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There were many things Mino could see that clearly showed him that he was finally back home. The sky was blue, the grass was green, and the trees stretched around him endlessly.
This is the place where they’ll build their new home, where they’ll build something that will protect them forever from the evil surrounding this heartless world. In order to prevent them from ever dying again, he’ll have to become the new evil and conquer the world.
As Mino stepped out of the collapsing portal, he noticed that only Tingz and a few of the remaining Incinerators were behind him.
Airo was nowhere to be found.
“Tingz.” Mino started out impatiently, “Where is Airo?”
Tingz looked back at Mino and merely shrugged, saying, “He’s probably somewhere around here. Don’t worry my Prince, I’ll ensure he comes back home to us and our soon to be founded empire.”
Tingz smiled at him and continued, “Just focus on founding the Specters, and I’ll go find Airo for you, don’t you worry my sweet Prince.”
Tingz wasn’t the most trustworthy person, but if it meant that he could move on with the prophecy and not worry about Airo, then so be it.
“Okay, make it quick. I want Airo back here by the end of the month.”
“Of course. Your wish is my command, my Prince.” Tingz kneeled and flew away into the blood red sunset.
—`.
Most of the month went by as a blur.
Mino met up with Dade, recruited people into the Specters, and finally finished the castle in which he and Airo were going to call home.
Most of his recruits were relieved that his previous idea for the purely obsidian castle was scrapped, however, Mino was very saddened that he had to let his old design go.
This new design wasn’t so terrible either.
The main entrance was breathtaking, and any player passing by would always end up being recruited into the Specters. Their empire was slowly building itself up, and going out to look for more recruits just seemed like a big waste of time and resources.
The only thing missing was Airo. The month was about to end and the prophecy was moving farther along than Tingz’s promise to bring Airo back home.
If that slimy warden doesn’t bring him Airo back home soon, he will personally have his head mounted on a spike by one of his guards. Preferably after finding Airo.
As Mino relentlessly paced around his throne room, he heard someone fly around in a hurry. Mino picked up his sword and potted up, just in case it was someone trying to dethrone him again.
It was raining hard outside, so when Tingz entered the throne room with an unconscious Airo, he assumed the worst.
“Tingz. I had hoped you would’ve brought Airo in good condition. Now explain to me, what is this?” Mino gestured to the sopping wet and possibly frigid Airo.
Tingz took off his elytra and before he personally got beheaded by Mino, he began to explain, “If you would care to listen to me, my Prince, I had found Airo in this condition and spent weeks trying to wake him up, but no matter what I did, he would not stir up.”
“...He’s not waking up? But why?” Mino’s gaze began to harden towards Tingz, “Did you have any idea that this was going to happen?”
Tingz looked surprised for a moment, which was a rare thing, given the mask he always carried on his face, and continued, “No, my Prince. I assure you that this was not meant to happen, and it never had in the Underworld.” He looked down, and deeply sighed, “I would assume that his body is simply recovering from the energy it took to transport him back into the Overworld, and he should arise within a few months.”
“Tingz. Does it look like I have a few months?” Mino hissed angrily.
“No, my Prince.” Tingz shook his head in agreement.
“Then find a way to wake him up. For now, I’ll take him up to my room. You are dismissed."
—`.
Mino’s bedroom consisted of various sandlike patterns on the walls, fuzzy blue rugs, and a large, oversized bed in the middle of all the trinkets he had scattered around. A picture of him and Airo were on his nightstand, perfectly angled in a way he could always see whenever he began to doubt himself and the prophecy.
He knew that this was something that had to be done to protect him and Airo, but he was so scared that he was doing something wrong. Airo wasn’t waking up and he wasn’t able to reassure Mino that what he was doing was right, and that it was exactly what the prophecy demanded of him.
He just wanted Airo back, awake and at home with him. Dade and the others were a nice addition to the Specters, but they’ll never be able to be the person Airo was to him. His teacher and his friend.
Mino placed Airo onto the couch near the door, and brought a fuzzy blue blanket to cover him. Despite moving him around, Airo would not stir up, which was exactly what Tingz had told him.
Looking at Airo and seeing him in that state hurt him. If only he had agreed to joining him earlier, if only he had seen what the prophecy was, if only he had known more… if only…
There was no point in reminiscing. The only thing he could do now was take care of Airo and wait for him to come back and see that they were finally home.
—`.
Mino was surprisingly easy to control. All Tingz had to do was bring him Airo, and encourage him to do things in order to keep them both safe. Killing Airo really did have an effect on him.
Even now, Mino was so preoccupied on his thoughts and on Airo, that he didn’t even notice Tingz watching them from afar, cracking a smile as he watched his sweet Prince fall further into the prophecy.
It’s only a matter of time before everything falls according to his plan, and before he can finally be free of this world’s rules.
After all, they’re already both mine.