I glance away from the strange creature made up of gold and baubles, to instead level Hacker’s white window with a disbelieving look, “You spared this thing because it’s a shop?”

[No. It’s shop is irrelevant.] and the little thing makes a shrill tea kettle sound as it gives Hacker’s window some serious puppy dog eyes with its mismatched gems eyeballs. Even I feel a tiny bit sorry for it, but only a tiny bit.

[Treasure bears are not just merchants.] Hacker goes on to explain, and the little guy deflates back into his chest with sad creaking noises, I give him a sympathetic look, I know how it feels to be brushed off by floating boxes of code. ‘I can relate little guy.’

[They are born to protect and care for rare treasures.]

“And?”

[And this one has been assigned a very special treasure to guard, you would greatly regret killing it.]

“Hacker I do not care for your dramatics just get to the fucking point already! What is it guarding?!”

Hacker’s screen goes completely white, and I half expect it to just disappear and leave me hanging again before it turns to face the treasure bear.

[Show her.]

“But—!” the little monster squawks eying me warily, “you said it wasn’t time, that she wasn’t ready yet—"

[She’s already here, and she can’t break the seal yet. Just show her.]

And then its white window blinks in front of me so suddenly I take a step back in surprise hand lowering to my mace on reflex. [We hope this will be taken in good faith and be an apt motivator for your future compliance.]

I cross my arms with a scowl, “I’m getting really tired of being talked over.”

The little treasure monster sends me a glare, before hoping out of its chest. As it does the chest magically closes and the little thing lands gently on top with a clattering sound like dropped coins. It puts its two little paws together before giving me another look, “You need to back up. I need the space or the magic won’t work. This is a very elaborate and secret spell! Only known by us Treasure Bears!”

Humoring the little thing, I backup till I’m back by the door I entered from. Interestingly enough it would seem the lock is back on the door, some interfering from Hacker I assume. I turn back to the treasure bear and finding it still giving me a warry look.

“I’m not leaving the room so this is as good as you get,” I say, raising an eyebrow, daring it to challenge me.

It gives me another glare before closing its gemstone eyes, hands clasped in front of it, in what appears to be some sort of prayer.

It speaks in that strange clacking metal language again, and underneath the chest its standing on, elaborate runes appear and crisscross across the stonework, all glowing a brilliant gold. It easy to recognize the light, it is the same one that beckoned me forward from the hall outside, and it the desperate need to step closer is overwhelming I take a step without my consent. I have to wrestle control back and I nearly cry at denying the pull, it’s a horrible heart wrenching feeling as if I just betrayed everything that I stand for.

But I hold my ground, rubbing the tears away as I stare at the sparkling golden light that slowly forms into a solid shape. Right behind the treasure bear and its chest, a towering pillar of crystal appears. It glitters with a rainbow shine and is as tall as the room.

“Wait that…,” and my voice fails me as I stare at the giant shard of crystal, because the jewel is transparent, allowing me to see the figure frozen inside. The familiar figure. The only face I would never be able to forget – my own.

It’s my rounded jaw and high cheek bones, but the nose doesn’t have the little bump from being broken and there’s no scar on the lip from an ill thought piercing in my younger years. The hair is a little longer, the clothes more baggy and soft, an earring dangling from a pointed ear where mine have none. It’s my face, my body, but-

My brain scrambles to make sense of what I’m seeing and there’s only one answer. I take a step forward, my body pulled forward once more beyond my control by the desperate ache to be closer, but I don’t fight it this time, I understand why it felt like I was betraying everything that I am to ignore, because I was. I understand why I felt so drawn to this room now, why it wasn’t a charm effect because there is nothing unnatural about this. I understand why the crystal glows brighter as I approach as if welcoming me home. My soul knew what that light really was and was simply trying to reunite me with the missing part of myself, because this is-

“Zeke!”

It’s my brother!

Its… my brother.

Its my fucking brother and he’s not safe at all!

“Hacker you liar—!”

[Calm yourself.] it types quickly flashing in my face as I swat at it with a growl, [he is perfectly safe.]

“You call this safe!” and I push against the crystal, its surface is smooth to the touch and frigidly cold. My fingers immediately go numb, but I don’t move them. How can I when my brother is right there-!

[You must calm done.]

“Don’t tell me to calm down! That’s my brother! My little baby brother frozen in a chunk of magic bullshit rock! You promised me he was safe!”

[HE IS.] it repeats, and I try to wrangle my breathing back under control but I stay glued to the crystal, Hacker has been misleading one too many times for me to blindly trust it again. [But we did not lie, you cannot free him as you are now. You need help, allies.]

“Don’t see why the fuck I can’t break it.”

[Breaking it would shatter him as well.]

And I almost flinch back from the crystal but hold my ground. “You lied before, why should I trust you now?”

[Then trust the being born to protect him] and Hacker’s window floats down to hover over the treasure bear’s head. [We -Hacker-] It clarifies, [created him to guard your brother. And your brother has remained here, outside the system’s reach. That is why we can speak to you, and that is why your brother is safe. We promise you that, never would we harm him. He is as valuable to us as he is to you.]

“Zeke isn’t valuable,” I spit, glaring at the system. “He’s fucking person not an object. And he’s my little brother. I don’t care what your stupid hero quest is, but leave him out of it.”

[Then you must do as we say] Hacker says, the edges of its screen gaining a weird static. [No more temper tantrums and outbursts. What we say, you do. Or your brother will do it instead.]

An angry growl rumbles from my throat, and I tighten my fists until they start to bleed. I want nothing more than to smash everything in this room, to just do something. But I temper my rage, even as it boils in my chest. I nod stiffly, “Fine, yeah whatever you say.”

And I laugh not of amusement but just to release some of the building pressure, “I knew you weren’t good.” I know I shouldn’t be talking, that I need to shut up before I dig myself too deep, but everything is boiling over at this point and I need to say something. I’m so tired of the half-truths and lies and flowery words hiding knives. “No matter how much you tried to be righteous, everyone only wants power. No righteous savoir lords someone’s brother over their head as a hostage. How are you different from the system?”

The white window statics, its ends bleeding black as it grows twice, three times till its message is as big as me, and I know I’ve really done it now.

[We will not repeat ourselves.] it types, words appearing one by one slowly. [Do not ever compare us to the system, we are at least giving you a choice. We could find another for our plan and leave you as food for the puppets of the usurper. Most would consider it an honor to have our attention. Do not try our patience, fallen star. Or the only wish you will be seeking is death.]

My breath stutters as I feel something in my chest tighten, the sad desperate words echo once more in my head, those of my Heart-Wish. “I don’t want to be alone.”

The pressure disappears as soon as it's there, this is only a warning. Behave or Hacker will find another sword to wield.

“F-Fine,” I agree and I hate how my voice stutters, fear curling in my gut at the sudden weight of holding both my and Zeke’s life in my hands. ‘I can’t mess this up.’ “Whatever you want Hacker just… just leave Zeke alone. Please.”

Hacker’s blackened window looms for a heartbeat more, [Good.] They type, window gradually shrinking and returning to normal, [Do not make us regret choosing you.] and with a sound like a shattering hourglass, it disappears.