Heavy is the Head that Wears the Solemn Crown

Forty-Four - Promise Made To A Promise Kept

Techno

When asked about perplexing phenomena about the Antarctic Empire, travelers and merchants would immediately call out what is called the Great Silence. In a nation as expansive and frigid as the empire, a lot of the land is unused. While the cities will bustle with all manner of life and sound, the countryside- which takes up a majority of the empire's landmass- is barren. The only noise that can be heard is the wind rustling against the crystalline snow. Plants will occasionally persevere through the banks and there are animals who have evolved to survive the cold, but they don't make much noise. If someone is stranded in the empire's recesses, they will not find a natural noise for miles. It terrifies most people, but Techno has grown used to it. He prefers the Great Silence to the socially complex cities filled with useless voices screaming their idiotic ideals.

The Great Silence pales in comparison to what Techno is experiencing now. Where the Great Silence is terrifying because it makes a person feel alone in a completely white world, Kristin's funeral procession makes him feel alone even in a sea of people. No one is uttering a word, the wind refuses to blow around them, and animals have not made their presence known. The rocky ground seems to swallow up every footfall, though that could be people subconsciously walking lighter to avoid being the one that makes a noise. At the edges of his hearing, Techno can hear a few sniffles, and if he really focuses, he can hear heartbeats. Otherwise, he doesn't hear much.

Philza is the shadows of the buildings. His wings are pulled around his body. Techno firmly believes that he is the only one who can see Philza, and that is only because he has enhanced senses. Techno doesn't call any attention to Philza even if he can see him. Philza's face is covered in so many shadows that Techno cannot discern the expression, but part of him feels like he can sense Philza's grief. It feels like the endless ocean off the empire's coast- so cold that it seems to burn a person's skin. Techno turns away from Philza. Words have never been Techno's strong suit, and he knows that any actions he makes in the attempt of comfort will set Philza off. He is hiding himself like a predator, and Techno doesn't want to fight him. Not today, and not ever, really.

Tommy is standing across from Techno. From all his memories- even the ones he isn't quite sure are his- Tommy has been like the sun. He is bright and positive, sometimes too much to look at but always necessary to keep close. Today, Tommy is... he's a mess. He visibly looks like one. His clothes are disheveled and covered in dirt. His hair is flattened against his forehead, and it looks more like dull grain than its usual golden luster. His eyes, too, have lost their shine. Each pupil looks like a mountain stone, dark and dangerous. He used to have eyes that were as bright as the sky. He used to have eyes that lit up like a firework when he grew excited. Tommy was always terrible at hiding his emotions, and his eyes were his biggest tell. If they were completely gray now, Techno didn't want to know what was happening inside his head.

Tommy clung to Wilbur's arm. The moment they returned from the battle, Wilbur had hugged Tommy and neither let go. Tommy probably hadn't seen how Wilbur looked different from usual. It was the first thing Techno noticed. Despite the grief painted across every feature, Wilbur looked better than ever. His skin had soaked up silvery moonlight. The tips of his brown hair had been tinged with a dark blue-black color. His irises were sharper, and the edges of his pupils were pulsating with a glowing green light. He was wearing a cloak over his outfit, and at least that looked as disturbed as everyone else felt. Wilbur hardly paid attention to his new appearance as he held Tommy's hand, staring at the unmarked stone pressed against the walls of the ravine since they couldn't find someone to make a real grave in time.

There was no body. Although Tommy hadn't been able to say a word about what happened, it was impossible for everyone not to notice the giant forest that sprawled to life in the middle of the battlefield. Techno himself had seen Tommy with Kristin's body, and he was the one that pulled Tommy away from the giant tree lying at the very center of the forest. It didn't take a genius to put two and two together, and the Blood Gods were somber expressions as they paid respects to the great tree. Techno knew at that moment what they probably couldn't put into words: for one reason or another, Kristin's body had become the forest. The leaves took on the color of her eyes and her power, the bark was the same shade as her hair, and the wind sounded like her soft voice when it danced between each branch.