Kinemortophobia

Ch. 5 -Fleeting Recollections-

Techno sat in front of his fireplace, resting in a seat across from Edward. He stared off into the fire, the light dancing across his face. His cloak was hanging in front of the flames, drying after a long day out in the snow. Absentmindedly Techno scratched his previously injured ankle, the itching had grown since it first showed up a few days prior.

Across the room, Ghostbur sat reading a book as he often was, legs crossed, dead eyes scanning the parchment. He was humming a soft tune, a haunting little melody that mixed with the crackling and popping of the fire.

Edward grumbled as he sometimes did, turning a page of a book Techno had gifted him delicately, taking care not to rip its pages with his disproportionate hands. His ethereal eyes scanning the galactic text scrawled across its surfaces. Edward was a quiet person, or Enderman rather. Never ate, slept very little. Spoke even less. When he did, it was in short sentences composed of Galactic, as he spoke no English.

Thankfully for Techno, Phil had taught him galactic when he was younger, so he was able to understand the figure that had just shown up in his home.

He didn't mind the company, really. There was something comforting about the 12-foot tall mob, and their occasional conversations were often insightful. Plus, the voices enjoyed his company as well.

"ᔑ∷ᒷ ||𝙹⚍ ᒷリ⋮𝙹||╎リ⊣ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ʖ𝙹𝙹ꖌ, ᒷ↸∴ᔑ∷↸?" Techno asked quietly, shifting his red eyes over to the book grasped in the Enderman's black claws. It was written completely in galactic, it's contents retelling the story of an ancient Ender king or something. Techno had only skimmed through it once before.

("Are you enjoying the book, Edward?")

Edward paused, his piercing glance landing on Techno's face. Techno didn't meet his eyes, as was customary between players and Enderman.

"╎ ᔑᒲ ᒷリ⋮𝙹||╎リ⊣ ╎ℸ ̣ ᔑ ꖎ𝙹ℸ ̣ , ᔑᓵℸ ̣ ⚍ᔑꖎꖎ||. ╎'⍊ᒷ 𝙹リꖎ|| ⍑ᒷᔑ∷↸ ℸ ̣ ⍑╎ᓭ ᓭℸ ̣ 𝙹∷|| ╎リ ʖ╎ℸ ̣ ᓭ ᔑリ↸ !¡╎ᒷᓵᒷᓭ, ╎ℸ ̣ 'ᓭ リ╎ᓵᒷ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ∷ᒷᔑ↸ ╎ℸ ̣ ᔑꖎꖎ ╎リ 𝙹リᒷ !¡╎ᒷᓵᒷ," Endward finally responded, the language flowing much more naturally out of his own mouth than with Techno's.

("I am enjoying it a lot, actually. I've only heard this story in bits and pieces, it's nice to read it all in one piece,")

Techno smiled, and Edward went back to reading his book. Ghostbur spared them a short glance, confused on the full meaning of the conversation. He only had learned bits and pieces of the language and read it much better than spoke it. The phantom just shrugged his shoulders, falling back into the pages of his new novel.

Downstairs, a quiet conversing of words could be heard, probably between Phil and Tommy, Techno guessed. Phil had to tend to Tommy after the wither they spawned shot a wayward skull, latching onto his arm and leaving him a nasty wither burn. Nothing that couldn't be cured by a healing potion, some bandages, and a gapple however. The sound of Phil fussing over an annoyed and grumpy Tommy like a worried mother hen put a short-lived smirk on Techno's face.

Techno exhaled, closing his eyes in worry. They had gotten his sword and axe back from L'manburg earlier that day, managing to grab a Nether star also. But on top of that, and Tommy making fundy collapse in a panic attack, they had managed to also find out about a festival being held the next day. This news had certainly come as a surprise to both Techno and Tommy. Maybe their opportunity had come sooner than anticipated.

Techno caressed his ankle as he thought, trying to ignore the burning itch that had only gotten stronger since it had first appeared. The area of irritated skin had seemed to grow as well, the itch spreading up parts of his leg and to the rest of his foot.