The streets were filled with rats, squealing at the hands of the nobles. Money was the most important thing, nothing else. If you didn't have money, you were no one, and you had nothing. Which, for outskirt rats, was much worse. If they didn't have money, they would have to leave the Rings, or inslave themselves; that way, they were considered a pet, not a human.
It was disgusting to see.
Aether frowned slightly, looking down at the streets, leaning a little over the fence of the catwalks. It was a sorry sight; freedom should be free, not something you have to buy, to worship, and desire.
Everyone wanted freedom, not having to listen to others, but few are able to reach that point, and funny enough, most of them are people who never wanted it in the first place, which made him think of something.
'If those who chase after it never achieve it, then why do those who never wanted it acquire it?'
He chuckled slightly. It was simple, very simple actually.
Because the freedom he and many others want isn't the same as theirs.
"Maybe that's why I fail."
Aether looked over to Elpis, who was walking in front of him.
"So why did you come here? Didn't I say that I was meant to go alone?"
Elpis continued to walk, not turning his head to face Aether.
"Who says we are here for you?"
Aether stopped in surprise, his eyes widened.
"What are you saying?"
The Knight chuckled, turning to The Fool with a calm smile.
"What could you not understand? Were not here for you?"
Aether stood there frozen, his mouth wide open.
He shook his head, frowning, and clenching his fists.
"The heck are you saying?"
Elpis turned to face him completely. He rested against the rails, crossing his arms.
But didn't say anything, leaving Aether's question unanswered.
He gritted his teeth.
"If you aren't here for me, why did you come to me?"
The knight smirked, looking below at the people wandering the streets.
"I didn't, I just happened to find you. And you, for whatever reason, followed me."
His fists loosened, staring at Elpis.
He wanted to say something, but nothing came out of his mouth in the end.
The Knight was right; he had been the one to follow him. But how did he get inside The Rings, and why?
"...so then why are you here?"
Elpis didn't respond, the smile on his face falling at that question.
"To save the world."
Aether paled for a second before regaining himself again.
"Are you crazy? Why are you even doing this? I should be doing it alone."
Aether raised his voice, moving his arms around as if he were trying to prove something.
In response, Elpis only smiled.
"Someone asked a friend of mine to do so."
Aether paused for a second, caught off guard by his response.
"And who is this person?"
Elpis's smirk widened, as if he couldn't believe what he was about to say.
"I don't know. Haven't met him before."
Aether gritted his teeth once again, this time with greater force, as he was aghast by the stupidity of his response.
"You're a Fool."
Elpis laughed, with tears almost coming out of his eyes. Before walking away.
"Weren't you The Fool?"
Aether froze, completely. Finally, remembering those words from somewhere. They were his own. He ran a hand through his hair, completely defeated.
Seeing that Aether wasn't following him, Elpis looked down, stopping in his tracks.
"You can always come back, you know? But if you don't want to, it's your decision."
Elpis turned his head, peering at Aether with his sharp eyes.
"Just, don't get in our way. I won't let you stop me from saving the world."
Aether chuckled.
"You do what you want, but you should know that if you want to do this, you will have to kill innocent humans."
The Knight's eyes darkened, making Aether stagger slightly.
"I don't care if I have to do so, if that is what I have to do to save the world. I don't care if you or Avrie die."
Aether's eyes widened, and a nervous smile appeared on his face. He scoffed, hiding his arms inside his cloak.
"That's not what a Knight would say."
Elpis walked closer, stopping only when they were standing right in front of each other. Aether lost his smile as he looked into his eyes; he didn't see that conviction and hope in his eyes anymore, making a shiver run down his spine.
"Who said I was still a knight?"
...
...
In one of the many streets, with the smoke coming out of pipes, and people begging on the streets, Avrie was waiting for Elpis to come back, so they could start to develop their Sun.
They had been able to get inside the Rings only due to Elpis' family, so she wondered if Aether had been able to enter himself. He doubted he was from a known family, with him saying that he wasn't from this world.
She doubted he was inside, so that was why she had not wanted to go and try to find him. Their time inside the Rings wasn't unlimited; it was like a ticking bomb. Because if Elpis' family, which is now under the Queen's control, found out he was still alive and entered The Rings by using their names, it wouldn't end well. So she didn't want to waste time and get straight into their plan.
But Elpis... he was sure that The Fool had found a way inside the Rings, he didn't have a reason why he thought that he somehow managed to get inside, he just knew he did. Aether didn't have money, he wasn't a merchant, and he wasn't strong enough, and neither did she think he would let his body to the Rings to use just to enter. He wasn't like that.
So sponsors remained... but who the heck would sponsor someone like him? He did say back in the day that someone had asked him to find these bunkers. But she doubted that person was still alive, and if he was, how would he know to sponsor him?
But as she was waiting patiently, petting the black fur of her cat, she saw a pure white flame burning in the darkness around it. She smiled, happy to see that Elpis was back.
But as the flame got closer, her smile faded as she noticed someone next to Elpis.
She felt her jaw drop as she saw a familiar cloaked figure near Elpis' flame.
'Aether...'
Elpis saw her stunned expression, smirking with cockiness from being right.
"See, I told you he would somehow find a way to get inside."
Avrie scoffed, seeing his mocking expression. But she smiled, a part of her happy that she was wrong.
Avire got closer to Aether, grabbing his cloak just like she had grabbed his collar in Downspire. It made The Fool a little nostalgic.
"Why the heck did you leave us like that, you Fool?"
Aether smirked nervously, bringing his hands up, trying to defend himself.
"I had my reasons, but things didn't turn out how I wanted, so I'm back."
He looked past her, his eyes having a hint of fear as he saw who was standing behind them.
"Did you have to bring the cat?"
Her grip tightened as the frown on her face deepened.
"I'm not joking around here, Aether."
She stared right into his eyes, making him able to see the confusion and anger inside her.
"Don't you think it's time to explain somethings?"
Aether's smile dimmed. She was right, he had many things to explain. He had kept many things secret, things that were meant to be said. But it was in his nature to keep things to himself; it made him defenseless whenever he said the truth.
But if there was someone, someone that he could trust in this world, it would be them.
"For example, how you got inside the rings. And who was the one who saved us?"
They were both reasonable questions. And both had the same answer, it was just that he wasn't so sure if he should say that answer, it could complicate things, lead to worse, or make things better.
Aether raised his head, looking at the Witch in her eyes.
"The Jack, that was my sponsor, he was also the one who saved us."
Her grip loosened, almost letting go of him. She seemed frozen, and she wasn't the only one. Even Elpis was dumbfounded by this revelation.
It must have been a great shock, after all, J. was a knight, and the third strongest at that. He, of course, was also one of the researchers and a past Child of Praise.
"...so how? Why did he help you?"
...
"Because I am a Child of Praise."