Aether Bardock: The God Of Destruction

Chapter 2: The Truth

After the revelation, the rain continued to pour, the droplets tapping against the ancient trees that sheltered them. Aether stood motionless, his thoughts spinning, his heart heavy. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words caught in his throat. The weight of the truth was suffocating, and for the first time in a long while, he felt utterly lost.

Paimon, now in her true form, stood beside him, her eyes downcast, guilt hanging heavily over her. Despite the crushing weight of her own emotions, she forced a small, fragile smile.

"You don't have to ask everything at once... I know this is a lot,"she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I'll answer whatever I can. No more secrets."

Aether looked at her, unsure of where to begin. The goddess before him-no longer his bubbly companion-had revealed the truth he never imagined. His mind screamed for answers, but his heart, wounded and weary, hesitated. How could the one who'd always been by his side be the very one who had taken everything from him-yet he can never hate her

He finally spoke, his voice shaky. "I just... I don't even know where to start. You're... not who I thought you were. None of this is what I thought it was."

Paimon flinched at his words but nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "I know," she said, her voice breaking. "I know how this looks... and how you must feel. But please, Aether, believe me-I never wanted to hurt you. I've been carrying this burden for so long..."

Aether was struggling to maintain his composure. He took a deep breath, his mind racing back to the one thing that had haunted him since the day they were separated.

And yet because this was the person that he loved he can only ask one question despite not having any hatred towards her no more.

"Why?" His voice was firmer now, laced with an undercurrent of curiosity and pain. "Why did you take me away from my sister? I've spent years searching for her, i do not hate you for doing it anymore but I just wanted to know, why?"

Paimon's expression darkened, and she took a step closer, her eyes filled with sorrow. "I didn't want to separate you... but I had no choice. It was part of my mission. Your sister-no, the one you believed was your sister-was never meant to be with you." Her voice was strained, heavy with the weight of the truth she had kept hidden.

Aether felt a hollow ache in his chest, his stomach tightening at her words. "Not my sister...?" he repeated, as if trying to grasp the meaning behind them. His voice trembled. "But she's always been there. We grew up together... she's all I have left. How could she not be my sister?"

Paimon's gaze softened with sadness, and she swallowed hard, preparing herself for the truth she knew would crush him.

"She was never your sister, Aether. Your real family... your true destiny... was hidden from you. The people who raised you, who made you believe you were one of them, were afraid of what you could become."

Aether's mind raced, memories flashing before him-memories of being treated differently, being cast aside, even by those he thought loved him. He remembered how his mother had always seemed cold, distant, even cruel at times. The words she spat at him, the way she looked at him like he didn't belong.

"What... what are you saying?" Aether's voice was barely audible, a tremor of fear creeping in. "What am I... if not their son?"