Chapter 126: Beyond Failure

Aether watched over the district; it was much freer than usual, maybe because the source of information they had been using until now had been proven to be useless, even if, in reality, it very much was.

But no takeback now, he got his lantern back, and he wasn’t going to give it back away.

Plus, in his opinion, ’he had already done his part; he had kept them chasing after him for a while, so now reality, there was only one thing to do, which was what he was saving all his essence for, and more importantly, for what he bought ten essence potions, burning his, Riven’,s and Lyra’s pockets dry.

But it was necessary after all, he was only a Reader, and while with his sync rising, and becoming an echo, his essence pool had become bigger, but not nearly enough.

Until now, he had manipulated the memories of others one by one, but now, he was going to manipulate the whole of the Marketplace, make them believe everything Riven had done to them was actually the group from the Blue Rose. The n if they were lucky, the word would spread, and then, if everything goes right, the Withered will go against the Blue Rose, drive them out.

But first, he wanted to see what Riven had done.

He didn’t doubt the boy’s powers. Veil was a powerful affinity, so he expected to see a lot of chaos, and chaos he got.

The streets were crowded with fighting, as no one could talk to anyone without fighting, even more now that he arrived, his earring made calm conversing impossible, almost.

Stalls were set on fire, torn into pieces, and there were trails of blood leaking. Some arcs were falling, which he couldn’t understand how that had happened. The air was full of screaming. Covering his ears to stop it proved insufficient, as it was too loud and close.

He knew what was happening very well, and truth be told, it was scary, knowing that some gossip and lies can create this. Riven, if careful, can pose as everyone inside the Marketplace, which, now looking back on it, he understood why he asked him to use Shadow Speech on some people, so he could then pose as them, or something.

The boy was evil, shattering links and causing trouble for anyone around.

The Marketplace has fallen, while it didn’t look like it. In its state, of being almost impossible to get around, with it in flames and arcs falling down, and most importantly, with the merchants fighting each other, and not being in such good moods, the Blue Rose wouldn’t want to come and buy something from here.

’I am… impressed.’

He nodded, pleased with Riven’s work; the guy had really done his part also. He wondered what he could have done if he had given him a little more time, and plus, he had done everything without being uncovered… while staying in plain sight!

But now… it was his time to do something. He really didn’t look happy, since it was going to consume his essence whole.

’Lyra better not get mad at me for resting for three days after this.’

He sighed, climbing on top of one of the only fully stable arcs, and looked down at everyone. He had to get everyone in his vision; he couldn’t let anyone out. He had never tested his ability with so many people, so he didn’t know if he could use it on everyone in his view, or if he had to look at them at least once to work. But he was going to find out.

He summoned his potions, wrapping his chains around them, and then wrapping the chain around his neck, so it was easier to get them. Though he doubted Voidpiercer was happy with his chains being used in this matter.

’Now what kind of memory shall I give them?’

He didn’t necessarily have to give them a memory of what Riven did, just with the mage and his people instead of them. Boy, he could make it so the Blue Rose came and just destroyed everything themselves, making it so everyone was at peace again, and the Blue Rose their own common enemy.

Now he knew that after this, he was going to have to break Iris’s heart, since his rebellion was going to become public, for everyone to join. He could try and argue with the girl about this fake memory, but she was stubborn, plus, he noticed how she could see through Riven’s veil, his earring, and all their powers.

’The first other vessel I see, and I’ll be on bad terms with it. Great.’

It might as well be inevitable for The Abyss to be on bad terms with Praise. It was as if it were fate.

’Alright, let’s do this.’

He took a good look at everyone inside the marketplace, saying a prayer, as he used the power of his earring. He felt a strong gust of wind coming over him, making his relic fly into the air. He hadn’t felt this before, but it must be an effect of the sheer number of players he was using this on.

It was going to take a while, after all, it wasn’t easy to put a memory in the mind of many; some had stronger resistance to mind attacks, not enough, of course, for that you would have to be either completely immune, or a master at it yourself. And a harbinger, since the relic was of the harbinger. Well, because of his low essence, maybe a breaker with experience in mind attacks and with relics that offer resistance, he might be able to get past his relic.

But it was still hard.

He felt his essence being dried, person by person; they all took a bit from him, some taking more than others. When he felt his mind slip, he grabbed the potions, drinking them, and restoring some of it. But it wasn’t enough.

And the potions weren’t cheap; they were quite expensive, and he even bought them as Elpis, so he would get a discount, since merchants tend to sell cheaper to important people and people who look like they might be from the Blue Rose.

And Elpis definitely fits that description.

Weird to think, he was a prince, but Elpis probably looked more like a prince than he did.

He was older and more mature, but still.

But enough of that.

The essence he got from his potion quickly ran out, making him drink two more. Making it so he only had seven left. It was worrying some that he had already wasted so many, and he still had so many left.

He could see the light, but it was so far away.

It was good that since Voidpiercer wasn’t summoned normally, it didn’t take essence to summon it, since he wouldn’t have wanted to waste that little essence. But it did make him realize something: he could desummon his cloak, so he would get some essence back.

But it was going to risk someone seeing him.

’Shit.’

Feeling lightweight, he drank down two more potions, feeling close to the half point, but not there yet, meaning he was behind.

And yet, as fast as the first five went down, the other five went faster. And with that, all the money they had spent was gone completely. But there was one more important thing; he wasn’t done. He could still sense that he needed some more essence to finish. And yet… he was out.

He gritted his teeth as he felt his body getting weak, and he continued to push through. He knew it was useless, but he was so close that he didn’t want to give up. Was it hard to keep his balance? Yes, did he feel like blacking out any second? Yeah.

But… he couldn’t give up now, now that he was so close to it; he didn’t want to let Riven’s work go to waste, he had also given it his all. He couldn’t waste it, he just couldn’t.

He felt blood leak from his nose, his body showing signs of fighting back, and yet he pushed through, not letting it bother him. As the essence was being produced, he was stealing it and giving it to his earring; he was even taking it from his core.

And yet, it didn’t seem to be enough.

’Damn it.’

He wiped the blood from his mouth, wobbling around, as his earring continued to suck and essence away from his body. Right now, he was like a normal human, without any essence. And yet, he was too close to let it get to him.

The light was close, yet the darkness from behind was also getting faster.

…

“Just… a little more.”

…

Aether cursed as he felt his body give up, falling down, and his vision went completely dark.

…

But at least, he… he had done it.

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