Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Something about the whistling of the small breeze didn't exactly settle with Phil's feathers. The light winter wind chapped his lips and made his fingertips grow numb and blue. Although, snow was part of the season that Phil would adore the most. Even just sitting on the covered porch step of his cottage, he enjoyed how it would glimmer with a lantern's glow. He would love to watch Wilbur and Tommy roll around when the sun arrived, occasionally throwing snow among each other. It was almost aesthetic in a way, a comforting blanket to seize the bitterness it held. Snow complimented the tall spruce trees that surrounded their small cottage, much like a natural shield. Phil never noticed how he stared at the rows of leaves until he heard the crunch of snow to his left.

"You're up early," a monotonic and rough voice spoke that Phil knew all too well.

"I guess you could say that I wasn't able to sleep," was Phil's only response. He could've curled back into the warm comfort of his own bed sheets, although he found his conscience guiding him outside. He averted his gaze over to the figure. Held in his left hand was a deep violet sword engraved with enchantment and with his other, held a netting filled with various fish. His shoulders were draped in a maroon cape dressed in white wool. Underneath that he wore simple black leathered leggings with a frilled white top. Phil turned to now turn to his face, bright red eyes met his own. His jagged jawline was tribute with faded scars set in different directions. His long pastel colored hair fell behind his back, but Phil could tell that it was getting longer.

"It's funny seeing you out here Techno. You don't come around until the boys wake up," Phil hummed with calmness, never breaking eye-contact.

"Decided I might as well stop by when I'm out hunting," Technoblade repaid the same calmness in the form of a scoff. Phil noticed his breath would mist out in the frigid air and took it as a sign to stand to his feet and face the door of the cottage. He tightened the loose robe around himself before widening the door.

"Let's get inside then. Don't want us both freezing to death," He cooed, waving a hand to the entrance. Technoblade's face broke into a genuine familiar smile and he trotted inside. Phil would have followed, but instead would hesitate and turn back to the spruce forest. Technoblade seemed to catch his uncertainty and speak up.

"Coming?"

Phil blinked out of the trance, "Oh yeah! Let's see what you caught."

The man would turn the knob and hear the soft creak as the door would shut, leaving the cold to the outside world.

"Phil!" a loud, high pitched voice would whine loudly from upstairs. Phil would sigh of expectation as he heard footsteps stomping down until they stopped at the bottom.

"Phil! Wil said that the tooth fairy doesn't exist! Tell him she is real and that she's super hot!"

He turned to the voice and faced Tommy. The boy's blonde hair stuck up in all the ways that reminded him of his own hair. Actually, Tommy reminded him of a splitting image of himself, except younger. His bright blue eyes burned with anger and passion and he balled his fists at his sides. For a nine-year-old boy, Tommy was extremely tall. He stood to about 5'' with most height being his legs and hips. Phil pursed his lips in disappointment and looked away from Tommy.

"She doesn't mate."

"What?," Tommy's voice cracked and Phil took a quick glance to see his shocked and broken face. The man absolutely hated seeing the heartbreak on the boy and it tore him just staring at it. He growled in annoyance and called up the stairs.

"Wil stop ruining your brother's innocence!"

Phil never got an answer back, although he swore he heard soft cackling coming from Wilbur's room. He turned his attention back to Tommy before he knelt down to his height. He adjusted the striped cap on his own head before hearing Tommy speak.

"Then who takes all my teeth and gives me money?"

Phil decided to tease the boy with a wide smirk and thickened his accent, "You're looking right at him."

There was a long pause of Tommy just squinting his eyes at Phil, contemplating what to say before he stuck his tongue. Phil broke into hysterical laughter and heard Tommy yell, "What do you even do with my teeth?! That's so gross Phil!"

This only caused Phil's laughter to grow to the point where he almost doubled over. He would watch the boy's nose bridge scrunch up in disgust and judgement. Phil finally let out the last of his laughter-fit and sighs. He met Tommy's eyes once more, the look never leaving the boy's face.

"At least you get free money from me every time right?"

Tommy went silent again as before, squinting at Phil as if trying to read his face. He cracked a mischievous smile and ran out from the small kitchen and to the foot of the steps.

"Well now I have to pull all of my teeth out! I'm going to be rich!"

"No Tommy-"

Although Phil couldn't stop the boy as he dashed upstairs and into Wilbur's room. He gave up and faced his back from once the boy was, silently praying his brother would take care of him for now. He would turn a handle to a faucet before hearing more footsteps, this time it wasn't coming from the stairs. He only gave a simple glance behind his shoulder to see a flash of the familiar pink hair. He looked back to the running water and scrubbed his own hands through it.

"Are you off to somewhere Techno?"

"There's a village off of the mountain range that I discovered not too long ago. I wanted to speak to the people there to see if there was an advantage we could take from them," Technoblade explained in a smooth motion. Phil never looked back to his friend as he heard the door fly open.

"Alright mate. Have fun, remember to stay safe," Phil hummed, still running his hands and a few dishes through the water. He knew very well that the man didn't need to be reminded. Technoblade travelled very often and whenever he was faced with danger, he would handle it like a chore. Phil had even experienced a scene like that face-to-face. He would have been lying back then if he didn't say he was impressed.

"Sure, I'll inform you if I find something," Technoblade spoke quickly and slammed the door behind him, leaving Phil all alone in the kitchen. His eyelids lowered and closed, now his entire focus was on the sounds of the ripples and burbles of the faucet water. It was peaceful and soothing, which gave Phil's muscles a second to relax. His midnight black wings rested around his shoulder blades and initially loosened the clothing around them. In tranquility, it was just Phil and the natural flow of water. It was only him and the Earth, alone. Then, the sudden appearance of a scream woke Phil from the moment. He gasped as if he was holding his breath and immediately shut the faucet off, stomping away from the sink and to the stairs.

"I swear Wil if you're helping Tommy pull his teeth out I'm going to ground you for eternity!"

Phil pressed his cheek against the soft enveloping pillow, curling his fingers around it to support his head. The fur pelted sheets protected his body and wings comfortably. He could've continued sleeping, but stirred awake from vigorous shaking against his shoulder. His half asleep mind groaned and rolled over to meet wide deep brown eyes that shined from the moon's light. A soft voice spoke up from the odd silence.

"Phil? Are you awake?"

Phil groggily sat upwards, his wings stretched awkwardly with his arms. He yawned before responding, "Yeah, something wrong Wil?"

Wilbur began to stutter and it was obvious to Phil that the boy looked nervous or anxious, "I just, um, had a bad dream."

The man now understood and couldn't help but give a sympathetic smile. Even if the fourteen-year-old boy was almost Phil's height, he sat him right on his lap and rubbed comforting circles along his back. From this close, he could now notice his cheeks were wet from tears. He must've been crying for a while, Phil assumed.

"Why don't you tell me about it?"

"Well," The boy started, now more confident with Phil's hold, "You, Tommy, and I were in the middle of this field with this weird truck in the distance. Then pitch black walls started to block us off from everywhere else, but then I noticed someone on top of the walls. I couldn't see his face, but I saw a drawn smile"

Phil only hummed quietly as a response, still comforting Wilbur as before. He slowly wrapped his wings around himself and the trembling boy on his lap.

"Everything started to glow red from there. Tommy and I were travelling the walls together and then I wasn't by his side anymore. I found myself in this room. It had words written all over the walls but I couldn't read it," Wilbur continued, his voice growing more shaky the further he went into detail.

"My hand was hovering over this button and I couldn't move or stop it. I even heard you yelling to stop, but I couldn't."

"Mhm," Phil hushed the boy quietly, now embracing him into a full hug. Wilbur hugged back tighter, still trembling under his arms. There was a long silence of the boy sobbing into his shoulder and Phil never made any sudden movements to stop him. When his cries quieted down, Phil spoke up in a soothing, calming tone.

"What happened at the end of the nightmare?"

There was a long silence before Wilbur finally responded shakily.

"There was a loud explosion. Then I saw you come to me with a sword, and put it through my chest."

This caught the man off-guard as he stared at the smaller boy in shock. It was so unlikely of him to ever cause harm to his sons and for one of them to have a nightmare of it broke his heart. His thumb instinctively swiped wet tears from his cheeks.

"Wil, mate, you know I would never hurt you. Nightmares aren't real, and I'll always be there for you."

"I know. I can't sleep is all," Wilbur replied softly, leaning into the touch.

Phil leaned backwards towards the pillow, still embracing the boy. The two fell into a comfortable silence, hugging each other tightly. Soon after Phil noticed Wilbur's breath evened and his face relaxed. He ran his fingers through the soft curly chocolate hair in a slow pattern, occasionally wrapping his finger through a curl. The boy always isolated himself when something bothered him. He knew by experience. So when Wilbur confronted about his nightmare, he was obviously surprised. Sometimes Phil wishes that Wilbur would trust him more, but he had always been so independent. Phil wouldn't change that about Wilbur nor would he ever try. He thought about it and found that it was experiences like these that convinced Phil to have children in the first place. His kids always filled his lonely heart with life and when they came to him for guidance, he always felt an overly fulfilled joy. His eyelids grew heavy with exhaustion and slowly everything went black.

Phil was proud and dedicated to have the role of a Father

During the next morning, Phil surprisingly woke up alone in his bed. He dragged himself from his warm pelts to find the two boys in Tommy's room playing with sorts of hand-crafted toys. He leaned against the frame of the doorway with his arms crossed against his chest. The two boys didn't immediately notice him, stuck in their own world of child imagination.

"No way! My race car is faster than yours!" Tommy would furrow his brow and shove the wooden vehicle in his brother's face.

"You're such a child Tommy! This one would be faster because the wheels are-" Wilbur's gaze finally met Phil's which Tommy's gaze followed. Both boys smiled brightly and greeted him in unison.

"Hey Phil!"

"Morning. You boys hungry for waffles?"

"Why waffles? Pancakes are clearly so much better," Wilbur complained with an eye roll.

"Of course you would think pancakes are better," Tommy spat at Wilbur. The two quickly get into a yelling fit about which breakfast was better. Phil chuckled under his breath at their shenanigans and pushed away from the wall. Phil had silently made his way down multiple steps before trotting through the tiled kitchen. Grabbing different ingredients from barrels, Phil got to work on making pancakes and waffles for their morning breakfast.

"Boys! Breakfast is ready!" Phil yelled across the cottage. He heard their voices speak confidently before he heard loud stomping. From the kitchen island, he noticed Wilbur and Tommy shoving each other as they raced down the stairs.

"Hey no fair! You hit me!" Tommy growled at his brother as Wilbur made his way first to a seat.

"You never made any rules. I merely gave myself an advantage," Wilbur sneered back, watching Tommy take a seat next to him. Phil would stall, with a warm mug of coffee in his hands, stared at nothing in particular. The boys would notice the food displayed in front of them and look up to their father.

"Pancakes and waffles? Really?"

"Why not?"

"Yeah, don't complain Tommy. At least appreciate something."

"I can and I will!" Tommy would aggressively grab a utensil and immediately dig in. His brother followed and the room became quiet. Phil took multiple sips of his coffee before Tommy's voice brought his attention to them.

"Where's the Blade? I wanted to show him how I am a big man that can finally hold a sword!"

"You can't even handle a twig even if you tried," Wilbur cooed quietly. Unfortunately Tommy heard and Wilbur earned a loud complaint. Phil zoned out, staring at the falling snow outside the window. Tommy was right, Technoblade would've been here by now, joining them for breakfast. He remembered that the village he explained yesterday was on the edge of the mountain range, maybe he just came across heavy snow or was taking his time.

"Hey actually, isn't he supposed to join us Phil?" Wilbur raised a brow, curious about the man in question himself. Phil slowly shook his head, now meeting the boys' eyes.

"Techno is just on a mission. He will be here later," The man hummed reassuringly. He adjusted his mug in his hands and went back to staring at the falling snow. The dark spruce forest was always easy to spot, even through a storm. That's how Phil assumed Technoblade had always found the cottage, although Technoblade knew where he was going no matter where he was heading to. The man had a sixth sense of direction, what was the right and easy route and what wasn't. Phil's appetite disappeared as something twisted in his gut; telling him something was wrong. He only pushed away the thought and forced himself to look away from the window. Technoblade could take care of himself like he always has. He trusted that he could come back in a few days at most; How wrong he was.

Chapter Text

Packing; Phil was legitimately preparing to find Technoblade. He doesn’t even recall the last time he’s left the cottage since he’s cared for the  boys, not counting the times he’s had to get more resources from the forest. Phil wasn’t exactly certain how long he was going to be away for. But at that moment, he made a promise to himself that he would come back as soon as he could. Stuffing the last of the extra clothing, the man’s hands gently rested on a framed antique photo. Younger Phil was in the middle of the photo, his left hand holding younger Wilbur’s shoulder firmly. Young Wilbur always wore his glasses back then, but Tommy had recklessly broken them. It forced Wilbur to go without them for a while. He must’ve gotten used to it because when Phil crafted new ones, Wilbur never wore them. He left them in his drawer, or hung them on the collar of his sweatshirts instead. To younger Phil’s right was younger Tommy hanging onto his leg. Phil couldn’t help but smile at the sudden nostalgia. Tommy when younger had always been shy and cautious, which is convenient now that he is the complete opposite. He guessed that was the magic of maturing and growing up. The family looked so happy, but Phil found one thing wrong with the photo. 

“She’s not in it,” His hushed voice finished his thoughts.

As the immediate sadness filled his chest, the man shoved it down and placed the framed photo neatly in the barrel-shaped straw carrier and closed the top. He slung the strap over his shoulder and stood from his knees, taking steps out the door. Now leaning against the doorknob, Phil took in the scenery of his own room. Inhaling deeply, he recognized the refreshing smell of carved wood mixed with cologne. No, this shouldn’t be a final goodbye. He would be back, he was sure of it. Phil turned, his feet moving on their own carrying him downstairs. 

He would come back. 

“Why can’t I go? It’s not fair!” Tommy wailed, his small hands grasping Phil’s pelted robe. 

“Like you would survive out there you child,” Wilbur behind rolled his eyes. Phil ignored it and bent down to the boy’s height. 

“Mate, I have a special mission for you instead,” He lowered his voice and cupped the boy’s cheek, “I’m letting you stay because I need you to protect your brother. You think you could do that?”

The man smiled softly as he watched Tommy’s eyes lit up. He pulled away and saluted playfully. 

“You can count on me Phil!”

“Good,” Phil chuckled, then noticed Wilbur carrying an extra picnic basket. He raised a brow in curiosity, but Wilbur only spoke when he got the message. 

“Oh uhm, it’s just,” The boy paused, looking uncertain before he continued, “It’s some older toys. I thought you would want them in case you were getting bored, or maybe just-”

Phil cut him off by taking the basket from his hands and giving him a bright smile. Genuinely, the gesture moved his heart. 

“Thank you Wil.” 

Wilbur simply nodded, still shy about expressing himself. Phil stood up straight and reached the bottom of the cottage porch. He looked back and pointed at the two. 

“Take care of each other, ok?”

“We will,” They both responded 

“And remember our rule! Do not go past the forest.”

“Like you haven’t told us a million times,” Wilbur spat, but it wasn’t toxic, only sarcastic. 

“I’m serious,” Phil said sternly, then rubbed it off and gave a friendly smile and waved. The boys waved back and as he padded through the snow, he could still hear Tommy’s voice. 

“Tell Technoblade that I can hold a sword! Oh, and bring me a dog! I want a dog!”

Phil still had his smile plastered on his face. He couldn’t help but quietly laugh at Tommy’s antics. That kid was the wildest kid he has ever met. Phil squeezed himself through a fencing gap and faced the spruce forest. Tommy’s voice was gone, and he was sure he heard the cottage door slammed close. Phil tucked the golden speckled wings closer to himself. He would’ve used them to get a better bird’s eye view of which direction was the village. However, due to the weight on his back plus the thin atmosphere of winter, it would be difficult to stay in the air. He would rather conserve his energy on the walk there. 

Phil sighed, his breath dissolving in the cold. He moved his leg forward, but something caught his attention and stopped. To his left, stood a massive dark pelted buck. It didn’t move, only stared right in the man’s direction. That buck shouldn’t have that dark of fur, he’s never seen that kind of shade before. But it was the animal’s eyes that had made him pause. Those colorless eyes stared into his soul, reading everything he is and isn’t. Somehow though, Phil wasn’t frightened nor threatened. He could only manage to stare back with the somewhat same intensity. The eye-contact must’ve gone for a while because after the deer had finally broken it, he exhaled loudly; He was holding his breath that entire time. The buck walked in a clear straight line through the trees. Phil didn’t hesitate to follow behind. Maybe he was just drawn to the wildlife. No, he was drawn to something else; It felt different. The immediate time he blinked, the deer vanished. The man paced to where it had disappeared, and noticed that more hoof tracks went towards that same direction. No other thought was spoken as he followed the trail. 

I will guide you, my love. 

Phil stretched against a tall log. A lantern lightly illuminated the forest, and his bag tucked neatly next to him. Small crystal snowflakes rested on his cheeks. He knows that he should keep walking, but the night was much more dangerous. A few hours of rest shouldn’t ruin the entire walk. At least that is what he’s trying to convince himself. He slid down until he had rested in the snow. Leaning his head back he would exhale slowly. Technoblade must’ve been in real trouble if he’s been gone for so long. Phil didn’t doubt that he didn’t make it to the village, so did something happen there? Did the village attack him? Or did they capture him instead? His mind raced through all various scenarios and it honestly made his blood boil. If someone had hurt him in some way, Phil would no question make them pay. He knew his friend thought the same way. The man sighed and sat upward, massaging his temples. Sometimes he can handle stress, but other times it was too much. Has he ever had a break? He wasn’t so sure himself, but he knew he needed one. 

Just in convenient timing, multiple grunts woke him from his thoughts. He leaped to his feet and yanked the lantern from the snow. He swung it towards the footsteps to face a horde of undead zombies. How did they get so close without Phil realizing? In a swift motion, he slung his bag over his shoulder and drew his sword. His striking movements were fast and powerful, an auto-pilot maneuver that came easy to him. Rotten flesh and bodies stained the bright snow, but not a single mark was on Phil. With almost the entire horde defeated, he swung more aggressively. Although when stabbing the supposedly last zombie, there were more loud grunts. Phil was faced with yet another horde. 

“Shit shit shit,” He panted and retreated his sword to his hip. There was no way he could handle that many undead by himself. Remembering which direction to go, Phil ran as fast as his legs could take him. Sure, zombies were fairly slow. But he knew from experience that wherever there was a zombie, there was always a skeleton. As if to prove him, an arrow flew in the air and whistled towards him. Tucking his wings to his back, he clasped his cap and ducked, avoiding the arrow. The man recovered quickly and kept his fast pace. Now getting more space from the horde and the skeleton, he caught a green silhouette in the corner of his eye. Phil shook his head and simply ignored the hostile creeper. His chest stung and it became harder to breathe the more he ran. 

“Fuck it,” Phil took a painfully sharp inhale. He stretched his wings, then leaped as hard as he could. His wings started to flap aggressively, causing snow to get thrown into the wind. He had somehow made it barely above the spruce leaves. He heaved the bag between his shoulders. He had to act fast to stay in the air, or he would crash. Phil straightened his legs and laid his body horizontally. His wings beated faster and surprisingly he started to gain altitude. The man sighed in relief and let his wings glide him across the air. 

“Too close,” Phil whispered to himself. The sting in his chest slowly faded. However due to the adrenaline rush, he probably wouldn’t feel the aching in his back and shoulder blades. The man kept his eyes forward even though it was too dark to see ahead. He could worry about himself later. He needed to focus on where he needed to go. 

“I’m coming Technoblade.”

Branches aren’t the best place to sleep in but when you're in the middle of miles of trees, it’s the best thing you’ve got. Adding a few blankets even makes it better. At least, until a pile of snow falls on top of you.

“Ow!,” Phil jolted awake as snow enveloped his body and wings. 

“You have got to be kidding me,” He groaned loudly and popped his shoulder. His spine still ached from carrying that bag while flying. Brushing snow off his clothes, he packed away the blankets that were used. Phil painfully slung the bag over his neck and balanced himself once again. With a deep breath, he limply walked off the branch. He angled his wings and slowed the speed of which he was falling. It wasn’t the most graceful landing however, Phil managed to land on his feet properly. Adjusting the strap around him, the man continued his journey. He would keep moving despite all his own pain and discomfort.

Phil had never felt so relieved to see the last row of the same spruce trees. His feet went numb and his legs could barely hold him upright. He guessed that it was the effect of staying in a cottage for years without travelling. He used to survive weeks without feeling tired. Now, he has to practically drag himself after the first week. Although Phil wasn’t surprised to see an enormous frozen lake layered with thin snow. He had been to this prairie many times in the past. That didn’t stop him from limping to the lake and falling on his knees. Using the hilt of his sword, the man broke into the fragile ice. A wide airhole opened instantly, exposing the piercing cold water. Phil didn’t realize, but he had given up on carrying the heavy woven bag the moment he collapsed by the shore. He gave a loud breathy sigh before grasping onto it’s strap and dragging it to his hip. He unfastened the top before shuffling to find his flask. Colder metal caught his attention and he fished out the small, stainless steel container. He flicked the cap off, then dipped it in the still water. The coldness of the liquid was enough to make the man jump, but his fingers still grasped the flask as it bubbled. Once he assumed it was filled, Phil brought the small opening to his lips. The water was overwhelmingly refreshing by cleansing his tongue and washing out his sore throat. He had even filled the container with more water to jug down. After the last swig, he had placed the wet metal back in the large backpack and clasped the top. Although his legs never moved to lift himself up. Phil had gone limp from his spot. Maybe a few minutes of rest wouldn’t be too long. Just when his eyelids covered his irises, his conscience screamed to wake up. He had jerked awake and blink confusingly at his surroundings. He was still at the shore, sitting on his feet. Although it looked as if it just started to get dark. 

Rubbing his heavy eyelids one more time, the man had gone from sitting to standing, draping his bag over his shoulder. Phil’s hand reassured his sword was still dangling at his hip. As he took a few steps from the frozen lake, something in the air caught his eye. Distant fire smoke swirled in the thin atmosphere behind a smaller snow-covered mountain. That must’ve been the village. Excitement bubbled in his bloodstream as his pace went from relaxed to faster. He had finally found the village, which meant now he was on the right track to finding Technoblade. Just a few miles and he would’ve been there to see his face; See that Technoblade was fine. Although once he saw the light source of that smoke, he was greeted with only arrows. 

The villagers had given Phil warning shots and screamed amongst each other. He had forgotten this part of his travels. The man was always seen as a danger or a target from his unusual wings, or Technoblade at his side. He deeply chuckled at the old but adventurous memories, which probably didn’t look good in front of the villagers. Not wanting to ruin his reputation more, he raised his hands up in the air and yelled towards the entrance of the village walls. 

“Do not shoot! I only come in peace!”

There was a quiet murmur between the guards and the citizens of the village. He gave a quiet sigh to himself, but kept his arms lifted. He just had to be patient in order to earn their trust. He aimed to look as relaxed and non-threatening as possible. His gestures seemed to work, because one of the heavily armored men yelled back. 

“You may enter the walls! Though one bold move from you will have your head cut off!” 

“Fair enough,” Phil scoffed and lowered his arms at his sides again. It wasn’t like he intended to kill anybody anyway. If they did have Technoblade though, that was a different story. 

He shook the thought away and approached the enormous birch colored door. The sound of chains clattering together ringed in his ears as he watched the village become more clearer. Just the entrance of it was bustling with people passing or crossing by. It amazed Phil on how this seemingly large populated village could be hidden from his own radius. His steps trailed some soldiers ahead of him and he held his arms firmly at his sides. From the back of his head, Phil could feel prying eyes. It was a familiar feeling that didn’t surprise him in the slightest. His peculiar black and gold-glittered wings would have caught anyone’s attention. Although that didn’t stop him from having the small entertainment of catching a villager’s stare only for them to immediately peel away. The men in front of him came to a shocked stop. Phil lightly grunted, but didn't speak up from the hold. The armor between them clattered together, then they finally broke apart into a clear tunnel. So they were trying to clear the path to wherever they were taking him. 

“Her gracefulness will now bestow her presence for the man!,” one of the built men hollered. The crowd instantly hushed itself, waiting for, “Her gracefulness to show up.” Phil could've been wrong, but he only assumed that this village was run by a queen of some sort. At last, between a pair of more armored men was a small, thin woman walking towards his way. She looked to be in her 80’s, winkles surrounded her eyes and forehead as well as her bony fingertips. Midnight wavy hair weighed on her shoulders that were covered in colored leather. On her neck, she wore vibrant beads and jewels that almost covered her entire chest. In her palm, she held a long hand-crafted staff. Phil nodded in understanding; The village was ruled by a shaman, this woman to be exact. With a smack of her slim lips, she began to speak. 

“And who are you?”

“Phil, Phil Watson,” Phil had replied with formality. His hands flattened on the outsides of his thighs and dipped his spine into a bow. The woman had not bowed back. 

“What brings a young fellow like you into our camp?,” She asked with a more croaked and forced tone. 

“I’m looking for a friend who came here not that long ago. Long pink hair, and a royal cape.”

The woman’s squinted shut eyes had somewhat widened from the description. She waved a hand before her finger pointed at Phil’s chest. 

“Ah yes, I remember. He wore scars on his face,” she relaxed her eyelids in the recalling memory. Even though this old lady might seem nice, he wasn’t so patient. 

“Is he still here?”

“Technically, yes and no,” Her answer had made Phil’s brows furrow in annoyance and frustration. His eyes averted to the guards at her side, who gave him a threatening glare. With a loud sigh, he continued. 

“What do you mean by that?”

The tiny woman had waved her free hand to signal him to follow, so he obeyed. The village streets were entirely quiet despite there being enough people to be a city instead. Phil’s nerves felt as if they were making his entire body shake. The entire walk was like in slow motion; That, or the woman was just slow. Everything about his surroundings either felt surreal, or eerie. Once they had turned a sharp corner, a bright purple glow illuminated the cobblestone street. His pupils dilated and blinked constantly, adjusting to the light. When he could see clearly, Phil’s blood ran cold. The purple blaze was barriered by dark rough obsidian. It was a rare sight to see, but one that he technically knew.

“He’s in there?,” his trembling tone asked. 

The short woman at his side slowly nodded, her expression unreadable. 

Technoblade was in the nether, alone.