Hero was fully equipped with multiple weapons. The forest was quite dangerous, even in broad daylight. Hero had his regular sword in his sheath, a bow and a rifle slung on his back, with multiple hidden knives and bullets hidden somewhere in his uniform. He gave Markus a pistol and the two unlocked the gate in the gardens, walking out of the man-made garden and entered the more dangerous and dense forest. It took a while to notice Markus clutching a satchel. He gave Markus a look but the younger male did not entertain him.

"One of the guards said there was a waterfall around here somewhere. We are quite close to the shore, right?"

Hero snapped his head from his surroundings to his brother. "The shore is about half an hour away. There is a waterfall nearby, but it is a small one."

Markus grinned, "Great. I have wanted to take a dip in the water for a while. Missed it."

Hero hummed, looking back at the trail as he led his brother towards the waterfall. He felt Markus snake his hands around Hero's neck, and felt him tremble a bit. "It's awfully chilly in the morning."

Hero cocked his head before replying, "Fall is arriving. Not gonna be good. The livestock and crops rate is quite low this summer and spring."

While talking, Hero snapped his fingers lightly, and Markus' trembling stopped. His brother let out a relieved sigh as he removed himself from Hero. The strong autumn winds did not come back for a while. They two walked silently for a while, Markus sneaking glances at his brother. Hero looked tired. Extremely tired. And he's so thin.

"So, have you-"

Hero somehow heard the thoughts swirling in Markus' head and he immediately cut him off, "There it is."

Markus followed his pointing finger before grinning and setting down his satchel. He removed his cloak and crown before running forward, taking his shirt and boots off. He launched himself forward with a excited yell and dived into the water. Hero just stared with wide pale blue eyes. He shook his head and picked up Markus' abandoned stuff, before making his way over to watch Markus. Hero peered in the satchel, finding extra clothes. Hero sighed, no way in hell was he going to join his brother.

•••••Hero's Perspective•••••

He looks rather happy. Who am I kidding, really? A teenager pushed into a king's position, of course he would be craving fun and relaxation from paperwork.

Unfortunately I'm no longer an adolescent. Pity. It all happened so fast, really. Being a teenager and training under the rebellion was, what? Seven years ago? And now I'm here, supervising a child while I'm dealing with... Magic and all that voodoo shit.

I hate this.

•

While Hero was zoned out, Markus starting to quietly paddle his way to his brother, planning on a splash attack followed by pulling Hero in. Before he could launch water at his daydreaming brother though, he felt something slimy and cold twirl around his ankle. Before it pulled down, hard.

He sputtered and gasped as he was tugged underwater. He thrashed frantically, trying to kick and fight back, trying to reach and alert his brother. He was watching, wasn't he? Why wasn't he there? Markus turned around to try and identify his killer, but saw nothing. His leg was still frozen in place as he sank deeper, and the slimy pressure built up, his ankles aching from whatever was pulling him down.

Markus unfortunately couldn't hold in his breath much longer as he gasped out. Water immediately filled into his mouth, his throat and the uncomfortable burning was itching badly at his Adam's apple. His hands went to his throat as he tried to let out a sound, but the water silenced him. The cold water seemed to burn his eyes as he could no longer see the forest, being tugged to far down to see the canopy of leaves hanging over the lake.

The cold pressure on his ankle disappeared and Markus stilled. It was too cold. He was tired. He raised his head weakly to attempt another call, and was greeted with a shape diving into the surface and glide swiftly towards him. In his blurry and burning vision, Markus saw the sunlight pierce through the water and shine brightly on the person's hair. It was a lovely golden brown and a soft whisper came into his silent mind.

Mamma?

The face came closer, became clearer and Markus grew upset when he realized it wasn't his beloved mother. It was some man. Hold on, it was Hero. Did he hear him? Why was he so late? He never was late.

Why does he look so scared?

Markus had only seen those furrowed brows, the creases on his forehead and that desperate look in those (very) pale eyes once. He remembered it like it was yesterday. Markus and Hero got home late and were heading up the stairs, and the door creaked open. Markus tried to turn around and see but Hero blocked him and hurried him upstairs. When Markus glanced back as he was pushed into he and his brother's room, he was blocked by that face.

Markus closed his eyes. He did not want to see that face anymore. That meant his brother was hurt, afraid, and Hero was never afraid. It unnerved him.

He just wanted to sleep.

•••••Hero's Perspective•••••

The sweet feeling of nostalgia was running swift through my mind before I heard someone.

Hello.

Raising my head, I turned and looked around behind me. I swung my rifle into my arms and kept it facing the ground, peering behind trees and into the distance. I crept slowly, years of training just to be quiet around an enemy coming back to me.

You won't find me anywhere. I'm in your head.

I froze. The voice was distorted and croaky. The voice seemed tired. I still kept my gun close to me and whispered to no one, "Who are you? How are you talking in my-"

Derrek's my name. How about we play a little game?

"Cliché, aren't we? Shut up and just show yourself. Are you a wizard? Some fairy?"

You don't need to speak aloud. I can hear you through your thoughts just fine. And I'm offended, me? A fairy? Wizard? You wound me.

Hero sneered and shut his mouth, and tried to speak through his thoughts and his mind.

It's my job. What the fuck are you doing? What game?

Simple. I tell you the harsh, harsh truths and you get to discover things that you have never come to realize about yourself before. What you were built for. What those pretty little eyes hide from the world.

You don't know me.

You don't know yourself either. We're even.

Hero's scowl deepened.

You have been experiencing bizarre things, have you not?

Silence.

Answer me, little hero.

Fuck you.

Hm, not what I expected, but I'm letting you off this time. Do you know how many other people have your talents, your power?

None.

You're special, little hero. That was what brought me to you. I asked for a puppet to make my own and they certainly have given me such a fragile little doll. I can't wait to break you.

You can never break a soldier. Let alone a general.

Do soldiers have nightmares at night? Do generals? Do they have nightmares of the things they were trained to do? Go to war and kill? You're traumatized, little hero. I understand though, you're so young yet already broken.

And I'm so sorry for what have happened with your father.

Hero nearly dropped his gun. He stood to his full height and snarled viciously into the woods, "You don't know my family! You don't know me. You don't know Markus!"

You don't even know your little brother. At least I know he's struggling a little to get to the shore over there.

Hero finally dropped his gun and started shedding the extra weights on him as he sprung forward towards the lake. He reached the area quickly, despite roaming a little too far and dropped his weapons onto the shore. His brother was no where in sight. Far on the other side of the lake, Hero was alerted by the movement of bubbles rising to the surface and the loud popping noises. Thanking his strengthened senses, he dove forward, kicking off his boots and jacket.

The dog tags on his neck almost slipping off his head, Hero desperately tried to reach the sinking figure. He wasn't a great swimmer, and using the same method he did with wind, he jerked his arms forward and the water current increased, guiding him faster towards his baby brother.

Hero gave one last kick and his fingers finally held onto Markus' cold wrist. He pulled and the water helped him again, pushing the two of them towards the surface and the shore. Hero wrapped his arms around his brother, frowning against the cold strands of dark brown hair. Hero emerged gasping from the surface before dragging Markus onto the sand, the water being a boost. He laid Markus into a laying position, legs straight and arms by the side. He crawled over to his brother's side, panting in a drenched royal military shirt. Hero scrambled to Markus' neck to feel a pulse.

He felt it.

All the medic training came back to him and he remembered distinctly from his instructor.

"You can perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on unconscious victims, perhaps from drowning, cardiac arrest and various other things..."

His hands getting to work, he turned Markus' head to the side, watching water drain from his mouth and nose. After he saw nothing left, he turned his head back to its original position. He tilted Markus' head back and placed one of his hands on his brother's forehead. With two fingers of his free hand, he lifted Markus' chin. Hero observed his brother and watched his chest rise slowly. He bentover to confirm by listening and feeling the exhale of breath. Hero made sure there was no obstruction for his brother's airway, before proceeding.

He pinched Markus' nose and took a deep breath. He leaned down and sealed his lips on Markus' and breathed, pausing after every exhale and inhale. While breathing in, Hero made sure to feel Markus' chest rising and falling with his hand over his chest. He carried on with the process in a steady manner. He took intervals in a regular frequency and paused to take a breath for himself. He made sure his breaths were passing through Markus effectively.

Hero pulled away when he watched Markus squint before his eyes fully opened. Their eyes made contact and Hero immediately sprung away. Markus shot up, coughing and heaving. Hero took his discarded jacket and wrapped it around his brother's shivering shoulders. He dragged his brother on his shaky feet, and led him to the castle quietly. Hero made sure to carry back the extra clothes, crown and his boots.

It was quiet until Hero supported Markus into the warmth of the castle and demanded for some blankets from the butlers. He snapped at them to meet him in Markus' personal lounge and turned to his brother. "You okay?"

"¹Trött."

Hero frowned before closing the jacket over his brother's head and muttered softly to him, "²Resten. Storebror är här, oroa dig inte."

To Markus, who fluttered his eyes shut, the wispy voice sounded faintly feminine. The word he screamed out to the water earlier had come back to soothe his mind. Mamma.

○

When Markus woke up, he found himself dry and comfy in a nest of blankets and pillows, huddled up in front of a fireplace. He drearily looked to the side, and saw his brother leaning on the couch, staring absently into the fire. His shirt and trousers were still a little drenched, but drying up quickly. Markus noted his brother's uniform jacket sprawled out in front of the fire to dry up. He was glad that the horrified expression on Hero's face disappeared, but he realized that he hasn't asked Hero how he was doing yet.

He stretched out his hand from the blankets and wrapped his now warm hand around Hero's surprisingly chilly one. Hero turned, not showing any emotion yet. "Are you okay?"

His brother gave his signature sneer and turned away, "I should be asking you that."

Markus realized that Hero moved so he can clutch Markus' hand.

He raised his head when he heard Hero's broken whisper, "I could have lost you."

"But you didn't."

Hero turned around, and Markus saw fury in those pale eyes. "But I could have! I could have lost you just like I lost our parents, Dianne, Peter, Ivan, Kaleb and so many other people who did not deserve to die."

Markus spat back, "You think our father did not deserve to die? He hurt you, Hero! I could have lost you too. Actually, I could have lost you many times. When you took the pain from father, when you started training with Ivan to go out in the middle of the night just to provide us with food, every single time you picked a fight with someone underground, every time you lead a raid and especially when you went on that assassination mission."

Hero still looked pissed. He looked beyond pissed, actually. "I'm trying to protect you. It's the only thing I've learnt so far. Because I've lost so many people I won't stand to lose another one. You're the very last of my family, Markus."

Markus calmed himself down. "How can you protect me if you can't even take care of yourself?"

Hero's angry gaze dropped. His fingers softened against Markus'. Markus shuffled closer from his blankets and whispered softly, "Are you really okay, big brother? I know you're not eating as much as you should. You're overworking yourself, aren't you? By the looks of it, you also need a break."

"You nearly died, Markus, can we leave this for another time-"

"No. I need to know you're doing okay."

"I'm fine," Hero lied. "My workload is just piling up, okay? Don't worry about it."

Markus sighed, before he nodded with a slight smile. The two basked in the warmth of each other and the fire before Markus tugged harshly at Hero's hand. The general's eyes widened when he found himself leaning tucked underneath his brother's arm. Markus started adjusting the blankets so the both of them were wrapped up in the soft material. "Can your workload wait another night? Stay here with me."

It wasn't really a question so Hero wasn't able to answer. He sighed and let his brother nuzzle against his hair annoyingly. Hero closed his eyes, but stayed awake, listening to Markus' soft breaths. Once they were in a steady and calm pace, Hero gathered up his energy and teleported from Markus' grasp. He draped Markus comfortably on the floor and left the room. He set down a few motion-sensory charms if anyone unwelcome were to enter Hero would be alerted.

Hero made his way to his own room and once he locked the door...

You made a mistake.

Hero slid to the floor and tangled his fingers in his hair, pulling slightly.

I did not ask for someone to narrate my life, thanks.

Are you crying, little hero?

Hero's hands went to his cheeks. They were indeed wet.

What's it to you?

○

The clouds were dark. Misty figures disappeared into their homes. All who remained on the cloudy clearing were four starry figures bent over the clouds.

"Something's wrong."

"Something bad is going to happen."

"Or Lady Aetheria could just be angry."

"No way, Dianne. She never gets angry. Also, the clouds change based on Hero and his counterpart's emotions. That's what I think, anyways."

"Are the both of them angry?"

"I mean, Hero's always mad but the clouds grow windy not dark and gloomy."

Two siblings turned to a man who once took care of them.

"Is he going to be okay, Ivan?"

One of the larger ones shrugged, "The viewing ports won't allow us to see him. He's having a private moment right now. Let's just hope for the best."

The fourth adult spoke up, "But, all the representatives lose control when their power reach their fullest right? Lord Kenneth of the Nether destroyed a third of the cave systems, created new ones and killed many people when he lost control. I heard that the Nether grows hotter if he's angry."

One of the siblings agreed, "Yeah, Kaleb's right. Lady Allix wiped out her family when she lost control. The islands in the End crumble and fall into the void if she's upset. Imagine what would happen to Hero. Would he... Would he hurt-"

"Nonsense, Peter. He would never do anything like that. I taught him better," the oldest among them whispered.

"Let's hope you're right, Ivan. I miss him, but he shouldn't be here too early."

○

Hero rested his head in between his knees as he let his tears fall. The tightening pain in his chest kept growing and he couldn't handle it any longer. He let out all his regret, anger, confusion and sorrow in the form of tears. Hero heard a misty pop as he peeked from behind his stray hair.

A tall (fuck) man, who appeared to be in a green suit, stood before him. Hero gasped and reached for his sword resting in the corner. Immediately, the man's boot shot out and stomped hard on Hero's wrist. Hero heard a crack. He froze, turning to make eye contact with the man. The man had odd turquoise eyes, and they gleamed oddly. Dark brown hair was neatly slicked back on his head, and he was quite handsome.

The man's lips curled into a smile as he removed his boot from Hero's fractured wrist. Hero recoiled, holding his injured hand to his chest as he seethed in quiet resentment. The man continued smiling as he moved to sit next to Hero. The general's breaths grew harsher as he felt an odd chill come from the man.

"I can help you, little hero."

Hero looked away and spat, "I don't need help, most of all, yours. And don't call me that."

The man slid his long fingers behind Hero's back, finally settling on Hero's thin waist. The Swede did not allow himself to shiver. "Now, now. It's rude to not look someone in the eye in a conversation. Come on, doll. Turn around and show me those pearls."

Pearls? Pearls were several shades of white. Hero definitely had never seen blue pearls before. Wincing at the even more creepier nickname, Hero reluctantly turned and glared at the man with ferocity. The gleam in those turquoise eyes turned into a twinkle. He whispered, "Lovely."

Hero couldn't stop the cringe. The man, Derrek, he now remembers, speaks. "I was not asking whether I could help you, pet. I was ordering you. I can make all those nightmares go away, dear. I can turn those abnormalities into powers, doll. I can make you better."

Hero was not glaring anymore. He was still crying. But the offer was tempting. Derrek droned on and on, not even facing Hero anymore. Hero listened, the chill and uncertainty disappearing and replaced with an odd sense of safety and calm.

"All you have to do is take my hand. I'll help you."

Hero was startled when Derrek stood. He was waiting with an arm stretched out. Eyes kind. When Hero took his uninjured hand to accept the offer, he did not look and backtrack properly.

He did not see the fake kindness behind those eyes, who turned full-out green with red slits and black irises. He missed the black tears ooze from the corner of Derrek's eyes. He missed the sinister smile and the sharp nails.

Hero took his hand.

And he doubled over, his chest aching more painful than he had ever experienced. His eyes were burning, and Hero grabbed onto Derrek as if he was clinging onto his lifeline.

Hero let out a scream that no one but Derrek and the clouds heard.

□

Translations:

1. Swedish: Tired.

2. Swedish: Rest. Big brother's here, don't worry.