The summit stood up high; from that altitude, he should see the world, yet he was blinded by the clouds. He had climbed this high to see the world better, and yet now that he sat at the highest point, he couldn't even see a fragment of the world.

The wind blew heavily; he had to dig his feet deep to withstand it. His nose and ears had gone red from the cold, slowly decaying. The snowflakes fell on his face, painting his hair white.

The radiating sun was covered slightly by the moon, yet it stuck to only cover a part of it. Its glistening rays guided his eyes towards it, yet at the same time, blinding him with its light.

His breath was heavy; each time he inhaled, he felt his body try and heat up, but fail. And after he exhaled, he was alone with the cold inside his body.

Stepping forward, he rested at the top of the mountain, staring at the mighty Sun, with a small smile on his face.

...

"You've got a weird smile, you know?"

Aether laughed, looking to his side where he saw a replica of himself standing on the edge of the cliff, with his legs hanging down.

"We have the same smile, you know."

His replica rested its head on its hands, looking away from him.

"I am nothing like you."

Aether sat down near it, stealing glances once and a while, but mostly staring at the clouds and sun. They were the only thing to look at from here.

"Quite... beautiful? What is this place even?"

The eyes of his replica widened as it raised his head from his hand, and turned to him with surprise and a deep disappointment.

"You bear the mark, yet don't know this place... dishonorable."

Aether rolled his eyes in annoyance, not fond of his replica's attitude... but at the same time, if it was a copy of him, didn't it also have his mindset, didn't it think and act the same as him? So did he have his own attitude? How interesting.

"This place holds a deep importance to the world. It's where the first Vessel of the Abyss was born." His replica moved its hand up his arm. stopping at his marks. "And where these marks were first born.

'Where the marks were born?'

Aether squinted his eyes, skeptical.

"But that doesn't add up. From my knowledge, the prince, whoever he was, created the original blade, which was later corrupted by the Daemon lord, so how did the first Vessel already have the marks if the blade hadn't been created yet?"

"I'm slightly impressed, but you must know that your theory is flawed. But you lack the knowledge to correct yourself. Actually, many things about the past can show you the truth about the marks, and how you ended up with them... yet all are information I cannot tell you about."

Aether sighed, lying on his back, and staring at the blue sky, without any clouds.

"Of course, I should have known."

The sarcasm in his voice amused his replica, and its laughter irritated him.

"The day will come when you will learn more... in a distant future, you will know everything you know. That's fate... but I cannot help you, I don't have the authority to do so, sadly."

"Authority from who?"

His replica chuckled; he had expected this question.

Standing back on his feet, he looked one last time at the sky and turned to Aether.

"My creator, I cannot tell you any further information about him, as he is also... very important to the truth you so wish to find... But Aether... why are you wasting time with these questions, you're here for something else... right?"

Aether didn't respond; he was mad that his replica wasn't answering any of his questions. He hated mystery; he wanted to know everything. Why was the past kept hidden by the Breakers of the world so much?

Why hadn't his father taught him anything about the past?

And most of all, why did the people try so hard to erase every part of the Abyss's history? He had learn so much about the world from Frozen Crown, it made him question how truthful the people from his world were.

Aether sighed, standing up.

"You're right... I'm here for your rage."

...

The laughter coming from his blade echoed through the air. He was sure that if someone was down, they could have heard it.

"My rage, huh? What a bold claim, my master. But you see... while I know you have been angered by the fall of your friend... I have not. So while I can give it to you, it won't be too much help, sadly."

Aether frowned, disappointed by how things had turned out. But he should have expected it. His ability was simple; the blade rage rose whenever he lost, when he was brought to his knees. And while he had been on the losing side, he had not had any significant loss. His body had been damaged, but only slightly.

And when it came to honor, he had kept it quite steady, not giving it to the Queen's words; all that was to comment was when she had almost broken his blade, but he had recovered from it due to Azel's help.

He was the only one fueled by a grave anger.

...

"You know, Aether, this summit held great importance to the history of The Abyss, not only has the first Vessel been born here... but this was also the place where the Daemon lord had poured all his emotions inside to give his powers. Of course, there's more, but I can't say any more; I have already gone past what I was meant to say."

...

"So then... this was where you were born, or rather, where the blade you were made after was created. Right?"

Voidpiercer nodded.

"I see... but how do you even know all of this? The original blade has yet to be corrupted, so how do you know that this is going to be where it will be corrupted?"

...

...

"Some things are better left unsaid for now."

Aether frowned, grabbing his replica by his collor and pulling him close to him.

"Don't give me that! Tell me the truth! How do you exist?"

...

"You dare? This is so dishonorable... To know the truth, ask yourself. You know it better than anyone."

His grip loosened, coming back to his senses. He had been overcome by his emotions. He knew that as much as he tried, the blade wouldn't budge; it wouldn't tell him the truth. But it had said some valuable information... that he was related to the past of The Abyss.

He was its current Vessel in the real world, but still, how was it possible that he knew about its past if all the events far outlived him?

Aether let go of his blade's color, backing away, and running a hand through his head. He didn't understand anything. He had started to regret entering Frozen Crown; things were much easier before he came here. Now everything is a mystery; he only has questions.

...

"Aether, do you wish the kill her?"

Aether froze for a second before looking at his replica. Which looked to be more serious than ever, what could it be ever planning?

"...Y-Yeah?"

..."Very well, then, I shall help you, as she had mocked the work of the Abyss by wielding that blade. But you shall know that with only my power, you won't be able to win. Your will shall stand true. Do not let your soul weaver, for that there are fates much worse than death, don't fear it."

The replica smiled slightly, which caught him off guard. But he quickly realized it was waiting for his answer, his approval.

He had wanted to say something before he responded, but he couldn't find the words to do so. He couldn't pick which one of the many questions he had. So he just nodded.

Seeing him accept, his blade seemed relieved, as not long after, the world around them started to crumble. The ground standing under him turned to ash as he felt himself awakening.

...

"Oh, and Aether... one last advice... The Abyss created souls, but that also meant that it had also gained one, and was vulnerable to its own power... It had tried to get rid of it, but it couldn't, so... it had made a pact with its ownself. It had limited its soul to one point, so that if someone attacked it with a soul attack, it wouldn't work. But in return, if someone hit it in that spot where his soul rested, the damage would be drastically increased.

...It also cannot hide that spot. Find it, and you will win."

...

That was the last thing he heard before the world before him completely withered before his very eyes. He was left with nothing but questions, especially about its last words.

But also with a ravaging rage... and there was only one he wanted to unleash it on.

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