While Aether was busy guiding the souls Grace had mentioned earlier, let's take a small step back in time—back to the moment when he had nearly killed Vesperine.
Everyone blinked in confusion and disbelief when Aether suddenly vanished—no warning, no sound—just violently yanked by dark, glowing chains that burst out of nowhere. He was dragged forcefully into a swirling portal that shimmered with energy, then gone in an instant.
Panic erupted in the dining room.
Immediately, everyone tried to contact Aether through their channels. Voices echoed, minds reached out—but there was nothing. Absolute silence. He didn't respond. Not even a flicker of acknowledgement.
Faces tightened with anxiety. Eyes darted between one another. Worry thickened the air like a storm about to break.
"G-Guys… just what happened?!" Helena's voice trembled as she clutched her hands to her chest, her eyes wide, lips pale. She had finally snapped out of her stunned state and turned to the others.
