On the way back, on their horses, Steve leaned over and asked, "So, what's with the 'your highness' thing? You hate it when people call you that."

Hero shrugged, "Fuck if I know?"

The truth was, all Chief Warlocks were required to know the identities of those controlling the three realms. Hero, in charge of the Aether with someone else, had always been regarded as royalty (again) in his realm. Cindy knew who he truly was, and Hero guessed she was just teasing. Hero distantly thought of Seto, and how he was eligible to become the next Chief. He could get extra credit if Hero recommended him. Soon, Hero has schemed a plan for Seto.

The ride was silent again, Hero ducking his head and avoiding the curious gazes of his people. He found Mitch and Steve by his sides, silently blocking any one from looking too close. They soon got back to the castle, and Steve called for some off-duty soldiers to bring the horses back to the stables. Steve led them back inside, and Hero visibly relaxed once he entered the heavily warded castle. Some of the wards he has placed weakened a bit, but he got a sorcerer soldier to fix that.

Steve led the group to a vacant meeting room that had the map of Minecraftia on the wall. The entire West was just darkened in ink, with several notes of staying away beside it. He got everyone to sit as they started planning. The lieutenant was still a little unsure, and voiced out his thoughts, "Are you guys really sure you want to go in there? What if Ms Fray's wrong?"

Seto raised an eyebrow, "She's never wrong. She didn't get to be Chief Warlock for nothing."

Steve's purple eyes darkened as he looked at Hero, "What about you? The soldier with you who quit, you said he's in an old folks' home now, and that he's still in therapy for the incident."

The general nodded, "It's been years, and he got diagnosed with Paranoid Personality Disorder many years back."

Apparently, Mitch had been unsure too. He said, "But if you go there again, blind and powerless as you are right now, you might suffer too."

Hero narrowed his scarred eyes and suddenly snapped, "I went through abuse, the rebellion, soldiers coming after my ass day after day, that Shifter bastard and you still think I can't survive in the West? I literally died."

Mitch winced but Hero did not see that. Even if he did, he would not take back what he said. Ty spoke up grumpily, "I thought you said Seto's medical squad jumped to conclusions. So you actually died? How the hell does that happen?"

The Swede stilled, before relaxing. He gave up and just said, "I'm reaching my 60s and I still look like I'm in my early 20s. It's pretty obvious that I don't die. Well, I do... It's complicated, really."

Sky perked up from his seat, "Can I do that?"

Hero stared at his direction, "Right now, no. After this thing is dealt with, maybe."

Seto's eyes brightened up in curiosity. Brice stared at him as he said, "So, you die but you can revive yourself? That's amazing! Have you died in the past 6 years? Do you still feel it? Wait, does that mean I died too?"

Brice flinched, everyone noticed it.

"Did you revive me-"

"Alright, that's enough. Back to the plan."

-

After much needed consideration and convincing, the group has set out a date for their travels. Hero generously paid for all the expenses. (Steve took advantage of his blindness and paid just a little too.) They had horses and a planned route ready. Steve got a few soldiers to head out and get them some supplies, while the rest stayed in the castle. Some trained to endure the long journey, while others took this opportunity to relax before everything would go downhill.

Ty alternated between both. Jason and Mitch trained to try and forget the shit going around them. Seto did his best to sharpen his regular combat, as he did not have his magic anymore. Sky and Brice relaxed, going around town and having just a bit of fun. Steve continued being there for his general, while simultaneously handling the Royal Military.

King Jeb has expressed his concerns multiple times, but everyone shook him off easily. Sky got to learn about Bonding Nights in the Royal Military, and planned to incorporate that as well in his own military. The rest preached the idea.

Hero, of course, was not having a great time.

He appreciated Steve and the occasional visitor, but sometimes he hated having them around, fussing and pitying him like he was pathetic. He kind of was in his state, and the intrusive thoughts ate away at his vulnerable mind every lonely night. He tried to feel for the relaxing and calming presence of his powers, but was always met with nothing. He tried connecting with Nabiel, with his contacts in the Aether, with Lady Aetheria, Lady Minecraftia, the other realm representatives.

With Noah.

He got silence as a response. He was forced to welcome it every night. He did not even have the comfort of seeing the little things that would ease him. The intricate patterns of Erin's coat, Steve's shiny badges on his uniform (proud general), even the long, long reports and paperwork he went through. He had not expected that losing his sight would affect him so. He realized how much he depended on his senses, how much of safety and security they guarantee for him.

The West had multiple horrible names. The Graveyard of Nightmares were one of the weird, teenagers-made-it-up ones. Some people just called it the Darkness. Extreme theorists called it the actual Nether. Others preferred the simple Forbidden West.

Hero agreed with them all, as stupid as they sounded. He was lucky he survived going in there, even more so that he came out with his mental health in check. The other soldier who came out fine had died of natural causes a few years prior. He rested in the Aether safely, and Hero had tea with him once or twice. The Swede dreaded the mission greatly, but at the same time desperately needed the things he lost to keep him sane.

He needed his powers to go back to the loved ones waiting for him.

He needed his eyes to see them, appreciate and love them.

He also needed his eyes to kick ass but Hero's feeling more emotional these days.

Steve, having picked up his behavior from 6 years of friendship, did his best to keep him content and happy. He made sure his general did not stay in his depressive episodes too long, and when he does, Steve would be there for him. He may have slipped up a couple of times, but Hero appreciated the effort. The absence of his powers had removed multiple things from him.

Appearance wise, the scars did not make him a pretty sight anymore. Well, to people who thought scars were disgusting. It did not help that he had massive ones across his eyes, and one large one across his neck. The little chip in his ear from being shot was even there, unprotected by concealment charms. He started wearing long sleeved tops, doing his best to hide the multiple scars from arrows, accidents and bullets on his arms.

He was more careful with showing his body because of the more severe scars on his back, having escaped multiple gunshots narrowly. He had loads of bullet scars on his back and chest. Even the thin and non-noticeable scars like the ones on his wrists when he was struggling with handcuffs that one time bothered him lots. He especially hid his legs from the world. One of his feet had multiple thick and ugly scars because he had a bear trap on it years ago. Smashed straight through bone and everything.

He always made Steve make sure most of his scars were hidden away. The nightmares haunting him at night seemed to always be the origins of his scars, and the Swede would be forced through the horrors again. The most common nightmares where the ones concerning Markus, his father, and an important spider.

-

The demon slowly shuffled to the occupied nest on the bed. Clearly not touching or going near the nest, he asked, "So how does it go? Will you just disappear or will someone get you?"

The man watched as huge black wings unfurl from its feathery cocoon, before fluttering as they stretched to full length. The man connected to the wings shuddered through the stretch, before poking his head out of his nest. He narrowed his eyes at Roderich before mumbling, "I'm probably going to lose my ability to fly, together with my powers. Who knows, maybe you or Hero would be used against me."

He plopped back down on the bed, one of his wings stretched out of the nest. Roderich marveled at the glossy flight feathers. They looked like sharp blades, really. The winged man mumbled, "They use our fears against us, Rich. Our weaknesses, anything to break us."

The demon sighed and asked, "Will you be okay without me?"

Nabiel gave his wings another shake, and old feathers flew out of the nest. One landed on Roderich's head. The angel stared at it before scoffing, "Probably not. I just want to get this over with."

The Swede raised his head from his nest when he did not hear a response. His companion just stood a respectful distance away, but he could see the longing in the demon's eyes. Sensing what he wanted to do, Nabiel folded his wings to his back, and inched away, providing space for Roderich. The demon lit up almost immediately and stepped into the nest, getting closer to Nabiel's warmth.

The angel huffed and spread a wing over Roderich's lap, and the demon started preening him. He gently tugged at old feathers, and fluffed out his plumage. He untangled a few hairs on the feathers and made sure the flight feathers were neat. Nabiel let out a deep purr of appreciation, and leaned in closer. The two allowed themselves to relax until Nabiel would be forced away to suffer.

Speaking of suffering, Nabiel mumbled thoughtfully, "The others said the tasks allow you to face your fears, physically and emotionally. Would be good to see what I'm really afraid of."

Roderich's fingers slowed down when he was rubbing dirt in between feathers. He raised an eyebrow, "You mean you don't know your own fears?"

Nabiel turned to face him, eyes narrowed, "Do you?"

The demon looked away, and went back to grooming his companion. After a few minutes, he finally whispered, "Yes."

The angel's wings stopped fluttering after that. Neither acknowledged it.