Messages From a Friend (Poofless)

34

~*Woofless*~

It feels strange to wear something other than my uniform; especially knowing that the clothing I'm wearing once belonged to Fvendal. I need to get my own casual clothing. I think to myself as I look at my reflection in a shop window. I look more like Fvendal than Woofless. Maybe that's a good thing.

Shaking my head, I pull my food to cover my face more before stuffing my hands into the front pocket of Fvendal's green hoody. It has "Military Academy Athletics" written in Minecrafti on the front, and "Aceti-Minter" on the back. I didn't know Fvendal had two surnames until earlier this week. I wonder why. I pause and look up at a graffiti covered sign, and a frown grows on my face.

Welcome to Trunkeet!
This is the city where dreams become reality, and it's all thanks to you.
Population: 4.1 Million

A wave of nausea washes over me. This was the first city attacked by the empire. I cautiously reach out and touch the sign with a light hand before looking at the ruins of what used to be a bustling city filled with people and skyscrapers. It was as if everything was stuck in time; the buildings were still missing large chunks, and the streets were littered with debris and glass shards. Fourteen years, and I don't think anything has been done to repair the emperor's damages. I clench my fists as anger slowly takes over my mind. You sicken me, Wojcik.

"It's quite the scene, isn't it?" A male voice murmurs from somewhere behind me. He was speaking in fluent Minecrafti. He doesn't even have an accent. "I was standing right where you are now when they attacked." I turn around to see an older man walking over to me. His hair was greying, and his face was slightly aged, but his blue eyes were alight with the wisdom of hundreds of years. He looked strikingly familiar, but I can't figure out why.

"I'm sorry," I say quietly, lowering my gaze to the ground as the man stops before me.

"You look like my son in those clothes," the man states, and I feel a slight tug on the sleeve of the hoody I was wearing. "He begged me to buy this for him, but he never really wore it. I'm glad to see my money wasn't wasted after all."

I look at him in confusion. "Your son, do you mean Fvendal?"

"That's what he's going by now?" The man lets out a lighthearted scoff. "I thought he wanted to be called Fvenny until he was thirty." He shakes his head with a little laugh before holding out his hand. "My name is Simon Minter. I'm guessing you were sent here to see me." I reach out and shake his hand.

"I'm Woof-"

Simon interrupts me. "I know who you are, Woofless. You're Fvendal's baby brother, and the king of Minecraftia."

"What's left of it anyways," I mutter, looking over my shoulder at the mess behind me. "Why hasn't anyone cleaned up?"

"We're spies, not janitors," Simon states with a laugh. "The empire will get suspicious if the streets were suddenly in pristine condition without their prior knowledge." I nod, and Simon wraps an arm around my shoulders. "Let's head inside. I'm sure you have important information to share with me, and I don't like being caught out in the rain."

"How'd you know I would be coming here?" I question as the older man leads me away from the sign and into the ruined city.

"Fatherly intuition."

~*Mi'kai*~

"M'ayris!" I call out to my sister, running over to where the small girl was sitting. She was alone, eating a piece of fruit, while everyone else was in groups, murmuring excitedly about our year's early graduation. "Are you alright?" I pull up a chair and sit across from her, leaning my elbows on the table.