Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

Chapter 46

"Do you think we should stop for the night?" Vlad asked.

Mount Alasbu was in sight, but before that was a small village. They had been travelling the entire day, since magic wouldn't take them much closer to Mount Alasbu. Gupta explained that this was due to Nemthys's influence.

"No," Gupta said. "The more time we waste, the more risk there is. We can go get some dinner, but we can't afford to spend too much time here."

"But we've been walking the whole day," Vlad said. "We can't do anything if we're exhausted, right?"

"We can regain our energy while we eat. I don't want to rest when we're so close to Mount Alasbu. It would only be a matter of time before he realised that we're here, and we don't want any of them to come to us while we're asleep."

Vlad pouted, and Arthur patted his shoulder.

"Don't worry," he said. "I understand how you feel. It's not very fair, but our safety is more important than sleep. I think I'll be able to use something to revitalise our energy."

They were careful not to say anything related to the jewels or to magic while they were among people. They didn't know what the people's thoughts were regarding sorcerers, or whether there'd be any of Nemthys's followers hidden among the people. They were very close to a place that was important to their enemy, so they couldn't afford to take any chances.

A group of children were playing, and one of them ran towards them. He didn't see where he was going, and so he ran straight into Vlad, giggling at his friends before the giggles turned into a yelp.

"I'm sorry, mister," the boy said, looking up at Vlad.

Vlad's breath hitched and his eyes widened. The boy mimicked him. If not for the hair being different shades and the eyes being slightly different, the two of them looked a lot alike. In fact, now that Vlad thought about it, those eyes reminded him of…

"Alex, what's wrong?" one of the other kids called out.

The boy, Alex, turned away to look at his friends, before he looked back towards Vlad. The boy hesitated, before he ran back towards his friends.

"That kid…" Alistair muttered. "He looked a lot like…"

"My little brother," Vlad whispered. "I think that boy's my little brother."

"I thought he was killed, along with your parents."

"I… I thought so too."

"Maybe he just looks like you?" Arthur suggested.

"They called him Alex. My brother's name was Alexandru. But we called him Alex."

Vlad was sure of it. That was his brother. But, if his brother was there, then did that mean that his parents were also there? Was it possible that they had survived all this time?

A few women approached the children, and based on some of them, he could see that these were the children's mothers. He kept his eyes on Alex, hoping to see his own mother.

However, the woman that approached Alex was not the woman that Vlad could remember, but she still seemed familiar. Alex tugged on her skirt and pointed towards Vlad, and when she looked up, she froze. After a few seconds she patted Alex on the head, then made her way towards Vlad, and when she was only a few paces away, she started to hesitate, as though unsure.

"Vlad?" she asked.

Once he heard her voice, Vlad recognised her immediately. Her hair was different, and she was obviously older now, but her voice was still the same.

"Clara…" Vlad said.

She gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. She ran towards him, and when she stopped in front of him, her hands hesitated, before they started to feel his face. He tried not to flinch at the contact. He was only really comfortable if Arthur or Lukas were touching him.

"How is this possible?" Clara asked. "What happened to you?"

"I… I don't really want to talk about it," Vlad said. Tears threatened to fall, and he wondered if she could hear it. "But… I-I want to know… how you and… and A-Alex…"

"Not here," Clara said. "Come with me."

Vlad looked over towards the others. Gupta looked annoyed, but other than that, everyone was eager for him to find some closure. And so he followed after Clara, with the others moving behind him. Clara looked back once, and she looked as though she was about to run, so Vlad had to place a hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay," he said. "They're my friends."

She sighed, before she nodded. She led the way to a house a few blocks away, and Alex had somehow joined up with them. His hand was laced with Clara's, but he would occasionally look back towards Vlad, his face asking questions that he didn't know how to voice.

"Come in," Clara said, sparing one last look towards the others before going inside.

They followed her, and Alistair, who was last, closed the door.

"Alex, do you mind playing in your room while we talk?" Clara asked.

Alex pouted, looking between Clara and Vlad. He sighed and scrambled off.

"You know, he's probably just going to listen at the doorway or something," Alistair said. "So, what's the story here?"

"Clara was my nanny," Vlad said. "And when my brother was born, she became his nanny."

Clara nodded, and she slowly smiled.

"I still can't believe it's really you," she said. "What happened to you? You look… haunted."

Vlad swallowed.

"The general that attacked our home… took me as a slave," Vlad said.

"Oh, Vlad… I'm so sorry…"

Vlad swallowed, before looking towards Arthur and Lukas.

"They helped me get away," he said. "I owe them everything."

Clara turned teary eyes towards Lukas, then Arthur, and bowed her head.

"Thank you for taking care of him," she said. "But… How did you make your way here? What brought you here?"

"We need to go to Mount Alasbu," Vlad said.

"No! That place… There's some dark magic there. You can't go there."

"You can sense magic?" Arthur asked.

"I may not be a sorcerer, but I've worked for a family of sorcerers long enough to recognise magic, and the different types of magic. Trust me, you don't want to go there."

"Unfortunately, we have to," Vlad said. "There's something we need to do there, and…"

"We can't give details," Gupta interrupted, "but it's important that we get there as soon as possible. We just stopped in this town for dinner. This is… an unexpected delay."

"There's something I want to know," Lukas said. "We know that Lubato was attacked ten years ago, and that it was essentially destroyed. We met someone who avoided the massacre by being away at the time. So… how did you escape?"

Clara averted her gaze. Her fingers twisted around each other, and eventually she sighed and looked at Vlad.

"When the first attacks came, your mother told me to take you and Alexandru in the secret tunnel that led out of the house and towards the underground tunnels, which led out of town," Clara said. "Only, I couldn't find you. I had Alex in my arms, but it was as though it was impossible to find you. And when they started banging on our doors, I panicked and fled towards the tunnel. I'm so sorry."

"No, you… You don't have to be sorry," Vlad said. "You managed to survive. And Alex survived too. I'm glad. That means that I didn't lose everything."

"…He doesn't know about anything. He thinks that I'm his mother. I haven't told him that he had a brother, or that his real parents were brutally killed. I didn't know how to tell him the truth."

Vlad swallowed. Knowing that his brother hadn't known about him stung, but it was understandable.

"I don't blame you," he said. "You had no idea that I survived, and you were probably scared. You did what you had to do."

Clara smiled softly, and she reached out to hug him.

"No matter what happened in your life, I'm glad to see you grew up into such a fine young man," she said. She took a step back. "Oh, and I almost forgot. Alex started awakening his powers as a sorcerer. He's not as strong as you were, and he started later than you. I thought you would like to know that."

"Oh boy," Alistair sighed. "A kid sorcerer. I remember when Artie first came into his powers. That was a nightmare and a half."

Arthur glared at Alistair, and Clara laughed.

"Would you like to stay for dinner?" she asked. "You said you only wanted to eat something, and then leave, right?"

"It would be nice," Vlad said. "But… wouldn't it be awkward? I mean… Alex must be curious, and if you have a husband…"

Clara coughed.

"Well, about that…" she said. "Do you remember Samuel?"

"The gardener?" Vlad asked.

"Yes. Well, he escaped with me, and he kind of took the role as Alex's father… But we're not really married, though everyone thinks we are…"

Vlad couldn't help it. He burst out laughing, and Clara's cheeks puffed up, making them look even redder than before. He calmed himself in short order, before he turned his grin into a tender smile.

"I'm glad that Alex got a chance to have a normal, healthy childhood," Vlad said. "And I hope he continues to grow along with you."

Clara's cheeks deflated, and she gave Vlad a sad smile.

"I'm sorry for the things you probably had to endure," she said. "I know you said you have urgent business to take care of, but… When you're done, will you come back? Alex needs a teacher, and you would be far better than I ever will be. And I'm sure he'd love to get to know his brother."

"Do you think that's wise?" Lukas asked. "I mean, you'll be changing the way he views his life. If he knows that he has an older brother, then it might bring more questions. Are you really willing to answer them?"

Clara closed her eyes. After a long moment, she sighed.

"For a long time, I didn't know that anyone of the family survived," she said. "I didn't think that anyone could survive. That army… They completely destroyed everything. Not even rubble remained. I thought that I would protect Alex from the truth. I mean, how do you tell someone that his family that he couldn't even remember was slaughtered in a senseless massacre? But, with Vlad here… I think it's possible for both of you to reclaim a lost piece of your past."

Vlad was silent for a moment as he processed everything before he shook his head.

"I don't know if it would be a good idea," Vlad said. "But… Thanks for the offer. I might come visit at some point, but I don't know if I'll be willing to stay, even if it is to teach Alex how to use his magic. He's better off not knowing that his brother was nothing more than a lowly slave."

"Vlad…" Arthur whispered.

There was a sound from the doorway, and everyone turned to see a small figure running in. As Alistair had predicted, Alex had chosen to listen at the doorway. To Vlad's surprise, Alex went straight to him and crushed his waist in a hug. He didn't think that such a tiny person could have so much strength.

"Don't!" Alex sobbed. "Don't go."

"Alex…" Clara said. "How long have you been listening?"

"He was there the whole time," Gupta said. "Vlad, you should know how he feels."

Vlad knew what Gupta meant. The power of the Desert Heart didn't limit him to feeling only Lukas and Arthur's emotions. He should be able to feel anyone's emotions. He placed his hand on Alex's head, and the rush of emotions made him gasp. Alex was confused, and hurt, and lonely, and happy, and angry, and sad. All of these emotions in one so young.

"Alex, I'm so sorry…" Clara said.

"It's okay," Alex said, moving his face just enough to look at Clara. "I know you're not my real mother. I don't look like you or Papa. But you're still my Mama, and I knew that you wouldn't keep that secret if it wasn't for a good reason."

"Wow," Alistair said. "That's one mature child. Artie, you should take notes."

"Oh, shut up!" Arthur snapped. "I was not a brat, and I would appreciate it if you'd stop suggesting that I was."

"Really, is that what you think?"

"Clara, are you sure you want Vlad around?" Lukas asked. "This is how brothers are, after all."

Clara giggled, and Vlad crouched down to look Alex in the eyes.

"So, are you saying that you don't mind someone like me as a big brother?" Vlad asked.

Alex sniffed, before he placed both hands on Vlad's cheeks.

"You're not a lowly slave," Alex whispered. "And if you're really my brother, then you should come live with us. You're family."

The moment was interrupted when the front door opened. A man that was less familiar than Clara came in, but Vlad still recognised him.

"Clara, what's…" the man said, before he stopped. "Um, who's this?"

"Look who came back from the dead," Clara said, gesturing to Vlad, who straightened.

The man's eyes widened, his jaw dropping as well.

"Is… Master Lupenescu?" he asked.

"Vlad," Vlad corrected.

The man – Samuel – burst out laughing, before he ran up to him. Vlad tensed as Samuel hugged him, before relaxing in his hold.

"How is this possible?" Samuel asked.

"It's a long story," Vlad said. "But I'm not here to stay. Just passing through."

Samuel turned to Clara, a huge smile on his face.

"Clara, we need to prepare a feast!" Samuel exclaimed. "We need to celebrate! And Vlad can tell us everything!"

"Be careful what you wish for," Alistair muttered.

"You dummy!" Clara scolded. "They're only passing through! Didn't you hear? And besides, we don't have enough food for a proper feast."

"Then let's go to the tavern," Samuel said.

"And how much money is that going to be?"

"Oh, you don't have to make a feast, or take us to a tavern," Vlad insisted. "Anything would be fine, really. Better than road rations."

Clara sighed.

"I'll see what we have," she said. "And Samuel, don't ask too many questions. Vlad's been through a lot, and it was already hard for him to say it the first time."

"Aw, no fair," Samuel said, pouting. "You got to hear about all his adventures. Why can't I? Oh!" He turned towards Vlad. "There's one thing I need to know: how did you escape?"

Vlad flinched. No matter how many times he had to reply to that question, it would always be painful.

"General Adnan took me as a slave," Vlad said.

Samuel's face dimmed as horror set in. He had been a servant, but he had the option to leave, and he was treated well. To hear that the child of his former masters, who treated him kindly, had been forced to suffer a fate that every servant feared was probably hard to hear.

"I am so sorry," Samuel whispered. "I didn't think that… I'm so sorry."

"It's fine," Vlad said. "I managed to get away, and even if I was recaptured, no one would know I used to be a slave." He looked over towards Arthur and Lukas. "Thanks to them."

Samuel's face then grew pale, and he looked towards Clara before he looked at Vlad again.

"We've heard rumours," Samuel said. "Sorcerers are being hunted in the Aewern Desert, more than usual, and anyone suspected of sorcery is also killed. Something about a general's slave having connection to sorcerers. Was that…?"

Vlad flinched.

"It… might have been me," he said. "I escaped, but I don't understand. I mean… We didn't do anything. We just… ran when people were distracted."

"There was an explosion that day," Lukas said. "He must have figured one thing was connected to the other, or maybe Raj fed him lies. I wouldn't put it past him."

"Who's…?" Clara asked.

"He's the guy that inspired General Adnan to attack," Vlad said. "And he has a personal grudge against me. Fortunately, I don't think we're going to have to worry about him for a while. And that's another reason why I can't come back once we're gone, at least for a while. There are a few people we need to put out of commission before we can do anything else."

"By 'out of commission', do you mean…?" Samuel started.

"If we need to," Gupta said. "Sorry that we can't explain more, but we're involved in something dangerous, and Vlad is unfortunately in the middle of this. For your safety, we can't share more."

Clara and Samuel shared a look. Alex hugged Vlad tighter.

"Please, come back," Alex said.

Vlad smiled, before he patted his brother's head. He never thought that he would be in a situation like this, but it would seem that the world still had surprises.

"I can't guarantee when it will be," Vlad said. "But I promise, one day, I will be back."

…

"Well, that took longer than expected," Gupta sighed as they left the village.

"But it was nice," Vlad said. "Now I know that I didn't lose everyone."

Arthur smiled and took Vlad's hand. Lukas grabbed Vlad's other hand.

"I'm so happy for you," Arthur said. "It must have been nice to see your little brother. And now I know what you must have looked like at that age."

"No, not exactly," Vlad said. "I was skinnier, paler, and didn't have a reason to smile. I'm just glad that he accepted me. But now I have a bigger reason to stop him and his followers. If they realise that my brother's alive…"

Lukas and Arthur both flinched. They certainly wouldn't want Vlad to suffer the same pain that they had. They would try their best to make sure that no one else had to suffer that pain at the hands of Nemthys and his followers.