𝕺𝖇𝖘𝖎𝖉𝖎𝖆𝖓 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝕾𝖒𝖔𝖐𝖊

PROLOGUE

12:00 PM.

Dew laid lazily in Aether's bed as he scrolled through his phone, his tail wrapped around his leg, waiting for Aether to come back after apparently being called for an 'important announcement' in Papa's office.

Moments later, he was alarmed by Aether rushing into the room frenzied and upset. "Dewdrop!" He exclaimed.

Dew immediately propped himself up onto his elbow, dropping his phone onto the bed. "Yes?" He asked, his voice anxious as he looked into the quintessence ghouls bitter gaze.

"I– Sister– she–" Aether stammered out, watching as Dew stood up and placed a hand onto his shoulder. "Breathe, Aeth. What's wrong?" Dew asked. He gently rubbed Aether's shoulder in an attempt to calm him. Aether took a deep breath, swallowing thickly.

"Sister told me she's replacing me." Aether spilled out. Dew's eyes widened.

"She what!?"

Dew's shocked expression shifted to one of rage and sorrow, tears already welling up and threatening to spill over. "She can't do that! She can't do that to you, she can't do that to me!" Dew yelled. "What did you ever do to her? What wrong have you ever committed?"

Aether was very obviously upset, but not for himself, for Dew. "S-She just told me it was time for some 'new blood' and that some ghouls just– can't continue forever." His voice was shaky and breaking up, giving away the fact that he was on the verge of tears too.

"Who's she even replacing you with? Last time I checked, there were no ghouls ready for potential summoning!" He hissed, his red eyes burning with anger. "My brother, Phantom." Aether replied, wiping Dew's tears as his own tears ran down his grey face and his purple freckles.

"Your brother!?" He screamed. Aether pulled Dew close, transferring some of his quintessence magic into Dew's veins, trying his best to calm him with as much magic as he could without weakening himself. Quintessence magic transferred pain, mental and physical. He transferred positive magic into Dew's veins and took Dew's pain and rage into his own. More tears ran down his face.

"It's okay, firefly. I promise, it will all be alright." Aether whispered, his voice shaky. "But Aeth, I don't know if I'll be able to make it without you."

"You will, firefly. You will be alright. Remember every moment we were both present, and I promise I'll be back soon."

"But you won't, Aeth. You're not coming back."

"I promise, I'll be back. I'm with you every step of the way. I'll always be right behind you."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

"Then I'll believe you."