"Here you are, finally deciding a Code and a good one too," Decka commented. "Perhaps you would like to know the backstory of Code of the Faceless?"
Ether stepped onto the cold snow, feet dug themselves into the white terrain away from sight. "Knowing a little more never hurts anyone."
Decka chuckled. "The origins of the Light Legion closely revolve around Code of the Faceless, it was embraced by the second ruler named Vrez. He was the spear to Detta's shield."
He rose a fist to signify strength. "Anyone who dared to step up against the Legion was instantly stumped out through unrelenting grapples while forcing others to the ground."
Ether blankly stared at Decka, his mind went back to the previous encounter with Talis. "So Talis knows it too... why is it so useful?"
"Allow me to show you," Decka invited Ether to a quick duel.
He dug Tellendor's sheath into the snow, then quickly pulled it up to unsheathe his weapon. Instead of a sharp sound, the weapon came out silently. As if it was aware of the context.
Decka didn't bother preparing, instead, he simply lowered himself and waited for Ether to make the first move.
And he did. Ether foolishly stepped forward, swiping down in hopes of catching Decka. But he quickly moved out of the way.
Before he could readjust to what was happening, Decka grappled Ether by the back of his head and wrestled him to the ground.
The snow began to numb out his body as the more experienced Zegus began to dominate the ground battle. Several kicks and elbows poured down onto Ether, forcing him to call an end to the duel.
"What the f-"
"Surprised? Yeah, if you caught anyone with these then they would be screwed. Unless they are a Code of the Nemesis, those guys will do anything for a victory," Decka said bitterly.
Ether got back on his feet, wiping the snow off his black clothes on his way up. As he got to his back, he realized something. That wound wasn't there anymore. It was gone despite being recent.
"Alright, so let's get to work. First off, you're a small little guy. A Yonie, half of one at least. So throwing yourself is your best option, but also your biggest bane," Decka explained.
The deeper Decka detailed the Code, the more attention Ether paid. He wanted to be ready for the next encounter and to combat the champion. Whoever that voice was sparked an ember inside him.
Every time he thought he was in his final growth stage, something woke another thing up. But what would wake up his Third Rule?
***
By the end of the day, Ether was burnt out. He returned home with extra knowledge about this new Code, and an empty stomach to accompany that.
When he entered the living room, a welcoming aroma attracted him to the kitchen. That was where Jakery taught Pearl how to cut potatoes like how Lya taught him.
Ether gently knocked on the stone counter to let them know he was back.
"Hey, glad you're back. How was your training?" Pearl said over the boiling water.
"Wait you had training?" Jakery looked over his shoulder, knife still in hand. "I thought you said you were going to learn more about stuff."
Pearl gave him a warm smile before playfully pulling his cheek. "Yes, Jakery, learning how to fight behind a Code counts."
Ether's stomach rumbled, quickly making him the center of attention.
"Wait, are you hungry? Ether come here, there's plenty of food for you," Pearl worriedly said.
The candlelight flickered as Pearl placed a big plate of potatoes beside it, where Ether could see it properly. Even without the light, he could still see clearly.
Growing up made him realize a neat little trick about himself. Something left over by his Thresher heritage or perhaps a mutation.
Every time he rubbed his head, his eyes would suddenly shift into a night-vision mode. Allowing him to see almost perfectly fine, with the exception of being blinded the second actual light is introduced.
But this didn't bother him. It was a trick he kept to himself. Something that made him feel special.
"And here's some meat and some grape juice. Enjoy it!" Pearl wholeheartedly announced.
Ether picked up a nearby fork and knife, allowing him to safely eat the dinner she and his brother made. But something felt off, when he looked up at the two, they stared at him.
Pearl seemed happy from watching him eat while Jakery seemed confused.
"What?"
"It looks like you're enjoying it. I found Jakery doing this alone so I decided to try and learn it as well, so whenever we get hungry we could prepare this dish together!" Pearl excitedly replied.
Jakery cleared his throat. "So what's up with you and the two girls that are part of our friend circle?"
Ether looked at Jakery with a confused stare. "Huh? What? Oh do you mean the thing with me and Oria and Pearl?"
Jakery nodded, waiting for a response.
"Oria is like my little sister. Pearl and I have... reproduced, to say the least. That's why I wasn't active for half the day yesterday," Ether confessed.
"I'm not going to sit here and pretend like I didn't love it. It was amazing!" Pearl added.
The room fell silent as Jakery and Pearl began to eat with Ether. Each took their share and swiftly scarfed it down.
"Well, did you hear anything about any of our Thawed?" Ether asked his younger brother.
Jakery took a sip from his cup. "Yeah. Quill had his vision. Now their Thawed are all nervous. Valentine also has appeared to show the Book of Will to other Variants now, especially Risk and his Ferals."
Ether raised an eyebrow. "Why them?"
"Probably because of their nature. Valentine is a smart guy. He is probably teaching them the uniqueness of that book and the author. I heard Muto, the author, was an honored Light Legion elite."
"What about Kellenas? I can imagine their Ferals are busy now with snow and the possibility of the Light Legion discovering their ties with us," Ether added.
Jakery smirked. "Funny you mentioned them. Because they, through the ancient method of bending another Feral's teeth until they snap, have obtained the location of a foreign Yarno Feral pack."
"Oh! Did they find and catch the Light Legion's Ferals?" Ether asked in awe.
His brother simply nodded. Enough confirmation to put his troubles to rest.
After finishing his share, Ether placed the fork and knife beside the plate and headed down the hall to his room. He was ready to head to bed for the night.
"Before you go!" Jakery called out.
Ether looked over his shoulder, waiting to hear what Jakery was going to say.
"Just know Demon hasn't been seen lately. I went to Volknair and he wasn't there. Although Hedix did successfully recover from his injuries and is planning on building himself a new leg."
Then he continued down the hall. The news was a mixed signal. On one hand, the Thawed and Ferals are slowly becoming stronger. But on the other, Demon was gone.
Despite not being exactly who he was, Ether still wanted his first brother safe from harm. Even from the Nine themselves.
-An hour later, Ether's mind-
[Fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers...]
He opened his eyes to see an empty world like the one from his previous dream. Except this world had the voice of what sounded like a young Zegus female reading an old poem.
[Little, little pawn. Murder your kind for the unruly divine...]
Ether looked around for the source, but there was nothing around him. Except for below. What appeared to be a couple steps below him was a giant black mass that twitched and turned.
Whatever that seemed... alive. Like a heartbeat, but more sinister.
[Secrets kept from the blind eye. Little, little pawn...]
"Beautiful isn't it?" An emotionless voice asked.
Ether turned around to see who it was and a giant winged creature dwarfed him. The abyssal black figure observed him as the red outlines struck fear into his heart.
"Do not worry, little, little pawn. I am not here to hurt you, just here to show you something."
The creature bowed its head. "Do you wish to see the world from the perspective of a servant?"
"S - servant? Aren't those... the things that do the bidding of the Nine?" Ether replied.
"Yes, that is true. They do our work while we stay a safe distance away from Koroth. But do you wish to see what they see?" It's emotionless voice asked again.
Ether nodded, waiting for the entity to show him.
"This is Delheer, Servant of Six. What do you notice?"
He was now inside the eyes of another Prime, except this one appeared to be somewhere different. Gold and white banners with a winged shield logo decorated the pillars around.
Everything seemed distant until Ether looked back at the banners. Gold, white, winged shield... this was in the Light Legion's walls. Somehow, a servant was captured and restrained inside the Legion.
"How did they get their hands on Delheer? Better question, why Delheer?" Ether asked in awe.
The creature shrieked, almost deafening Ether. "It's because of Delheer's power. It is instructed to keep an eye on every possible timeline the Sixth Rule has created to ensure the Light Legion always wins."
Before Ether could utter a word, the world around him went dark and silent. No more distant voices reading a poem, no more winged creature, not even the inside of some type of chamber in the Light Legion.
A dream quickly returned to nothingness, almost as if something or someone wanted to stop them from interacting.