Ether blinked to find himself outside of Pareidolia. The sun above looked down at him, knowing its true controller arrived.
From then on, the Far Fetcher had no influence over Bergo, the sun. Only Ether could control it and the entity inside of Bergo.
The sun stood still, careless of time as it flowed by. Resulting in Zeek discovering Bergo's disobedience and the Sol Eater's emergence.
Clouds loomed overhead, pink in color. The grass beneath washed in orange rays. And Variants looking about, worried about what might happen.
He reached up for Bergo, holding the immense egg of pure flame and fury. It roared and growled in return, muted by the vacuum of space.
"Your link has been renewed..." Bergo spoke through psychotic waves.
"It has. Now you bow to me, your former dominator. Only when my Heir dies and I go, too, will you go into the Far Fetcher's or whoever's next," Ether replied.
"And why did you come back..?"
"Because I've lived as a trophy boy for far too long. My freedom is in sight, and soon I will have it. And when I gain it, I'll hatch a small part of you to accompany my life," Ether answered.
Bergo turned its surface to look like an iris, glaring down at Ether. Both entities knew and understood each other's power. With a large amount of respect held between the two.
Yet Bergo wasn't sure if that was the smartest idea. No amount of regulation could keep Koroth alive if Bergo's successor arrived, except for the right Third Rules.
"Do you understand your choice..? Is Koroth not beloved..? Should she suffer because you wish a partner..?"
Ether shook his head. "Koroth won't suffer, Bergo. She'll find comfort in knowing there will come a Noble Mind willing to hatch a portion of her."
Bergo fell silent, not wanting to continue the conversation. He awaited for Ether's instructions, like a good entity.
Knowing it was time to rest, Ether climbed the skies. Wind whistled past as he left Koroth, going beyond the speed of sound. To him, it was all nothingness.
Then he looked right up at the monumental creation in the distance. It being big enough to devour Koroth thirteen times over. Yet Ether was stronger.
He reached up for Bergo, then with a swift bite, it faded from Koroth's sky. Bringing night to wash over their part of the planet.
As for the other end, another Noble Mind emerged. She manifested Bergo anew, casting dawn and glorious rays to her part of the world.
Ether watched from a distance, studying how quickly she got away with stealing Bergo from him. But he didn't mind. It was the cycle of a Noble Mind.
So his eyes panned to the distant planets, the ones that remained uneffected by Bergo's movements. They stood silently, dormant for billions of years.
"Hmm..." Ether's body mimicked his vocals, yet couldn't speak. He felt uneasy about something. Nylin, one of the seventy moons belonging to the gas giant, Epos, seemed off. "What happened to you?"
Nylin didn't respond. However, the strange presence remained. As if Ether was being stalked by something. An entity perhaps.
The strong sense of isolation and regret - the same two emotions he felt when he saw Solice get abducted by the Distorted - lingered. Until Ether saw it.
From the celestial cloth that surrounded Ether, three Zegi emerged. Each being half Distorted.
"Ether? Ether?!? Get out of there, now!" Lya suddenly demanded.
Yet Ether was too amazed to see them. Each Zegi looked like him, minus the green eyes. Instead of green, they each had a wild shade of orange.
"Are you listening to me, boy?? Get out of there before they hurt you!" Lya pleaded. "Please, my precious Shora. If there's ever a time you should listen, it's now!"
From the trio, the eldest emerged. This one looked like an exact copy of Solice, except Syndicate Dust covered his veins. As if they replaced his blood.
"Hello again, my child. Look at how much you've grown," Solice grinned.
Ether's heart started beating faster, he believed Solice was dead, yet here he was. Which caused a serious question to arise: who were the other two?
"S - Solice..? Who are -"
"I won't spoil the surprise. When the time comes, revelations will be made. You will understand more than you already did. Then the major question will fall on your lap: will you remain with the Deviled Kin or side with us, the Sainted Three?"
Understanding Ether was tranced, Lya pulled him out of there. Simmering golds consumed the great Zesher, causing him to fade away.
"Looks like your mother still watches over you. Tell her to remember what will happen when I meet her again," Solice concluded.
Before long, Ether found himself within the orange fields of Pareidolia. The permanent sunset still clung to the horizon.
He rose from the grass, sweating profusely. There were so many questions he had about what just happened. Why was Solice there? Who were the other two? What did Solice mean by 'remember?' And how did he speak in space?
Lya manifested herself before Ether, the look of an angry mother plastered on her face. "Shora, why didn't you listen?!? Do you realize what you just did?"
"N - no, I -"
"This is bad. I can't let this go on further. Look," she reached for Ether's chin, positioning it so his eyes were locked onto hers. "You will not speak of what happened. This is private matters until it involves the rest of you."
Ether sensed the panic in her voice. Yet he knew better than to try for an answer out of her. Lya was firm and calculated.
Except for now. She was all over the place. Intense fear encroached on her. Because she knew the truth behind it all. Yet it wasn't her story to tell.
None of this involved her, she was just a Walker. But a Walker with a sworn Wielder. Who that Wielder was would be kept safe behind a secret.