-A day later-
Fire. It was the only source of light he had seen in a while. Ether leaned against stone cold walls inside an isolated prison. The dancing flames guided four Variants closer with each step.
As he watched them approach, he lamented announcing his death so early. Deep in his mind, his own voice yelled at him. Saying Pearl and Jakery would have been better off not knowing.
But to him, it would have been cruel to not let them know. It was a burning wound he couldn't ease.
Metal scraped against itself, creating a nightmarish sound as the door opened up. Ether watched, defeated, two guards picked him up. The third held up the torch while the fourth closed the gate behind them as they left.
His fragile feet danced over the damp floor. It felt like a punishment for everything he had never done. At first, all Ether wanted was to get revenge.
Not realizing what he really wanted was different. This he realized while being isolated inside the cell. He didn't want to have a war with the Light Legion, he wanted to be a father.
The dad to Pearl's kids. To be like Solice, except to teach his kids himself. Guide them through life just as how he did with him for most of his years.
Sunlight blinded Ether. Forcing him to look away. Right outside of his underground containment, was another cell. Except this one was attached to a Yinmar that pushed it around.
Both guards fastened chains around his neck, then wrapped his hands together. Keeping him secure. The deadly cold feeling of the chains haunted his skin.
Light had taken away most of his clothes, leaving him with a thin sheet to cover up. Which made him feel ashamed of being paraded around like a trophy.
Once everything was ready, the guards yelled at one another in Bakano. Ether didn't have time to decode what they were saying, he was too focused on Icitru.
He told himself his own will. Listing out things he wished went differently in his life, even to say his most shameful moments. Because now, he was on a death timer.
For hours, the Yinmar pulled the cell through the streets of the Light Legion. Chains rattled, keeping Ether's mind off the cheering crowds.
Many chose to throw objects at the prisoner. Hitting the bars, but sometimes going through and striking him. Bruising his delicate skin.
Shame continued to frown upon his position. To acknowledge his awareness, Ether silently wept. His bitter tears rolled down his cheeks, before diving off his chin and falling into his sheet.
At one point, the Yinmar came to a halt. Stopping to rest for a bit. That's when several students rushed up and began poking him with sticks while mocking him.
"You hybrid freak!" Some would say.
"It's hard to believe how far from grace the Coros lineage has fallen!" Others would echo.
Each word sunk like a dagger into his heart. Piercing deeper than anything he had ever felt. But it was the reality of things. He was not part of this Legion, so they shouldn't see him as an equal.
They quickly noticed the tears. Which encouraged them to yell at him louder and poke him harder. Sometimes their yells became chants and pokes became powerful enough to shove him around.
"We thought you were supposed to be the strong one, guess not!" One student joked.
To this, Ether turned his eyes to. "I am not strong," he muttered.
Somehow, the student heard him. "Obviously not, look at you! Crying because you were captured. Man up!"
"I willingly offered myself," Ether clarified. "My heart isn't as frozen over as a Thawed, brutal like a Feral, or determined like a Zegus. My actions reflect a warrior, but everything else about me reflects a Thresher."
He fell silent, unsure of what to think of it. It was like the student was in a trance. He waited to hear what came next. Which caused some students to do the same.
"My youngest brother, he runs the Legion now. I gave up my life for him, my partner, and my son. Because I trust them to continue stronger than I was," Ether continued.
One of the students, a female Feral, stepped closer to the cage. "But why are you so confident?"
"Because my brother is a mirror of me, just a little sweeter. My partner is a Thawed, big and mighty. And my son... is a Feral from the extremes of Olavin-Faa," Ether answered.
She seemed shocked to hear the response. "F - Feral?"
Before Ether replied, the Yinmar continued walking forward. Ending their conversation on a cliffhanger with no chance of a continuation.
As the wheels turned and loneliness settled in for a second time, Ether kept his chin down. Keeping his gaze away from the cheering crowds and mocking groups.
Hours later, the Yinmar came to a sudden halt outside the arena. Guards quickly stationed themselves surrounding the cage to stop the crowd from reaching their prisoner.
Metal bar slid out of its socket, granting them access to the defeated Zesher. Two warriors dragged him out of the cell by the chains.
Deep scraping played a tale full of tragedy and defeat for its victim. Distracting him from the continuous cheering and chanting crowds.
Not wanting to make it seem like he was in despair, Ether forced his internal conflicts into silence. Giving him just enough strength to walk on his own.
His bare feet struggled to keep up with the pace of the guards. They swiftly made their way through the rows of chairs that lined the outskirts of the arena. Going down steps until reaching a small stairway that led into an underground hallway.
More darkness greeted him. Unlike his last prison, this one had torches neatly placed across the hall from each other. Lighting a path to a door at the very end.
Inside, memory struck Ether. He remembered walking into this room, holding Jakery and Demon tight. The softness of their bodies as they comforted each other.
Unity kept them safe from their looming threats. But that was then, there was no one to comfort him now. Which pained Ether. His heart slowly chipped away, hoping to find comfort somewhere else.
What he found was more punishment. One of the guards kicked him towards the middle of the room, where a chair rested.
This chair was special. There were bronze rings around where the wrist and ankles would be. For securing the victim in place. With small gears along the very back to force victims to lean back.
"Get comfortable on your own or I help you," one guard threatened.
"Yes, sir," Ether heeded.
Like clockwork, he positioned himself inside each hold. After he was done, that same guard tightened the grip on them.
Cold metal haunted his numb body. He felt it wipe away the warrior he once was, bringing out a more submissive figure he didn't know the name of.
Silence heavily rested on his shoulders. This was it. Not his death, but the beginning of his torture. It was the first phase of his death. But he had hope.
As a Zesher, he hoped the pain would kill him a lot quicker. Making it difficult to receive his punishment in full.
While he silently prayed for a quick death, the doorknob twisted. A large figure holding a torch walked in. Footsteps heavy to hear, striking an ever-present fear into Ether's heart.
"Here he is!" Kas announced. "The grand and mighty Infinus leader, the one who called for war and the traitor who ran from his Legion."
To this, Ether bowed his head. Hoping his more submissive posture would earn him some mercy. But Kas was immune to that. His heart was tougher than any amount of steal.
Only soft for his daughters and wife. The only things he truly cared about.
"Before we have our fun, mind telling us why did you sunset?" Kas asked.
Ether slowly looked up. "Because Jakery found out about it. He warned me and Demon about your plans and now we're here. Because you wanted us dead, for some reason."
Kas laughed. "Dead? Dead?? Fool! You're a Coros member, why would I want you dead? I know your kind is full of powerhouses, just look at yourself. You could have been so much stronger."
There was no response, only shame. It engulfed Ether in its sickening feeling. Causing him to doubt everything he has ever done.
"To me, it sounds like you lied about so much right there. So let us beat the truth out of you, okay?" Kas cackled.
He stepped closer to Ether. Before slowly bringing down the torch onto his body. Embers fell from the scorched wood. Falling onto his skin.
Burning it with ease. Teasing him for what was about to happen next.