After Demon disappeared, Ether turned to Oria. The two awkwardly stared at one another for a brief period of time. Oria knew why, but she didn't want to say it.
"Once again, I hope Jakery can recover and go back out there. He's a good little boy and hearing he got injured or killed hurts my beastly heart every time," Oria tried to break the silence.
Ether nodded, turning his attention back to Jakery. "My little Jakery is a warrior. Look at him. Came back from the dead and is unphased by his previous life."
Jakery frowned. His eyes grew and colors became brighter. Making it seem like he was tearing up, ready to cry Krugi underwater. But they weren't there because of tears, they were there because of a bitter experience.
"I don't know how to feel knowing our parents are still out there. Ether, you said you wanted to forget about them when we were in the bunker. And they are more powerful than ever, for some reason."
Ether looked down at his bare feet. He focused on the chill feeling of the wooden floor. It reminded him of how real everything was. And just how far he and his siblings have come in less than a year.
"Time flies. That's why I am already planning my birthday out. For my birthday, I want to take you and Demon out for a trip across Imbushko. No mounts, no Legions, only each other," Ether changed the topic.
Oria yawned. Her teeth reflected the light from the nearby candles.
"What if I made it interesting and called you odi in front of Pearl?" Oria grinned.
"Do you need someone to talk to? Do that and she would sacrifice you to some kind of frozen god or myth. Probably the Rules themselves," Ether snapped back. "Just don't do it, please."
Realizing her joke didn't land. Oria cleared her throat. Jakery watched as the Feral backed away from the much smaller Zesher, who had a serious look in his eyes.
"Sorry. It's that I miss those days. Should have taken my shot when I had the chance," Oria admitted.
Ether ignored it. That was her previous fault, and a looming conflict was just over the horizon. He had no time to dwell on those wounds.
"Can you walk?" Ether turned his attention to Jakery.
He nodded in response. Hair flowing down over his eyes before being put back in their place by his hands.
"Then follow me."
Jakery unwrapped himself from under the sheets. He realized he had oversized clothes on, the type that would fit Ether instead of him. But he didn't question why he had them on.
All he could think about was how thankful he was to be back, and also the chances of seeing his mother again. Despite them being close to none, he still had a newfound hope.
The duo walked out of the room, leaving Oria in awkward silence by herself. Making the Feral feel forgotten about and separated from two siblings that nursed her back to health.
Minutes later, Ether and Jakery stood in the outskirts of a housing area for Thawed. Despite being invited to make their homes closer to the heart of the city, they denied the offer.
Claiming it would be best if they coexisted amongst themselves rather than with a blend of Ferals and Zegi. Although some Ferals and Zegi would visit from time to time.
Pearl carried Orako in her arms. Her proud, motherly smile displayed just how happy she felt with the events unfolding around them. All while four elegantly dressed Thawed stood around Pearl.
Bright white robes with the Infinus symbol edged into their backs covered each one. Making them seem out of place, as if they were something special.
These were Oracles. Three of which came from Frosticus, and one from Terron. Their purpose was to give interact with forces that decided to interact with them.
Such as Servants, Rules, Goliaths, the faint whisper, or even twisted revisions of Koroth. And they stood behind Pearl as her Oracles, given to her by Suth.
"What's going on here?" Jakery wondered out loud.
Catching the attention of Pearl and her Oracles. They turned to face the visitors, bowing their heads in unison as they did so. Orako became energetic. He kicked and tried to break free from Pearl's grasp. Trying to find his way into his father's arms.
But Pearl held him back in a firm grip. Her face remained the same. But this time, a hint of love was in her gaze since Ether was there.
"Jakery, you're okay!" Pearl celebrated. "These are my new Oracles. Suth wanted to gift them to me because she didn't have an use for them anymore. And she saw something in me that motivated her decision."
Ether calmly made his way up to his wife and son. He lifted both hands to bring Orako into his warm embrace while giving Pearl a gentle kiss on her cheek.
"How's the progress looking like?" His fatherly voice asked.
Pearl looked over her shoulder. Her eyes scanned the open roads behind her, where several Ferals, Stram, and Thawed were standing.
The Ferals tested out the advanced Stram armor Hedix made for them by having Thawed knock them away. After they finished testing one Stram, they would feed it some Abako chunks and bring out the next Stram.
Repeating the previous steps and talking to one another in their native languages.
"It's going great. The Thawed that want to go are preparing their equipment and minds for the conflict. Before you arrived, I sent some to go claim Terron's former base," Pearl informed.
Ether smiled. His eyes dropped down to the cozy Orako that held onto his father's shirt. The young Feral reintroduced himself to the comforting warmth he provided.
"Little Orako, I got you. You're safe," Ether turned his attention back to Pearl. "Good, good. All we're waiting on now is to wait it out and see if we get a message from those Thawed."
Pearl's smile got even bigger, this time revealing her teeth. Her eyes closed as her face lit up. A soft, cold expression that somehow touched Ether's heart.
"Me and so many others will be able to ascend Digon and be seen as a true Thawed! I am so excited for that day. Ether, please promise me you will wait for me at the start of the Rite," Pearl excitedly asked.
"I'd scale the mountain with you if I could," Ether replied.
Jakery looked away from the couple. His eyes narrowed as mouth twisted into a frown. A thought crept into his mind. The realization that time was going by faster than he had hoped for.
Despite missing the days where Ether would comfort him while Demon made breakfast, he knew he had to continue forward. He was going to be turning 68 in just a few short weeks. Something not many knew about.
Mostly because Jakery liked to keep it a secret. But also because he forgot to remind his siblings about it. And to a degree, he hoped they forgot about it. Demon wasn't really his brother and Ether was busy.
That's when a conversation he had with Ether found its way back into the center of his attention. Memories replayed like a lost movie inside his mind, going from the start to the very end.
He remembered Ether telling him about the growth process of a Variant, and how his training time was dwindling out. It would only be two more years until his body focused on a different aspect of itself.
So if he didn't train and strengthen his reproductive system, having kids of his own would never happen. The conversation rung out exactly like he remembered it.
With the conclusion of Jakery going to find a partner to train with.
He ran through his options inside his mind. A Yomie would be perfect for him, but there were none around. Zegus females would be a little rougher, but they could work. Ferals were a hit or miss. And Thawed were uncomfortable for the first few times.
In the corner of his eye, something snapped him out of his thought process. It was Hazen. She stepped outside a silent home, with a serious look plastered over her face.
"Ether, Pearl, Jakery, my father's old base was empty. We need to take full advantage of our time and start sending stuff over right now. Darkness is upon us and during the day the Light Legion would have an easier time spotting us," Hazen ordered.
"Heard that? Jakery, go bring some Sky Beasts over. Pearl, bring little Orako to our room. I'll go and lock my armor in place," Ether instructed.
Pearl turned to face her Oracles. Their expressionless faces looked back at her. Then she waved them away, as if she was brushing dust off her shoulder.
And like if they were dust, the Oracles walked away. Leaving the group alone.
That's when the trio quickly ran back home to prepare for their first of many tasks.