Chapter 509: Savior of The Withered

"Iris... why did you take them with us?" One of the Celestials leaned in to whisper in her ear.

Praise sighed, speaking out. "Because I wanted to? Got something against it?" She said, smiling while turning her head towards the girl. Winking, before looking back at Maeve.

"This lovely woman right here is Maeve, a Withered, and her son is Rune, a very lovely child, one that...." She looked at the others. "Has done nothing wrong, so there is no reason to spit on him, right?"

The Celestials looked away, slightly embarrassed.

Iris rolled her eyes, seeing this. "You could run away from what you did all you want, but at least you introduced yourself.

The boy standing next to Maeve sighed, turning his head towards her, his blonde hair sparkling under the carriage’s light, and his green eyes staring into the woman’s. "My name is Rush. I’m a Celestial, but also a knight; I’m the strongest person here. So if something happens... stand near me." Maeve chuckled, hearing the disgust in his tone, especially at the last part.

Could he really not accept having to protect a person from the Withered? Was it that bad? Before, she would have found it offensive, but something normal; but she had changed, and quite a lot, all because of one person.

After a short silence, Iris nudged the girl who had whispered in her ear, making her stagger slightly, before brushing a strand of her red hair away from her blue eyes. "I’m Misa, a top student at the Academy, but not someone that strong."

Maeve tilted her head. "The Academy?"

Iris nodded, chuckling. "It’s something we have, you know, that helps us get stronger, and such. Aether is also attending it. If that helps."

"So then how’s she one of the top students, but not strong?" Maeve asked, a little skeptical of the girl and her whole story.

"Well, because the Academy is structured in Theory and Practice, this ranking is for the theory class." Iris clarified happily.

"So she’s good at remembering things..." The woman smiled, almost looking down on Misa, who already had a small but pretty obvious frown on her face. "What about Aether?" She looked at Iris. "How was he doing in the Academy?"

Iris chuckled, scratching the back of her head. "I don’t know that much, since I didn’t talk to him all that much, but from what I saw, he wasn’t doing that well in the Practice season he actually had to partake in. The only achievement he had... was in one... which, ironically, you had to fight in and set a record alongside a teammate..."

Rune looked at his mother, with a big smile on his face, almost proud of hearing about Aether’s achievement.

"I see, thanks for telling me." Then her gaze shot towards one of the other boys. Staring into his brown eyes. He sighed, running a hand through his brown hair. "My name? Kan. I’m a spy." He smirked. "Someone who has been in the Withered quite a good amount of times."

"Oh really? Then you must really not be doing a good job." She said with a big smile on her face.

Iris’ eyes widened, not expecting the woman to say this. She knew she was proud of who she was, of the Withered, and definitely didn’t like the entitlement and the control the Blue Rose had over it, but to say that in front of five Celestials and the Princess was quite unexpected.

Praise waited until Alvira, a distant cousin of Elise, who had her pink hair and her eyes, but nowhere near her beauty or popularity, and neither did her family, and Dustin, someone who was good with people, at least those they liked.

And once everyone finished, she opened her mouth to ask a question, but before she could, Maeve spoke up. "What is your intention, princess? Why take me with you? You made me think it was because of my Affinity, since you thought getting delicious food could be nice. But is that really it? It was pretty convenient for you, wasn’t it? Was my Affinity so convenient for the ride?

Iris smiled. "You’re right, and I apologise; it’s not like me to act like this... to lie... but I couldn’t control myself... plus I’ve been trying to stop acting like an angel all the time.

I want to learn more about Aether. Who he really is and what he’s planning."

The woman crossed her arms, smirking. "And if I don’t, what are you going to do? Kill me?"

Iris shook her head. "I said that I’ve been trying to change, but not that much. I could never kill someone like you; my heart would never take it. But I also know you will talk; you’re proud of what’s happening, and you think there’s no preventing it."

Maeve leaned forward. "Because I’m right, no matter what happens.

The Withered will be free.

It’s written in the fate of the world."

"How so?" Iris said, tilting her head. "We have Fate on our side, and she sure hasn’t said anything about it."

The woman chuckled. "You will see, princess; I’m not lying. The Blue Rose won’t be able to hold control over the Withered forever."

...

"Since when do you know Aether?" Iris asked, more serious than she had ever been, making the other Celestials stare at her. It was safe to say they had never seen her like this, probably because this was the first time she acted like this... it was strange, but she didn’t deny it entirely.

Maeve stared into the Princess’ eyes, crossing her legs, while moving her hands to her child’s ears, just in case something was said that he shouldn’t hear.

"Since a long time ago, when he was a child... well, he still is now, at least in my eyes, but he has grown a lot."

Iris smiled; she didn’t write her words anywhere; she just remembered them. It was important to get as much information as she could from her, so if she wrote everything down, she wouldn’t want to answer as much.

"How was he like?" She said, her eyes never leaving the woman’s eyes.

Maeve chuckled. "Oh, he was quite generous, you know; he gave us food, even though we didn’t ask. It was a hard time in our lives, and he appeared to help and left; only recently have I met him again. Well... of course, I knew him from the Rebellion, but you get it."

"The Rebellion... what was his role in it? Am I still confused to this day? Would you mind telling me?"

Maeve stopped for a second before nodding, but glanced towards the other Celestials. Iris sighed as she made the driver stop the carriage for a short break and kicked everyone else out of the carriage.

"Now. Tell me."

...

"He was the leader."

Iris frowned. "Don’t lie to me; that’s impossible. To be the Leader, he would have to be the Abyss, which he is not."

...

"You sure he is not?

Aether is a... very smart child... I’m also very surprised, to this day, at what his mind can do. He’s quite good with people, just like Dustin is; I’ll go as far as to say he’s way better than him. He can be liked by most, and made others hate him with their lives."

Iris’ eyes widened as she remembered what Lilith had said to her... was she actually wrong about Aether... by that much... was it all an act, was he really the person behind the Rebellion, the person they had been searching for so long back then... who tricked them so much?

But how?

"Having second guesses?" Maeve chuckled. "I have no reason to lie about this. Just believe me."

Iris sighed. "And why are you telling me this? What if I tell my father?" She smirked, threatening Maeve.

...

"Do you honestly believe your father doesn’t know?"

...

Iris opened her mouth to argue, but she couldn’t. After all, she was aware that her father was hiding many things from her, but... would he really lie to her like this? Would he really lie to both her brother and Avius, just to keep Aether’s identity private?

But if he knew... then what was he planning by bringing the Abyss to their Academy...

’And... how strong is Aether really? To be able to survive a battle with Lilith, while being a Class under him, then to prove himself enough to get chosen first by the same Lilith, in an expedition many didn’t get chosen to join... including me.’

She sighed, looking back at Maeve. "How strong... is he?"

Maeve shook her head. "He’s strong, but not the strongest, nor is he the fastest. But, as I said, he’s smart. And quite good at surviving when he shouldn’t. That’s what makes him who he is."

...

"I’m not dumb, Iris. I know I said a lot; I have my reasons... and they’re simple: I know that there’s no way he fails.

And you will also see that.

When the Withered is finally liberated."