Chapter Text
A tall white tower stood in the middle of a snow storm, standing out because of it black stoned roof. It's main body a pure white material—almost blending in with the snow.
Atop it's tower, stood a silhouette of a man, his white long hair swaying with the wind. His hands fell to his sides, his body slump. He looked sluggish.
His citrine eyes devoid of any spark of life looked down on the ground below. The snow was thick, but not enough to sustain his fall. He knows because he prepared the ground for a clean death.
His lips were dry and chapped, dry blood stuck in between the cracks of his lips. The clothes he wore were thin, not fitting the environment he's currently in. Torn from running and avoiding any danger.
Back when he still had the will to survive, still a faint glimmer of hope for clearing his name. That was until he found out the person he thought could help him and understand his situation was the one behind his suffering.
“ 𝗬𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰, 𝗦𝗮𝗽𝘀. 𝗡𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱'𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼. ”
𝘍𝘭𝘶𝘪𝘹𝘰𝘯'𝘴 exact words still echoed in his mind. Replaying his voice like a broken record. His voice—even his tone made him sick to his stomach.
How could anyone be this cruel. Was the years they spent being friends part of his plan? How long had he been scheming this? Why him, of all people? Was it because Saps believed almost every word he said?
Did he know that Saparata had been admiring him? Did he use it to his advantage, leading him on and throwing him away after Saparata had no use anymore?
Those questions circled his mind over and over again.
He felt stupid.
He tried and molded himself to be the perfect person anyone can lean on. But now he sees he was fool for thinking everyone wanted his support.
He laughed bitterly, the lump in his throat he tried so hard to surpass rose up. The unshed tears in his eyes threatened to spill. He felt ashamed of himself.
He knew Fluixon never liked the idea of sending aid to Yggdrasil, it was obvious from the first meeting. He knew what Fluixon was capable of.
His nails were dirty from the days he tried so desperately to survive. The armor, tools, and diamonds he owned were safely stored in the chest on top of the tower. He had no use for them.
He wished that someone would find them and use them for something more—than rotting in that chest for the rest of eternity. The same diamonds they were made of were the same diamonds he mined and collected with his friends. Including Fluixon.
He sighed, as he wrapped his arms around himself. The snow storm didn't show any signs of stopping he cold temperature had already made his fingertips a shade of blue.
Below his eyes were dark circles, the paranoia of getting attacked in his sleep foced him awake. His eyes were barely focused, staring into nothing.
He looked thinner, whenever he tried to buy food or supplies everyone would always drive him away. Throwing insults and hurling objects at him.
He scrambled, hid, and stayed in the forest. Though he knew it was only a matter of time before Fluixon's assassins find him.
He relocated in the one place he knew no one wanted to enter. The snow biome in Yggdrasil, the frequent snow storms, and the dangerous animals starving for food was enough to drive everyone away.
He was tired. His sister had died just before the meeting happened. That damn meeting that ruined his life.
He barely had time to properly processed her death before everything happened. Micro had long been out of contact, he's sure Micro wouldn't want to see him after news of his assassination to many leaders spread like wildfire.
And Snowbird was part of the Conspiracy. He didn't know what Snowbird said when he found out his own brother was gonna be the sacrifice. Or maybe he agreed. He will never really know, nor did he want to.
The snow storm had numbed his senses. He was freezing a while back, now he feels warm. And he had listened to his sister ramble on and on about the cold that he already knows he was dying.
Whether he wants to back out now—is too late, he's gonna die one way or another. He stepped to the edge of the tower he built by hand.His legs shaking from hunger.
The chilling harsh wind sent chills down his spine. The snow had covered everything in sight with a thick layer of white powder. Pieces of snow were blown by the wind, making the air dense and hard to see.
His arms fell to his sides, trembling without his knowledge. His lips trembled from the cold but that was the least of his worries.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for the last time, mumbling something underneath his breath. Gravity soon took over.
One moment he was on top of the tower—the other he was laying on the ground, his crimson blood slowly mixing with the white snow.
His back was the first to land on the ground, breaking his spine instantly. A violent crack was all he heard before his head was the next to slam to make contact with the snow covered soil.
He felt his skull break open.His nerves screaming in pain, he felt his brain smash on the ground. Making his eyes lose vision.
He took his last breath before the loud thumping of his heart stopped. Leaving only the silence and screaming of the wind.
For seven minutes, his brain remained active. His lips curved into a soft smile without him knowing. And soon after he stopped responding. He was 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦.
For Fluixon, the sacrifices he made was for the better. He saw multiple of the propaganda that washed on the shore of their beaches.
" 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗢 𝗣𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗢𝗥𝗔 "
It said in big bold letters. The designs were violent and the colors were bright red. His people were terrified, but their king, BelowZero paid no mind to the concerning amount of threats.
" They are nothing more than empty threats. "
He told Fluixon. They were standing in the King's office, Fluixon brought a stack of propaganda letters to show the king. But he didn't even bother to look up.
His gaze locked onto the paperwork he was currently reading. Fluixon's brows furrowed, his gaze sharpening.
“ What? ”
He managed to say, his shock evident on his face. Inside he was fuming. How can a ruler care more about the people threatening to destroy his own kingdom over the people he swore to protect?
A thousand questions flooded his mind all at once. He was mad at BelowZero for choosing the people he barely knows over the same people he was tasked to protect.
" They wouldn't so anything. They're low on materials, Fluixon. They wouldn't waste in it on a meaningless war. They have their own family and people too. "
The king said, his voice serious. He reached for the ink and pen on his side to sign the paper he was holding. Fluixon looked down to see what was more important than talking to his vice president.
He read the title on top on the paper.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁
(act. 1150)
Fluixon's brows furrowed deeper. Staring daggers at BelowZero, the king seemed to sense his hostility as he looked up at Fluixon.
" There is nothing to worry about, they will not attack Pandora, they will not attack our people, they will n— "
“ And how are you so sure of that? ”
Fluixon cut him out mid sentence. A question that plagued him finally got out.
" Because.. "
BelowZero tried to answer. But Fluixon added another question. His frown deepening.
“ You said it yourself. People can change their minds in a blink of an eye. What if they use that bridge to invade Luminara? Our kingdom is far from any other civilizations, by the time help arrives it would already be too late. ”
Fluixon's voice rose with ever sentence, his chest heaving with anger. He put his hand on the King's desk, his grip tight and shaking.
The King raised a brown at Fluixon. His posture straightening trying to regain control of the situation. He didn't want to fight—he was already exhausted because of the meetings, letters, and paperwork.
“ Why would you put people you barely know above the people you swore to protect? How could you just stand there and let them panic about an invasion. They have family and children too. ”
BelowZero let him finish his sentence. When Fluixon stopped talking and awaited an answer, BelowZero calmy reprimanded him.
After BelowZero's reprimanding Fluixon walked out of his office, walking through the halls he kept his cool making sure no one sees him angrily muttering to himself.
He kept his mouth shut at times, after all he climbed from the bottom to the top and he wouldn't let anything or anyone take that away from him.
He walked passed servants, maids, and kights. He smiled and greeted them with a small nod.
When no one was looking his face darkened, his brows furrowed together. His fown deep— as he bit his lip in anger, his teeth grinding against the skin of his lip. He stopped when he tasted iron.
He opened opened his coat, pulling the other side with his hand whilst the other raised and instinctively reached for the hidden pocket inside.
He pulled out a handkerchief from the inside of his coat and pressed it on his mouth. The pristine white cloth absorbing the blood.
He positioned the handkerchief to look like he was covering his mouth. It looked suspicious—but the way Fluixon's expression remained calm and collected, it looked natural.
As it should. As it always should be, everything will be under control. Soon.
It had been weeks after Saparata's sudden disappearance. Yes, he was on the run but usually Fluixon would receive reports of sightings of the albino man.
But all of those reports stopped. He didn't notice it the first few days but around the third day, he realized he hadn't received information of him.
Of course—he questioned his spies.
" We had not been seeing or hearing about Saparata in a while now, Sir. "
One of them answered. Their heads bowed low, not daring to look at 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 in the eyes.
" What if he's dead? "
NewKids said, His tone sarcastic but a hint of curiosity. Making the others turn their attention to him.
" Now that is a possibility... But one of our traveling spies would have discovered his body already. "
Seraphim spoke up, her voice serious as she looked up from cleaning her dagger. Her heterochromic eyes landing on NewKids.
" Maybe he's hiding, that explaination is the most logical out of the last two. "
Thomas suggested, the others nodding in agreement.
" Sure but we've exhausted him enough that his actions are becoming increasingly sloppy, at least some trace of him would remain if so. "
Seraphim replied, still cleaning her daggers and weapons. Whilst the others talked about theories on where he could be, one person stayed quiet.
Snowbird stood in the corner, his back leaning against the wall. His face was scrunched up, staring at the ground.
He had his arms crossed, his head slightly angeled down. Trying to make himself as small as possible, his expression was complicated. Seemingly lost in thought.
" Snow you alright? "
Hvyrotation asked, his voice not loud but surely drew everyone else's attention. They pretended to be minding their own business but eavesdropping to them.
Snowbird snapped back to reality, looking up at Hvyro with a complex expression. Something between guilt and worry or even a mix of both.
" Huh? What was that? Sorry i wasn't really paying attention.. "
He questioned his voice dropping an octave down.
" We were talking about Saps' location, we haven't gotten any report for the last couple days. "
" Oh, i knew that. He's probably hiding or something. "
He said, the volume of his voice lowering and lowering by every word he said. He was practically whispering at this point.
" Ah.. "
He wasn't aware everyone could see the worry in his gaze, his rimmed eyes showing proof of guilt.
They gave each other knowing looks. The air suddenly growing tense and awkward, everyone looked for something to do.
" We're going on an expedition somewhere right Fluix? "
Gotoga questioned trying to get rid of the awkward moment.
“ Yes, different leaders reached out to Luminara asking for assistance on trying to investigate the strange 'glitches' happening. ”
“ And you guys and some of my knights will join us. It is an order since it has been adding to the fear of the locals too. ”
These "glitches" are strange instances. For example the sun not rising at the time it was supposed to, the sun being an hour late.
Or the complete opposite, where the day goes by so fast. Not in a metaphorical sense, but in a literal sense. An entire day lasting nineteen hours.
Not only that, but the weather had been extremely out of control. One moment it's heavily raining, the next the sun is blaring like it's summer.
The plants, animals had been weird too. Some animals making the wrong sound or suddenly giving birth.
Plants would come ripe and in seconds—they would rot. Or suddenly go back to being unripe.
The people started to come to church more often, praying to their god—Ish, for answers or for protection.
Saparata's sudden disappearance and the strange glitches happening had really been stressing Fluixon out.
Not only him, but Aperion, CassCoalition, Commonwealth, Pirate Republic, Tricolor, and the others had been affected by this strange "glitch".
The king currently couldn't handle anything right now. Since BelowZero had been bedridden for a while.
The doctors couldn't find the reason why he was abruptly sick. They called it an illness they've never seen before.
Day by day he gets weaker and weaker. He was thin and pale, his eyes sunken as he lost the ability to sleep. Making him almost deaf. Throwing up almost everything he ate.
Hydrogen sulfide.
Toxic and too complicated for doctors to identify. Without proper education, material, and experience it's impossible to name it.
And even if you do have proper education, material, and experience—it would still be difficult to concoct a cure for it.
“ Damn it. What the fuck is happening.. ”
Fluixon slumped on his desk, the grandfather clock in his office read "4:08" in the morning. He didn't bother glance at it.
The papers and letters stacked like a mountain. Burying him in paperwork. Concerns, land disputes, crimes, economics, and many more.
It's not public information that the king is bedridden. Greedy nobles might try and steal ownership. So Fluixon kept it private.
His paperwork had tripled after the strange and unexplainable events. He thought accepting the expedition invite would bring the people ease.
But the thing that has been plaguing Fluixon was Saparata's location. Where could he possibly be?