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Infume wasn’t used to sitting still. He was a speed runner after all, running from world to world, doing what needed to be done. There were some worlds he returned to regularly, especially the ones where he could hone his skills without consequences. But even there, he never stayed for too long at a time.
Lifesteal was completely different to anything Infume had ever experienced. For one, there were other people, not just the unassuming villagers he was used to dealing with. These people were loud, so loud and violent and emotional.
In the beginning, Infume was worried he would never be able to fit in. But as it turned out, he had no need to be. Immediately, he bonded with Saps and on the same day he ran into Kyle, an old friend and fellow speed runner.
And once he proved himself, both in fights and events, he made some more allies, teammates and even genuine friends. Mainly Ghostie and Ferre, who were by his side whenever he needed company or someone to fight by his side. He only hoped he would see them again soon.
Because despite how happy the server made him, he knew he couldn’t stay. Already, the urge to run, to move on was itching under his skin and it was growing impossible to ignore.
It was a day like any other on Lifesteal World. Which meant a gathering at spawn, today for a talent show, traps, fights and hanging out with his friends. But for some reason it felt incredibly hollow. Like there was an invisible wall, separating Infume from the rest of the world.
That’s when he finally admitted to himself what he had denied for so long. Infume had overstayed his welcome. It was time to go.
In silence and with a heavy heart, Infume started his preparations. He ignored Ghostie’s call, denied Ferre’s request to fight alongside him for one last time. Instead, he methodically sorted his shulkers, grabbing only the bare necessities for what he knew needed to be done before he could leave.
This was it. This was what he was meant to do. The last days had been an incredible experience, but it had all been on borrowed time. With one last deep breath, Infume jumped into the end portal like he had thousands of times before.
The end was different to what he was used to. Blocks everywhere, no dragon to be seen and an old friend and rival greeting him.
Flowtives somehow seemed to know exactly what he was planning to do. Which was weird because the only person Infume had confided in about this was Ghostie and he was sure she would never betray his trust and tell anyone, let alone his biggest rival here.
Either way, Flow did exactly what Infume had tried to avoid when he left for the end without telling anyone. He gave him a proper goodbye, even going so far as promising training the next times they crossed paths. And he told Infume he was proud of him, repeated it even.
Infume would be lying if he denied the silent tears rolling down his cheeks as Flowtives flew away to let him do his thing. This was exactly what he had tried to avoid when he entered the end without so much as a goodbye to his teammates. He knew if he did, they would have tried to convince him to stay. And he simply couldn’t any longer. But he would have agreed and he would have grown to resent them for it.
No, it was better this way. His memories full of untarnished happiness instead of overshadowed by a heartbreaking goodbye. No matter where he went next, he would be able to look back on these happy times forever.
If anyone were to see him, Infume would blame the tears blurring his vision and his shaking hands for messing up the zero he usually could have hit in his sleep. But as it were, Infume was alone in the end and got to celebrate his one cycle as the win that it was. As the truly fitting ending to the best week of his life.
Infume’s fingers hovered over his communicator. It felt wrong to leave without so much as a goodbye, a thank you to his friends and teammates. But what would he even say? What could he say so that they would understand where he was coming from? Because despite all they’ve been through, he simply wasn’t built like them.
Reluctantly, Infume put away his communicator, message unsent. They would understand. Eventually. That was all he could hope for.
The itching under his skin that had finally been quieted during the end fight reared its head now that Infume was stalling, delaying the inevitable. There were worlds to run, dragons to defeat, competitors waiting for him.
Like he so often did, Infume threw his remaining items in the end fountain. Unlike usually, he didn’t jump in after them.
Instead, his eyes locked with an enderman at the edge of the end island. As the creature scurried closer, all Infume could do was pray his friends would forgive him for leaving without a goodbye.