Aiden had woken up to see Petra talking with another girl.
Myra, was it?
It was just after dawn, the time when mobs and monsters either retreated into thickets and caves, or engaged in spontaneous combustion. Jesse and Lukas were still asleep.
He shuffled out of his warm bed, and opened the door to see Terra City already awake, its inhabitants participating in their morning activities (which, recently, had consisted mostly of mustering supplies).
Aiden saw Isa helping with some crafting. It was only when she looked up from the workbench did she seem to notice him.
She began to walk over to Aiden's cabin. Aiden decided he would not make her walk the whole way, and proceeded in striding towards her.
"You needed me to do something yesterday?" she inquired, not stopping even when Aiden reached her.
Aiden fished the two books out of his inventory, while awkwardly following her to his cabin. "We think the author might be able to help us,"
Upon reaching the cabin, Isa plucked the books out of his hands, and examined them.
She stepped into the cabin. "I see you lot engaged in some research," she deadpanned, scanning the books strewn all over the floor.
"We did," Aiden said, beginning to get impatient.
Isa opened her mouth to say something, only to be interrupted by a smug voice. It was the new girl, Myra, who was sitting beside Petra on her bed.
"I see you've taken an interest in my books."
Aiden stared at the girl, open mouthed. "You wrote these?"
"You're dumber than you look," she commented. Aiden's hands curled up into fists, but he refrained from punching the girl in the face.
"What you've written is painfully vague, Myra. We were hoping you could help Aiden and his company get back home," Isa said.
Aiden winced when Isa said his name. He wasn't sure he wanted to go home.
"You mean, with the flint and steel?" Myra asked. "You made the same mistake I made, didn't you?"
"What mistake?" Aiden demanded.
"I found it in a jungle," Myra said, sighing. "I found the portal as well. I ignited it, and then decided to put the flint and steel back in its place, assuming the portal would be there on the other side. I didn't know about what else it could do, and I didn't want to lose it."
"Oh," Petra breathed.
"When I came," Myra continued, "I found there was no way to get back. I landed up on this dirt island, and I could see Sky City. I didn't know how to get there, so I took my chances, and jumped. Then, I built up to the City."
"Why did you not tell anyone there was land below us?" Isa asked, visibly bewildered.
"I didn't know you were struggling with resources. I thought you just liked the idea of a city in the sky. I just assumed the anti-building laws were to save space." Myra replied. "Anyway, I made regular trips to the land under the city, looking for a temple or something, but I didn't find anything. After Aiden's stunt, I refused to jump. I thought something up in the City would help. But nothing did. That's when I found Petra."
"Okay," Aiden said. "But what about the books?"
"They were mostly for my convenience. When I decided they were useless, I just donated them to the library, after organizing stuff into chapters. They were just assumptions and notes, anyway."
Aiden deflated. Those books were no help.
"We could look through the books I have," Petra's voice chimed in. "We didn't go through those last night."
"Fine," Aiden said, walking over to Jesse's bed to wake her up.
Jesse, Lukas, Aiden, Petra, and Myra sat on the carpet.
They had just finished skimming through Petra's share of books, hoping to find something.
They didn't find anything.
Jesse had been told Myra's story, and felt sorry for the poor girl. She had been stuck there longer than them.
She glanced around, taking in the forlorn expressions of her friends.
Seeing them so unhappy broke her heart.
"You know," Lukas said, "We could look for a jungle,"
Jesse sighed. Lukas was right.
"Petra and Myra, go East." Jesse commanded, moving to collect food and weapons. "Lukas and I will go West. Aiden, North."
"Isn't this a little sudden?" Aiden said, earning a glare from Jesse.
"Just go," she said, trying to restrain herself from stabbing Aiden in the chest.
Lukas and Jesse were heading West, among scores of dark oak trees. Jesse had her sword out, prepared for any mobs that may come their way, while Lukas had his bow out.
They were approaching the end of the current biome, which opened up into a rather disappointing stretch of plains.
Lukas sighed, and lowered his bow, stepping, after Jesse, into the new biome.
Jesse began to run, catching Lukas by surprise. He sprinted after her.
"Jesse! Slow down!" He implored.
"I see it, Lukas!" She yelled. "The jungle!"
A few more metres of running, and Lukas saw it.
A jungle.
He let out a huge sigh of relief, slowing down as he entered the thicket of trees.
Pulling out his weapon, he cautiously led the way. He didn't remember outrunning Jesse.
The leaves rustled with satisfying crunches as the duo made their way deeper into the jungle, keeping their eyes peeled for a jungle temple.
"Lukas?" Jesse asked. "What if we never get back?"
Lukas thought. It was a possibility. They might never get home. They might never see Olivia and Axel again.
Lukas decided lying would make things less awkward. "We'll get home, Jesse. There's no doubting it." He said, providing her with false reassurance.
Lukas sensed Jesse knew the truth as well. Nonetheless, she said, "I hope so,"
They walked for a while before Lukas spotted an odd structure. The cobblestone was well maintained, with no signs of moss on it.
Oh Notch oh Notch oh Notch oh Notch what the frick!?
"Jesse," Lukas whispered, prompting his companion to cease walking.
"What is it?"
Lukas pointed. Jesse's eyes widened in surprise.
Lukas knew Jesse was not surprised because of the fact that there was a promising building in the middle of the jungle.
It was because there were people there.
And suspended in the air, in the centre of the unconventional build, was a glowing, blue book.
Hey! I hope you liked this chapter!
I was in school writing this, while also battling the writer's block that chose to plague me.
Anyway, see ya next chapter,
~ a conflicted burger
