Chapter Text
Eternity: a state to which time has no application; timelessness; forever. The never ending march of time seems daunting to some. Life continues and ends as the earth spins indefinitely.
It woke in the deep snow of the artic. No recollection of who it was or where they were. It scanned the never ending plane of snow and ice. They didn’t feel cold or scared. Curious actually. It examined itself. Pale skinned hands were already tinting red at Its fingers. A bare chest and legs trembling from the cold. It reached up and touched Its face. It had humanoid facial features. Something clouded its vision. Golden hair, long and smooth like silk. The first color It had seen that conjured emotion.
It was unsure of It’s purpose on this strange world. Why was It made? Where does It go? How does one live? A sharp wind blew through It, turning up snow in It’s face. It shielded itself as the torrent of wind and snow hit.
“Welcome.” A booming voice said. It looked up to see a form before it. Large and imposing, the green clad creature hovered before It. The creature had six wings, two protruding from its back and two from its head. The creature also had four arms held in a biblical form. But the most noticeable feature was the creature’s face. A free floating head wrapped with silk bandages in an X shape over its eyes and an almost painted on open mouth.
“Welcome child. You must be very confused as to what is happening.” The creature spoke as it moved closer. It shuffled back, the emotion of fear taking hold of its body.
“Be not afraid my child. I am your friend.”
It didn’t quite comprehend what the creature was saying. A friend, their friend? What is a friend? The creature noticed the sudden confusion.
“My child, I will bestow you with knowledge to help you on your way. But first, I must explain your purpose.”
Purpose, It’s purpose.
“This world has so much to offer, I want you to explore it and learn. What is the meaning of life? What does it mean to have emotions? I want to know. That’s why you are here. You are going to learn for me. Write everything down in this book here.” The creature conjured a book from the air handing it to It.
“But be warned, this world will taint you. You must never become attached; they all will die and leave you alone. Promise me this.”
It stared at the creature. Attachment was a new word, what did it mean.
“Now that I have explained everything to you, let me enlighten you.” The creature stood tall. With one of its hands, it reached up to its face. The silk fell away leaving only the smile. It watched in horror as the face began to morph. A large gaping hole sat where the face once was. Suddenly three arms shot out from the opening, grasping at the frigid air. The arms had what seemed to be scars littered across them, but as It watched the scars opened up revealing hundreds of eyes. The eyes wiggled around in their sockets before stopping abruptly. All the eyes turned so they were staring at It.
“Please do not be afraid.” The creature spoke again as it grabbed It’s face. It trembled in the grasp of the creature. The three arms that came from the creature’s face rested atop It’s head. Suddenly, a rush of images flew into It’s brain. The galaxy and stars; rivers, oceans, and the sky; people and animals. The information was to much for It, falling forward and vomiting onto the ground.
“Oh pity.” The creature cooed.
It looked up at the creature, glaring. It spit at the creature.
“Hmm, you might be a troublesome one.” The creature reached forward again, this time grabbing It harshly. “Just to make sure you don’t fail, lets give you something people will fear.” The hands reached out again, the eyes darting around. A sudden pain erupted from It’s back.
It let out a scream as it was dropped to the ground. It’s back felt like something was moving under the skin. It was excruciating. With another pain filled shriek wings broke through It’s skin. Large and beautiful, they flapped erratically.
“Humans fear what they cannot understand. You should have no problem with attachment now. Remember what I told you.”
It didn’t look at the creature, just cried into the ground. The pain was subsiding.
“Remember my name. I am Dream XD.”
The sharp winds returned covering It with snow. Dream XD was gone once again.
It sat up in It’s knees staring at the soft blue sky. The colors of purple and pink were slowly taking over as the sun set. The snow shimmered in the setting sun. A cool breeze blew through It’s golden locks.
This is what it felt to be alive.
It began their long walk. From the knowledge they had received It was able to decide they were male. They also were able to understand the concept of sleep, but only after passing out from exhaustion. The scenery didn’t change much as they continued. The cold was now bothering them quite a bit. The wings, though they loathed them, came in useful as they produced a large number of warms. By day three he was understanding the need for food. His stomach ached and his mouth dry. They were able to find water to drink from but it was very salty.
As the sun began to set on the fourth day he started to question if he could eat the book Dream XD gave him. The book hadn’t left his hand since it was given to him. Even after what that thing had done to him he couldn’t throw it away. It was a part of him now. He looked at the book, turning it in his hands. How was he supposed to fill this?
A shadow covered him, snapping them from their thoughts. He looked up just in time to see a clawed paw come down on his face. He could feel the claws tear through his face and chest, the weight of the creature crashing down on him. All he could remember before he passed out was white fur and a voice.
Darkness surrounded him. He was floating in an endless void. But he was warm. It wasn’t warm like heat, but more of an internal warms, happiness. Voices were all around him, but he couldn’t make out what they were saying. He was angry that he couldn’t understand them, frustrated.
“Philza.” A soft voice spoke. He shot up from where he was laying, breathing heavily. What was that voice? Why did it sound so warm?
“So, you finally decided to wake up.” A voice came from his left. He turned to see an old woman sitting by a small fire. “I was starting to get bored watching you sleep. You’re lucky I got to you before the wolves.” She chuckled. Who was this woman?
“You talk at all mate?” she asked. Talk, could he? He tried speaking, only able to get out a gargle. The woman laughed at him. “You’re supposed to use your tongue, not swallow it. Try again.” And he did.
“Where am it?” He slurred.
“Hmm, better than I thought. You’re in my shack, I brought you here after that polar bear tried to make you her dinner.”
“Dinner?” it was all coming back to him. The claws, the white fur, the voice. Wait, claws. He looked down at his body, examining it. Not a scratch on him.
“Crazy how your body just knits itself back together when you’re immortal.”
“Have you seen this before?”
“yes, once before. That fellow wasn’t completely immortal but he did heal fast. Even in my youth I was startled. Now that I’m old nothing phases me anymore.” The woman let out a deep belly laugh. The kettle on the fire began to whistle.
“Tea?” she offered. He didn’t know what it was but accepted it either way. It was warm, sweet. It made is insides warm. The two sat in silence enjoying their cups of tea.
“Thank you for taking me in. Why though? I don’t understand.” He asked.
The woman sighed. “This land is so cold and empty. Its hard to not get lonely. My husband passed a long time ago and my children left to find a better life. This little shack is all I have.”
“Why don’t you leave.”
“Once you live for as long as I have, you tend to become attached to the little things. There’s nowhere in the world that has a better sunset than here.”
Attachment. Was it really that hard to avoid? Would he become attached? The soft bristle of feathers on his back were a silent reminder of the eternal prison he was faced with. The woman must have noticed his sadness.
“Your wings are beautiful you know. They remind me of a crow. Dark but filled with knowledge and magic. You should embrace it.” The woman looked out the window at the morning sky. “I wish I could fly. I would fly into the sunset a million times.”
There was a note of sadness behind her voice that he was able to catch. Why was she sad?
“Alrighty mate, you’ve been sitting naked in my house for far too long. Lets get some clothes on that bare ass!”
The woman helped him into knew clothes before teaching him how to make a basic breakfast. “I’ll teach you all you need to know to survive.” She had stated. And she did, she taught him how to fish and hunt. She taught him the basics of reading and writing which he was able to understand instantly. They spent the next two days getting to know each other.
“By the way, I haven’t gotten your name yet.” He asked.
“Oh dear, its been so long since I’ve been called my real name. Just call me Grandma. But more importantly, we need to give you a name.”
A name was something he had never thought about. What was a good name for him? The woman was spouting off random names but he didn’t pay any attention.
“Philza.” He spoke. “I like Philza.”
The woman looked at him with soft eyes. “Then Philza it is. Mate, could you do me a favor?”
“Yes, anything. You name it.”
The woman reached up and placed her hand on his head. “I want you to take my last name. You will be for now on Philza Minecraft. You will be in charge of carrying on the Minecraft name for many many years to come. Can you promise me that?”
“Of course, I can.”
From then on he had a name, an important name, his name. That night after the old woman had gone to bed he sat down in front of fire, the book in his hands. It was like a scratch he couldn’t itch, he had to write something. Opening to the first page Philza took a feather and ink and began to write.
XX57
Entry 1:
I have a name, Philza Minecraft. The kind old woman gave it to me. I’m going to treasure it. Dream XD said to travel and learn about this world. I want to know more. Grandma has already taught me many things. I can hunt, cook, and can even read and write. She showed me how to use the stars to navigate in the night so if I need to travel I won’t get lost. But I can’t leave her. I’m going to ask Grandma if she wants to travel with me. I want to show her the world. Tomorrow I will ask her.
Philza closed the book. He couldn’t think of anything else to write. He decided that it was best to sleep and get ready for the next day. He was going to make grandma so happy.
Philza awoke the next day, his heart pounding. He had made is mind, him and grandma would begin travel in the next few days. They would go see so many amazing things. If she got tired he could carry her, hunt for her, do anything for her. He made his way to the main room but was surprised to not see her there. The fire was cold, gone out some time during the night. How strange, he thought. Out of the corner of his eye Philza noticed a small package. Picking it up he examined it. It was a gift from grandma. Unwrapping it he found it to be a carved wooden pendant in the shape of a heart. One life, he thought to himself. Next to where the package was sitting was a letter. He opened it and began to read.
Dear Philza Minecraft,
I wanted to give this to you sooner but my old hands don’t work the way they used too. It’s a late birthday gift. You probably won’t understand what that is right now but you will learn. You’re a smart kid. I’m sorry I couldn’t give this to you in person. This is your final lesson. What I taught you before is how to live, but the most important thing to learn is how to live on. Don’t be sad.
To be honest, I have no kids. I made that up. You were the closest I had to having a son. You made this old woman’s last few days memorable. Thank you.
Please, bury me by my husband.
Continue living always.
- Grandma
Philza dropped the letter, sprinting to Grandma’s room. His hands were sweaty, knees weak, head heavy. This had to be a test, a joke.
“Grandma!” he called into her room. Grandma’s body lay peacefully in her bed. It looked like she was sleeping but he knew she wasn’t. Philza crumpled next to the woman, his first attachment. Her body was cold and ridged, but her smile was still so genuine. Philza cried for her to wake but she never did. He stayed like that for hours, crying over her corpse. As the tears stopped Philza stood, holding grandma’s body tightly in his arms.
“Come on Grandma, lets go fly into the sunset, together.”
He wings opened wide, glistening in the rays of sun. They were beautiful, like a crow’s. Full of knowledge and magic. With one swoop of his wings they ascended into the sky. The air kissed Philza’s cheeks as he flew towards the sunset. Grandma had said she buried her husband where the last sunbeams touched before the sun went down. There was only one spot he could think of.
He landed not so gracefully in front of a large rock. The snow had melted around the area, giving allium a place to grow. This was where he would leave her. Philza laid her body in the patch of allium, picking a bunch and placing it in her hands. She looked so peaceful, beautiful. This was what it felt like to lose someone.
Dream XD had warned him about getting attached. But this woman, a mere mortal woman had given Philza a name, a place, and a purpose. He’d live on for her, to continue her name. He hadn’t lost, he had gained experience. Life experience he would use to move on.
Taking the heart pendant out of his pocket, Philza took one last look at the old woman.
“Thank you.” He spoke. Philza opened his wings again taking flight. He would begin his journey, write in the journal all the things he see, feels, wants to remember. Why? Because he was alive.
