Markus was worried.

It had been hours. It was way past midnight, and the sun was due to rise soon. He stood by Darryl's side, who finally took a break. It was quiet as they gazed at the tiny castle expectantly. "They are strong, they will return," muttered Darryl.

They heard gunshots. Markus was forced to stay put by Darryl, because they were given instructions to never get the assassination group, despite what they might hear or see. Only after Hero left, Markus realized that his last family member could be lost forever. When it sunk it, he protested, kicked and screamed at Darryl.

When he calmed down, he winced at his behavior. He couldn't possibly lead the country if he acted like that. Darryl understood though, and Markus was still upset and terrified for his older brother's life. They both couldn't handle the feeling that their strongest could be dead by then.

Until the castle doors swung open with a  loud bang. Resting and sleeping crows on nearby trees flew away in fright. Everyone, fighter or civilian, peeked out of their hiding place to see who stood there. Markus didn't even feel the curl of his lips as he saw someone he cared for so deeply standing there, alive and well.

But then he took in his state, hunched over and his back rising as he panted. Even from afar, Markus could see his mangled fingers, and winced. In his brother's other blood stained hand, were locks of black hair. He trailed his gaze down and bit his lip at the still and bloody man who wore a Russian uniform stained a crimson red. Blood was dripping down from Hero's fingers, and his cloak and clothes were disheveled.

Whispers were heard, most of 'where are the others?' and 'is that the Russian general?'. Hero just raised his head, and Markus saw that one of his eyes were narrowed as he squinted at the moon who was near setting in the sky. His chest was falling in broken and heavy pants, and Hero dropped the dead body. The loud sound of skin colliding with stone resounding across the silent clearing. Hero dug around in his pockets, before pulling out a bloody dagger.

Everyone watched his careful and gentle fingers raised the blade to the sky. Hero's eyes shut rather tightly as he gave one rare smile. Slowly, shouts of happiness and victory rose in the silence, and Markus could feel his eyes getting a little wet. His voice joined the others, and he pumped his fist in the air, with Darryl joining shortly.

Everyone raised their voice to battle the silence, some even putting on a show and hugging their nearest friend. Darryl noticed Hero staggering and trembling so he ceased his cheering to rush over. Markus followed suit, catching his brother before he fell to the ground. Darryl slowly lifted the small young man onto his back before racing to his tent. The cheering ended, and a few people entered the castle to clean up their mess.

Minecraftia got rid of the weight on her shoulders. It's up to her people to help her on her feet now.

○

Markus entered the tent, a bowl of porridge balanced on his palm. "How are you feeling, Hero?"

The blankets on the bed shifted around before a messy mop of golden hair popped out. It turned with a groan and Markus smiled warmly at his tired brother. The man only returned it with a sneer as he hid under the covers again. "Go fuck yourself."

Markus pulled out a spare chair and sat down next to his brother. He set down the porridge on the table before patting his brother's sides. The blankets pulled back again, but Hero stared blankly at the ceiling. He grunted as he tried to sit up, and inspected his fingers. Darryl made these makeshift casts for his broken and mangled fingers. There were basically sticks to hold them still and some bandage to hold it together.

Darryl made some potion and dampened the bandages with it to hurry the recovery up. Hero's dominant hand was injured, but his right (non-dominant) hand has had a bit of practice, so he thinks it won't be much of a hassle. He raised his head to look at his brother, who was staring blankly out of the window. Hero took his right hand and set it on his brother's knee.

Since he didn't get a response, he squeezed it as hard as he could. Markus yelped and slapped his brother's hand away. "What?"

Hero managed a weak smile before he leaned back and said with a sigh, "So... No 'how are you' or anything? You disappoint me."

Markus rolled his eyes before changing the subject, "How are you handling Kaleb and the... Casualties?"

Hero frowned and drummed his fingers on his knee as he muttered, "They're not casualties, Markus. They're deaths, and you don't need to act like I'm fragile." He turned to stare at his brother. "I'm not. And I'm fine, it's just..."

Hero looked lost as Markus scooted closer to offer his warmth in the cold room. Quietly, Hero whispered, "It shouldn't have been them. Why am I always the surviving one? The exception?" He laughed bitterly. "Quite surprising how it took me a while to realize that."

Markus furrowed his eyebrows before settling his hand carefully on his brother's shoulder. "If they heard you, I'm pretty sure force your weak arms to do, I don't know, a hundred push-ups."

Hero's eyes widened and he punched his brother's shoulder, not so gently this time. He realized his mistake and rubbed the taller boy's aching shoulder while grinning sheepishly.

•

"Did he just blame himself for our deaths?"

"That little fuck, I'm enjoying my time here for Christ's sake."

"What did you expect from our dear, dear ruler?”

A chorus of laughter follows. The three misty figures were crouched in clouds, looking down below and watching the battle they had left behind.

•

Hero's hand still hurts like fuck, but he doesn't complain as he sets out to start planning for their future. Some of his men wished to return to their families, and he sent them off on horses. The Russians were working on a train, and after a week of discussing with his brother, he sent out a few teams to continue the rail work.

Second, he works on the tiny castle. Kaleb had shared his plans that Minecraftia would be more organized if separated into a few parts. The North were they were currently in, the East where Hero and Markus came from, the South and the Central, where all the trading is done and a more busier area with more bigger buildings and more people.

The West was crowded and in dark dead forests, Hero would go investigate once he's done.

If there's only one military in the North, it would take ages for them to reach trouble in the other parts even on the fastest of travel. So, bases were to get built in all areas, with a small portion of Hero's military to start off first. Gradually, the numbers will increase with recruits.

Kaleb asked for a base near, if possible next to, the castle, and Hero did exactly what the late man wanted. The castle was extended, more larger with Markus' smart brain to plan it out. Word has spread about their new leaders, and they had to prove their worth... Again.

Hero with the military, and Markus with the laws and protection of the land.

It was constant work with about five hours of sleep and a meal a day for Hero, but whenever he managed a small break, he would venture the forest, adding details of fauna and flora in his research book and slowly creating a map.

In a matter of months, Hero had enough breaks to finish the Northern part of the map, and gave the planning to an exploration team, who left the next day. Cut to two years, and the rail work was completed, the map as well, and the construction of all bases and the castle done.

Hero had created a uniform, a mission, a coat of arms, symbols and a pledge for the country. He created the song as well, but gave the credit to someone else, a little embarrassed about it. Markus enforced new laws, letting women work and get the same pay, allowing mining to continue and the banning of weapons and explosives, unless you got the license. The license was hard to get, only soldiers, officers and very few civilians got it.

Markus wore more expensive robes made by his people. He bore a crown, which was a joke between the brothers. Hero wore his uniform proudly, his royal cape as well when he went out to watch his soldiers do their duties. They were both excruciatingly young, with Markus not yet through his teen years and Hero just getting into his 20s.

Darryl was made a medic of the Royal Military(North) and Kaleb and those who died when trying to achieve independence were given proper burials and graves out of respect for their efforts. Hero and Markus attended as many as they could, wishing their fallen comrades all the best in the Aether.

Hero grew, his reflexes quicker and not so clumsy with his movement anymore. He was Markus' guard dog, so to say.

It was way past after midnight, and Hero had just completed his duties and rounds, and was dragging himself to his room near Markus' in the castle. He sighed as he wished the room was closer to the base. Apparently his wish came true as one minute he was in the Eastern wing of the castle and with a sickening pull of his chest and a blinding light, Hero found himself in the Northern wing, where his room belonged. He was right outside his door, actually.

He felt a little giddy and even more tired, and his thoughts immediately went to the strange occurrences he encountered before. The earliest one, when Peter had died, he stared so hard at the Russian and he watched the Russian collapse with a choked gasp. Then, when he met a mythical creature, Melanie, he wondered whether she still was alive. Of course the magic lessons with Darryl.

And of course, the assassination (not really) of the Russian general. He shuddered at the memory of the man touching him, then the rod lifting without the aid of magic. Hero knew it wasn't magic, if it was, he would feel the tingling sensation in his fingers.

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a lot of shuffling and... Groaning?

He turned to his brother's door, and rested his hand on the sword hanging from his belt. He crept towards the door, and found that it was slightly open. He pressed his ear to the door and he seethed at how he remembered he made the walls soundproof to his brother's request. He pushed the door slightly open to watch the familiar shadowy figure of his brother moving against the bed?

Oh. Oh dear god.

Hero made a choked sound and mumbled a Swedish curse as he hastily made his way to his own room to give his brother and his night partner privacy. He was slightly relieved that the walls were soundproof then. He had no idea how the woman made it past the guards. Hero gagged at the thought of his brother and one of the maids or... One of his soldiers?

He sank onto the bed, and sighed. He needed sleep. Lots of it. Preferably immediately.

•••••Noah's Perspective•••••

My clan was extremely pissed at me when I told them I needed to find him.

I guess I could understand? I deserved it. I'm clearly one of the best alphas the clan had ever had(fact). They want me here on the long-run, and right after earning my place, I need to go away for some time because I 'felt like it'.

...Yeah, I totally deserve it.

Ah, the seniors were lecturing me on not leaving my clan defenseless as the alpha. I was proud of my clan, of course, we have many strong members, the clan would be safe, one less spider wouldn't change anything. Of course, my absence would cause a couple of spiders to try and take over, but like I said before, I was rather famous among the spiders. If I come back to see a foreign alpha in my place, I will take them down with no sweat. Yet, Helena interrogated me on my boy. Now I wonder why I was so protective and secretive of him. Oh dear, I snapped at her.

Better apologize when I get back.

After I find him, of course.

Traveling from my home forest to what I heard from fellow spiders was the North, I felt... Weird. I keep telling myself that I was close to him, but I can't find him anywhere. I searched forests, but there were no cabins or anything, so he possibly could be inside the walls. The spiders warned me of getting close. About two years ago, humans started taking place on top of the walls and they hurt any mob that come close.

The forests surrounding the walls were riddled with bear traps. Nasty things, could chop off a limb. Around the back of the walls, there was this enormous and beautiful garden, with more than one pond, and gorgeous flowers. There were a few trees, and occasionally I would see a stray dog or cat loiter around. The garden was connected to this large and amazing building. Princess said they were castles, I remember his very pretty drawing of one.

The garden was empty at night, so I ventured in. I sniffed around, and caught the scent of him. It's been years, but I can never forget that scent. It has been on his book, and it's here!

I turned to the castle. Maybe he might be there. Waiting.

But I couldn't go any closer. I don't know why. My thoughts were running in my head hard and fast, telling me to wait, and that I'll find him another time, when he truly needs me. I drag myself up a tall tree and hide there for the night. The butterflies were a good snack. Maybe if he comes tomorrow, I could spare another look, see how he changed.

In my dreams I see him a lot. I've only seen him from far away, but it has been years. Though in my dreams I could actually touch him, talk to him and hear his voice even closer. His skin was really soft, more softer and smoother than mine, even though we both were riddled with scars. He had lots of them, one of his neck if I remember clearly. There were a few big ones across his eyes, and his eyes were pale...

He looked very much different than last time. He should be in his 20s now. In my dream, he was dressed in soft silks of blue. There was this really pretty gems on his forehead. I forgot what they were called. His hair was styled very beautifully, like his female friend like time. A bit of his fringe grew and was tied to his ponytail. His hair was very long. There were flowers in his hair too, roses and lilacs.

I'm not good with clothes, but he had a dark blue vest on, with a more lighter shade on a button-up underneath the vest. The sleeves were folded to his arm, and his hands had these strange leather that had intricate patterns on the palms. There was a black belt and on his left side, his button-up extended to another material. It was a silvery, see-through one, looks very much like a skirt. He had the normal black pants on, but big gray fluffy boots too. There were spikes at the bottom. He truly did look like a princess. A queen, more likely.

He said something in that dream, as if he knew me already.

"What was it that you wanted to tell me?"

His voice took me by surprise. It was different as well. It was gentler, smoother and softer as well. It made me feel like that voice was made for my own ears.

Then in my dream, my body moved all by itself. I watched and led my body do what it wants. My hands reached down to the pocket, and I felt something really bulky in there. My hands took it out, as my body sank down on one knee in front of my human. He looked confused, but when he saw the item his pretty eyes grew wide and his nimble fingers went to his mouth.

I couldn't see the item. I kept staring at him. I felt my lips curl into a smile, a really wide one. It made my cheekbones hurt.

Then the dream ended. It happened a few weeks after Princess left. That dream made me want to find him. I still remember every detail of it. Where we were and what he looked like. We were in this misty cold place, but the sun was setting in the distance, behind a few... Clouds. We were standing in clouds too, lots of them.

Now is not the right time to see you, Princess, but... I'll stay here, waiting for you to need me. Then, I'll come.