Legacies || Hermitcraft

Chapter XVIII - The Family

Timeline: May 2015

Word Count - 6k

TW: Mentions of blood/death/injury

EDIT: All text written in Galactic has now been translated and highlighted in bold

Silence fell across the valley, interrupted only by the rustle of the wind through the trees and the slow, steady breathing echoed through Xisuma's helmet. All eyes were fixated on the familiar stranger before them, a stranger who looked like he'd been mercilessly dragged through the harshest regions of the Nether and back but was somehow still alive.

And as the Hermits watched the stranger, the one they knew and had feared for weeks on end, the same word repeated itself in their minds. Brother. This was his brother. Xisuma had a brother. The Hermits were stunned, to say the least, but not half as much as Xisuma himself was. The young Admin couldn't move, yet he was still trembling, the sound of his breathing now silent as he and the stranger, whom he had called Ezra, locked eyes.

And as the Hermits kept their eyes fixed on Ezra, the similarities between the two brothers became more and more apparent. Although they initially seemed to look nothing like each other, especially in regards to Ezra's blood-red irises and pure white hair, their facial structure was uncannily identical. In fact, if it weren't for the additional scars Ezra bore on his face, the two would be indistinguishable if standing side by side in a black-and-white photograph. Evidently he and Xisuma weren't just brothers, they were twins.

The crash of metal to the ground drew the Hermits' attention back to Xisuma, who had discarded his helmet and ran to Ezra's side. The latter's eyes were wide and initially fearful, but tears swiftly began to fall as he was pulled into a close and loving embrace.

"ᒷ⨅∷ᔑ! 𝙹⍑, ||𝙹⚍'∷ᒷ 𝙹ꖌᔑ||! ╎ ∴ᔑᓭ ᓭ𝙹 ∴𝙹∷∷╎ᒷ↸, ╎ᒲ ᓭ𝙹 ᓭ𝙹 ᓭ𝙹∷∷||..."

Ezra! oh, you're okay! I was so worried, I'm so, so sorry...

Xisuma was speaking in a language the Hermits neither knew of or could decipher, but they didn't need to understand him to hear the pure, unfiltered emotion in his voice. Joy, grief, love and guilt were conveyed in every word he spoke to his brother, and it became apparent to the Hermits very quickly that this was likely their first meeting in many years.

"̇╎ᓭ⚍ᒲᔑ? ╎- ╎ ℸ ̣ ⍑𝙹⚍⊣⍑ℸ ̣ ||𝙹⚍ ∴ᒷ∷ᒷ ⊣𝙹リᒷ, ╎ ℸ ̣ ⍑𝙹⚍⊣⍑ℸ ̣ ╎ ꖎ𝙹ᓭℸ ̣ ||𝙹⚍ ᔑリ↸... ᔑリ↸/..."

Xisuma? I- I thought you were gone, I thought I lost you and... and...

In a similar manner to Xisuma, Ezra's voice and the way he spoke told the Hermits far more about him than words ever could. His voice itself was harsh and gravelly, suggesting that severe damage had been dealt to his vocal cords, but in spite of this it still held the same grief and sorrow that his brother's had. What wasn't conveyed in his voice was shown clearly in his body language, like how his grip on Xisuma was tight and unyielding, as if his twin would be taken away from him if he were to ever let go, and the way his frail body shook vehemently with each tearful sob and cry he let out.

"ᓭ𝙹 ↸╎↸ ╎..." Xisuma told his brother, holding on just as tightly, albeit with caution towards Ezra's many scars and injuries. "╎ リᒷ⍊ᒷ∷ ᒲᒷᔑリℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ꖎᒷᔑ⍊ᒷ ||𝙹⚍, ╎ ℸ ̣ ⍑𝙹⚍⊣⍑ℸ ̣ ||𝙹⚍ ∴ᒷ∷ᒷ ⊣𝙹リᒷ ᔑリ↸ ╎ ᓵ𝙹⚍ꖎ↸リ'ℸ ̣ ᒷ⍊ᒷリ ʖᒷᔑ∷ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ꖎ𝙹𝙹ꖌ ⎓𝙹∷ ||𝙹⚍...╎ ⍑ᔑ⍊ᒷ ᓭ𝙹 ᒲ⚍ᓵ⍑ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ℸ ̣ ᒷꖎꖎ ||𝙹⚍!"