A/N: Hey, Ender here. Not much to say other than hope you like this chapter, I made it extra long for you guys.
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Minecraft or Shadow of Israphel
Steve's POV
A month or two had passed since I returned to the Aether, and with each passing day I could feel more of my realm shifting towards chaos. Chaos sand filled much of it now, saturating my realm to the point where it was starting to directly affect me, as weak as my powers were. Thin lines of chaos magic arced across my skin, threatening to eat away at me unless I was able to find some way to release this magic I could not control. Squeezing my eyes closed, I pulled the thin sheet I had been sitting on tight around me, wishing that this could just stop. The whole thing with Israphel trying to take my realm was taking its toll on my body and mind.
"Please end this." I murmured, though I knew no one would hear "I don't know how much more of this I can take." I cringed as the chaos magic within me surged against my own fragile strength, stealing what little I had away from me. Wincing from each painful movement, I lay on the small cot I had been sitting on, wishing for the quietness of sleep to give me a moment without pain.
Shadow's POV
Sighing, I rested my head on my arms, looking across the table to where Notch was distractedly doodling on a small sheet of paper.
"I really want to see him you know." he said, breaking the silence.
"I know." I said "But you know we can't." When Steve had started to receive worsening side effects from the shifts of magic in his realm, he had left for some remote area with Shatter, not wanting us to see him in that state. Shatter came back occasionally for supplies and to tell us how Steve was doing, but he always warned us not to follow him back or try to search out Steve. His magic had reached the point where it was so fragile that any other strong source of magic of a different type would severely damage it. Not wanting to harm Steve, we had reluctantly stopped searching for him, instead gathering resources to send a few of the younger lords to find Crafters willing to help us take down Israphel. I would have preferred to go in Ender's place, as I'm sure the others would rather go in place of Notchie and Flare, but our presences were far too distinct to escape Israphel's notice. Although if those three were found by Israphel they would have problems. They had been the group that put Izra in the position to become Israphel in the first place, although the results were all on him. Their identities might keep them safe from the Crafters so long as they did not assume their true forms, but should Israphel catch them, there would be little chance of deception.
"How soon will it be until preparations are ready?" I asked, sitting up slightly to look at Notch, his wings fluttering partially open and closed as they sought to drink in the faint light seeping in beneath the curtains.
"Soon." he said, leaning back slightly to look past me. "I've almost got the portal sorted, and food supplies have been gathered. Since I know you've finished the potions, we wait only for Herobrine to finish the armor enchants, then preparations should be done. It may be a while though. His energy has faded from when it was returned to him, it came first as a flood from lack of use but now that rush weans when it is needed most. The injuries he sustained from his imprisonment are slow to heal when they heal at all." His tone was tinged with the subtle notes of worry that always emerged when he was concerned for Herobrine's well being. No matter how much the two of them fought, they still depended greatly on each other.
Still considering his words, I turned in my chair, following his gaze to where Herobrine lay asleep before a crackling fire. Biting my lip, I considered the possibilities. Finally, I said "I can do the enchantments if Herobrine is not up to it. You should work on getting the portal ready, then focus on getting Herobrine better. No matter how this ends up, we're going to have to fight at some point." I felt a flicker of relief from Notch as he took in my words, his gaze straying to Herobrine once more.
"I will do my best to get the portal up." he sighed "It all depends on how Jeb is doing today. I will do my best to have it finished by nightfall." Standing, I nodded, remembering the state Jeb had been in when Notch brought him to me that night. I had been sworn to secrecy then by a petrified Notch who had no idea how to deal with magic damage of the level that had been present. Even with Illusion's help, it had been a challenge to bring him back from the edge of death. A powerful force had splintered his life force, which in turn made his magic very unstable and created a variety of physical wounds. When I told Notch this, he had paled, loosing himself in his thoughts as he often did when he was worried. Since then though, Jeb had trouble drawing on his magic in large amounts. His fragmented life force was slow to heal and additional strain did nothing to improve this, so whenever possible his body simply refused to do things that would harm it further. Because of this, there was considerable concern about whether or not Notch and Jeb would be able to open a portal to the Overworld.
Turning, I walked from the room, my footsteps echoing down the empty hallway.
*You know you should not be doing this degree of magic.* sent Illusion *It is still far too soon after what happened with Void. Helping Jeb was one thing since it was an emergency and I suspect he is one of the high lord's chosen, but this kind of thing is not worth it.*
It is up to me what I do with my magic. I sent snappily.
*I am trying to help you!* sent Illusion in exasperation *If you do something that ends badly, I'm going to be stuck picking up the pieces.* More quietly he added *And I don't want to loose anyone else. Life's been hard enough already without going through that again.*
It will be fine. I sent I'll take breaks in between each enchant. It shouldn't take too much out of me then.
*I hope you're right.* he murmured.
Teloxen's POV
I shivered as a flash of stray emotions from Shadow ran through me, sending a nervous wave running through my feathers. The unique feeling of each was becoming clear to me now, the variety of kinds present making the task of learning all the easier. Shadow's emotions always seemed to dominate the others that reached me though, especially now after the others had left for the Overworld, leaving me alone in a place with far too many memories I wished to forget. Still, I knew thy had been right to do so. I was of no use to them. Bringing me along would only serve to place a burden on them, someone who needed constant guarding to ensure that Void did not get them and who bore marks that enemies could follow like beacons. No, the others had been right to leave me here. Even so, it hurt to hear it spoken aloud. Like when you build something that you don't think looks great and someone tells you that very thing and it feels ten times worse.
Sighing, I lay back against the quartz and stone my bed was pushed against, my wings spreading slightly so they would not be squished. Closing my eyes, I felt more keenly the chill of the bricks seeping into my wings and back. I focused on this spread, using it to anchor myself as I reached out through the magic plane, trying to reach the state I had entered when confronted by a void possessed Shadow. It didn't seem to change anything though, and in disappointment I began to draw in my presence, tracing the trails of magic back to where I sat in the physical plane.
A shift on the edge of my shrinking awareness caught my attention though, and I paused, struggling to focus on the misty bluish trail that flickered in and out of view. At last I managed to catch hold of the trailing edge of it with a thin tendril of magic. As I did so, a violent burst of magic surged through me, battering at my weak form. I struggled to repel this new presence, drawing on the traces of other magic around me for power. These powers were strange to me though, the majority belonging to the Atherian lords. The power slipped through my mental fingers like water, leaving me defenseless against this force. My own magic weakly surged against the power, to no avail. Whoever this magic belonged to was much stronger than me, and I was going to pay the price for inadvertently connecting to their power.
Slowly, I let my magic fall back, leaving me open and powerless to stop any further attacks. What had happened was clearly my fault and I had to accept that. This sudden lack of resistance seemed to confuse my attacker though. The force lessened, replaced by an inquisitory strand of magic. I allowed this past my barriers, shivering at the strange touch. I shuddered as it wrapped around a section of my lifeforce, establishing a direct link.
Who are you? It asked, a powerful force that blasted against my consciousness. It was all I could do to keep myself from throwing up my mental barriers in an attempt to lessen the being's presence. Why do you dare to contact me?
I did not know. I managed to gasp out, the stronger presence still completely overwhelming mine. Forcing one eye open a crack in an attempt to center myself, I realized that my encounter with this more powerful being had somehow shifted my view to the magic plane once more. Approaching me along a trail of the magic I had seen was a lord with an aura the color of new ice, the same blue color the magic had been. Another inquisitive surge of magic made me wince, but it seemed to calm the other lord.
You are that one's chosen. She said, her sending less forceful than before. I had thought you were an enemy or one of their kind. You are lucky I thought twice before annihilating you, but your weak magic would not belong to one of them.
I bit back a retort, struggling to conceal my frustration at her dismissal of my magic. It might not be as strong as that of some of the others right now, but that didn't mean that I should just be dismissed.
Have you something to say child? The other asked, sensing my sudden conflict Or have you just lost what little courage you had and are preparing to run away. All my attention was placed on keeping myself from launching some ill advised attack on this lord at this point. Why were they so quick to know exactly how to push my buttons to make me furious.
A swirl of light colored magic made me look up from where I had been staring. The strand of magic led before me to where the same strange dove colored figure from when Shadow had attacked stood between me and the other lord.
"You know this one is mine Destiny." he sent, his words much less forceful than the ones from this 'Destiny' "Why do you antagonize him like he was one of your chosen."
What I do is my business Miritayen. She said icily And you would do well to remember that. Not all of us are keen on your idea of complete balance you know.
Miritayen shrugged, sending ripples sliding through his misty form. "That's alright. Balance has a place for even those who deny its virtue."
You know I detest when you speak like that. You should accept that not everyone sees as you do.
"There are some who need to take their own advice as well."
What are you suggesting?
"I suggest nothing. I know what you did to your chosen, and all I can say is that you're lucky he survived. And as I'm sure you'll love to know, it is very likely that it is because of Will that he's alive. Random chance tends to lend benefits to those with little chance of survival."
He was here? Destiny exclaimed, her sudden surprised sending making me wince. Whoever these two were, their mere emotions were enough to send out huge surges of magic that nearly made me black out at their strongest.
"Why does that surprise you? You were sending out an aura so strong I'm surprised that Void and the Atherian lords didn't catch on."
Destiny's aura surged as if she was going to reply before she turned away. Do not speak of this to anybody. She said coldly before teleporting away.
"Are you alright?" Miritayen asked, kneeling beside me. As he moved his magic solidified slightly, the other side of the room no longer visible through his misty form. In this more solid state I could make out the outline of large wings as his movements made them shift ever so slightly. As he drew closer and our aura overlapped, I felt a snap of magic and all at once my vision shifted. It was almost like being partially under water, with the top half of my vision dominated by the normal view of the world while the bottom section looked into the magic plane. Curiously, I turned to look at Miritayen, wondering what he looked like in the physical plane. Or indeed if he was visible at all, since I had not seen him there the last time our paths had crossed.
As I moved though, the images seemed to almost transpose themselves over each other, my perception unable to keep up with the two vastly different methods of sight. Squeezing my eyes tightly closed, I pushed my fingers against my forehead, trying to lessen the sudden, excruciating pain the strange double vision had triggered. Beside me, I felt Miritayen freeze at this moment.
"Is something wrong?" he asked carefully.
"I don't know." I gasped, wincing as each word sent another streak of pain through my already pounding skull. Wordlessly, Miritayen reached a hand over to turn my right arm palm up. I felt the touch of delicate fingers across the still tender flesh where the rune had appeared. Tensing slightly at the unexpected touch, I raised my guard as best as I could through the searing pain.
As if sensing my unease, Miritayen said "Do not be afraid. I shall not harm you. This I promise, upon my honor and life." This did little to reassure me, for I had often been lied to through promises. Zeren had seen it as some kind of game to see how long it would be before I finally lost my trusting demeanor. Yet another thing that he had stolen from me.
When he did nothing further, I pried one eye open, looking through the double vision to see what was the matter. My gaze met Miritayen's, who it seemed was indeed visible in the physical plane. His eyes were filled with confusion, and even traces of fear.
"May I continue?" he asked hesitantly "I don't want to harm you, but if you are uncomfortable, I could try to figure out some other way to fix this."
"Just do it." I hissed, trying to block out the pain caused by my view of two different planes. Wide eyed, Miritayen nodded, closing his eyes. A steady stream of his magic poured into me through the rune, its ordered structure quieting my jumbled thoughts. I felt the subtle shifts of a few minor spells, but after a minute the flow of magic stopped, and I felt an air of unease surround him.
"What are these marks?" he asked, tracing a finger over one of the marks I had received from Zeren so long ago. "They feel dark, binding you." A flash of betrayal ran through his aura and he flinched back, looking me over with confusion and hurt. "Have you sworn loyalty to another?"
"No, no." I assured him "Although I don't really remember swearing loyalty to you in the first place."
Miritayen looked away, hurt visible in his eyes. "I will not force you to remain on my alliance if you do not wish to." he said quietly, his tone pained "I would be willing, unlike the others, to retract my mark. Then you could be free of this conflict. Is that what you want?"
"No." I said hurriedly. "I mean, no, I do want to stay. Sure, I don't really know what you are trying to do, but it seems like your intentions are for the best."
"That's what I hope as well." he said sighing. "It can often be easy to loose sight of the virtues of balance, but I try my best. Now, let's get you sorted out, then I must be going. And you must not tell anyone that I have been here. Okay?" I nodded, and I felt him start the flow of magic again. After a few moments, he stopped, leaning back. "You should be good now."
Carefully, I peeked one eye open, opening the other when I realized that there was no longer any strange double vision.
"You should be able to access the magic plane more easily now." said Miritayen "If that is indeed what you wish to do. Be warned though, there is a reason I had wanted you to be cautious when dealing with it. As you have seen, it is easy to be lost or trapped within it, unable to leave it without the help of someone who has experience in doing so." I nodded absentmindedly, his words glossing over me a bit as I took in his appearance. It was a bit strange that it was only now that I was able to see the one who had now saved me twice at extreme risk to themselves. He was built like a Chaos lord, but at the same time, different, his build much slighter than that of most Chaos lords. Large, dove gray wings the same color as his magic loomed over his thin frame, seeming to cast it in an eternal shadow. The majority of his hair was light, something between blond and white, while several sections were jet black. His mostly white and pale gray garments provided a sharp contrast to his surprisingly dark skin, tanned to almost a hazel hue.
"Be safe." he murmured, trailing a strand of magic across me that made me yawn. This whole encounter had taken a lot out of me. Sighing, I lay on my bed, pulling the several layers of blankets over top of me and letting the peaceful bliss of sleep wash over me.
A/N: Hey, I hope you guys have enjoyed. If so, please consider leaving a review. You can also leave any questions for the characters there or PM them to me. I hope you have a great day and I shall see you all next chapter. Bye! :D