The Righteous Blood Eggpire | Technoblade & Philza

III

Having lived thousands of years, seen thousands of lifetimes blossom and then wither, one might think Phil's memory would get mirky. It's a fair thought- and not entirely incorrect- but Phil knows there are some things he will never forget.

The birth of his son Wilbur, for example. The little squirming pink thing was silent only for a moment, taking in this new world with brown eyes, before opening his mouth and letting out a shrill cry. With his first breath, he had sung and with his last, he had tearily thanked his father. The piercing of a diamond sword into soft, wet organs was another thing he would never forget. That and the way Wilbur had slumped against him, heavy and lifeless.

He won't forget Tommy and Tubbo, his two little treasures. They were so adamant that Phil was their father that he'd reluctantly settled into the role. As Wilbur grew and wanted more independence, Phil didn't feel abandoned: there was no time to think about it with two little rascals running circles around him.

The terror in Ranboo's white eyes will not be easily forgotten, no matter how hard Phil tries. How his desperate fingers dug into his flesh, too terrified to let go. His hands were skeletal, with his knuckles sticking out prominently from the backs of his hands, and the white skin was wrapped around his bones tightly, all fat gone. His begging would stay echoing in his mind for years to come.

His memories with Techno remain the most vivid. Maybe it's because Techno is the only constant in his life. Since they found each other over a decade ago, their friendship has not wavered once. It took some time to accept that a six-year-old child was the successor of his close friend Emperor Billiam of the fallen Antarctic Empire, but, remembering the final wish of Billiam, he was quick to take Techno under his wing.

He remembers finding him like it was yesterday. Down in the egg room, the twisting red vines emit a humid heat. It seeps into his nostrils, making his head feel heavy and full. It's the same as that fateful trip to the Nether when Phil finally found Billiam's successor living among a piglin clan.

"Six gold for the boy," Phil says, raising his voice as if that would somehow break the language barrier between him and the clan of piglins. He places the glittery bars of gold down on the trading table and watches anxiously as the clan members confer with each other. He doesn't speak their language (which was comprised of grunts, whines and squeals) but understands that they're arguing. Arguing over the little boy who peeks out at Phil from behind a woman's brown skirt.

The woman fiercely fights against the brute Phil was bartering with. She spits as she speaks, evoking anger from him. Looking at the rest of the clan, they appear restless to Phil. What side are they taking here?

For the millionth time since he arrived at the settlement, Phil peeks into his pouch. Some foolish part of him hopes that maybe if he checks again, he'll somehow find extra gold he hadn't seen before. He only has four ingots left and will need a few to distract other clans as he makes his way out of the nether. He could spare a few golden carrots...

The piglin woman makes an angry, final grunt and scoops up the child, holding him close to her chest. His humanoid features make him stand out like a sore thumb. Phil thought he was seeing things when he was passing through the settlement and caught glimpse of those familiar features. They held a childlike softness that he didn't recognise, but his mind was able to make the connection between this child and his old friend Billiam.

It's taken him too long to find Billiam's successor. He's not leaving the Nether without him.

With a lump forming in his throat, Phil apprehensively approaches the woman. She looks at him with wide white eyes and tightens her hold on the child. Phil has never seen a Piglin be so possessive over something that isn't gold. She's clearly appointed herself to be a mother to the child. Phil briefly wonders if she could possibly be his biological mother, but disregards the thought. Billiam hadn't recounted his childhood very often but Phil had gathered that the men in his line weren't exactly born: they just- appeared. Reborn and anew. Exactly the same as their predecessor but without the memories of their past life.