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MinuteTech considered himself a loner. He spawned in the End alone, surviving by following his instincts alone, lived through years of his life alone. So yes, he is well accustomed to loneliness, but he never felt lonely, he just considered it to be a part of his life. Not seeing it as something that needs to be fulfilled, it just is.
Although he was a voidling, MinuteTech lived most of his life in the Overworld. When he was young, a group of players had arrived in the dimension and killed The Ender Dragon, opening up a portal. Minute was observing close by when the fight happened and following his curiosity, he followed after the players jumping into the portal. And the Overworld was so different. Sure, it may not have all the prized loot the End has, but Minute learned to greatly appreciate the heat of the sun, since the End had none of it. A chill temperature had always been the norm in the End dimension, but sometimes the cold of the Overworld’s night time helps remind Minute of his hometown. And so, his base is in the Overworld, not far but also not too close to surrounding civilizations. Everything that matters to him is all there. He hoards a lot of loot, all because... he has nothing to do? He doesn't hoard it all of course, he always gives it away to other players who stumbles upon his base. Often times it was troubled players who were in the trenches, living in this server was apparently quite gruelling. MinuteTech helps them as best as he can, gives them enough gear so they can go on their merry way towards whatever their destinations were. Other times it's greedy people who've heard about his stash and comes to rob him dry. It wasn't a problem to Minute though, years of defending himself from bandits and bad people alike had honed his skills sharply. He deals with robbers easily, though he tries to make his kill count as minimal as possible.
It was just another day, but this time it wasn't a new player who knocked on his door. A familiar face greets Minute when he opens it, a fidgety hand and hopeful eyes is what graces this player. Minute knows this player, he had helped her a few times and they spent some brief time together doing chores.
"Oh, it's you! it's been a while." Minute greets her with a smile, offering her to come inside but she shook her head.
"Uh... I need to be somewhere soon Minute, sorry. But I also need your help on something..." She grinned sheepishly, feeling a bit embarrassed about asking for help. "Sure, what can I help you with?" Minute asked. "So I got hired to do a job, it's just a job for delivering and moving stuff around so I got myself a lot of shulker boxes. But you see... I got robbed a few days back and the shulker boxes are gone now! it's been a real hindrance, but I don't have time to get more as there are a lot of deliveries that needs to be done on time. So..... I was hoping you can help me get some shulkers? I'll pay you of course! It might not be much but I really do need those shulkers, so even just two is enough!" She explained quickly but Minute was able to catch all of it.
Minute nodded, “Sure, I can get you some shulkers. But I don’t have any on me right now, so I do need to go to the End first. I haven’t been there in a long while. I can only give you the shulkers in like, a week maybe?” Gratitude is visible on her face as she replied, “Yes that’s totally fine! I know it’s a whole journey to acquire those. That’s why I asked for your help! You know how dangerous the End could be, I would definitely die there. But you surely would know your way around.” Minute chuckles, “Well it is my hometown.” She looked at the sun and turned to Minute, “Okay then, I really have to go now Minute, thank you so much for agreeing to help! I will pay you when I come to pick it up later, see you next time!” She bowed and hurried leaving, “Don’t worry too much about the payment!” Minute tried shouting as she was already some distance away, she just shouted a ‘thank you!’ back again.
Minute is really close to an End City, he was gathering some chorus fruits since he also didn’t have any left. As he was chopping down a chorus plant, a hand tugged at the bottom of his shirt. Startled, Minute quickly turned around and stepped back, only to be met with large glowing white eyes. It was another voidling, a very young one he observed as his height only went up to his knees. The voidling was holding a chorus fruit that probably rolled out of the way, and he held it out to Minute, expecting him to grab it. Minute smiled awkwardly and took it from the small hands, “Thank you…?” He said, the young voidling just grinned back at Minute. Not getting a reply, nor any response Minute continued chopping down more as he didn’t know what else to say to the other. As he was gathering the dropped fruits, the small voidling continued giving him chorus fruits that rolled off, which Minute quietly thanked every time.
When the amount of chorus fruits gathered Minute deemed enough, he turns to the small voidling still holding out another one for him to take. Minute bends down and offered a gentle smile, “You can keep that one kid, thank you for helping.” The voidling then took Minute’s hand and placed it on top of his head, Minute was a bit surprised. He smiles up at him and Minute can’t help but chuckle fondly at how cute that was, patting his head. “I have to go now kid, take care okay?” Minute gets up to leave, expecting the kid to stay in place. But of course, the voidling follows him, sensing that he was being followed, Minute turned around and tilted his head at him,”You want to come along?” A huge white smile and eager nods answered him, “Okay then, but be careful, it’s going to be a bit dangerous after this so make sure to stick close to me okay?” Minute wasn’t sure if the kid understands him or not, but he replied with a nod so Minute hopes he does.
After walking for some time with Minute slowing down his strides so the small voidling can keep up using his short legs, they arrived at an End City. Minute took one look at the structure and turned to the kid, levelling with the same glowing white eyes as him, “Look, do you see those squares that opens and closes?” Minute pointed at the shulkers, the kid followed his hand and nodded, “Those things shoot out stuff that are dangerous. I need you to stay here and not follow me close. Do you understand?” Minute knows shulkers only gives you levitation and not poison or anything, but it does sting and it would be bad if the kid levitates and falls to his doom. The small voidling nods slowly, seeming a bit tense because Minute talked with a stern tone, “You’ll be fine as long as you stay far enough away, so just stay put. I’ll be back after some time.” Minute offers him a smile in hopes of soothing the small voidling. After assuming the kid understands, Minute gets up and goes to the End City to collect the shulker shells.
Avoiding the bullets is definitely a troublesome task, he gets hit a few times but he expertly water clutched every time he levitates too high. In the middle of fighting the shulkers, he looks out and sees that the small voidling is still at a distance, watching Minute fight the shulkers with what seems to be awe in his face. Minute smiles and looks away, content with seeing the kid be at a safe distance.
A long while passes by and Minute had gathered enough shulker shells for his friend and himself, but then he hears a scream. Dread lodges in his being, hearing the distressed sound he looks over and sees the voidling had vanished from his spot, so he shouts out, “Kid! Where are you?!” He quickly looks around for the presence of the child. He looks up and sees the small voidling already a considerable height in the air, flailing his limbs with a mix of fear and wonder of being afloat. Minute winces and quickly builds up in hopes of grabbing the child, ”Hold on! I’m coming to get you kid.” But as he built up, the levitation effect ended, and the small body starts falling from the height. Minute felt his stomach drop and in his panic and hurry, didn’t think twice and immediately jumps to grab the screaming kid.
Minute holds him close to his chest and shields the small child as he softens the impact of the plunge by rolling over once he hit the ground. Minute laid back on the hard pale yellow ground and groans from the pain in his body, freeing the kid from his tight hold but still keeping a hand on his body. He moved his head to see the small voidling already looking up at him, tears and guilt filling up those white wide eyes. Minute sighs and sits up, checking the kid over for injuries, “Are you hurt?” He asks, the kid just shakes his head. Minute lets out a sigh of relief, “I told you to not get close, why didn't you listen?” Irritation creeps up his voice, the young voidling just looked down to his lap.
Minute shakes his head ‘reckless kid’ he thought as he stood up while groaning from the soreness of his body, standing the kid up with him. He brushes off the dust from his body and said, “I’m leaving now,” He turns on his heel and heads for the nearest gateway. The small voidling runs after the quick strides of Minute’s long legs, grabbing Minute’s fingers. Minute stops and turns at the small voidling with a tired look in his face. The other had a hopeful and begging look, as if asking for something. Minute furrowed his brows, “What? You want to follow me back too?” The kid nods slowly, seeming a bit sheepish. Minute stops and gives it a thought. Would bringing this kid back mean he’ll be taking care of him? He seemed like a troublesome kid, he didn’t even listen to Minute’s one warning. Where would this kid even go in the Overworld? There are so many more threats in the Overworld, both from mobs and other players. Minute would have to protect him, the kid would have to live with him until he can defend himself. MinuteTech was always alone, bringing this kid back would mean he’s got company now, right?. He looks at the small hand gripping his fingers and thought, ‘okay, a company doesn’t sound that bad’.
Minute looks back at the young voidling’s face, a dejected look clearly painted on his features, his grip falters as he expected Minute to leave him. Minute exhales and took the small hand, “Alright fine, you can come with me.” The small voidling grips Minute’s hand, an elated smile finally gracing his face. The beam of the smile must be contagious as it made MinuteTech smile too, he secured his hold on the small one. They walk back to their home, “I’m Minute, what’s your name?”.
It was raining outside, thunder was blaring and lightning struck, heavy raindrops struck the windows where darkness seemed to cover the entire sky. But Minute was supposed to give the shulkers to his friend today. It’s been a few days since he’s been back, he waited for his friend to pick up the shulkers she needed but it seemed like she was too busy to come get it. Minute figured he’ll just drop by her place instead since he’s free. He’d feel bad if he postponed it since his friend’s need of these seemed urgent, so he prepared himself to go out in the rain.
Minute looked back at the little voidling he brought back, who is huddled inside a blanket, looking at the pouring rain outside with something akin to fear. ‘Is this his first time seeing a thunderstorm?’ Minute thought, and quickly reminded himself that this is the young voidling’s first time in the Overworld. Ever since he met the other voidling, he has never uttered a single word, he giggles and laughs but Minute has never heard him speak. He had thought maybe he just wasn’t able to talk yet, but then again the voidling had always understood what Minute said. At least Minute assumed he does. He still doesn’t know the kid’s name, or maybe he didn’t have one since the first time he asked he had only shook his head.
“Hey kid, I have to go for a bit to deliver these shulkers, I can’t bring you with me since it’s raining outside,” Minute sat down next to the little bundle on top of his bed, “I’ll be quick alright? It’s only a couple hundred blocks away.” He pats the voidling and stood up, heading for the door.
His hand was on the doorknob when he heard a frantic “M-Minute!”.
He turned around and sees the voidling sprinting towards him, then he wraps his arms around Minute’s leg, shaking his head. “You don’t want me to go?” Minute asked holding back a smile, his heart did a little flip from how adorable the act was until his mind screeched to a halt and it registered to his mind, “You spoke!” Minute exclaimed, picking up the small voidling in his excitement, “You spoke! Oh my you finally spoke!” Minute didn’t even know why he was this delighted from hearing the small kid talk, “You…spoke?” the voidling tilted his head at Minute, “No, You spoke, not me.” Minute chuckled, “I spoke,” He pointed to himself, “You spoke.” He pointed to the small voidling, “I…Spoke?” Came the small reply, and also, a misunderstanding.
“Yes yes, you spoke.” Minute held the small kid in his arms with fondness he didn’t even know was shining through his pure white eyes. The small voidling then pointed to the door, “Minute no…” He pleaded with the little words he know, Minute had to physically stop himself from squishing the smaller one’s cheeks. “Okay, okay, I won’t go. We’ll stay inside until the storm passes, ok?” He brought himself and the kid back to his bed. Minute then spent the rest of the storm trying to teach the kid new words. Somehow it never occurred to him to teach the kid since back when he was young he had taught himself how to talk from observing others.
Halfway through his attempt at teaching, it is becoming clear that the little voidling… thought that his name is now Spoke. Minute can’t even take it back since it seemed the little voidling liked the name so much, or maybe now he should start calling him Spoke instead in his head. “I’m here, you’re here,” Minute pointed to them both, then pointed at a tree outside that was visible from the window, “Tree there,” Spoke pointed at the tree and repeated, “Tree there,” He then pointed to Minute and himself, “Minute here, Spoke here!”, Minute then added “Minute is here,” He pointed to himself, “Spoke is here,” He pointed at his chest. Spoke then nodded and exclaimed while pointing at himself, “Spoke is here! Spoke is here!” Minute simply grinned and nodded.
The rain outside had finally stopped, and Minute thinks he can finally deliver the shulkers now. He stands and opens the door, smiling at the sky, “Spoke, come here.” Spoke then gets up and sees the sky beginning to clear up from the gray clouds beside Minute, “Look over there,” Minute pointed at the array of colours shaped in an arc that appeared after the rain. Spoke gasps and looks at them in amazement, Minute smiles at the visible wonder in his eyes, “It’s called a rainbow.” Spoke only nodded to Minute’s explanation, continuing to stare at the rainbow. After some time, Minute nudged him, “You wanna come along delivering these shulkers?” Spoke finally looked away and nodded eagerly, “Yes!”.
Minute held out his hand and Spoke took it. They walked together with smiles on their faces.