I got a favorite and follow! I'm really sorry if you just felt obligated because I was being pathetic! (No backing out now, though!)

You know, I'm starting to debate on just how often I should put out these chapters. So far, it's been an odd combination of waiting until I finish the next short that I'm working on, and waiting for more than 2 people to see the last one, but it takes a shocking amount of time for more than 2 people to even see it. Hell, for all I know, half of the time, it's actually just counting me because I go onto a particular chapter to look at something because I can't be bothered to do so on Word.

How often are you guys bothered enough to check this site? Seriously, I want to know this so I don't feel like my efforts are going to waste.

Anyway, sorry for annoying you. Go read now.

Short 3

(Day 1)

Plague Knight woke with a growling stomach. Unsurprising, considering that in all the excitement of the day before, he completely neglected to even think of food.

With a groan, he rolled out of bed, completely forgetting that he was half his normal height and as a result didn't notice that his feet didn't immediately touch the floor until it was too late and he dropped a small distance and his face firmly planted itself on the floor.

There was silence for a moment as he just laid there and didn't move. Finally, he raised his head off the ground slightly and covered his mouth, letting out a muffled scream of frustration. Normally, he'd just start chucking potions to relieve his aggravation, but he didn't want Mona to come in wondering what the hell he was doing. She was already probably worried enough to the point where she wouldn't think that he was just trying to get out some of his hostility towards the universe.

After a moment, Plague Knight managed to compose himself to the point where he was only mildly upset. And hungry, as his stomach was quick to remind him.

With an annoyed growl, though whether it came from him or his stomach was debatable, Plague Knight picked himself up, wandering out to the kitchen, having to resist the urge to murder someone when he had trouble simply reaching the handle to his door.

Eventually, he managed to make his way into the kitchen, immediately wondering how he was going to even so much as get to the bread. It briefly crossed his mind that he could get a hold of a somewhat weak potion and bomb-burst up there, but then he remembered Mona's reminder the day before, that it was designed around his previous height and weight, and that any change would lead to the potions being a less than safe option. Even if it were the weakest he'd even designed, it would still send him careening into the ceiling.

With the more explosive option out the window (and probably blowing up a nearby cat), Plague Knight was left to think more creatively. He looked around his immediate surroundings to see if he couldn't create a makeshift ladder of sorts from whatever was lying about. 'A bucket; that might be useful…' he noted, spotting a broom not far from it, and wondering it that might be of use.

Several minutes later, Plague Knight had succeeded in gathering a large number of items, placing them in a creatively compact way that looked both unstable and highly dangerous. Plague Knight, however, didn't care about how stupid the plan was, because his fearless nature could also be considered stupidly reckless, and he was really craving some of the bread that awaited him at the top!

Plague Knight started to climb his little structure. Five seconds later, it collapsed, making an unfortunately loud racket. He cringed, not wanting any one to come and investigate, lest they find out about his pathetic predicament.

There were hurried footsteps coming from one entrance of the kitchen. Plague Knight, in a panic, immediately scuttled away out the other end with all due haste, all thoughts of a nice breakfast fleeing from his mind with all the organization of a recently blown-up body, that is to say, there was none.

Plague Knight dashed down a random hallway, terrified for reasons even he wouldn't be able to figure out even if he could gather his scattered thoughts. He was well aware that someone was chasing after him, coming closer, closer, with ease, driving him to run all the more. He dived into a crowd of his minions, all of whom failed to recognize him, so they just stopped and stared, confused, which quickly turned into surprise when they spotted his pursuer.

Finally, the person following Plague Knight caught up to him, grabbing him from behind and lifting him off the ground. Plague Knight let out a yelp and struggled to get away for a moment until he heard a familiar voice hiss, "Stop struggling, Adam."

Plague Knight paused and turned his head, for some reason mildly surprised to find Mona was the one holding him. She didn't seem particularly worn out, but she was panting lightly.

"Why did you run?" She questioned.

"I… don't know," Plague Knight admitted sheepishly.

"What were you trying to do?"

"Get breakfast." Plague Knight internally cringed by how stupid that sounded.

Mona was… surprised, to say the least. "That's it?"

"…Yes."

Mona sighed. "Come on, then." She really had no reason to say this, as she had yet to place Plague Knight down on the floor, so it's not like he had an option. He decided against mentioning it, though, as his legs were tired from the sprinting, even though he swore he'd done way worse without so much as a mild ache before.

A minute later, the two reentered the kitchen. Plague Knight cringed when he found that his toppled tower had created an absolute mess. Normally, he wouldn't worry about it, but he was feeling unusually guilty about it, almost as though he felt absolutely flabbergasted that he wasn't punished for doing something so stupid. What was he, a child? He had the height of one, not the mind!

Mona waded through the mess, not even making mention of it, likely thinking that he felt bad enough as it was without her chewing him out. "Alright, what do you want?" She asked.

"Just some bread, maybe something to go with it," Plague Knight answered.

"Very well, then," Mona said, grabbing a piece of stale bread (no one had gone shopping in a while) from the stack and walking over to the fridge. "We got blueberry, raspberry-"

Plague Knight cut her off, demanding, "I want strawberry."

Mona cast a confused glance his way. Rarely did he demand something when it came to something as insignificant as jam. Plague Knight realized this almost as quickly, and promptly lowered his head into his hands. "What the hell?" he whined.

Mona retrieved the requested (demanded) jam and returned to the counter, grabbing a knife and smearing some of the substance on the bread before handing it to Plague Knight (all without putting him down, for some reason).

Plague Knight took the food and munched on it with a lack of cheer (not that he was ever cheerful, mind you).

Mona easily took notice of this and said, "Maybe we can have someone evaluate your psyche."

"Yeah," Plague Knight muttered. "My behavior is starting to really concern me. But who can we get that knows how to assess such a thing? Normal people would just say I'm mature for a kid my age, and if we told them who I really am, they'd freak!"

Mona nodded. "Let's go talk to the Magicist. Maybe she'll have an idea."

Plague Knight didn't complain at the idea as she started walking.

And Plague Knight is acting like a little kid. I think you have at least a decent idea where this is going. If you don't, how do you not? I've literally spelled it out for you!

By the way, I've realized at some point that I've been writing Plague Knight's speech without his laughter tic. Does anyone really notice and/or care? I can change it with minimal effort if now that it's pointed out, if someone's bothered by it.

Anyway, next chapter! Plague Knight learns what's up with his behavior!