Ether held Tellendor gently in his hands, studying the scratches and marks of already fought battles and wars. His own face stared back at him, even though he hid beneath Etek Dur's canopy.
"Lya? Lya can you hear me?" Ether whispered.
But she didn't respond. Only the vast emptiness of Etek Dur answered. Ether fell silent, almost at a loss for words.
"Come on, Lya... answer me. I - no, just uh... l - listen, I know you aren't responding, but please hear me. What was all that about? Why were you pretending to be a Walker? And that reminds me, why does Solice want you dead?" Ether asked.
Like before, Lya didn't respond. She felt too guilty for lying to Shora this long. Even when she told him a countless amount of times as a little boy, to be honest.
"Maybe I can't get you to talk, how about Shora? I know you love him more than me." Ether fell silent.
He waited for a moment, hoping she'd show some sign of attention before he tried. But it became clear that she won't listen. So Ether sighed, focusing on that Thresher aspect of his mind.
Then he pleasantly smiled, opening his eyes as he lowered Tellendor. Shora awed at the world around him. The distant bugs scaling the trunks, the vibrant green leaves swaying in the humid air.
"Ehboo, ehboo (pretty, pretty)! Vavasta hui kanama (I think I remember this place)!" Shora cheered.
Lya heard Shora's playful voice and the pure happiness that lined his undertone. She mumbled to herself, building up the courage to break the news to Ether.
What she knew wasn't intended for normal Variants. It was a warning of an impending disaster, one that could result in catastrophic damage to Koroth.
She thought her words over carefully, drowning out Shora's playful chanting. The possibility of giving Ether the warning sprouted in her mind, but she didn't want to trouble him.
But if she didn't tell somebody, the odds of survival would go well below favorable. So she added it into her address. And finally, she was ready to speak.
"Shora, my precious -"
Shora jumped after hearing his name, he smiled down at the sword, believing Tellendor was speaking. Completely ignoring the Lya manifestation beside him.
"Please let me speak to Ether. I do not want this to affect you," Lya urged.
"Oh, funny Yomie! I'm Ether, but cuter..! Whaaa, maybe I'll convince meanie me to let me play later. Bye-bye mommy!" Shora giggled.
His giggling turned to rough coughing as Ether resumed control. He turned to face Lya with a serious frown on his face.
"You always said 'be honest...' but you - you weren't being honest to me. Why?" Ether asked.
Lya sighed. "I know, sweetie, but there's so much more at play than you see. I'm hoping this talk will clarify some of your questions about me."
Ether picked up Tellendor, then he leaned it against a nearby trunk. The nostalgia of Etek Dur's smell brought Ether to simplier times when he roomed with Oria.
"I think I should start with the obvious one first. Why did I lie?" Lya sighed. "My precious Ether, I hoped to hide within you and for Solice to lose interest in his plot.
But I was wrong. Solice is more keen on his plots than I imagined. The Nine saved him from the Broken Melody like they did with Demon, but they didn't treat him like their child.
Solice grew furious that he was consumed. And in his fury, he discovered his two previous sons - "
"Hold on!" Ether sat up straight. "He had sons before us? Since when - how am I only learning about this now?"
Lya looked down at her lap. "Zegi are hardy creatures. Solice moved on from his previous mate. I don't know why she passed, but she existed. She birthed twins, and they were the ones that discovered me and introduced Solice to me."
Ether settled down, leaning beside Tellendor again. He tried to think of the two Zegi he met alongside Solice.
"What's Solice's plan?" Ether blurted out.
"That's what I'm unsure of. All I know is Koroth is in danger of his plot. He wants to make an example out of us. Starting with me -"
"But how did you become what you are now?" Ether interrupted.
Lya sighed. "I was always an anomaly. I don't know why or how. But I think I'm tethered to the Nine in some way.
But that doesn't mean I cannot be killed. A paranormal entity, a Servant or Goliath, maybe even a Noble Mind, can kill me. Solice and his sons can, too. And their plan...
The Nine cherish Koroth deeply, far more than their previous creations. But they've grown silent over recent years. And Solice's emotions haven't gone numb.
Each particle of dust that flows through his organs he can feel. It's painful, but he wishes to destroy what the Nine love most to teach them a lesson in mercy."
Ether groaned. He understood the danger of Distorted entities. Like any sane individual, he feared them.
"But... its impossible to control the Distorted, right?" Ether asked, unnerved.
Lya felt extreme sorrow as she shook her head. The Distorted Mind was effectively an overgrown Servant. One without a Wielder to shape it.
"Solice has found a way, through his strife, his Will Power grew. And now he can control such a monumental creation. This includes your brother." Lya coldly added.
Ether fell silent, the warm forest air contrasted the bitter frigidness of his body. He didn't pay attention to Lya as she rose from her seat. She looked down at Ether with a bitter frown.
"You've got answers now. What you do next is your choice. But for me, I will go back into hiding. And if you ever see Solice or any of his sons, run. They are not worth the struggle."
Even while Lya faded in a golden mist, Ether stared blankly at the ground.