Chapter Text
Over time, Techno had learned that people talked a lot more openly when they thought you couldn't hear them.
His ears caught all sorts of rumors around the palace while he was cleaning the floors. He heard about the duchess who had offended the king quite gravely by making a joke during a party last month and who had paid for that transgression with her life. He heard about the kitchen maid who fell pregnant after an illicit affair with the captain of the guard, and now they were discussing marriage because he had to take responsibility. But most of all, Techno heard about the war creeping closer and closer to the capital.
The tone with which people spoke of the war also differed greatly depending on whose mouth the words were coming out of. The nobles, loitering around the castle and enjoying the king's stolen wealth, whispered about the war with anxious fear, the cutting severity of a blade about to drop in a guillotine. They knew that the troops were exhausted, dwindling, dying, and that with their deaths came the death of the kingdom. The soldiers walked the hallways in fewer numbers than they did before, and muttered concern about being sent to the front, or grief over lost friends. They looked ragged, and were more likely to snap at the servants than they were before. And the other slaves seemed to wait with an almost eager thirst, not caring for the further consequences of the war as long as it ended with a noose around the king's neck.
Techno sat on his knees and scrubbed the floors.
It was what he had been doing his entire life, or at least for as long as he could remember. When he thought about the past, everything got a little fuzzy. But his first memories were of this castle. Of scrubbing the tiles. Of the pain all over his body that came from long hours of work. Of the ache deep in his stomach when he hadn't gotten any food in a while. But Techno kept his head down so he could keep out of trouble, kept his ears and eyes open to catch anything important that would affect him, and he cleaned until his skin bled.
He'd become good at it. His fingers were small and adept at getting dirt out of the tiniest nooks and crannies. His nails barely even chipped anymore from the harsh labor. He cast his eyes down at all times to avoid drawing attention, and knew how to save his knees from chafing raw against the tiles by shifting his weight off them from time to time. While the first blows of the catapult hit the capital wall, Techno got a fresh bucket of water.
The actual attack was short-lived. The king didn't have many soldiers left, and they'd been sent out to defend the wall. They mustn't have lasted long. Armed men in different uniforms stormed the palace, their colors those of dark and light blue. Techno continued to scrub the floors until one of them pulled him up by his elbow. He couldn't see their face properly behind the helmet. Part of Techno expected them to release him again. His fingers clenched around the brush he was holding, and he glanced at the floor that was still dirty. Too many people walking across with muddy boots lately. Always in a hurry because of the war.
The foreign soldier tugged him along to the courtyard instead.
Techno was lined up with the other slaves, though calling it a line was rather generous. They stood around in nervous clumps, voices hushed and eyes darting. Maybe they were also wanting to get back to work? Techno supposed the new king could want to explain the rules that would be changing, or what would be expected differently of them with somebody else in charge?
What actually ended up happening was much more puzzling to him.
"Next."
The woman in front of him stepped forward, up to the small wooden table that was hastily thrown together out in the palace courtyard. Not the old palace. The new one that he'd been brought to. Antarctic Empire flags moved wildly in the breeze, and threw shadows across Techno's vision. Three days ago, after the Antarctic Empire invaded Hypixel, Techno was among the many slaves taken back to the empire's capital. The journey was slow, with lots of breaks for eating and sleeping. Techno observed the other slaves during the trip. Not all of them had been taken with the army back to the Antarctic Empire palace, some had stayed behind with more soldiers in Hypixel. Techno wasn't entirely certain what had made the distinction. Normally, he would try to determine the answer based on what he observed, but so far he was still guessing.
Everybody seemed… calm.
Techno knew little about war. But he always thought that it was a gruesome, blood-soaked thing. An animal half ripped open, dragging itself away to die in a bush. Something that was both cruel and violent, yet also slow and agonizing. People shouldn't be smiling during the war. And the war wasn't over, was it, because they'd been taken prisoner?
The girl behind him let out a small gasp, then covered it up by turning away to the one standing next to her. Both of them were very young. They used to work in the laundry room. Techno saw them on occasion when he cleaned there, though they never paid him much mind. They always had trouble stilling their tongues. A trait that hadn't vanished from them since the move, it seemed.
"Is that him?" one of them asked, swallowing around the words. Like she was afraid saying them out loud would be enough to draw in the ire of the person they were talking about.
"Has to be," the other agreed. "He looks-"
"Scary," the first one finished, leaning even closer against her friend.
The other one clicked her tongue. "I was going to say sad."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Look at that face."
Too curious to resist, Techno raised his chin a little. The man whom the two laundry maids were gossiping about was easy to spot. His armor was a shining white metal rather than the darker gray that the rest of the royal guard wore. His cape, too, was made of a unique silvery cloth with the sigil of the Antarctic Empire embroidered on the back in midnight blue. If those weren't enough to betray his royal status, the crown on his head would definitely do the trick.
The emperor of the Antarctic Empire, Philza Craft.
Techno has never seen him before, despite how often he had heard the name spoken with anger, venom, irritation, and maybe awe, sometimes. That last one mostly by other slaves, who in their folly, occasionally wished for a kinder ruler. Philza was said to be just that. Though all Techno saw in this moment was a blank face, eyebrows pinched just slightly together as he walked along his row of tables. Each one had a person sitting at it, who would call slaves forward one by one. Then after that, they'd be sent away in one of many directions, each meaningless to Techno since he didn't know what exactly they were being judged on. Philza watched in silence, stopping only once or twice to ask something or look at one of the pieces of paper that was written on. His expression betrayed nothing, and while Techno would not describe him as scary, sad was also not the first thought that popped into his mind. Intimidating felt more accurate.
Then again, Techno found most adults to be intimidating.
The soldiers, the nobles, the other servants at the Hypixel palace. Techno didn't like any of them. That was why he'd become so good at cleaning and staying quiet. Things worked out better for him that way.
"They say he hasn't stopped waging wars since his son was taken," the second of the two laundry maids said then, hushed and a little pained sounding. "He disappeared one night, and nobody knows where he went."
"You're right," the first one agreed. "That is sad."
"Next."
Techno blinked a few times and obediently stepped up to the table. The man sitting on the other side appeared very tired to him. He'd been doing this for a few hours already. He didn't look up at Techno when he spoke.
"Name?"
Techno stared at him.
"Name?" the man repeated a bit more urgently, still keeping his eyes on the paper he was writing on. Only after another few seconds of silence did his gaze finally shoot up to meet Techno, who was doing his best to look at the man's forehead rather than make eye contact. "Kid, name?"
Techno had lost the instinct to reach up and touch his throat ages ago. But maybe for a moment, that itch was almost there. Fingers tingling as they shook slightly, hoping that the slightest amount of pressure would make a difference for his cut vocal cords. Knowing it wouldn't.
Irritation seemed to blossom on the man's face for a brief moment, the sort that Techno was familiar with from other servants. The man was probably annoyed that Techno was making his job more difficult. But then it softened into something else. "How old are you?"
Techno didn't say anything. He couldn't.
"Oh! He doesn't speak," one of the laundry maids behind him cut in. Apparently their conversation about the emperor had concluded, and they'd been following along enough to realize the man was not getting the answers he needed out of Techno.
"Doesn't speak?" the man echoed. Techno relaxed a little when the man's concentration shifted, over his head aimed towards the two maids.
"Can't speak," the other laundry maid said. "Can't hear either, poor child. He always just sat around cleaning the floors, didn't react to a thing."
The man frowned, not looking very happy at this. "Do you know how old he is?"
"Oh, not the faintest idea," the other maid answered. "He was already at the palace when I got there, and that's… Gosh, four years ago, I think?"
"No, five years," her friend corrected. "Remember, it was the winter of-"
Techno stopped listening at that point, focus drifting elsewhere too. This conversation seemed boring, and he hadn't figured out what the purpose of all these slaves being brought to the Antarctic Empire capital was yet. Everybody seemed happy that the Antarctic Empire was waging war with Hypixel, because the king was bad, and that was something Techno could agree with. But more than that, people said the Antarctic Empire didn't uphold the laws of slavery. They regarded the practice as barbaric, inhumane, and morally wrong. So maybe they weren't brought there to serve as slaves at all?
"What seems to be the issue here?"
A new voice joining forced Techno to snap back his attention. Especially since it was the man he'd been so boldly scrutinizing before.
Techno stood by his earlier assessment. Up close, Emperor Philza was very intimidating.
His slightly long blond hair was kept partly loose, aside from a string used to keep some pieces at either temple away from his face by pulling them back into a small braid. The armor he was wearing wasn't exactly bulky, but fitted in a way to broaden his shoulders, and make his stature seem taller than it might really be. The two large, black wings on his back completed the image. Eyes of ice blue, vibrant and impenetrable, settled on Techno's face. And then something in the emperor's jaw tightened.
"Who is this boy?" he demanded.
Techno wouldn't describe Philza's voice as stern. But there was something inside it that made him tuck his chin against his breastbone and hide himself behind the wide collar of his cloak.
"He's one of the slaves from the Hypixel palace," the man at the table said. It seemed an obvious thing to point out, since the emperor's commands probably were what brought all of them there.
"And there was no family to claim him?"
"None, sir. He might be an orphan."
Oh, that must be the distinction between the slaves that were taken to the Antarctic Empire and those that were left behind, Techno thought. People with family and homes to return to in Hypixel were allowed to do so, while others had a better chance at making a proper life for themselves with the empire's support to guide them. Or maybe some of them would be returning to their homelands, the ones Hypixel invaded.
The emperor was quiet for a long moment, and Techno could feel those eyes on him, studying him with undue intensity. He didn't look up to meet them again. He'd been punished for less.
"How old?" Philza asked eventually, quieter. Softer with emotion, too.
"W-we don't know, sir," the man answered, taken aback. "He's deaf and mute. Hasn't said a word."
Finally, Techno dared to take a peek through his lashes, watching the emperor's nose wrinkle with his next words. "He looks ten at best. He's much too young for any real work. Let Niki take him into the kitchens for now, yes?"
Techno didn't know if he should correct them on his age or how he was definitely not too young for working, but even if he made up his mind, his lack of a voice would prevent him. The man nodded, took a few more notes, then gestured for one of the guards who was helping with logistics to take Techno.
The emperor was already turned away, but Techno watched the pitch-black wings shift on his back as he walked, visibly tensed, and Techno's own wings almost twinged with pain in some sort of messed up sympathy.
They let Techno keep his cloak, and that was something Techno was very happy about.
All of the kitchen staff except for Niki slept outside the palace, so they set up a little bunk for him in her room next to the pantry. The space was a bit cramped, probably not designed for even one person to live in, let alone two. But Techno liked it. He liked that it was tucked away, and that nobody else came inside.
Niki also had a mirror. Techno stood in front of it every morning when she'd already gone out to start on breakfast for the emperor's family. She always told Techno to sleep in if he wanted to. Actually, she was kind of bad at being his boss at all. She gave him the easiest tasks, reminded him to take breaks often, and didn't seem to care if he actually finished his chores or not. But Techno supposed that was normal, since he hadn't had the chance to show her how well he worked yet. He hoped that soon, she'd have more trust in his abilities.
He reached around to pull on the ropes he used to bind his wings in place.
A small jolt of pain ran up the bone and into his spine, but overall they didn't hurt anymore. Techno had been keeping them tucked away for as long as he could remember, prompted to do so by the servants who ordered him around back in the Hypixel palace. They said that he was a monster for having them, that the sight of them was enough to sicken them, and that's why he should hide them. Techno thought that was a little dramatic. Hybrids were rare, sure, but they were common enough that most people knew they existed. He had no clue what was so bad about his wings that nobody could bear looking at them.
Then again, he didn't need the trouble or the attention they earned him. So he kept them tied up, close against the warm skin of his back, folded as small as he could get them, day and night, even sleeping on his side so he would only need to redo the harness once a day. They hadn't grown any over the years, maybe because of the confined position. So with his cloak on top, it was pretty much impossible for people to tell he had them. Techno was fairly certain most of the newer slaves around the Hypixel palace never even found out about them. When he was done, he dragged his fingers through his hair a few times, made a messy bun out of it like Niki had shown him, and took his apron from a chair.
The inside of the kitchen was warm, the air heating up because several hot stoves had pots already boiling on them. The servants who showed up early were bustling around, kneading dough and cutting into freshly baked bread. Their kitchen supplied food not only for the emperor and his family, but also for the barracks and some of the orphanages and charities around the capital. That was why it had to be so big, despite the royal family only consisting of four people.
"There you are." Niki stepped in front of him and knelt down, making certain that he could tell she was talking to him. "Did you sleep well?" Niki spoke very slowly, the way she always did, and held one hand against her cheek as she tilted her head and closed her eyes to mimic sleeping. Then she held up her thumb and raised her eyebrows a bit while her face had a questioning expression on it. All of the pantomiming looked a little silly.
Techno just nodded.
"Good." She stood again and used one hand to take his wrist and guide him over to the workstation they made for him, a low table with a small stool. There, Niki showed him what to work on this morning. "Careful," she said while handing him a knife, gesturing at the sharp edge. She showed him an open palm, then tucked in her fingers. "Don't cut yourself, okay? Do it like this?"
Again, Techno nodded.
He'd become very good at cleaning over the years, and without meaning to sound conceited, he'd also become very good at kitchen duty in the few days since he arrived. Cutting vegetables or fruits - Niki's favorite chore to hand off to him - was a piece of cake. Other times, he had to stir stuff, or peel potatoes. At the end of the day, he had to help Niki clean the kitchen. Techno enjoyed that the most because it was so familiar to him.
He pretty much never left the kitchen, but that suited him just fine. It meant Techno didn't have to interact with many other servants. Only the ones who worked in the kitchen and mostly left Niki to deal with him. And Niki herself, who'd been surprised when a child was sent down to work for her, but she'd taken it in stride. She often chatted while she worked. Not to Techno but to the other servants. Techno listened, however, as he'd become used to listening to everything that might be important for him later, and that's how he found out a lot about her.
Niki was the head chef, officially. She'd started as a regular kitchen maid, working in the palace when she was barely sixteen. She didn't have to live in the palace if she didn't want to, but since she worked long hours, she wanted to skip the commute, and she called the not-pantry room 'cozy'. She was kind, and patient, and efficient. She was an excellent cook.
She was the only adult Techno had ever liked.
Niki also was close to the royal family and sometimes went up to talk to them. When she did, she always put somebody else in charge of the kitchen.
"I'll be down again in a moment, keep an eye on things, yeah?" Niki said to one of the servants. The woman nodded. She was like Techno, a former slave from Hypixel. Freed and housed in the capital, they were working to earn enough money so they could start fresh. The emperor had offered them all suitable jobs that fit their skills.
Techno wondered if that meant he would be able to keep working in the kitchen forever, just like Niki? He wasn't getting paid for his work, technically, but only because he got a bed and food and all the other stuff he needed. And Techno didn't know what he would buy with gold, anyway. But it flitted through his mind, pulled towards thoughts of both the past and the future when the rhythmic work in the kitchen lured him into a lull.
He'd enjoy a farm, maybe? Sometimes, when he wasn't cleaning, Techno would visit the animals of the palace. Horses were pretty cool, and Techno would like to own one. Or he could have chickens? Cows? Pi-
"Hey! I'm talking to you!"
A hand landed on Techno's shoulder suddenly, and he jolted, turning around with the knife still in his hand. The boy who'd touched him flinched back.
"Fuck, whoa, what the hell, man!" He held up both hands. "What's your problem?"
Techno frowned at him. The boy seemed to be about his height, which was annoying to Techno only because he could tell the boy was also a few years younger than him. Maybe eight or nine. It wasn't Techno's fault his growth spurt hadn't hit yet! He was wearing fancy clothes, though the sort of casual ones that nobles would wear late in the evening. Expensive fabrics, loose fits.
"I'm talking to you," the boy complained loudly once more when Techno didn't answer, raising his voice and putting his hands on his hips. "Seriously, I-"
"Your highness," the servant that Niki had left in charge quickly rushed over. "I'm so sorry, are you alright?"
Your highness. Techno swallowed, eyes growing wider as realization hit. This was one of Philza's sons, a prince of the Antarctic Empire.
"What's his problem?" the prince asked again, pointing at him but looking at the servant.
"I'm so sorry," the servant repeated, bowing deeply. Her face was red, ashamed and scrambling to make that up to the royal in their presence. "The boy is mute and deaf, he probably didn't hear you. Please forgive him and myself for not alerting you."
The prince looked taken aback at this response. Perhaps also because of the formal address. Techno had noticed that the servants who were born in the Antarctic Empire behaved differently than the former slaves did. Across the woman's face, he saw written the same fear he saw in Hypixel all the time, where making any sort of transgression against a noble could end with a death penalty for disrespect. The prince saw too, and pivoted instantly, disconcerted by her fright.
"Oh, uh, that's fine. You don't have to be sorry," the prince said quickly. Techno saw a flush had risen into his cheeks as well, colored by childish embarrassment at the situation. He then looked back at Techno, frowning. "And my bad for startling you, I guess."
Awkwardly, Techno shrugged.
"So you, like, can't talk? At all?" the prince pressed, embarrassment fast fading and replaced by open curiosity. "Can you make any noises?"
The weird question made Techno uncomfortable, but he was saved from the situation by Niki returning to the kitchen right in time. She instantly honed in on the prince all the way from the doorway, walked over, and then - to Techno's horror - flicked his ear.
The prince yelped and cupped one hand over it, pouting up at her. "Niki, what the fuck?"
If any servant in Hypixel had dreamt about doing such a thing, especially to royalty, Techno was certain they'd be wishing for the gallows by the end of the night.
"What did I tell you about sneaking into my kitchen, Tommy?" Niki said, tone angry but in a fake, playful way. "You literally just had food, you know?"
"I wanted a snack," the prince apparently named Tommy whined, rubbing at his ear.
"You know the rules, not until after your tutoring," Niki said. "Shame on you for bothering my ward."
"Your what?" Tommy asked.
"Ward," Niki repeated. "He's one of the freed prisoners from Hypixel, and I'm taking care of him for the time being."
Tommy made a noise at that, close to a hum but not quite, looking at Techno again. "What's his name?"
Niki's face fell a little, before she forced a smile. "I'm afraid he hasn't been able to tell us yet. But we'll find out sooner or later."
"Oooooh, a mystery," Tommy said, face splitting open into a diabolic grin. "I can help solve it."
"No." Niki grabbed him by the ear properly this time, and Tommy winced. "You can go back to your tutors before we both get in trouble. Come on." She tugged slightly, not a real pull or anything, and Techno had a feeling Tommy was playing it up a little when he hissed loudly, a sound akin to a cat getting tortured.
He watched as the wayward prince got led away, small fluffy wings puffing out on his back. Techno hadn't noticed them at first. They were so tiny, though still proportional to his general size. A little bigger than Techno's own.
He felt them under his cloak, shifting and settling. He rolled his shoulders back to lessen the ache, then turned around so he could continue with his chores.