Embers ignited the path, effortlessly traversing down to the deepest parts of the chambers. It blinded those that gazed into it, warding off the darkness to see those the flames loved.
An opening made it easier for the torch to stand on his feet, splicing through the vast emptiness. Make-shift beds housed recovering warriors in them. Namely, Valentine and Jakery.
Someone else joined the embers, a Thawed. She stepped beside him, keeping her hands together to show her gentleness.
"I did not get to see what happened out there, but when they brought them here I... j - just, please. Jakery misses you," Pearl said.
"Well, if I knew this was going to happen, I would have taken the beating instead of him. It took me a lot to convince Decka to keep watch over our kids while I went away," Ether's voice echoed.
"Hylo was probably the most sad to see me go. I mean, she looks up to me and wishes to be like me. Heading to conflict without her keeps hurting her tiny heart," he continued.
Pearl nodded, remembering the struggles Hylo had to experience. She watched Ether place a hand on Jakery's cheek, which caused him to open his eyes.
Relief washed over the little one's face seeing his oldest brother again. Something about being below Ether was soothing to him, almost like his sibling was a wall against danger.
Standing strong against tides of entities, beasts, and Variants seeking to cause Jakery harm. An unrelenting force that would only rest when everything around Jakery was put down.
"You're here!" Jakery's feeble voice celebrated. "D - Demon is here with us, Ether. Just like when we were younger."
Ether's eyes widened in shock. "What?"
"Didn't you hear the little man? I'm here, too. Missed me?" Demon's voice cut in.
His presence made Ether feel uncomfortable for some reason. There was something he could not understand, the urge to pull away from Demon's gaze.
"Glad we are all back together again. Now, how's Lya?" Demon asked.
"She's... um..." Ether pulled Tellendor from out of his chest, fiery reds danced as the blade came out. "Lya, your second son is here."
Pearl held her breath, she fixed her stare on the weapon. Something about a sword being mother to three hybrids seemed off, so she was keen in figuring out more.
Every time she asked about it, Ether would ignore the question. Sometimes he would even tell a story that had been changed enough times to become different versions of the original.
Jakery marveled at the sight, he saw what Pearl didn't. A Yomie stood in between them, a warm smile across her ignited face. She hugged Demon tight, then pecked Jakery on the cheek, and did both things for Ether.
"Lya, it has been some time since we last spoke. How are you finding your new home?" Demon asked.
In response, Tellendor pulsed blue. "Living beside my family has been my desire since I became a Walker. Now it's a reality. I missed you three so much, all we need is Solice to be a full family again."
Ether flinched at the mention of his name. "Solice... is he still enraged?"
"The Nine have been doing everything in their power to hold him back," Demon answered. "None of them understand why the sudden aggression. However, Solice is a major threat if they don't stop him."
Pearl paced her eyes between all three siblings. Watching Ether's small frame get towered over by Demon's, and Jakery's downed position on the bed.
Confusion spread across her face, she did not understand what was happening in that moment. She took a step forward, cautiously keeping an eye on them.
Despite being very quiet and calm, all four of them heard her. They turned to face Pearl in unison, almost like they were connected by the same mind. In response, Pearl awkwardly stared back.
"Your partner," Lya whispered. "I want to talk to her, she is a Thawed and deserves to know matters I will never teach my kids."
Ether obliged, allowing Tellendor to glide across the room without any resistance. When it stopped in front of her, the weapon transformed into a Yomie.
Pearl's eyes widened at the sight of this transformation. She believed there was a hint of insanity in her partner, never realizing the possibility of an entity encased within Tellendor was there.
Now that she has been confronted by the same creation, Pearl feels ashamed. Something that Lya noticed, she smiled. Placing one hand over Pearl's shoulder.
"You're a fine one, a choice my Shora made. Starting now, I am accepting you as one of my own. In Thresher culture, the partner of our descendents become our kids, too."
Lya glanced over to her offspring. "Shora, Ether. Shojoro, Jakery. Shodo, Demon. And you - you're Shorafim, Pearl."
"Wh - what do these names mean? Why did you give them those names?" Pearl muttered.
"My kids have always been part Zesher. Upon giving birth to Shora, Solice wanted to call him Ether because he could sense an igniting touch. But I named him Shora in my eyes, it's Icitru for Ether."
Jakery waved. "Mama Lya named me after her father. His name was... Shojoru, but I forgot there was a U in there and it stuck!"
Demon crossed his arms. "Shodo, rogue. I used to suffer from some kind of mental illness that made me unpredictable, even Solice was worried. But it wore off over time."
Pearl looked down at herself. "Then what does Shorafim mean?"
"It means you're mine, 'fim' is a prefix meaning belonging to. By dawning that you are showing interest in Shora," Ether answered.
Lya nodded. "Well, come with me, Shorafim. I have some things to talk to you about. But you must promise me none of my sons will hear about it."
Pearl glanced at Ether, she hated keeping secrets from him. They formed an unbreakable trust over the years, one that nothing could shake. But now she had to keep something from him.
Despite how bitter her mouth tasted, Pearl forced herself to speak. "I promise to never say a word about it."