The Three Brothers

Maiguh was walking through the underground, it was strange to pass monsters and yet not be seen. He almost brushed a creeper, but it did not move. He was careful to take enough potions to maintain his invisibility.

He thought to Elsbeth and his daughters in the End. They would be alright he was sure. He especially thought about Elsbeth, she was so warm and kind to him, he missed her intensely. He shook his head slightly of this, but it stayed and he knew the truth. Somewhere in their time together he had started to fall in love with her.

He knew it wasn't the right thing for them. Alora would never allow it. But something about Elsbeth just made Maiguh feel different than he ever had. She trusted him in a way others did not. He remembered how she addressed Onicent when Onicent showed surprise at Maiguh's arrival. She had defended him when no one else ever had.

Of course, he reasoned, now was not the time. There was important tasks to be completed if he wanted any kind of future at all. She was safe and that was all that mattered.

He was close to the meeting point now. Thankfully there were few monsters, in fact as he went there were fewer and fewer, perhaps his Mother's magic repelled them from the place. He finally got there and knew he was first. The lava was absent oddly, so he was left staring at the three grass blocks. It had been so long before that he had stared at them and watched his grow.

He had been supposed to be a leader, yet that is not how it happened. He didn't want to be Onicent really, leading the others as a king. He realized he was content with his End, his daughters and Elsbeth.

Onicent had been wrong about him. He never had wanted to overthrow him in the end.

The pain Onicent had put him through was wasted, but Maiguh could not be angry really. He knew the most important thing was unity between them. That was the only way they'd ever win.

Dauntice showed up next. He looked over at Maiguh and gave him a weak grin. As if to say 'remember these?'. Maiguh returned the smile and shrugged. He wanted to say he did remember but then Onicent arrived.

The three now gazed upon the blocks, but they had no words for each other. Maiguh broke the silence.

"It seems we are short of lava."

"Indeed." Dauntice answered.

Onicent just nodded, and closed his eyes, lava seeped into the pools from the walls, filling the space with the bright liquid.

Maiguh took a step toward the pool so he was near the edge.

"Mother told me the only way to raise her was with our own blood."

"Together?" Dauntice asked.

"Together." Maiguh answered. He drew his own sword as did Onicent and Dauntice.

The tensed prepared for what was to come.