Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Without saying a word, Sandra opened the ancient book and pushed it toward him... or at least, that was the plan.

But before she could react, Aether stood up abruptly, his face twisted in an exaggerated scowl.

”What now?” Sandra frowned, arching a brow at him.

Without responding, Aether marched over and sat right next to her, still wearing that furious expression—now almost too close, just inches away from her shoulder.

Sandra blinked in confusion, then her lips trembled. She nearly burst into laughter but held herself back, masking it with a sharp inhale. Taking a calming breath, she began to explain.

”You see... this book is old. Really old...” she said softly, as she slowly opened the fragile pages, treating them like they were made of silk.

Aether leaned in even closer, peering over her shoulder. Sandraʼs lips twitched again, clearly annoyed by his proximity—but just as she was about to say something, he seemed to sense it and leaned back slightly, giving her space.

With careful hands, Sandra turned the pages, each one more brittle than the last. She handled them with such care, it was like she was turning pages made of glass.

Aether watched, slightly surprised to see how some of the words and edges were crumbling into dust. ʼSo thatʼs why she told me not to clean them...ʼ he thought to himself as he followed her hands to a particular passage—just a single paragraph, written in faded ink.

”Everything was ruled by the Primordial... yet, even the Primordial could not help but bow its head to... Ether,” Sandra read aloud slowly, her voice a hush above the silence.

Aether stared at the words, his gaze sharpening. ”...Is there anything else?” he asked seriously, his hand reaching out to turn the page.

But Sandraʼs hand stopped his.

”Thereʼs nothing after that,” she murmured. Her tone was quiet—almost reverent—as she looked at him. ”Ether... the blood of Ether... What exactly is it?” she whispered, as if the answer might be hidden in his eyes, in his silence.