barbarism (dreamnoblade)

chapter twenty

|||Technoblade POV|||

As much as Technoblade prayed for time to stop, the day of the festival arrived with a relentless force. The nerves in his body tingle with anxiety as thoughts of what could go wrong flash in his mind like lightning.

The coldness had been increasing during the past few days, eventually turning into dark gray clouds that now drape over the forest like a heavy blanket. Animals hide underneath shrubs and trees as Technoblade gives his sword a test swing, watching it cleanly slice the bark. The thought of flesh replacing the tree gives him a sickly thrill.

Technoblade shivers while he sheaths his blade, going to cross his arms while looking back at his brothers, who were getting ready to set off to their meetup location. His eyes landed on Wilbur, whose eyebags had grown under his eyes like a poisonous ivy. He watches as his brother fidgets and shuffles through his pockets as if looking for something, Technoblade considers asking what but decides against it.

"Can you walk me through the plan again, Wilbur?" Tommy frowns as he looks down at the bow in front of him, mind still shaken from the previous day. Though if one were to ask he would probably brush it off as the cold. Technoblade hadn't had much of a chance to talk to him after Wilbur, not that he himself was in a good mood after.

Of all the times Wilbur had hurt him that one really stuck, he wasn't sure how he was supposed to feel after that. It wasn't like he deliberately triggered some memories from Technoblade but he could no longer look at his brother without shuddering. He felt more fear than love, but that might just be a fault of his. Wilbur was probably just trying to help him.

"Technoblade goes undercover at the festival to get information, you and I will watch from the tallest building near the podium in case he needs any help. After that we regroup and go home with whatever information Technoblade was able to get." Wilbur rummages throughout the room grabbing every last bit of items he needed, including a sword and potion. "Of course I will need to branch off at some point to... check something briefly."

The last sentence hangs in the air ominously, leaving both Tommy and him to share a worried glance. The grin that crept onto Wilbur's face while saying that was one to be feared. He doesn't want to believe that Wilbur would do anything drastic without telling him, but after yesterday, Wilbur's trust in him was probably still quite low.

"You'll be alright, right Techie?"

Wilbur's voice snaps him from his thoughts and he manages to gingerly shrug, "yeah, all I have to do is try to learn their weaknesses right?"

His brother nods and pats him on the back, "good luck, don't listen to anything those bastards have to say."

It felt more like an order than a warning, but Technoblade forces a smile and nods, trying his best not to pull away from the touch. His hand brushes against the crossbow attached to his belt, weighing him down.

He would do this- he could do this. For his family.

Technoblade then waves them goodbye and separates, following the gravel road that would eventually lead him to Manberg. Despite his cloak the cold creeps through the thick fabric and into his skin, causing another shiver to ripple throughout his body.

The walk wasn't going to take long, but the cold definitely slows him down. It takes a while before Technoblade can begin to hear the faint chatter of people, the laughter and movement. Taking in one last deep breath he walks past the wall remains and enters Manberg territory.

It only takes a few more moments before people pop into view and a shiver rolls down his spine again.

'Don't freak out, you need to appear strong, resilient.'