[Grian]

I held my communicator and typed quick messages to Mumbo and Iskall, asking them to also let the other Hermits know. I simply told them that on my way out of the medical center I had stumbled across an old friend of mine. I explained that he had asked me to join him on the short trip to visit an important place and that I would be returning soon. At least this time I was being honest to them.

I raised my eyes and looked back at Techno. Next to him was standing Tommy, who was our nephew, and nowadays also Techno's adopted brother. Tommy looked a bit nervous, he had never before seen the world we were going to. It was the world where I had been born and met Techno and Taurtis. That's where my mum had raised the three of us as her sons.

It was a pretty peaceful world that Mum had chosen to hide from the Watchers. I loved that place with all my heart, and I loved the childhood Techno, Taurtis and I had had there. Sometimes I also wondered how it would have been if Ethel and Ariana, my older sister and twin sister, had grown up there too, instead of being given away instantly. It was sad that they didn't get the chance to grow up with us, but I knew that all three of us were risks. Our parents' love had been forbidden among Watchers and both of them had faced the consequences. I, as the youngest, had been the only one Mum had been brave enough to keep, even when she knew we both could die any given moment when the Watchers would discover us.

          Tommy kept looking between the portal and I. He was a bit hesitant. He knew what had happened, how his grandmother had died there. He knew why his own mother was hiding deep in the Twilight Forest and why his twin sister was dead. He knew why he was being sought by some ancient Watcher and he knew why he had to hide his Watcher-identity. He wasn't stupid. He knew the blood flowing through his veins belonged to a strong Watcher family, and he knew the ancient Watcher wanted to end the whole bloodline.

"That's the portal to Ru'aun," I said after taking a confirming look at it. The portals liked to switch places every now and then, but now it seemed to be settled on its place pretty firmly, for now.

The enchanting purple glow danced it the air around it, quietly calling anyone nearby to enter the swirling magic. The sound it made sounded like some random noise, but in reality it was ancient Galactic. A language barely no one understood anymore, as the skill to understand it came with blood, not through learning.

I knew Tommy could understand it too. I had seen him around portals. He was alway listening to something, the whispers. All the portals spoke the same ancient language, but they had different things to say. It was always interesting to hear what they had to tell.

"ThE dEePeR yOu FaLl, ThE dArKeR iT gEtS. tHe DaRkNeSs WiLl RaIsE. dId YoU hEaR?" The portal told, Tommy seemed disturbed by that. Techno on the other hand had no idea that the portals actually spoke an understandable language.

"Don't mind what it says. They are always a bit weird," I assured Tommy, earning a confused look from Techno. "We should step in and start our journey before the night settles in. Then it'll be harder to travel," I continued and took a step towards the portal, glancing back at Tommy and Techno.

"Are we going through the forest?" Techno asked as he followed behind me.

"If Hyria let's us," I answered, hoping she would let us pass through her forest. She had been good friends with Mum after all and therefore she also knew and trusted us.

"Who's Hyria?" Tommy asked, having never heard the name before.

"Just Mum's old friend who owns a fucking huge forest that she has the full control of," I answered.

"How the fuck can someone own a forest?" Tommy questioned with a doubtful look on his face.

"She grew it," Techno answered. "She's pretty ancient, even knew the Goddess of the world well."

"Oh, that reminds me," – I turned to look at Tommy – "of the fact that in Ru'aun people believe in Lady Irene and the Divine Warriors. If you hear of Irene the Matron, or Lady Irene, or Goddess Irene, you better not make any terrible comments. People really respect her and everything she has done. Also, there are many people who have never left Ru'aun and therefore have probably never heard of any other modern day deities, so I wouldn't recommend spreading any kind of information about any of your or this worlds deities. It's better that worlds like Ru'aun that are kinda stuck in the medieval time line, remain living in their own world with their own knowledge of the world. Spreading modern day information could cause people to start doubting things and that can ruin the world's balance," I explained.

"That was a hella lot of information," Tommy blurted out, looking kinda lost. Techno sighed.

"We believe in Lady Irene, Irene the Matron, you don't say anything bad about her. You can't say anything about your own deities either, so you don't stain the "frozen" time line," he explained to the younger.

"A frozen time line means a world that doesn't know about the other worlds and is usually stuck in the medieval or other ancient time," I hurried to explain.

"So, no mentions of Prime, XD, Kristin or any other deity?" Tommy clarified.

"Yes, and you probably shouldn't say anything about Irene either since you don't know anything about her, and that might cause suspicions if someone finds out," Techno said, I nodded in agreement.

"Anything else I need to know?" Tommy asked, tilting his head.

"We have to change clothes once we get there. We can't stand out in our modern clothes. The world is medieval so we also have to act like it, but Tech and I know how to do so, you just have to watch and learn," I explained, making him look even more confused as he tried to remember all the information that we had just given him.

"I don't know if I'll remember that all," he admitted with a sheepish smile.

"Doesn't matter, let's go before we miss our opportunity," I sighed and stepped through the portal that was calling for us.

[No one]

       The portal spat the three travellers into the portal of Phoenix Drop, the powerhouse of the region, the home of the new Lady Irene. It was filled with people rushing here and there.

Grian and Techno began heading straight forwards, knowing where to go. Tommy just rushed after them. The place looked weird to him, but Grian and Techno knew it all well.

"It's upgraded a bit as the years have passed," Grian hummed as he looked around. Techno nodded in agreement.

"Where are we going?" Tommy inquired from behind them. His eyes ran over everything that he noticed, admiring the world and everything in there.

"We're headed out of Phoenix Drop and to Hyria's forest. Doesn't say anything to you, but you'll just have to follow us," Grian answered, slowing down to let Tommy between him and Techno so he wouldn't get lost.

"Is this place Phoenix Drop?" Tommy asked. He was amazed by the beutiful landscapes and houses.

"Yes, the new home of Lady Irene," Techno answered. The mention of the Goddess' name caught some attention and a few people turned to look at them with curiosity.

"Why are people looking at us..?" Tommy whispered, not quite fancying the stares they were getting.

"Tech mentioned Lady Irene. It always perks up people's interest. They want to make sure no one's talking bad about her. Don't worry about it," Grian answered, placing a hand on Tommy's shoulder. "Tech and I can handle it if someone comes to ask us something about her. We know quite a lot about her and the Divine Warriors," he added quietly.

"This is the gate of Phoenix Drop," Techno announced as they walked through an open gate that was filled with guards and travellers passing through.

"Excuse me, we need you to clarify your names," a guard told them, stopping them from passing through.

"Of course," Grian flashed them a smile. "My name is Xelqua Faeqen, this is Techno Faeqen and that is Theseus Faeqen. We're on our way to Nahakra Village, that's our home town," he explained.

"Ah, you may pass then," the guard nodded and stepped aside. Grian quickly thanked them before continuing.

Once they were outside the walls, he got a questioning look from Tommy. "Why'd you use grandma's last name?" he asked, having recognised the name.

"Despite us all taking Dad's last name, here we used Mum's last name. It's safer to use it incase someone recognises us," Grian explained as he continued leading the way.

"Plus, there might be some Watchers in disguises. They could recognise Dad's last name. Using Phil's last name would be alright too, but I prefer Mom's one," Techno added.

"I see," Tommy nodded. "Well, how long do we have to walk?" he asked, tilting his head.

"Half and hour perhaps, I'm not quite sure how long it takes with this speed," Grian answered with a shrug. "But once we reach the forest it'll get faster. We might also get a chance to see Hyria if she wants that," he continued.

"Is that a raccoon?" Tommy exclaimed and stared into the forest with sparkling eyes.

"Tommy, no–!"

Words: 1626

[6.6.2022]

(It's Ethel's birthday. I'm also on summer vacation now, yay!)

(She hasn't been introduced yet, but she's 34 in 2018.)

(5 facts:

1. She's Grian's older sister, who was given away by their mother as she didn't want to risk the safety of her child. Since the Watchers wanted their whole bloodline gone. Same fate occurred to Grian's older twin sister a few years later.

2. Her full name is Ethel Ember Charles. Ember being her Watcher name.

3. She is also the mother of Tommy and his twin sister Clementine. Though, she had to give Tommy away after the Watchers found and demised Clementine.

4. She hates the Watchers with all her heart and refuses to use her Watcher mask, not wanting to be one. She's fine with The Council's Watcher since they're not the ones wanting her dead.

5. She lived in the Twilight Forest, but was born in the Overworld and raised in the Original Nether.)