The Broken Flame

Brine blinked tears from his eyes, before softly nodding to her and speaking. “I’m still hurting, but… I feel a lot better than I did when we were in the cave.” He tilted his head. “Did… did you… kill her?”

Celina put a hand to her head, as if in embarrassment. “Um… to tell you the truth, Brine? I don’t know for sure if I did. I stabbed her through the chest with your swords and pinned her to the ground, and it looked like she passed out. But… when I went to leave after grabbing you and Steve… she was gone.” She sighed. “I really should have finished her off, I should have, but I was so worried about you and afraid you wouldn’t make it out alive. I rushed to you before I could make that killing blow, and when we left, she was gone from her place. Only your swords were still there.”

Brine frowned a bit, but not like he was angry at her. He pursed his lips. “Then I have a feeling that this won’t… be the last we see of her.”

Steve nodded in agreement. “I would say so. But now that we know what she’s capable of, I have a feeling it won’t be so easy for her to attack us again, whenever that may be.”

Brine nodded. “I don’t know when she’ll try to attack us again, but… I will fight alongside this kingdom and all its people whenever that may be. I won’t let her hurt any of you. Never again.” He turned his head to look up at Celina. “I won’t let her hurt you or anyone I care about. I owe you all my life… especially you, Celina.”

The queen felt a warm feeling in her chest at his words. “Brine… you mean a lot to me, I wasn’t going to let you get killed back there. I love you, you’re my best friend. You mean so much to me, and I won’t let her hurt you again. And… you saved my life, despite nearly taking it. But you know what? You did save my life, and in the time we’ve been friends, you’ve been the best friend I could ask for.”

Brine nodded and let out a tiny chuckle. “I must thank you, Celina. For… for everything. You showed me how wonderful humans can be and have helped me remember who I was, who I still am. You helped me change for the better, helped me become a more human person. You showed me a hand of kindness when no one else would, and you saved my life. Anyone else would have killed me when they got the chance, but you… you showed me mercy and hospitality and gave me a second chance.” He let a few tears roll down his face. “You saved me from isolation and vengeance, and I will forever be grateful for it. You’re a wonderful person, and I will always be your friend.”

Brine’s words melted Celina’s heart and she chuckled with a tear rolling down her face. She squeezed Brine’s hand. “I feel the same way, Brine. You let me show you kindness when no one else would, and you showed me trust and opened up to me. I love you, buddy. I promise to always take care of you, and I will never leave you. You will always be welcomed here.”

Brine nodded and smiled. He let out a small yawn, his tongue uncurling a bit. 

Steve grinned. “Sounds like someone’s tired.”

Brine nodded. “I truly am. I guess all of that took a lot out of me.”

“Well, you should probably get some more rest, Brine,” the queen told him. She kissed his forehead again, making him giggle. “Go ahead and go back to sleep,sweetie. I’ll watch over you.”

The Demi-God nodded and shifted on his bed. “Thank you. Thank you all for giving me a second chance.”

Celina smiled. “You’re very welcome, Brine. Rest well, dear.”

*****

Celina looked down at the headstones before her, shock still quite evident on her features. She watched as Brine gently set a rainbow rose in front of the biggest headstone, one of the flowers from the queen’s garden. She could see teardrops falling from his face and onto the grasses below.

It had been about a month since their return to Creatoria from the battle to save Steve and stop Gilstenia. Since then, Brine’s healing powers had returned and he was getting better by the day. After this month had passed, Celina had gone to the throne room to see him, and he had asked her to follow him somewhere. He didn’t explain where it was, but they had passed through a forest to the north of the kingdom, up a few hills, and to the top of a high hill, with a view of everything for some distance.

And imagine Celina’s shock when she recognized the large oak tree that sat atop the hill, and her shock at seeing four headstones below it. She knew this place from Brine’s memories. She knew exactly where they were.

This was the hill where Cebrina and Brine had had so many of their best memories and dates. This was where he buried his family after losing everything.

This was an important place to him.

Celina carefully knelt to be next to Brine, who was on one knee before Cebrina’s grave. He was sniffling and had tears running down his face and she set a hand on his shoulder. She stayed in a comfortable silence for a few moments, before asking, “So… where my kingdom is… used to be where the kingdom Cebrina lived in was?”

The Demi-God nodded. “Yes. As I was walking back to the kingdom yesterday, I recognized some of the formations of the hills and mountains and was able to make my way here. After coming to the top of this hill, I looked down and could see your kingdom… and it clicked for me. Your kingdom stands where Cebrina’s kingdom once stood.”

Celina nodded. She looked down at Cebrina’s grave once more, before asking, “Can I… can I say something to her?”

Brine blinked in surprise, but nodded to her.

Celina began to speak, moving her gaze to the rainbow rose placed on the grave. “Cebrina,” she began. “It’s an honor to be here, Your Highness. I don’t know where you are now, or if you can even hear me, but… it’s still an honor.” She gestured to the being next to her. “Your husband… he’s a good person. He may have lost everything, and wasn’t a good person for a long time, but he’s changed so much. He’s become someone so much more caring and wonderful, and he’s so kind now. He’s so loving.

“I know he’s not exactly very stable right now, and I know how broken he thinks himself to be. But I promise you, I will pick up his pieces and care for him as you did. I care deeply about him, and he means a lot to me.” The queen reached into her inventory to pull out a diamond shaped like a heart, one she had carved with Brine’s help. She then set it in front of the stone and put an arm around Brine. “Thank you for all the love you showed to Brine, Your Majesty. I promise you, I will take care of him for you. May you be at peace.”

Brine had listened to every word and was now softly sobbing in her hold. He wrapped his arms around Celina, and the queen returned the embrace. He whispered between his soft cries, “Thank you, Celina. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. You gave me a chance and showed me kindness when anyone else would have sliced me down at the first chance they got.”

Celina smiled and let out a tiny chuckle. “Brine, you let me show you kindness, and you’ve changed for the better. You’re a good person, you really are. I love you, buddy, and I’ll always take care of you. I’ll put you back together, no matter how long it takes. Even if I can’t find all the pieces, I’ll put you back together the best I can. You will always have a place in my kingdom, and I will show everyone that you’ve changed.”

Brine nodded and sighed in content. He looked to the human as she pulled away, the happiest grin on his face despite his tears.

*****

It was about two months later when the sun was setting under the horizon that the queen stood on the top of her throne room, watching the setting sun as clouds drifted on a soft breeze. She smiled widely as her eyes sparkled in the fading sunlight. She knew the night would be coming soon, but she also knew the kingdom and Steve’s village would be more than safe with their new protector. 

Steve and Brine had stayed at the castle with their wounds healing slowly, but getting better by the day. They had healed quicker than they would have without the help of Celina’s potion, and by the time a month and a half had passed, they were back to perfect health and vitality. Steve was elated to be able to return home and he and Stephanie were now back in their home on the outskirts of their village.

Cenlar had slowly gotten used to Brine being around all the time, at first, still taking caution with the Demi-God. But slowly, he had warmed up to Celina’s best friend. He was now very comfortable with the ancient being and he felt a sense of being protected when around him.

The kingdom had gone back to normal, and Celina couldn’t be happier.

“Celina?”

The queen turned on her heels to see Brine had teleported to the top of the throne room, and he walked over to her. She smiled at him, her eyes moving to the freckles that had formed on his face, alongside the small scar on his left cheek. It was shaped like a lightning bolt with a reddish color to it, despite his purple colored blood. Celina didn’t know why that wound had scarred, but honestly? It was a reminder of the journey she had taken to change Brine for the better and her friendship with him.

“Yes, Brine,” she asked.

“I think it’s about time I head out for the nightly patrol. I need to get out there before the mobs start spawning.”

Celina frowned a bit. “Do you have to, Brine? I miss you whenever you go out.”

He chuckled. “I know you do. But I need to keep your kingdom and Steve’s village safe.”

She playfully pouted and crossed her arms across her chest. “Okay… but please, come back safe? I don’t want you to get hurt out there.”

Brine chuckled. “I promise, I’ll come back safe. No need to worry about me.”

Celina smiled and walked over to Brine, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. “Okay. Please be careful?”

“I will. Thank you.”

The queen broke the embrace and watched her friend leap from the top of the throne room, before making his way towards the gates.

Celina still couldn’t believe sometimes that she had changed Brine, Herobrine himself, so much. But she was so glad she did. He was a better person now, a sweeter and more human person, even if he wasn’t human himself. She knew he was so much happier now, and she couldn’t be happier to be his best friend. She loved Brine, and she knew there were many more happy years to come with him.

She may not have planned to be friends with Herobrine, but Celina was so glad she was. And nothing could take that away from her. Celina Rose-Coal had changed Brine for the better, and her life was wonderful. She couldn’t wait to see what would happen in the coming years with Brine. She was happy, happier than anyone in Minecraftia. 

And nothing could change that.