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Chapter Text

Techno knew this was a bad idea; it was a terrible idea. But it was the last plan he had left...

He preferred a suicide plan before staying with Dream’s mania any longer. He could hear him chasing him through the forest and trees. He felt his presence behind him, but he never had the courage to turn around and look behind him...

All that was on his mind was that he had to escape from the Admin who was chasing him.

At least the first part of his plan was done, he had Dream's communicator in his hands. Without it, Dream had no power over the world they were in. That was the difference between being an admin and not a god. An admin depended on his communicator to operate his powers and commands, while a god did not need that device.

That meant he had a very, very small advantage over Dream... I had a chance of getting out of this one alive (though possibly not in one piece). If Dream caught him, he would take his last life; he had already lost two of his lives... both lives were taken by Dream. He said he would kill him... that was Dream's magnificent plan: kill him and make an example of his death to the other members of the server. So that no one else would oppose him.

As soon as he knew that Dream's plan was not to keep him as a weapon but to kill him, he accelerated his escape plan, and now they were here.

He was running through the forest when he tripped over a root and fell to the ground. The child began to panic when he heard Dream getting closer. Even though he now had his communicator, he was unarmed and without armor to cover him, and not to mention that he now had half his strength and size, while Dream was armed entirely with Netherite. He couldn't face him face to face, at least not like this, so his plan was to teleport away from the forest, possibly back to his cabin with Phil... he just hoped that he would receive him even looking like that. He feared that his father would hate him now that his real form was revealed.

But he didn't have time to think about the future. Getting up with the help of his wounded and bruised arms, he forced himself to continue forward, gasping in pain as he put too much weight on his bandaged leg and arm. He could still feel the warm blood trickling down his legs, soaking the bandages. However, adrenaline was rushing through his body, so he wasn't able to feel the pain coming from his injuries for long. As soon as he composed himself, he ran forward, trying to put as much distance as possible between himself and Dream.

The more he ran, the more he could feel the warm blood running down his skin and splashing onto the floor. His mind was not fully functioning to understand that he was leaving a trail that Dream could easily follow to his location. All his mind could think about was running; everything else didn't matter, it was secondary. If he didn't run, he would die, and he didn't want to die.

He refused to die at the hands of the green bastard that was Dream.

At that moment, he was aware of everything and nothing at the same time: the pain of his wounds and the feeling of being chased. (He wondered if that was how rats felt when they were chased by cats.) The ground only caused more wounds and cuts on his feets as he ran. He felt like his heart was beating too fast and hard in his chest, like it would burst out at any moment.

But the truth is, those were things he easily forgot. The almost paralyzing panic of being chased by the green admin dulled the pain. That fear filled him with adrenaline, pushing back the burning and pain in his legs and his body in general. He hadn't gone into flight mode in a long, long time... He couldn't even remember the last time he ran away from someone with such ferocity and fear. He thinks the last time it happened was before the fighting arena... Although he's not sure, his memories before being captured by his handlers are very cloudy.

But that didn't matter; nothing else mattered. The only thing that mattered was that he had to keep going. He had to keep running and get away from the demon that was chasing him.

Finally, he could see something between all those trees. It was an exit, a hiding place. Finally, after what seemed like hours, he could see it: his salvation right in front of him. Just a few more meters, and he could finally get rid of Dream and continue with his plan to be free from the clutches of the green demon.

It was a cave. It seemed huge and it ran for kilometers beneath the earth. But his plan was not to go through it and hide in its depths. No, he would hide near the entrance and wait for Dream to enter, then run in the opposite direction. He just hoped he had enough time to hide and throw Dream off his trail.

He could hear quick footsteps behind him; Dream was getting closer. So it was now or never.

Techno entered the cave as quickly as he could and made sure to leave a trail of blood going deeper into the cave, so Dream would think he entered it and not that it was somewhere in the entrance. He hid against some huge rocks that covered him completely. He could hear Dream's footsteps arriving at the entrance of the cave.

His heart stopped right at that moment.

He didn't breathe, he didn't move, he just stayed completely still in his place. He couldn't hear anything but the sound of Dream's boot soles against the rock that was the floor of the cave. He heard him walking and checking every hole and crevice. He almost found it and almost had a heart attack because of it.

But then the admin must have noticed the path of blood and followed it to the depths of the cave, where, if he was lucky, Dream would encounter mobs that would entertain him for a few minutes.

As soon as he heard Dream's footsteps disappear into the distance, he came out of his hiding place and ran as fast as he could until there was a safe distance between himself and the cave.

His body fell defeated against a tree, and he leaned against it, holding the communicator tightly against his chest, feeling his heart beating a thousand times per second. That shouldn't be normal, but he didn't care... It wasn't the time to think about those things. His hands were shaking as he picked up the communicator; no matter how hard he tried, his hands never stopped shaking. 

But despite that, he turned on the communicator, albeit a little clumsily (working with trembling hands was not ideal). Techno didn't read Dream's messages; that wasn't what mattered to him about the device... so he didn't even bother to look at them. He simply went to the command section and started looking for the right one.

Now, Techno, no matter how much of a demigod he is, never learned about codes; no one ever taught him. So he just looked for the first one that said Tp and filled it with random data. Now he regrets not having written down the coordinates of his cabin… but even if he wasn't teleported to his cabin, anywhere is better than here… so he didn't care much about it.

Looking at the screen, he didn't know what X, Y, and Z meant, but again he put in random numbers. He had a bad feeling about this, but there was no other option, so he just pressed the send symbol and waited for something to happen.

The seconds passed and nothing had changed; he was still in the same place and in the same tree where he had leaned after running for so long... and to tell the truth, as his adrenaline was going down, his wounds had started to hurt, especially his leg.

He was sure that if it weren't for him immobilizing his leg with some pieces of wood he found and some old cloth, he wouldn't even be able to walk or run. So, the pain he felt was quite considerable right now.

The pink-haired child could see how the bandage was getting redder and dirtier, and despite the low temperatures of the dark forest, his leg felt hot, as if it were pulsating.

Techno didn't know what had happened. He was still in the same forest, and he was sure that Dream must have already realized that he was not in that cave... time was running out. He looked at the communicator, trying to find answers as to why nothing had happened yet, but he only found a world loading message on the screen... he didn't understand what it meant. The easiest way to explain it was as if it were the loading screen of a video game. But suddenly, the device in his hand began to shake and vibrate, then its screen shone so brightly that he had to close his eyes to avoid being blinded by the light.

The dull sound of a Nether portal opening sounded a few centimeters away from him. He opened his eyes carefully out of curiosity when he felt a faint light in front of him and saw a somewhat strange portal. It didn't look like anything he had seen before. It was a bluish-green color with a white border. It seemed as if someone had torn the air before him, opening the strange portal.

He stood up, leaning on the tree so as not to fall, still with the communicator in hand. The glow of the portal was striking and beautiful, but it was also warm, warmer than anything else in this server abandoned by the gods. He was so immersed in looking at the portal that he didn't hear someone's footsteps approaching behind him.

"Don't even think about moving, or I'm going to shoot" the Piglin hybrid turned his head so fast that he looked like an owl. He came face to face (well, more like face to mask) with Dream. The mask and his characteristic smile greeted him. He could feel the venom and anger in the admin's voice... he knew that he was going to shoot him if he moved "Get away from that portal, and maybe I will spare your life" the administrator raised the crossbow and aimed it towards him. There was very little chance of going through the portal without an arrow hitting him, and from what he saw, the arrow had some kind of potion on the tip…

Maybe he couldn't dodge it, but he could stop it from reaching a critical place. If he made it reach any of his extremities, maybe he would have a chance to escape! But he would have to go through the portal quickly and without looking back. He didn't even know where it would take him, or if it was safe... but he would rather be in hell itself than spend more time with Dream, so he would take the risk.

Just hope you get out of this alive.

"And good?" he heard Dream's cold voice. He rested his hand on the trunk and breathed. He hoped that if he supported himself and then launched himself with the help of his trunk, it would give him more momentum... he just hoped it would work.

He took one last look at Dream and ran.

All he saw was the portal; he saw nothing else. Nothing else mattered. It only mattered that if he achieved it, he would be free, and Dream would no longer bother him or hurt him.

He didn't care about the communicator either; he dropped it at some point and didn't even notice. The truth didn't matter either.

His body crossed the portal almost completely, and the typical tingling sensation after passing through a portal ran through his body. But when he was almost there, he felt something sharp stab into his injured leg. He fell to the ground and saw a crossbow arrow stuck through the bandage on his leg... and it hurt a lot.

It was as if his leg was burning with fire and it was spreading to the rest of his body. He curled in on himself, trying to make the pain more bearable, but it only made the pain stronger. With every small movement, his body burned in pain and flames. He didn't even notice that the portal had closed; he didn't even care at this point.

All Techno could feel was pain and agony.

All the pain he hadn't felt during the entire chase, he was feeling now. It was like a mountain was collapsing on top of him, and his body couldn't support the weight. The pain was so intense that even breathing hurt.

Get up

Technopain 

Insecure, get up

Where are we? This is not DSMP

Time to run

Pigboy time to go

The voices in his head were as annoying as ever. He could feel his brain screaming in pain every time Chat spoke.

It was something he had never experienced; he just wanted to curl up there and die in the grass. He no longer even had the strength to get up and try to find a safe place. He just wanted it all to end once and for all…

Uh oh…

That is new

Where are we again?

Dream could come

Oh no…

Silence

His eyes widened as the knowledge that Dream could appear at any moment hit him. Techno was lying in the open in a forest, Dream could easily find him if he wanted.

He had to get up. I really had to do it, but when I tried it it fell again. His injuries did not allow him to stand for too long, but he did not give up.

He kept trying and kept trying no matter if he had to crawl on the ground until he reached one of the trees, but he did it. He was able to get up (with the help of a tree) and walk with difficulty towards the trees. He stumbled more than once but got back up every time he fell, chat kept bombarding his mind and his head was about to explode.

Walk faster

Ogh… the homeless teletubi hurt him a lot

Weak

Silence

It does not matter now

Techno was breathing hard, his body ached, and his vision was filling with black spots. Chat voices increasingly sounded more distant and muffled... as if his head was underwater.

His feet stopped working, and he fell to the ground once again. He let out a gasp due to the pain as his body collapsed, but this time he no longer had the strength to get up... he no longer had the strength to do anything. He just let his body shut down and curled up on the floor; he was tired and couldn't fight to stay awake any longer. His vision had gone completely black when he heard a voice somewhat far away.

But he didn't have enough energy to worry, so he let his consciousness slowly leave him. He felt as if his brain was swimming in molasses or as if he were sinking in water, it was as if the words of whoever was speaking were getting stuck in his brain, drowning there and taking their meanings with them. At some point, some arms carefully lifted him, and he let out a small gasp of pain. Just a small movement of one of his joints caused him to wrinkle his brow in pain.

He listened to the voice reassure him. He didn't fully understand it, but now he felt so warm and safe... like he couldn't get hurt anymore as long as those arms held him. and that was all he needed to abandon the world of the living, tucked into the clutches of Morpheus.

For the first time in a long time, Techno felt safe and protected. He no longer needed to fight... Now he could rest. He no longer needed to fight... now he could relax his aching body and rest without fear, no need to remain hypervigilant in case Dream was lurking... he knew he was safe now.

Chapter Text

Xisuma was looking for some materials that Scar had asked for. Although Scar would prefer to go get the materials for his constructions himself to make sure they were perfect, this time he was busy at Grian's base so he couldn't get his own materials.

And since X was going to collect materials anyway for some things he planned to implement in his base he offered to go and get what he needed. 

And that was what he was doing now, cutting down some trees to get wood for Scar. He didn't go too far this time, in fact he was somewhat close to Doc's base. He walked and cut down trees when he found one he liked, then planted a sprout for a new tree to grow. He was in the middle of cutting down a tree when his communicator rang.

When he looked at the communicator to find out what they needed him for, he saw a somewhat alarming message...

Technoblade has joined the server

Xisuma read the message more times than he would like to admit, he had no plans to accept anyone else, he didn't even know who Technoblade was supposed to be. His communicator began to fill up with messages from the other hermits greeting the stranger and asking him why he didn't tell them that someone would join.

Xisuma didn't know what to answer them, so he didn't and went to see who this Technoblade guy was and what he was doing in his world.

He teleported to where the unknown guy was or was supposed to be... it wasn't even close to where people were supposed to appear once they join the world for the first time, so this person must have entered a different way. A different, not very legal way.

The earth was churned up, as if someone had been dragged. Not too far from there he could notice the back of an arrow. He approached and took it in his hands-it was broken, split completely in half. But he could not not find the tip of the arrow anywhere nearby, which meant that whoever had been shot with that arrow still had it embedded.

This was getting too strange for his liking, his hermits did not use this type of arrow. This type of arrow were the ones used in worlds with PvP, such as Hypixel or world where PvP between its members was allowed. These arrows were made with a tip that caused much more damage than the normal ones.... basically they were made to kill. 

And that kind of thing is not allowed in your world, no matter how much you allow your hermits to practice PvP as a sport. He would never let them use these kinds of weapons, more than one of his hermits learned the hard way how dangerous these weapons are. 

And he would never dream of using something like that in this world. Not when his hermits don't feel comfortable with it. So it had to come from somewhere else.

When Xisuma paid more attention to his surroundings, he noticed a trail of blood that went even further into the trees. He left half of the arrow lying around and followed the path of blood.

The blood staining the floor was fresh, so it couldn't have been long since whoever was bleeding passed by. Meaning they weren't too far away.

As he continued through the trees he heard a dull noise, like a sack of potatoes falling to the ground, followed by a muffled scream. X quickened his pace, searching for the source of the sound.

He didn't walk far before he found a small body, the body of a child lying in the middle of the forest.

“Oh shit…” he thought, approaching the boy's inert form. He seemed small, too small. He was surrounded by fresh, dried blood but he was still breathing... thank goodness, he didn't know what he would have done if he had found a dead child in the middle of his world. Only Prime knows what would have happened if that were the case.

“Kid, listen, wake up” the administrator tries to wake up the child, only earning some moans. X didn't even know if he'd actually heard it “Come on bud... can you hear me? Can you understand me?...” again without a response from the child. Xisuma wasn't going to leave the poor guy bleeding to death in the middle of the forest, so he carefully wrapped his arms around the boy's body and carefully lifted him up. The child weighed less than he looked, although he was almost skin and bones. He was almost boneless, X noticed, even in the arms of a stranger. What had happened to him? How did he get here?

But those were questions for later, when the boy woke up and wasn't so hurt.

X wasn't going to lie, the boy looked bad, especially his leg and arm (his leg was the most damaged part) so he tried not to touch them. Looking at the leg a little closer, he could see the other half of the arrow stuck there. 

That didn't matter now, it was evident that the reason the boy was here was because he was running away from something or someone, if the arrow in his leg had anything to say. There was no room in his mind who could do this to a child... he knew there were horrible people scattered throughout the worlds but this was too much.

The boy's body began to get restless and move. If he continued like this he could exacerbate the injury and hurt himself even more, and he didn't want that so he tried to calm him down “Hey, hey... it's okay, you're safe” He tried to bring the boy's body closer to his chest without moving him too much, he didn't want to cause him more damage than he already had “You're okay... I promise, nothing bad is going to happen” It seemed to be working since the boy stopped moving and lost consciousness shortly after.

He didn't know if it was a good or bad thing so he would have to hurry to think of what to do with the child.

He moved the unconscious boy in his arms a little to see his communicator, it seemed that he was not far from the place where he was cutting down trees, so they were close to Doc's base, the best thing in this situation would be to take the boy to see Doc so he could cure him.

Xisuma hit the call symbol on Doc's profile and called him, waiting only a few seconds before he answered.

“Hey Xisuma, do you need something?” Doc asked from the other side of the call. X takes a moment to settle the child in his arms and start walking “Hey Doc... I really need your help” there was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the call, “Are you hurt? Do you need me to come over there?”.

Xisuma smiles. his hermits are always selfless and ready to help whoever needs it, and that's exactly what he needed right now.

“I'm actually on my way to your base, and no, I'm not hurt” he responds with a sigh, the line remains silent for a few seconds again “I swear, if Grian crashes against something again because he was distracted, I'll tie his wings together” Doc says “Grian is not the one who's hurt... it's just that I found a boy passed out in the woods and-”

His words were interrupted by a shout from Doc from the other end of the line. He could have sworn it nearly deafened him “You what?!” And then he hears a glass break “What do you mean, you found a child in the middle of the forest?! Is that even possible?!” Xisuma sighs, he's thankful the boy passed out now if only because he didn't want to scare him with Doc's screams, he can be very loud if he wants to be “Yes, I found a kid in the forest... and yes it's also possible to happen, I think it's the person who joined not long ago” he can hear the creeper hybrid breathe and calm down on the other side.

“Okay... How badly is he hurt?” Doc asked over the phone “Some cuts and bruises are minor... but he has a pretty badly hurt arm and leg, it doesn't look good at all” explains the administrator in a calm voice. He hears Doc sigh on the other side “Okay... how far away are you? So I can be ready for you when you arrive” he asks and Xisuma looks at the map for a few seconds before answering “We're about three minutes away”.

“All right... I'll wait for you” and then the call cuts off.

Xisuma looks at the boy in his arms and wonders how this child got into this situation, he didn't understand. Many say that he is too good to see the bad in the world, that he would never fully understand the evil in the world and what mortals are capable of... he thought he understood that part of mortals quite well but now he doubted it, he never expected them to be able to do this to a child.

But what he thought didn't matter, there was nothing he could do to rewrite the past, the only thing he could do now was to help in the present and take the child to Doc. They walked for a couple more minutes until he spotted Doc's base and just as promised he was at the door waiting for them. Xisuma smiles, glad that his hermits are such amazing people... they can be a little chaotic sometimes, but who wasn't?

As soon as Doc saw them in the distance he approached them and took the child from their arms, the expression on his face was worried, he took no more time and took the child inside. Xisuma followed close behind, X was no doctor so he couldn't get into the medical wing... but Doc promised to keep him updated on anything that came up, so he ended up sitting in the living room of Doc's base waiting for him to come back and tell him how the boy was doing.

Until then, he would sit here and answer some messages, tell his hermits what was going on. 

When he told them about the boy many were in stages of horror, more than one wanted to go to Doc's base to find out how the boy was doing. But X stopped them, they didn't need to be here now... maybe later when the boy woke up and was better he would let them meet him (only if the boy wanted to of course.) But that wouldn't be for quite some time. Time kept passing and Doc still didn't come back,so he could only wait…

He sat on the couch for what seemed like hours before Doc returned. But when he did he had a stressed and tired look on his face, that alone meant something had gone wrong.

“Doc?” X gets up from the couch, looking at the other one “Did something happen?” he asks somewhat nervously, Doc just looks at him and sighs “His leg was more damaged than I expected and... Well... I had to amputate” he froze “What?...” he asked, frozen and surprised. Doc again sighed “he developed sepsis, I had to cut a little above the knee... the infection had reached the bone” Doc finished and Xisuma remained frozen. How would they tell this to a child? The child was already injured and scared... how would you explain to a child you don't even know and who is surely traumatized that he lost a leg? 

“And... and his arm?” Xisuma sighs, this could have gone much better, but also much worse... there was still a chance that he could keep his arm, we had to think positive “And what about the rest?” he asks “Well... he is dehydrated and quite underweight and has some fever. It could be worse, much worse”

Xisuma sighs in relief, at least the boy seemed to be okay... outside of the amputated leg he seemed to be more stable and out of danger. That cheered him up a bit. 

Knowing Doc he surely already had plans to build the boy a prosthesis, maybe even with Mumbo’s help(after all, two hands work faster than one.) X sighs,tired and stressed, that would be something to figure out later. If he worried about it now he would end up much more stressed and that wouldn't be good for anyone, not for the boy, not for his hermits and certainly not for him. 

The guys always said he needed a break from taking care of them all and worrying about himself for once, and it’s not that he didn't want to...it's just that he's worked so hard at making this place the safe place for all its members that he was afraid it would fall apart if he wasn't here to watch over it.

“Okay, that's good” he answers “At least we know he will recover... Do you know when he will wake up?” Doc thinks about it for a few seconds before answering “Considering everything... I think in a little more than a week” he says, sighing again and moving to stand next to X and put his arm around his shoulders. X looks at him and Doc just smiles “Well done by the way” he speaks with a smile, his voice calm despite the circumstances “If it wasn't for you who knows what would have happened” Xisuma sighs after that, as much as Doc says that the boy is alive is thanks to him... he still feels he could have done morey. If he had been quicker maybe the boy wouldn't have lost his leg.

He hears Doc tsk somewhat resignedly, he pulls him closer and looks at him with his somewhat scolding gaze. 

“I know what you're thinking and it's not true” he begins “There was nothing you could have done, his leg was practically gone before he even set foot here. Don't blame yourself for something that is not your fault” X laughs a little at that, he assumes that he needs to make the best happen for everyone and forgets that he can't control everything and that some things get out of his hands... He is thankful that he has friends that help him see that none of that is his fault.

“Thanks Doc…” he smiles at his friend and Doc also gives him a smile “Any time”

Silence reigned in the room for a few seconds before Doc broke it.

“I will talk to Mumo about making a prosthesis for the child…” he begins “But it will take time, so until the final prosthesis is ready I will give him one of the ones that I have here. He'll have to get used to walking with one” Xisuma remains silent and thinks for a few seconds before answering “Maybe it would be a good idea for you to teach him how, once he wakes up of course”.

Doc thinks for a few seconds before answering.

“Of course. If he's willing of course” Xisuma smiles at that “Very good! Then we have this ready... Speaking of Mumbo I can talk to him for you if you want” Doc shakes his head “Nah, no need. I'll talk to him myself” he nods in response. 

“Talking about things that will happen in the future…” Doc starts, gaining Xisuma's attention “Maybe the best thing would be for you to take the boy to your base once he's more stable” X is surprised and looks at him a bit hesitant “What? Why?” he asks without understanding why Doc would want him to take the boy with him, he would be safer here than with him. In case he needs medical attention Doc would be close by to help him, if he goes with him in case of emergency he wouldn't know what to do “X I'm not exactly what a kid wants to see when he wakes up after having his leg amputated” he explains with a sigh “And you're better at this talking to injured people than I am” X sighs, Doc had a point... The creeper hybrid could be intimidating the first time you met him, but just because he understood didn't mean he was comfortable with taking the kid with him.

“I'm not sure Doc… what if something happens?” he asks a little nervously, Xisuma had never cared for a traumatized child before... he had no experience in that field “Nothing will happen... and in case something goes wrong I'm just a call away. Everything will be fine” Doc seemed very sure of what he was saying so Xisuma just nodded. Although on second thought he would have to make a quick trip to his base to tidy up the room he had for guests... no one had stayed there in a while so it was full of dust and dirt, he would have to go clean it very quickly.

“Okay. I will do it, but first I have to go clean the guest room” the admin explains and Doc smiles and nods. “Of course! I will finish bandaging some of his smaller wounds and then take him to your base” Xisuma nods “Alright! It's a plan. Just write to me when you're nearby” Doc smiles again and nods his head, disappearing into his base, Xisuma leaves through the door in the direction of his home.

When he arrived at his base he went straight to clean the room. And the truth was not as dirty as he thought, so he finished sooner than he expected and then sat down to wait for Doc's message. 

A few minutes later Doc sends him a message telling him they are close, so Xisuma stands at the door to wait for them. Once Doc arrives with the boy in his arms X lets them in and guides Doc to the room where the boy would be staying. They lay him on the sheets and then cover him with the blankets. 

The boy rests with a much more relaxed face than he had when he found him, but he still had a small frown on his face. Xisuma sighed wondering what happened, he wondered if the thing that hurt the boy came here with him... if that was the case he would have to go and find it. His duty as a steward was to see to the safety of his hermits and right now the boy was also under his care and protection... so he had a duty to see to him as well. Xisuma feels a hand resting on his shoulder.

He turns his head and met the gaze of the creeper hybrid. X smiles at him and Doc smiles reassuringly back. 

Doc signals to leave the room. Perhaps it would be best to leave the boy alone for the time being... he's had a rough few days it seems. It would be best to let him rest. Xisuma escorts Doc out of the room and as he turns to close the door he could swear he saw some sort of crow fly out of the window. Xisuma is surprised but then shakes his head, there are no crows in Hermitcraft... surely he saw wrong. He closes the door and walks Doc out, the sky was already turning dark so it would be best if he went home before the monsters started to appear.

He says goodbye to Doc and goes to his own room and for the rest of the night he never thinks about that strange crow again….

Chapter Text

Techno felt light at first, as if he was floating in the open. He didn't know where he was, but he didn't care, it wasn't something he cared about at that moment. 

He felt nothing, no pain, no fear… Just eternal nothingness. It was as if he did not exist. 

Until he felt everything. 

Everything burned and hurt, the feeling of needing to run, to escape grew unceasingly. It was cold, so cold that he could feel his skin burning in the icy wind. 

Techno opened his eyes in horror as he found himself surrounded by a storm that made everything look so white that his eyes hurt. And he could see nothing but snow... His view was limited to a few meters, the rest faded with the flakes falling from the sky. His limbs hurt and it felt like he was surrounded by fire instead of snow. Techno was lying in the middle of the snow and despite the pain in his body he got up. His limbs felt stiff from the cold, but he didn't let that stop him and started running, his body feeling tired as if he had run a marathon.

Which doesn't make sense, he doesn't remember doing any kind of physical activity. Although, if he's being honest, he doesn't remember how he got here either.

The pink-haired hybrid walked for what seemed like hours, the more he walked, the more the huge snowstorm dissipated until nothing but white was left in sight. But he didn't stop moving, he didn't think he could stop even if he wanted to.

But suddenly something appeared in the distance, it wasn't a forest or a place to hide from the cold.... What he saw in the distance was a large column of black smoke. For the first time since he started walking, he seemed to be moving forward, and even though he didn't want to go toward the column of smoke, his legs didn't respond. The closer he got, the stronger the smell of smoke, blood and soot became, his eyes burned, but he couldn't go back and had no choice but to keep going.

The snow gradually gave way to a landscape of withered grass and blackened trees. Acrid smoke swirled around him, seeping into his lungs and causing him to cough violently as he desperately sought a breath of clean air. His lungs felt like they were on fire, and his eyes burned and watered against the thick, suffocating haze. Yet he trudged on, navigating the scorched earth and dense curtains of smoke that obscured his vision, pushing through the choking atmosphere with every strained step. 

He didn't understand where he was or where all this destruction came from, one moment he was in the middle of the snow and now he was in the middle of a fire? If he was honest, he didn't even know where he was or what was going on.

His footsteps echoed over the charred grass, but at one point his foot stepped on something hard, and it cracked under the pressure of his foot. Techno looked down and saw the shattered skull of a wither skeleton. The remaining air left his lungs and the smoke around him dissipated. 

This was not a forest, he realized as the smoke cleared and instead of charred trees, he saw destroyed houses in flames. This was not a forest or a meadow, nor was it an unknown place, and the clearer his vision became, the more he panicked. Techno refused to face this place, to face what it meant, and he ran without seeing where he was going.

He ran through the streets he once walked, completely destroyed, he didn't want to be here and it shouldn't even be possible! He had destroyed this place! This land was burning to the ground with everything it stood for and he was supposed to be free of all the memories and fears this place gave him. He couldn't be here. He can't do this! He destroyed it without looking back. Even though he knew that destroying the land would have consequences... serious consequences, but he did it because it was the best for everyone, he thought that by destroying the land he could rebuild his relationship with his brothers because they could start over somewhere else... without the shadow of l'Menberg hanging over them. 

But he was wrong, and his brothers told him so.

(Philza's hands were dripping with blood, carrying the lifeless body of what had once been his older brother... The sapphire eyes reflected nothing but blame.)

Chat had insisted that destroying L'Manberg was their only way to safety from the government, the key to ending his brothers' naive quest to reclaim the country they had built, and the first step in rebuilding their shattered family. Techno clung to Chat's words, for Chat was his unwavering companion, the only one who had never abandoned him. Despite the pain and coercion that sometimes accompanied Chat's leadership, Techno trusted them implicitly. They claimed it was all out of love and concern, twisted as it was. Techno owes everything to Chat, so he never doubts them, even if they can be cruel at times.

But because he wasn't paying attention to where he was going, he ended up crashing into something and hitting his face.

When he looks up, all he sees is the flag of L'Manberg waving in the wind as it burns with fire. Techno freezes as he sees the flag his brothers once swore allegiance to, he feels his heart drop and beat a thousand beats per second. This is almost exactly what happened that day.

He had to find a way to escape before anyone saw him. He missed Chat during moments like these; they would have guided him out and then scolded him for being foolish enough to get trapped in the first place. He couldn’t help but agree—he didn’t even understand how he had ended up in this predicament, and he felt stupid for not knowing. 

He just wanted to go home with Phil. Phil always knew how to make things better. Phil didn't like Chat, but he still tried to get along with them for Techno's sake. Techno liked him, even though he never understood Phil's warnings. Chat always looked out for him, protecting him from dangers no one else could see. On nights when Phil would admonish him, calling Chat bad "people," Techno felt a pang of confusion. How could Phil say that when Chat had always protected him? If they kept him away from the others, it was because they cared about him, wasn't it? Techno shook his head, it wasn't worth trying to make sense of it all. All he had to worry about now was getting back to Phil. 

But Phil would never understand-

"Technoblade!"

A voice calls his name. He would know that voice anywhere.

That voice was Tommy's. That shrill and annoying voice he knew well... The Hybrid spins on his heels and comes face to face with his brother's face. Tommy had tears running down his cheeks and his eyes were red, though he didn't know if it was from the tears or the smoke that was still around him. But what surprised him was the crossbow loaded with fireworks that was aimed at him. 

His lungs stopped receiving oxygen as soon as he realized what was happening. "T-Tommy," Techno's voice stuttered, sounding so small and pathetic that it made him feel like a trapped mouse after a hunt. So useless and weak... but his brother remained unmoved. His gaze was filled with hatred and betrayal, but all Techno could do was try to make himself smaller. How pathetic... He felt like a little boy crying out for help, and in the end, that was all he was, a lonely and scared boy.

"Tommy, put the w-weapon down," he felt so small under the blond boy's gaze, so small that he even thought his disguise was broken... But it wasn't, he still maintained the appearance of the blood god, the appearance of Technoblade. "Why..." Tommy's voice sounded so broken, and it was all his fault... Techno didn't deign to look up at his brother, "Just why, Technoblade, why did you do this to us, why did you do this to me? We were your family, he was your family and you turned your back on him," tears streamed down his brother's face like waterfalls and if things continued like this, he would cry too. 

"Tommy... l-listen please I..." he tried to speak, he tried to explain himself... How had everything gone so wrong, where had he gone wrong? He didn't want this, he didn't want this... he wanted to get out of here. But Tommy's scream interrupted him, "NO, no… You listen to me! You killed him and then you killed Tubbo. And if that wasn't enough, you allied yourself with that fucking green asshole and then destroyed the country he built..." Techno could feel his vision blurring and his breathing increasing. He took a few steps back and bumped into something, tears started to fall from his eyes, the hybrid couldn't breathe.

It was his fault, all of this was his damn fault. Techno should never have come... He was dead because of Techno, because of his carelessness, because he wasn't strong. And then he allied himself with... With Dream to destroy the country his brothers had built. Chat had said it was okay, Chat had said it was the right thing to do. They had said that everything would be fine, that everything would go back to the way it was when the land disappeared... Techno should never have believed them. He hates himself for that, for being too weak to say no to those voices in his head, he always told himself that they would never try to hurt him... But now he's not even sure of that. This is all his fault, Techno killed him, he destroyed his family, he deserved nothing of what they gave him.

Phil should have let him die when they met; he never deserved to live! Overwhelmed by the weight of his own thoughts, a strangled sob tore from his throat, interrupting his breath and shaking his entire frame. 

He couldn't remember when he started crying.

"And you still cry? You don't deserve to cry. The monsters like you don't even deserve half of what Phil gave you, you should have died that day! Maybe then he would still be alive and not you!” Techno could barely breathe at this point, his lungs were too busy sobbing to get any oxygen and his chest ached from lack of air. And this, this was GOOD, he deserved pain, he deserved this, he deserved this suffering because what he did is unforgivable. 

"I'M SORRY!" He shrieked. 

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." the pink-haired one apologized over and over again, his voice hoarse and he didn't even know why he was apologizing anymore, it didn't even matter. 

Then he hears Tommy remove the safety from the crossbow and pull the trigger. 

Techno remains still, a hollow acceptance settling over him. He doesn’t flinch, doesn’t even think about defending himself. He deserves this suffering. The fight has long left him; he merely waits for the inevitable, a silent plea for it to be quick escaping his thoughts. Deep down, he knows he doesn’t deserve such mercy, yet he can’t help but hope for it. 

But nothing happened.

It's cold and too quiet... There's no more smoke, there's more city, and Tommy has disappeared without a trace.

He looks up, trying to focus his tear-filled eyes to understand what is happening, to know where he is and where Tommy went. But all he sees are stars... Stars and galaxies, he is in the middle of a void. He sees nothing more but feels that something is wrong, that he is missing something important.

Something is holding him, but he can't see what it is, holding him so tenderly and softly as if he were the most precious thing in the universe... He doesn't deserve that. He doesn't deserve this kindness, he's just a monster...

Silence. 

Calm down... Everything is fine, dear... 

A voice echoes in the void, but he can't see what it is, he can't see whose voice it is... Is it Chat? He thought Chat was angry with him, but he's glad they're here too. 

No. 

What?

I am not that parasite. 

I'm Kristin. 

Kristin?... That name is familiar to Techno, but he can't remember where, his mind feels much calmer now than before. He had almost forgotten that he had panicked just a few moments ago. He feels something pressing around him, it's a slightly cold but soft and firm touch... It brings him some comfort, as if nothing could hurt him while he's there.

You're a very curious little thing, aren't you?

And forgetful too... 

But don't worry your head about anything else my little lily, I'm here to protect you.  

Techno blinks slowly a few times and swears he can almost see cherry red eyes in front of him, but then they disappear again in the veil of stars... Will she protect him? No one protected him before... Only Phil and he repaid him by killing Will… He was really bad, right? He doesn't deserve this, he doesn't deserve Kristin's protection.

Silence, treasure. 

My Angel will be very sad if he hears you say that, he has been very worried about you. 

I'm sure he'll have a heart attack from worry.

Techno blinks again, he doesn't understand what he means... he doesn't remember who Angel is, but he feels that he is very important. But anyway, he doesn't deserve anyone's concern, he killed his brother and he doesn't deserve anyone's pity. 

Just thinking about it makes his eyes fill with tears again. 

No. 

No? What do you mean, no?

It's not your fault.

It was never and never will be your fault.

He did that to himself... But if you want to blame someone, blame the Dreamon or the parasite.

But it's not your fault.

Oh… It's not his fault? 

No.

It's not your fault, my little lily.

Techno's mind goes blank. Now he feels better... But he's tired. But he doesn't want to sleep! What if Kristin leaves? And if he never sees her again... He doesn't want to be alone.

He hears a melodious laugh, he can feel the thing holding him shaking a little, but he's not afraid of falling, Kristin said she would protect him and he trusts her.

Don't worry your little head with those things, darling.

I will always be here, even if you don't think I'm around I'll be there... It's a promise, my little lily.

Really? Techno can't believe anyone would want to be close to someone like him... But he's happy to have Kristin around. She makes him feel so safe and warm, even if her touch is cold like a breeze, it makes him feel warm inside.

But he still doesn't want to go to sleep, he'd rather be here with her than anywhere else. He doesn't want to go back to smoke and fire... Is that too much to ask?

He hears Kristin sigh.

Honey... I promise you that when you close your eyes and open them again, you will be in an amazing place!

And I will be there with you. All will be well, my sweet lily.

No more fire and no more smoke for you little one, not even a little bit.

You will be safe there with them, there they will protect you... There you can finally be a child.

Techno blinks, feeling his eyelids grow heavier. He won't be able to avoid sleep for much longer... 

Do you promise not to leave me alone? 

It's a promise, treasure. 

Techno smiled and trusted Kristin, even if he couldn't remember who she was, he knew that she was very important and that he should trust her. So he lets his eyes close and his consciousness disappears into the land of dreams.

Before he loses consciousness, he feels a kiss on his forehead and then he remembers nothing else.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Techno opened his eyes and immediately felt disoriented.

He sat up quickly and tried to catch his breath as the pain echoed in his head, trying to calm himself. He looked around only to find his vision spinning as everything was blurred and out of focus.

He covered his eyes with one hand for a minute and held his breath until the pain and nausea stopped. He slowly moved his hand away from his eyes and looked around, seeing that it was some kind of room, there was a large window right next to the bed where there was a beautiful black feathered crow with some white feathers on its chest. 

But as soon as the bird saw that he was watching it, it flew out of the window.

He didn't know where he was or how he got there… But the thought of not knowing made him feel sick and scared so he decided to leave this room and try to find a way out, so he slid out of bed only to scream...in surprise because when he stood up he immediately fell to the ground. He looked down at the ground, trying to see what he had tripped over.

And it was at that moment that he couldn't hear Chat screaming his nonsense and realized that he did indeed have a leg missing, moving his hand to where his leg should be, he hissed and felt nothing but air and bandages.

His breathing quickened and he could hear rapid footsteps approaching his location, the urge to scream increasing until he could no longer hold it in, and it was only when the door burst open that the dam broke and a terrified, shrill scream was torn from his lungs. 

————

Xisuma was still asleep when he heard a knock on the boy's room. He got up as fast as he could and ran to the room. He opened the door and took in the scene. The boy's eyes were wide with terror, and it was very clear that he had no idea where he was. There was a dangerous tension in the air, and right after that, the boy seemed to collapse and scream at the top of his lungs. 

Xisuma sees how the boy presses himself against the wall and curls up into a ball, his movements are clumsy... Which is to be expected, he is not used to having one leg missing, the boy is trembling and does not look at him. Xisuma doesn't know what to do, if this was one of his hermits he would know how to calm him down, but this was a scared and traumatized child... He didn't know what to do, but he couldn't leave the poor guy like this, he just couldn't. This child was now his responsibility and he would not let him suffer alone. 

He sighs and sits down on the floor in front of the door, not approaching the panicked boy.

"Hello kiddo... I'm Xisuma," he says softly, not approaching the pink haired one, not flinching when blood red eyes look at him, followed by something like a growl. “I know you're scared and confused, I would be too if I were you," he tries to sound understanding and friendly, "and I promise I won't hurt you, okay, kid? I found you passed out in the woods and as soon as my friend, Doc, saw you, I brought you here..." He explains, trying to let the boy know what's going on and not to be so adrift in this situation. "We were hoping you'd be out longer since you have some pretty nasty injuries… But now that you're awake, some things will be easier."

He sighed as he noticed that the youngest child's eyes remained fixed on him. Many people might have felt threatened by that, but not him. Xisuma understood that there was no need to be intimidated by a disadvantaged child who had endured so much.

"We'll take care of everything, don't worry, okay? Everything will be fine... No one here wants to hurt you, we just want to help you," he speaks in a relaxed and friendly manner without sounding authoritarian in any way, "It's normal to be scared in these situations, you just went through something that no one should have to go through and you don't know how to react... You don't feel in control of anything, do you?"

He watches as the blood-colored eyes move away and the boy's small form begins to tremble again. 

"And that is completely normal, but the important thing is not to let it get in the way of seeing things clearly," he says with a smile, trying to sound as warm as possible. The child seemed to be reacting less and less hostile, which was good. "As I told you, my name is Xisuma and I am the administrator of Hermitcraft... Where you are now. And what is your name, kiddo? 

For a few moments, there was an intense silence, Xisuma thought the boy would not answer... But, surpassing Xisuma’s expectations, the boy spoke. 

"T- Techno..." he answered, "M- my name is Techno." 

Xisuma's smile spread across his face as he greeted Techno with genuine warmth. "Nice to meet you, Techno." He watched as Techno slowly raised his head, his eyes still showing traces of fear, but less than before.

As much as Xisuma wanted to sit there for hours... That wouldn't be good for the minor's injured body, so he had to get him back to bed and bring him some light food and water. 

"Alright boy, I'll tell you what's going to happen," Xisuma began, "I'm going to go over and put you on the bed, then I'll bring you something to eat and drink... Then if you want, you can go back to sleep for a while." After his explanation, Xisuma saw how the boy had an indecisive look on his face, he seemed to be debating his options... But after a few seconds, the boy nodded and he approached carefully.

He lifted Techno, careful not to move him or squeeze him too tightly. The pink-haired one may have given him permission to lift him, but he was still trembling under his touch and trying to make himself as small as possible. It was obvious that the boy was trying very hard not to bite him.... But if he made the wrong move, Techno would sink his teeth into the nearest limb he had. But luckily nothing happened and he managed to get the boy into bed without too much trouble, which was a great relief, he doesn't think he would have known how to handle it otherwise. When he put him on the bed, he could see the boy staring at the stump of his former leg and quickly looked away, Xisuma saw this and covered him with the blanket so he wouldn't feel cold and see his stump directly.

It was obvious that the kid still didn't want to face his new reality.

Xisuma sighs and smiles at the boy. "Now I'm going to get you something to eat... Do you want me to leave the door open for you?" He asks softly and Techno nods slightly. So when Xisuma left the room, he left the door open just as the boy had decided, Techno hadn't been in control of a lot of things in his life lately...so he just wanted to show Techno that he was in control here and that he only wanted to help. He went into the kitchen and prepared a simple soup, as Techno's body was not ready for anything else. 

He also sent a message to the chat with the rest of the server members to let them know that the boy is awake and then he sent a message to Doc asking if it would be a good idea to give him a healing or regeneration potion. Doc replied that it would be best to give him a small glass with some regeneration potion, it would not be good for the child's body to drink a full bottle.

So when the soup was ready, he carried the food along with a glass of water and a smaller one with some regeneration potion to the room where the boy was. He walked carefully down the hallway and then touched the wall so that Techno would know he was entering the room, when he entered the boy was just as he had left him moments before and as he took a few steps into the room he smiled at the boy and placed the tray on the bedside table. 

First he took the glass with the potion and handed it to the boy, "Here, drink it slowly... Doc said it would help you more if you drank it before the meal," he explained before the boy took the glass carefully so he wouldn't drop it.

Techno drank the contents of the glass quite quickly and almost without making a face of disgust, then he returned the glass and Xisuma handed him the tray, holding it so that what was in the tray would not fall. He saw how the boy took the spoon with some difficulty, it seemed as if his hand was shaking and prevented him from eating the soup easily, Xisuma asked him if he needed help but the boy refused and as much as it hurt to see Techno having so much trouble... He didn't want to put the boy under any more pressure than he already was. 

It took Techno much longer than expected to finish the soup, but Xisuma didn't say anything. 

He was happy that the boy was trying, he knew that this independence would help him later... But he wished he had asked for help, it was obvious that he was having trouble with the motor skills of his hand... Which he didn't know if that was normal or not, since that wasn't his injured arm, he hadn't seen Techno move his arm since he woke up... so he guessed he'd have to ask Doc about that later.

The boy returned the tray, drank all the water he had brought, but left a little more than half of the bowl of soup. Which was good, his stomach was probably quite small after who knows how many days without food... It must have been a long time since he had eaten a real and complete meal.

Xisuma sighs, knowing that this was neither the time nor the place to think about it.

He sets the tray down on the nightstand and looks at the boy before speaking, "Do you want to go back to sleep? It's been a rough couple of hours, hasn't it? maybe you'd like to sleep a little longer?" he asks quietly, truthfully, they could both use a little more sleep, it was still dark, maybe early morning. But if the boy wanted to stay awake, he was sure he could find something to keep him entertained until morning or until he fell asleep. 

Techo was silent for a few moments before speaking "S-sleep..." he said quietly, stumbling a bit over the words, Xisuma nods and takes the tray back to the kitchen. 

But before she walks out the door, he looks at the boy who is still sitting on the bed and asks, "Do you want me to leave the door open for you?" The boy nods slightly and Xisuma smiles as he leaves the room.

It's going to be a difficult few hours, but he hopes the boy can rest a little longer. Although he is not sure if he will be able to close his eyes for the rest of the night, the truth is that all the sleep he had is gone. 

But if you asked him, it had all been worth it.

Chapter Text

The sun was just beginning to rise, the warm rays touching Xisuma's face as he looked out the window. He knew he wasn't going to sleep that night, and he had decided not to try. His mind was still full of unanswered questions, and fatigue no longer mattered.

With a sigh, he turned away from the window. He couldn't stay there all day. There were things to do. Normally, he would be checking the server or making sure everything was in order, but now Techno was his priority. The boy couldn't get up and make his own breakfast, so Xisuma got to work.

Doc had been very specific. “Fruits, but don't go overboard. Light, but have some substance. Nothing heavy for his stomach.” So Xisuma made sure to follow the instructions to the letter. He cut some apples, placed some soft bread, and prepared a glass of water. Just as he was finishing, the sound of insistent knocking on the door interrupted him.

“Please make this important…” he murmured, leaving the half-cut fruits on the tray. He walked towards the entrance, praying to the server gods that it wasn't something stupid, because he was too tired to deal with it.

He opened the door, and there they were: Grian and Mumbo. 

“Good morning, X!” Grian exclaimed, his usual smile making it clear that he had plans. He was already peeking through the door, trying to look inside the base. “How is our guest?” 

Xisuma crossed his arms, blocking the entrance. “What are you doing here?” 

“We're here to help!” Grian said, smiling as if that solved everything.

“Grian dragged me here…” Mumbo muttered, taking a sip of his coffee with a face of pure exhaustion. "Literally. And this coffee was for me, not for this trip.” 

"Exaggerated." Grian waved a hand, dismissing it. “You know you wanted to come.” 

Mumbo looked at him out of the corner of his eye, too exhausted to respond.

“And?” Xisuma raised an eyebrow. “What are they really doing here?” 

“Well…” Grian reached into his pocket, with a smile that made it clear that he was proud of himself. “I went to the place where you found the child.” 

"What?" 

Grian ignored the question and took out something, holding it in front of Xisuma. “And look what I found!” 

He was a communicator. Or what was left of one. It was destroyed: deep cracks in the casing, burnt edges, and missing parts.

“It doesn't look like the ones we use…” Xisuma muttered, turning it over in his hands.

"Exact!" Grian exclaimed, jumping a little with excitement. “So it must be the boy's, don't you think?” 

Xisuma looked at him with a frown. “What were you doing in the forest, Grian?” 

“That doesn't matter.” Grian gave a nervous chuckle, waving his hand as if it wasn't worth arguing. “The point is, I found it.” 

“I see…” Xisuma sighed, passing the communicator to Mumbo. “Can you take this to Etho? Tell him to try to fix it. Maybe we can find out something about the boy.” 

Mumbo nodded slowly, watching the device as if it were going to explode. "Of course. Although he will probably bombard me with technical questions that I won't know how to answer.” 

“Just tell him to focus on repairing it.” 

“I will, don’t worry.” Mumbo put the communicator in his pocket, but before turning towards the portal, Grian raised a hand. 

"Hey! I was the one who wanted to help, remember? What should I do?” 

Xisuma thought for a moment, looking at Grian with a tiredness that could almost be felt in the air.

“Get clothes for the kid. Something comfortable and clean. Also things to entertain him.” 

"Perfect! I already have it covered.” Grian looked ready to leave, but Xisuma raised a hand, stopping him.

“No explosions.” 

Grian opened his mouth to protest, putting a hand to his chest as if he were hurt. “That was just one time!” 

“And one was more than enough.” Xisuma raised an eyebrow, his voice thick with amusement mixed with warning.

“I got it, I got it! No explosions.” Grian made an exaggerated gesture of surrender. 

“And watch out for the trees, Grian.” Xisuma leaned towards him slightly. “Doc said if you crash again, he'll tie your wings.” 

“That was an accident!” Grian protested, although the slight blush on his face gave him away. “Doc doesn't seem to think the same.” 

Mumbo let out a discreet laugh, and Grian rolled his eyes, muttering something that neither of the other two could hear. Finally, he raised his hands.

“It's fine, no explosions or accidents. I have it. See you later, X!” Grian patted him on the shoulder before heading towards the portal, followed by a Mumbo who barely seemed to be standing. 

When the door closed, Xisuma let out a long sigh, leaning against the frame for a moment. It was always comforting to see the other hermits so willing to help, even if sometimes their methods left a lot to be desired…

Among everything that had happened that morning, Xisuma still had to deal with something just as important: paperwork. 

He couldn't have a child without papers or  identification at Hermitcraft. Not just because it was a legal issue, but because he knew sooner or later someone would ask questions. If he didn't figure that out soon, things could get complicated in ways he wasn't prepared to handle.

X let out a sigh as he checked his communicator, confirming that the forms were already on their way. Although there was still some time left before they arrived, he could already feel the headache they were going to give him.

“One problem at a time…” he muttered to himself, refocusing on the breakfast tray he was preparing.

It took him a few more minutes to finish cutting the fruits and arrange everything in its place. The tray was simple, but it met Doc's instructions: light, nutritious, and nothing too heavy. With breakfast ready, he headed to Techno's room. 

As he pushed the door open, the first thing he did was stop at the frame. Techno was curled up in bed, wrapped in a mess of blankets that seemed to have been dragged everywhere. His gaze was fixed on the window, as if he were searching for something that wasn't there.

The dawn light illuminated her pink hair, giving it a soft shine. It was almost a peaceful image, but Xisuma knew it wasn't. There was a stiffness in his shoulders and a silence in the air that spoke of a tiredness deeper than the physical.

“I brought you something to eat…” Xisuma said, keeping his tone as relaxed as possible. 

The boy didn't respond. He didn't even look at it. The only thing that gave away that he had heard him was a slight movement of his ears. Xisuma walked forward slowly, placing the tray on the nightstand before taking a seat in the chair next to the bed.

“You don't have to talk if you don't want to, Techno…” he began, resting his elbows on his knees as he watched him. “But I thought you might like to know something.” 

Techno turned his head slowly, just enough to look at him out of the corner of his eye. His red eyes were shining, but Xisuma couldn't decipher what he saw in them. Fear? Curiosity? Both? 

“One of my hermits… Grian, went to the place where I found you.” 

Techno didn't react at first, but his fingers, which until then had been clenching the sheets, began to loosen their grip. 

“And he found a broken communicator on the ground,” Xisuma continued, carefully studying any change in his expression.

The effect was immediate. Techno tensed, his eyes now completely fixed on Xisuma, as if trying to confirm that he wasn't joking.

“I-is mine?” He murmured, his voice broken and trembling.  

“We think so.” Xisuma nodded, leaning forward a little. “I gave it to Mumbo to take to Etho. He’s going to try to fix it.” 

Techno swallowed, looking away at his hands “W-what if it doesn't...w-it work?” 

“If it doesn't work, we will find another way.” Xisuma's voice was calm but firm. “There is always another way. But you have to start somewhere, don't you think?

Techno nodded, albeit slowly, and still seemed to be lost in his own thoughts.

“I—I don't know… I-I…” The words stuck in his throat, and he ended up pressing his hands against the sheets again.

“You don't have to worry about that now,” Xisuma interrupted, keeping his tone soft. “No one expects you to have all the answers.” 

Techno let out a shaky breath. His shoulders were still tense, but something about his posture seemed a little less rigid.

“Look, why don't you try to eat something?” Xisuma moved the tray a little closer, placing it where Techno could reach it effortlessly. “You don't have to finish it all, but it will help you feel better.” 

Techno nodded again, although he didn't move to grab anything. Xisuma decided not to pressure him. 

He slowly stood up from the chair, making sure not to make any movements that would startle him.

“I'll be close. If you need anything, just shout, okay?” He stopped by the door, looking back before leaving. “I can leave the door open if that makes you feel more comfortable.” 

Techno hesitated for a moment before nodding his head.

Xisuma left the door ajar on his way out. He walked towards the main room, feeling the weight of the conversation still on his shoulders. He sat down at his desk and once again reviewed the status of the documents he had requested. Everything seemed to be in order, but there was still much to do.

His mind returned to the communicator. He had tried to search for information on similar models but had not found anything that resembled the one Grian had found in the forest. It wasn't something that belonged to Hermitcraft or any other server in the database. 

Xisuma was sitting at his desk, surrounded by documents and maps of the layout of the nearest servers. He had spent much of the morning going through all sorts of information in an attempt to find anything, any clue that would help him understand where Techno was coming from. But, until now, he hadn't found anything that looked like the communicator Grian had picked up. 

Every new file he opened ended up leading him to a dead end. Similar technologies, but not the same; materials that fit together, but with crucial differences. Techno's communicator was not something that belonged to Hermitcraft or any of the neighboring servers. 

He let out a frustrated sigh, resting his forehead on one hand. “Nothing makes sense…” he muttered to himself, closing another useless file.

Just then, the vibrating of his communicator brought him out of his thoughts. Seeing Etho's name on the screen, he took it immediately.

“Did you find anything?” he asked, trying not to let the anticipation come through too much in his voice.

Etho snorted on the other end of the line, and Xisuma could hear the sound of tools and metal clashing “It depends on what you expect, X,” Etho replied “Anything would be progress,” Xisuma admitted, putting the papers aside and focusing on the call. 

“Well, don't get too excited.” Etho made another noise, as if he were moving something heavy in his workshop. “This communicator is strange. I had only seen anything remotely like it in the fighting pits.” That made Xisuma tense. He sat up straight in his chair, his thoughts racing to dark places.

“What does that mean?” 

“It means it is unstable.” Etho's tone was serious, deeper than Xisuma was used to hearing. “It has circuits combined with runes. And I’m not going to lie, I don’t fully understand how it works.” Xisuma felt a slight chill running down his spine.

“Do they glow or something?” he asked, trying to remember fragments of stories he had heard years ago. “Could it be some kind of magic system?” 

“Something like that,” he replied, although his tone suggested he wasn't completely convinced. “But it seems more… complicated.”

The sound of something metallic falling interrupted the conversation, followed by a slight sizzle.

“The runes…” Etho continued, his voice lower now. “They are not decorative.” Xisuma frowned, leaning forward “What do you mean they are not decorative?” 

“They are integrated into the circuits. They are not alterations made later. “This was designed that way from the beginning” That only made Xisuma more uneasy.

A loud spark was heard on the other end of the line, followed by what sounded dangerously like a small explosion.

"Are you fine there?" 

“Yes, yes, don't worry. Just a spark.” Etho snorted before continuing. “But you know how worrying this is. Magic and technology don't usually get along. They tend to be…” Another spark, stronger this time, interrupted his sentence. “Explosives,” Etho finished with a dry laugh.

Xisuma let out a sigh, placing a hand on his face. "Anything else? Anything that tells us where it comes from?” 

“This didn't break on its own.” Etho's tone changed slightly, becoming lower, almost worried. “Someone broke it.” Xisuma felt his stomach sink a little “Do you think the boy did it?” 

"No." Etho was direct, without hesitation. “A child does not have the strength to do this. Not even the intention, probably.” Xisuma pursed his lips, his thoughts spiraling. If Techno hadn't done it, that could only mean one thing: someone didn't want that communicator to continue working. Someone didn't want Techno to ask for help. 

“Why would they break it?” He murmured, although he didn't expect an answer. Etho let out a sigh, the sound of moving tools filling the brief silence.

“Listen, I'm going to do my best to recover the information,” he said finally, his tone firm but calm. “But I warn you, some parts are… unpredictable.” 

Xisuma nodded, although he knew Etho couldn't see him. “Do what you can. But if something seems too risky, leave it. It’s not worth putting yourself in danger.” 

“Understood,” Etho replied, although he didn't sound entirely convinced. 

There was a pause, a brief but meaningful silence, before Etho spoke again.

“But X… This is not a common thing,” he says with a little caution. “If this communicator really is his… the child was probably not in a safe place.” Xisuma didn't say anything because it wasn't necessary. That was already evident. If Techno had been in a safe place, he wouldn't be here, with fear reflected in his every movement “How bad?” he asked, although he could already imagine the answer. 

“Really bad." Etho snorted, as if trying to find the right words. “Let's just say that safety and community regulations were not his administrator's priority.” Xisuma stayed silent, processing what Etho had just said. He’d heard of servers like that, places where the rules were more suggestions than anything else. He knew they weren't places for anyone, much less a child. 

“Thank you, Etho. Keep me informed.” 

"I will do that. But, X… If this thing blows up, you owe me a new base.” Xisuma let out a small laugh, despite the tension. The call ended shortly after, but Etho's words continued to echo in his head. “He probably wasn't in a safe place.” That explained a lot, but it wasn't enough.

He placed the communicator on the table and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a moment. There was something dark chasing Techno, something that wouldn't stay where it came from. He felt it in the air, as if a storm was about to arrive.

He looked towards the half-open door to Techno's room. For now, there was nothing else he could do but wait. But deep inside, he knew that the calm would not last long.