Blade of Fire

Part 6

Techno thanked Hariric and left the Fortress, stealing his way back into the Bastion to try and get some sleep, before anyone suspected him of anything in the morning.

Pigstep blared loudly in Techno's ear

Piglins were crowding around him, grunting, giving him praise. Was he in a dream? Had people known what had happened in the Fortress?!

Techno looked up with sleepy eyes and saw Milnar and Yamlek waving from afar.

His friends ran over, breathless. "We nominated you Techno!" they called, the excitement in their voices audible.

"We chose you because we thought you were the best we - "

"When we were fighting I saw how good you were and I nominated you for King!" Milnar cut in.

King.

That was a high title. The best warrior of the Piglin Brutes was awarded it, and got to be King for a day.

Techno looked up, at everyone's eager faces, and followed an escort into a small room. Inside were clothes that Techno had only seen a few times before - clothes of a King. Folded on a box was a pair of deep brown trousers and a white shirt. The white was blinding, its bright colour symbolising the purity of living in the Nether, as it white was the colour of Ghasts, ghostly creatures that sighed from their deaths as Gods. Now there only remained one God, the Blood God.

Next to the box was a pair of high, black lace-up boots and hanging on a hook was a blood red cape that billowed when Techno shook it, and a sash to be worn aroud his waste. Sitting on top of it was was the Crown. It's golden shine was embedded with gems like the ones on his hidden sword, but of many colours: red, green, blue, purple; shining with a bottomless energy.

When he had changed into his clothes, it seemed that everyone was around him.

Hands tried to touch his, get a grasp of one of the most famous Piglins throughout the Nether.

Priests came around him, blessed him with fortune from the God.

Children looked up into his face, memorising it so they could idolise him and try to be him when they grew up.

Techno was helped into a royal looking litter, with other Piglins scurrying to lift him up over the crowd.

He couldn't believe this. Techno never thought that he would make it so high as to being King.

People threw him roses as he was paraded through the crowd.

The crowd of people started to go in a certain direction and everyone followed, past winding bends and bridges, where they eventually got to a dead end, a piece of rock jutting out over the Lava Sea.

The commander was there and so was every other Piglin Brute.

"We have gathered you here today" the commander called, "to witness the Ceremony of the King"

The crowd cheered

"T3CHN0 has been a truly noble warrior, and has been the best in his legion, so we awarded him King." 

The cheering grew louder.

"He will forever be bound by our God". The litter moved closer to the edge.

The priests started muttering a prayer.

"For if you want to be a hero, then you have to die like one"

Looking over, Techno saw Milnar's face fall.

And in one swift movement, the litter was thrown off the cliff and into the Sea.