During the early hours of the night, Nestres returned home. The ever-creeping weary of a day's labor put most of his body into a slower state.
He slipped past the door, closing it behind him. The nearly pitch black room smelled of fresh lavender flowers, reminding him of Ether.
When the memory of his trophy boy came back to him, he stopped by his door. Listening intently for Ether's gentle snores or the sounds of objects shifting about.
Yet there was nothing. However, Nestres didn't think it was anything bad. After all, they had just fought a Goliath earlier that same day. Even his trophy deserved rest.
Nestres walked towards the stairs tucked up against the corner of the room. Floor boards creaked beneath his weight, alerting Ventelu of someone's presence.
Upon reaching the top of the stairs, Nestres noticed his loyal Noble Mind resting in front of the fireplace. The embers danced and quietly popped.
The smell of burning wood filled up the room, albeit in a good scent. It smelled like fresh pine trees.
"Good night, Ventelu. Hope you're okay after that death," Nestres' voice was gentle and fatherly.
Ventelu didn't look back at Nestres, yet he responded. "Thank you, sir." His voice was low and shy.
Both Variants parted ways for the night. Nestres continued walking down the hallway until he came face to face with his room towards the back.
It was spacious and welcoming, keeping a relaxing atmosphere. There were scented candles atop a table, surrounding a painting of him and his sister.
Nestres stopped right before the painting, looking down at it with a look of sorrow. He felt defeated each time he looked at it, seeing the happiness in their face.
Almost a mockery to him. Now he understands the world better. Goliaths, Servants, Wielders, Walkers. All of these were just the first issues.
The real issue is the one embedded in their bodies. Diseases, disabilities, and disorders. Each one was its own plague - one meant to thrive just as Variants would.
"Dear mother o' mine," Nestres began his nightly prayer. "I beg for your mercy and kindness. Harbor away all lost souls to their homes atop ours. And grant us the strength needed to survive."
Nestres lit up a vanilla scented candle in memory of the simple life he lived with his sister. Just two siblings looking out for each other after their parents fought and promptly died in a war.
He kept his eyes glued to his sister's smile. "You had that wicked grin. Even when we discovered our disease, you still smiled. How I wish it took me first, instead of you."
Floor boards creaked as he made the short walk to his bed. When he sat down on it, the bed groaned.
Nestres sighed. "Sister... I want to forget - I really do. But I won't forgive nor forget your name until I cleanse this entire planet of what killed you."
He unbuckled the leather straps that held his armor in place, allowing him to take it all off. Each plate removed marked less burdens.
Until he was left with the already crushing one about his sister. During that moment of vulnerability, he wanted to barge right into Ether's room and seek comfort there.
After all, that's the real reason why he took Ether under his protection after killing his previous owner. The resemblance of his sister's caring smile sat comfortably on Ether's and Shora's face.
Making it difficult to decide whether or not he should link Ether to his being. Because to him, it would be like owning his sister as a warrior, not a sibling.
The question continued to bounce around in his head until he drifted off to sleep.
When dawn struck the skies by its own accord, liberated from Zeek's fury, Nestres rose. He first looked outside his window, catching a glimpse of the kindred moons still looming overhead.
"Oh, no... this isn't good," he muttered to himself. "Hopefully Zeek or some other Noble Mind can rise up to bring down the moons. Unless we want extinction."
Nestres shook the idea off, regaining confidence that today Zeek would finish manifesting himself and take them down. He instead turned to the candles, checking to see if the vanilla one was still burning.
"Hopefully you had a good night, sis. You know the deal by now," Nestres sighed. "B - but there's good news. Once every Noble Mind is back, we'll lure a Servant out and maybe kill it."
The room went quiet, just like he expected. So Nestres nodded, confirming the end of their daily conversation. He turned and walked out of his room.
Distant thumping and cutting caught his attention, the sound of someone cooking. Ventelu worked away in the kitchen, preparing something to refuel their well-worn bodies.
When Nestres made his way downstairs, he first stopped by Ether's room. Despite not hearing anything inside, he assumed Ether was still asleep.
But he opened the door and looked inside, just to make sure. However, there was nobody inside. Not Hitirus, Ether, even his daughter.
Some ribbons were missing, too. Same with two brushes and a bow. The scene made Nestres light headed and unnerved.
"Ventelu, did you see Ether come out of his room?!" Nestres asked.
"No, sir. I've been trying to cover," Ventelu mumbled.
"What?" Nestres replied.
Ventelu turned around, leaning on the kitchen counter so he could poke his head around the corner. "I said no, sir. Since you ordered me to manifest myself here, I have been recovering."
A feeling of panic made Nestres' heart beat faster. He lost his sister already; he wasn't going to lose what reminded him of her.
"Dammit. Stay here in case he shows up again. I'll go beckon Solqulo, he'll let us know exactly where Ether is," Nestres ordered.
Ventelu watched Nestres run out of the house. He glanced down at the counter, checking over his reflection.
There was a hint of distaste and shame when he locked eyes with himself. What he did was not okay.