Aether blankly stared at the long, wide transparent tube. Inside the shimmering liquid... a boy with blackish-blue hair, appearing to be around 15 years old, floated lifelessly within the glass chamber, his arms slightly parted, his head tilted downward, as if asleep—or dead.
"Kai?" Aether whispered, his voice trembling, his face contorted in utter disbelief. His eyes widened as if trying to confirm what they were seeing. The shock plastered across his face was unmistakable.
He stepped forward in a daze, unable to tear his gaze away, and slowly reached out, fingers barely inches from the cold surface of the glass.
"Don't," Xara muttered sharply, her tone calm but firm, snapping Aether out of his trance-like state.
Startled, he turned towards her, his voice still shaky as he pointed to the boy inside the tube again. "Kai...? Is that... really him?"
