugh, "Well no matter, we shall see in time whether or not you are truly capable or not."
Aether paused at her words. What did she mean in time? His eyes narrowed, but he didn't get the chance to ponder on her words as he was led to an observation area situated next to the King.
"It's about time, they are about to start." The King greeted.
His father clicked his tongue and gestured to Aether to take a seat, "That damn Lilian came poking her nose where it shouldn't be."
The King laughed, "That bitch finally came around? I thought it would have been sooner." His father seethed and in no time the two were bantering.
Aether paid little mind to their banters and turned his focus back to the Lady named Lilian. Something about her seemed off, but he couldn't put his finger on it. The commotion below caught his attention and for the moment he put aside his worry and tried to focus on the competition instead.
Perhaps that was his first mistake.
—————
Leon stood in front of all the students. He could feel their lingering eyes burning holes into his body. He would scoff at their pettiness, but it didn't matter. Soon enough they would be graveling underneath his feet.
Just like they did every year.
Aria walked up to his side, securing her hair into a high ponytail. "Do you have everything you need?" She didn't bother to look in his direction.
Leon glanced at her then let out a small scoff, "You should be worrying about yourself."
Aria let out a small hum, "I will be fine, but you need to be extra careful this time."
Leon paused, "Why?"
Aria took a step closer to him, a frown painting her face as she whispered "The strings are aggravated. I think something bad is going to happen."
Leon frowned and looked around him. The students, just like all the years before, were preparing while glaring daggers at one another. Some were whispering amongst one another making plans while secretly planning to betray said plans for their own benefits. It was a pathetic scene, but one he had grown accustomed to seeing every year. To him everything seemed ordinary, but if Aria was saying something-He glanced behind him, glancing at his Father and then at Aether. "Did you inform father?"
Aria glanced back as well and shook her head. "There is no point. The strings over there are normal."
Leon turned back around and looked ahead of him, "So what's about to happen will happen in the forest." His lips quivered and the grip on his sword tightened, "Great. Maybe this year will actually prove to be a challenge."
Aria glanced at him and a rare smile bloomed on her face. "Don't die."
"Same goes for you."
——————
Nox shrouded himself in shadows. He idly listened in on the conversations around him, but the one Aria and Leon were having made him freeze. His eyes narrowed and he glanced behind him, his gaze landing on the familiar silver hair that was shining in the sun. For a moment his breath hitched and his heart began to beat. He unconsciously gripped his chest and uncovered himself from the shadows.
Aether caught sight of him and a smile bloomed on his face. He gave a small wave and Nox smiled back.
A hand roughly grabbed him by the shoulders, "Finally! Do you know how long I have been looking for you? Father wants us to take off together, so get your ass over here" Sean said, but Nox didn't respond. Sean followed his gaze and groaned, but after a moment he smiled wickedly, "Hey Nox. If you continue to be distracted you might not get to see his lovely face ever again."
Nox frowned and turned to look at Sean.
Sean smiled triumphantly and patted him on the shoulders, "Remember what father said. If you win this, then he is all yours, but only if you win. Got it."
Nox nodded and without looking back he made his way to the front of the line with Sean.
Aether smiled as Nox walked to the front. He had a feeling deep down that Nox would be the triumphant winner this year.
'Now, where is Leon and Aria?' Aether glanced over the crowd, but couldn't find a batch of silver hair. He frowned. 'Maybe they chose to stay further in the back?'
He glanced towards the back of the students, but a movement from the side caught his attention.
Perhaps this was his second mistake.
His eyes constricted and his body began to tremble.
"STUDENTS ARE YOU READY!" The announcer stood in the middle of the field, his hand in the air. The students on the field immediately got into position, their faces focused.
"GO!" The announcer threw a ball of fire in the air and it exploded into small lights, just like a firework. It was dazzling and the spectators found themselves looking at the fireworks instead of the students who were running towards the forest at full speed.
The sound was loud, but no one covered their ears, but Aether. To Aether the sound was like a gun fire shooting right next to his ear. The sound echoed into his ears, bouncing back and forth. He gritted his teeth in pain, thinking that the pain would never end.
Just when he thought it couldn't get any worse, his vision blurred. He closed his eyes and let out a soft groan of pain. He flinched as something cold touched his hands, strands of hair brushed gently across his cheeks and a voice whispered as it raised his chin up.
[Look]
No longer was he looking at the Hunting Competition, but instead in a corridor of the Frenzel family. He…no Aether, was standing in front of a figure, such a familiar figure, who was grinning down at him like a hunter that had captured its prey. The figure's face held a certain warmth as he reached out a hand and gently rubbed the top of Aether's head, but those eyes.
They were so full of hate.
"You did such a good job." The figure's voice was soft and alluring as he spoke.
Aether felt himself nodding and a sense of pride filled him. And oh how much he wanted to yell at the young Aether. To move, to run! To go anywhere, but here. Don't listen to his words he wanted to scream, but the young and ignorant Aether who knew no love, didn't know any better.
"Too bad I no longer have a need for you."
A searing pain invaded him. Aether let out a shaky breath and gazed down at his chest. A small knife was embedded into his chest, right where his heart would be. Blood began to ooze out, staining his once white shirt.
[Why?]
Aether froze. The scene dissolved from his mind.
[Why? I did everything you told me to?]
Aether tried to take deep breaths. His mind reeling from the sounds that were invading him. He knew that voice. He was too familiar with it to not know who it was.
He held his head and whispered, "Because…they were just using you."
The voice went silent and the pain that had hit him like a ton of bricks vanished. He took a deep breath and leaned back into his seat.
"Aether?" His father called him. Aether took a moment and glanced over, grimacing at the look his father was giving him.
He quickly shook his head to signal that he was fine, "I'm all right, I think I just need some water. I'll be right back."
His father pursed his lips, but in the end nodded, "Make it quick."
Lilian watched from the sidelines with a knowing smile. Aether did not pay attention to her, his mind reeling from what he had just witnessed. A cold sweat drenched his skin. He felt sick to his stomach and wanted nothing more than to hide in the tent and throw up. He placed a hand over his chest, where the knife had been. He could almost feel the blood pouring out of the wound, but every time he glanced down it wasn't there.
Mina and Neal were waiting for him in the tent and Aether let out a sigh of relief as he grew closer, but before he could open the tent someone bumped into him causing him to lose his footing and fall to the ground.
He took a deep breath, barely registering that he fell to the ground before standing back. His mind solely focused on getting inside the tent, but when he looked up he froze.
Like a hunter staring down at its prey, the man smiled, "Hello. Aether, right? I've been dying to meet you."