-Back when Valentine was 88 years old-
After a satisfying meal, Valentine and his partner, Levia, braced each other. They yearned for the other's pleasing cold temperatures. Nothing on their minds, all they knew was the love they felt.
Levia rested comfortably inside Valentine's adoring grasp, smiling contently as her lover hugged her close and pecked her cheeks from time to time. She fell asleep feeling the gentle kisses and loving cold.
In time, Valentine did the same. He drifted off to sleep with a warm smile on his face, excited to wake up the next day to find Levia in his arms again.
But when morning came, Valentine found himself alone on the bed. The purple sheets were neatly done beneath him, as if someone cleaned up the bed while he slept.
He dragged himself against the wall, leaning beside it as he waited for his drowsiness to wear off. While he waited, he intently listened for Levia.
She obviously woke up before him, meaning she had to be the one making breakfast that morning. But there were no sounds of pans, pots, or any running water.
Just a deadly silent house, with it being just as still. Valentine noticed how empty everything felt, but he assumed it was because Levia went out to get food for breakfast. Maybe she felt special and wanted to make something nice this morning.
Under that assumption, Valentine got out of bed and made his way through the quiet halls. He stopped in the kitchen, getting pans ready and starting the fire for when she came back.
His stomach rumbled and throat felt dry, so Valentine turned to the icebox and opened it. Inside, he found plenty of finely cut meat and frozen fruits. Which surprised him.
"There's... everything we need for a good breakfast here. Where's Levia..? Let's see..." Valentine noted everything in the icebox, then thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, we got fresh cuts yesterday."
Valentine ignored how his body was feeling, deciding to look around the house just in case he missed something. He first turned to the dining room.
Footsteps echoed as he made his way through the curtains that hung over the finely shaped doorway into the next room. Valentine pushed the purple curtains aside before stepping through.
When he entered, he noticed nothing was off. Everything was completely normal and where it should be. Even the neatly stacked papers that sat on the tabletop.
Although, one of them was moved. There was another paper placed away from the group, one Valentine was confident he didn't do anything to.
So he made his way over, the soles of his feet embraced the frigid floor beneath them. It felt comforting, even for such a strange event.
Upon seeing the paper, Valentine noticed Levia's handwriting. It was a short message left behind, or a promise, depending on how one saw it.
Valentine sat down, paper in his hands. Then he began reading. The further in he went, the more his heart began to shatter.
The note read:
'Dear, Valentine Tavious
You may notice I'm not here, and I truly am gone. I'm sorry, but I can't tell you the exact reason why I left. After so long, I thought things changed with me and my family, but I was wrong.
My soul broke into pieces earlier this morning when I saw something I shouldn't have. This thing that's following me wants something out of me. Not even Digon itself can save me.
Because what it is doesn't want me, it wants someone else. That someone is called My Sweet Lady of Descension, and I don't know who she is. But I must find her and warn her about this.
But I'll be back, don't worry. Keep your eyes open for me, I'll be by your side someday. For now, keep being you.
Stay with Frosticus and I'll find my way back to you. Teach other couples the same way you taught me. And of course, love with all your heart. You'll be sharing that love with me.
Goodbye, for now.
Levia C. Veyqala.'
Valentine pushed the letter to the side, resting his forehead in his palm. His cheeks felt the ever cold, but salty tears as they flowed out.
This morning suddenly felt like a dream - a nightmare. Nothing felt real, less than twelve hours ago they were embracing each other. But now, they're apart.
After that horrible morning, Valentine went around asking if they knew where Levia went. But each answer was the same: 'no.'
-Back to present day-
"I fell into a deep depression right after, didn't eat for roughly three weeks. Couldn't sleep either. Thawed were worried about me, some even urged Solice to check in, and he did," Valentine continued.
Ether frowned, unsatisfied with where the story was going. Valentine had always been like his second father, always being by his side and giving him advice.
He didn't deserve to get his partner taken away from him for no reason at all. Especially taking her without leaving behind any hints of where she went.
"Fortunately, Solice did come by. And he told me some advice that made me who I am. He said, I should respect Levia's wishes and continue to care for others. Not long after, I dawned this same suit and helped hundreds of other Thawed," Valentine concluded.
It was a pleasant conclusion to his story, one that pleased Ether and Hylo. In a way, Ether felt sorry but proud to know where the Crimson Lover came from.
Ether stood up, taking a moment to process everything. It felt jarring discovering this new side of his Sherpa. Almost unreal. Even finding out a little more about his father before he met Lya felt jarring.
"Well, that was... something. Not sure how I should react. I'm - I'm sorry about Levia," Ether apologized.
"No need to apologize. She'll come back someday, she said it herself. But when she comes back, I won't be able to see her beautiful face," Valentine's voice cracked a bit.
Tellendor hummed from within Ether's core. "Do what I would do in this case, Shora. Be a good little one, and let him go fight. That tyrant stole his vision, so he must play a hand in his death."
Ether nodded. "Valentine, you may go. But please, be careful."
Valentine cheerfully smiled. "Thank you so much."