Techno

When asked about perplexing phenomena about the Antarctic Empire, travelers and merchants would immediately call out what is called the Great Silence. In a nation as expansive and frigid as the empire, a lot of the land is unused. While the cities will bustle with all manner of life and sound, the countryside- which takes up a majority of the empire's landmass- is barren. The only noise that can be heard is the wind rustling against the crystalline snow. Plants will occasionally persevere through the banks and there are animals who have evolved to survive the cold, but they don't make much noise. If someone is stranded in the empire's recesses, they will not find a natural noise for miles. It terrifies most people, but Techno has grown used to it. He prefers the Great Silence to the socially complex cities filled with useless voices screaming their idiotic ideals.

The Great Silence pales in comparison to what Techno is experiencing now. Where the Great Silence is terrifying because it makes a person feel alone in a completely white world, Kristin's funeral procession makes him feel alone even in a sea of people. No one is uttering a word, the wind refuses to blow around them, and animals have not made their presence known. The rocky ground seems to swallow up every footfall, though that could be people subconsciously walking lighter to avoid being the one that makes a noise. At the edges of his hearing, Techno can hear a few sniffles, and if he really focuses, he can hear heartbeats. Otherwise, he doesn't hear much.

Philza is the shadows of the buildings. His wings are pulled around his body. Techno firmly believes that he is the only one who can see Philza, and that is only because he has enhanced senses. Techno doesn't call any attention to Philza even if he can see him. Philza's face is covered in so many shadows that Techno cannot discern the expression, but part of him feels like he can sense Philza's grief. It feels like the endless ocean off the empire's coast- so cold that it seems to burn a person's skin. Techno turns away from Philza. Words have never been Techno's strong suit, and he knows that any actions he makes in the attempt of comfort will set Philza off. He is hiding himself like a predator, and Techno doesn't want to fight him. Not today, and not ever, really.

Tommy is standing across from Techno. From all his memories- even the ones he isn't quite sure are his- Tommy has been like the sun. He is bright and positive, sometimes too much to look at but always necessary to keep close. Today, Tommy is... he's a mess. He visibly looks like one. His clothes are disheveled and covered in dirt. His hair is flattened against his forehead, and it looks more like dull grain than its usual golden luster. His eyes, too, have lost their shine. Each pupil looks like a mountain stone, dark and dangerous. He used to have eyes that were as bright as the sky. He used to have eyes that lit up like a firework when he grew excited. Tommy was always terrible at hiding his emotions, and his eyes were his biggest tell. If they were completely gray now, Techno didn't want to know what was happening inside his head.

Tommy clung to Wilbur's arm. The moment they returned from the battle, Wilbur had hugged Tommy and neither let go. Tommy probably hadn't seen how Wilbur looked different from usual. It was the first thing Techno noticed. Despite the grief painted across every feature, Wilbur looked better than ever. His skin had soaked up silvery moonlight. The tips of his brown hair had been tinged with a dark blue-black color. His irises were sharper, and the edges of his pupils were pulsating with a glowing green light. He was wearing a cloak over his outfit, and at least that looked as disturbed as everyone else felt. Wilbur hardly paid attention to his new appearance as he held Tommy's hand, staring at the unmarked stone pressed against the walls of the ravine since they couldn't find someone to make a real grave in time.

There was no body. Although Tommy hadn't been able to say a word about what happened, it was impossible for everyone not to notice the giant forest that sprawled to life in the middle of the battlefield. Techno himself had seen Tommy with Kristin's body, and he was the one that pulled Tommy away from the giant tree lying at the very center of the forest. It didn't take a genius to put two and two together, and the Blood Gods were somber expressions as they paid respects to the great tree. Techno knew at that moment what they probably couldn't put into words: for one reason or another, Kristin's body had become the forest. The leaves took on the color of her eyes and her power, the bark was the same shade as her hair, and the wind sounded like her soft voice when it danced between each branch.

Techno closed his eyes, ignoring the silence that grew deafening around him. In the static that was beginning to fog his mind, Techno could see Kristin's face. He could easily call Kristin his friend. He had a great respect for her. Despite being young, she was intelligent and powerful. More than that, she retained a dignified and kind outlook on life. In the midst of a bloody war, she was able to find love and take care of her little brother. She wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty, but she fought to save every life she could. She had been prepared to face the end of the war head-on. It was unfair that she would never be able to see it.

Less easily, Techno considered Kristin something more. In Techno's long life, he's been treated many different ways. The emperor treated him like a disposal tool, and the church considered him a peerless saint. The common folk knew him as the paragon of a soldier, the empire's army followed him because he was their wise leader. The gods saw him as a weapon more times than they saw him as a human.

Niki and Ranboo treated him like their friend. Shubble had unwavering respect for him. Wilbur and Tommy held him close as if he were their brother instead of someone they barely knew. Philza... Techno didn't worry about him, because if he did, he would remember how Kristin treated him, and that thought only hurt his heart.

But the thought persisted. Kristin left a far greater impression on him than his own birth mother did. She left him without a single memory to reminisce fondly about. Kristin treated him with concern and kindness. She saw him as a person. She saw him as someone to laugh with, to smile at, to hold onto. Kristin treated him in a way that he imagined a mother would, and once the thought took root in his mind, it continued to grow into regret. He should have spent more time with her. He should have told her how he felt. He should have been there to protect her, but all he could do was show up too late to save his mother and brother. He's failed before but never this harshly- never this painfully.

The moment he saw Tommy's pained eyes, Techno saw red. He's experienced bloodlust before, but he was always allowed to retain some rational thought. Techno has never run as fast before nor has he ever been as strong, but it was too late for those kinds of things. He should have been fast enough to run across the battlefield the moment he noticed that one of the enemy soldiers was turning around in one last-ditch effort to cause harm to his enemies. Instead, he could only grab onto the soldier after they had fallen down in surprise that a forest was created moments after he shot an arrow. Perhaps he thought the forest was his doing because he had a tentative smile on his face. Techno isn't entirely sure what happened next, but he remembers Fool grabbed his arm. He wanted to attack her, but she was looking at something in front of him. Techno looked up, and the bloodlust drained away when he saw the corpse of a man impaled by an arrow so deeply into his chest that it held him to one of the trees on the outskirts. The soldier was covered in dried blood with torn clothes, but the scariest part was that his eyes had been burned until there was nothing left.

Alex and Steve had been with him then, but once he reclaimed mental clarity, they disappeared. Techno wanted to scream at them, but it wasn't their fault. None of it was, technically, even if it would be easier to blame them. Techno stormed away from the dead soldier, the wisps of gods, and the last remaining member of a species that had been hunted down thousands of years ago. He left them all, and he didn't stop until he saw Tommy. The blonde hadn't looked up from the tree. Techno wished he could walk away from Tommy, but he found himself walking towards him. He opened his mouth to say something. Nothing came out. His arms just wrapped around Tommy, and he carried the boy to the caravans leaving for the Ravine. Tommy was lighter than air, but the grief on both his and Techno's shoulders nearly sent them both spiraling to the ground.

Techno has faced death before. He's felt its skeletal claws wrap around his throat so many times that he felt more anticipation than fear when it happened. He's seen men and women die all around him in so many different ways- bravely and cowardly, above land or below, swiftly or slowly, painlessly or agonizingly. In some ways, it never occurred to him that someone he cared about could die because he's never really cared about anyone. He cared about Carl, but Techno could keep his horse alive. He cared about Alex and Steve, but they were spiritual gods. He cared about Scott to some degree, but princes didn't die easily. Techno has killed and slaughtered in his lifetime, and perhaps now death was laughing at him. It gave up on trying to take his life, so it took the life of someone he... someone he loved.

Still love, because who was Kristin if not a woman worthy of love?

"This concludes the ceremony," Someone says, and Techno's eyes open. He didn't even realize that someone was talking, but there was a man wearing dark blue robes standing in front of all the stones with his hands folded in prayer. Techno watches the priest as he walks down the aisle between the two crowds. The crowds immediately break apart. Techno sees a shadow soar into the sky out of his peripheral vision, and he knows that Philza has flown away. Tommy continues to cling to the apathetic Wilbur as the two of them head towards Wilbur's tent. Niki grabs Ranboo and Tubbo's hands, leading them away with a frown aimed at Techno. Shubble brushes her hands in front of the stones until beautiful flowers that all symbolize love and mourning bloom. Techno can't see anyone else in particular in the crowd. They just walk away before he can join them, and once they're gone, he can't find any motivation to move.

Fool walks to the stones. She leans down on her knee in front of the one that is meant to be Kristin. She folds her hands together with her eyes falling shut. She begins to whisper something in an ancient tongue, and Techno is almost certain he understands what she's saying. Techno knows that it is a prayer. It is meant to wish someone safe travel to the realm of the dead. It used to be said that a soul could not pass into the afterlife if someone did not say this prayer for them. Techno wasn't sure about that rumor, but he felt a surge of gratitude that someone was doing this for Kristin. While he doesn't necessarily believe in the afterlife, he acknowledges that Kristin deserves to spend the rest of her days in paradise. He wonders if he'll return to her when death finally stakes its claim on him.

Fool leaves him without a passing glance. The silence swallows him up once more, and it feels much more malevolent now that he is alone. He turns his body away from the stone, and he ends up facing the direction of the forest- and beyond that, Manberg. He pulls in a breath as he wonders what will happen now that a giant forest is separating L'Manberg. As far as everyone is aware, only people from Pogtopia or with the intention to assist Pogtopia can pass through the forest. Anyone who sides with Manberg or any of her allies become lost in the forest or outright die. Techno knows that the forest is an advantage for their war effort, and he wonders if this is what Kristin would have wanted. She did tell him that she wanted the war to be over. If nothing else, Techno can carry on her final wish.

Techno sees movement out of the corner of his eye. He sees Wilbur exiting his private tent in new clothing, but Tommy is nowhere in sight. Techno frowns at their separation, and he starts walking towards Wilbur's tent. He expects to see a few guards, but no one is protecting the king's private quarters. Techno lifts open the tent flap, and he continues to find no guards. All he sees is Tommy sitting on the edge of Wilbur's bed. Techno steps into the tent, letting the flap close behind him. He wonders if Wilbur will be back in a moment. Techno thinks that they should all stay together for the time being. He doesn't know how far he will go if he finds out that someone else he cares about has died.

"Theseus-" Techno starts, but he stops when he notices something peculiar. Tommy's slate gray eyes are pinned on his palms and forearms. A vaguely golden color shines off his skin, and as Techno approaches, he realizes that something is wrong with Tommy. His skin is illuminated by a golden sheen, almost like discolored skin or... tiny scales. Techno stands right in front of Tommy. He doesn't recognize what's happening to Tommy.

"I think I'm turning into a monster," Tommy whispers, the first words Techno has heard him say since they've gotten back. Techno leans down on his knee in front of Tommy, making certain that he is seeing the expression on Tommy's downcast face. Tommy is completely serious and almost a little reminiscent.

"What do you mean?" Techno asks. He's met monsters in his life, but none of them have these tiny golden scales that glow like Tommy does. He's met other Champions of the Gods, and he's seen people form contracts with demonic beasts. No matter the case, no one has ever been consumed like this. Tommy is a unique case. Techno wishes Alex and Steve were there- hell, maybe even Fool with all her knowledge about the past. Techno isn't sure any of them would know what's happening to Tommy, but he has to believe that they know more than him on this subject because this one matters.

"I- fuck, I- well, a long time ago, I- I don't know. I- someone- he- shit... I don't... I remember... but I... I don't fucking remember. But I do. I know this. I was cursed. He cursed me. Who the fuck is he? I know who he is! He didn't curse me- it was- a curse- no- wait- fuck this! Damnit!" Tommy stutters through his words, and his eyes grow impossibly wide. He starts looking around him like a caged animal, and Techno isn't sure Tommy sees the world around him as the way it is. There is panic in his voice, and tension in his muscles. He's primed to fight, and Techno knows that Tommy's first target is going to be himself.

Techno grabs Tommy's hands, and this centralizes Tommy's attention. They stare into each other's eyes for a long moment. Techno squeezes Tommy's hands as hard as he dares, and Tommy looks down at their intertwined hands before returning to look into Techno's eyes. Techno says, "You aren't a monster."

Tommy's expression sours. There is a flare of stubborness in his eyes, and the curl of a snarl at his lips. The tension hasn't left him. He is going to bolt the second Techno gives him a chance so Techno simply won't give him a chance. "Yes-"

"No, you aren't. You are not a monster, Theseus," Techno repeats immediately. He looks at Tommy, and he doesn't see any trace of a monstrous light in his eyes. His hands may be covered in scales, but there isn't any bloodlust clinging to his aura. He is the same boy Techno met several weeks ago, just a little stronger and a lot sadder. Techno knows that it must have been hard for Tommy to see his sister- his mother- die (Tommy's wings still aren't burning, his eyes are gray, and he looks like he's seconds away from keeling over), but Techno refuses to let Tommy walk into the dark night alone.

"Fine," Tommy whispers, agreeing with words even if his eyes haven't completely let go of the notion. Techno looks down at their hands, and he notices that the golden scales have receded a few inches. They no longer go all the way to his middle forearm but to his wrist. It isn't completely gone, but it's better than before. Techno squeezes Tommy's hands again, ignoring the weird texture that doesn't feel like skin. Tommy sighs, and his voice is soft when he asks, "What happens now?"

Techno closes his eyes. Kristin is still there but so is the forest. He can't bring her back to life, but he is strong enough to do a lot of good in her name. "We end this war. We have two enemies right now: The Red King with his minions and Schlatt with Manberg. Once the Red King is taken care of, the Badlands will retreat from the war. We take care of Schlatt, and Manberg will rejoin Pogtopia to reform L'Manberg. With L'Manberg united and the Badlands no longer part of the war, Greater and Oceania will have no grounds to stand on. Even if they choose to continue fighting, we will easily crush them."

Tommy nods slowly. He almost smiles, Techno can see it, but then his expression drifts back to sadness. Techno wished he knew what to say to make Tommy feel better, but he's never been good with comfort. He starts to think of something to say, and Tommy asks him slowly like he wants Techno to understand every individual word. "What am I supposed to do after the war is over?"

Techno stalls. Tommy, for all intents and purposes, is alone. His sister is dead. The rest of his family are also dead. His home nation is gone. He has nothing to return to when the war is over. He probably doesn't have any money or belongings to his name. The only thing Techno can come up with is Tommy using his Touch of Life to heal people for money. He could work at a clinic or join a traveling troupe. He could probably live with Beau and the other seraphim, but Techno doesn't know how close Tommy is to his biological sister. He wouldn't want to bring her up and make the whole situation worse. Techno wonders if bringing up Tommy's Touch of Life would make things worse. It is the mirror to Kristin's power, and Techno wouldn't want to push Tommy off the edge. His scaly hands and dull eyes prove that he isn't in the best mental state. Techno doesn't want to be the reason that everything goes wrong.

"Am I supposed to die?" Tommy asks with tears in his eyes and a half-smile on his lips. Techno's attention snaps to the present, looking at Tommy with widening eyes. Part of him panics at the thought of Tommy dying, and his gut lurches at the notion that Tommy would want that. A few tears slip from Tommy's eyes, and he stares at Techno like he wants Techno to give him a genuine answer. And maybe he does. Maybe Tommy isn't sure of anything now that his sister is gone, and he's just looking for orders.

Techno rises to his feet, pulling Tommy into his arms. The blonde makes some sort of surprised noise as he is dragged into an unexpected hug. Techno tucks Tommy beneath his chin. Tommy hesitates, but he complies with Techno. His arms wrap around Techno's waist, and he begins crying on Techno's shoulder. Techno tilts his head down to put his face in Tommy's hair, closing his eyes as he holds his brother. Before he can truly think about it, he says, "You can stay with me after the war is over. No one is dying, least of all you."

While those words are said without thought, his next two are spoken with complete resolution. He considers every possibility, and he says these words anyway. He says them not just to reassure Tommy, but because he has every intention to follow through with them. "I promise."