Chapter 11

The First Old Builders

A week later...

"Tell me if you need to stop," Steve said.

Jesse smiled, "I'm good, but thanks for checking."

Steve nodded, "Okay, but you let me know the moment you get too tired. Because if you fall over dead, my wife will never let me hear the end of it."

Jesse laughed, "Don't worry I will."

Lukas finally returned a few days ago with Alex carrying wishes of good luck and good will from the people of Ground Town. Steve had arrived later that afternoon, carry good news of a successful spider hunt and even better a successful food hunt.

"Alex and I are now free to help you out," he said proudly as he pulled web from his hair.

"As soon as Jesse is better," Alex added.

It took a bit of coaxing added on with Jesse forcing himself to be still and resting as much as humanly possible for him. But Jesse managed to convince Alex that he was ready to move by the end of the week. As long as he didn't jump, run, or do anything even slightly more exhausting then a slow stroll, he was free to join Steve at the town's library.

"Alex knows where a nearby cache is," Petra said at breakfast. "It's in a dessert a few miles from here."

"So we're going to hit it while you and Steve hit the books," Lukas added.

"Sounds like a plan," Jesse replied.

"Just don't get bored," Petra teased.

Jesse was sure he wouldn't. Unlike Petra and Lukas he had yet to see the village. He was eager to see it, so far he had only his friend's descriptions to go off of, and even they hadn't seen the bulk of the town.

"Steve!" a young woman approached to strolling pair, "Steve do you have a moment?" She had long dark braided hair, a common style to almost all the woman in the village. Her skin was pale white, spotted by a beauty mark on her right cheek and dimples. Atop her cute button nose and large brown eyes was a pair of large square glasses.

Cute, Jesse thought.

Steve stopped walking and Jesse took a moment to lean against one of the walls lining the road. He may be mostly recovered, but he was just really stiff.

"What's up Mia?" Steve asked.

"I need your advice on the play for the festival and-"

"Mia," the older male chuckled. "You do a wonderful job every year; I don't see why you are so worried."

"This is my first year without Elder Cornelius!" Mia pressed. "I need to have everything perfect."

Steve thought on this, "I'm a little busy Mia, I need to take Jesse here to the -"

"Please! I'm desperate!"

"We can help her," Jesse offered, "I'm not in too big a hurry."

"Mia," the other said patiently, "I'll send you the notes this afternoon, after I'm done at the library. How does that sound?"

The female visibly relaxed, "Oh thank you, thank you." she looked over at Jesse, "Why are you two going to the library?"

"Jesse here," Steve said, placing a hand on his shoulder, "Is a little far from home. He's from beyond the Portal and needs a way back. We're hoping some notes on the Old Builder's will help him and his friends get home."

Mia's eyes went wide, "Oh! I'm so sorry! Steve you should have told me!" she shook Jesse's hand, "I am so sorry. I didn't realize what you were doing is so important- and me and my silly play, good heavens."

"It's alright," Jesse assured.

"No, no. Listen," she said, "If you ever need my help with anything. Just ask for me, my name is Mia."

"Pleased to meet you Mia, I'm Jesse. Thanks for your offer."

"May you find wonder Jesse," she smiled. She turned to Steve, "I'll let you go, I'm so sorry again. I'll wait on my notes."

"Don't worry, I will get them to you."

The girl smiled, and then quickly hurried off.

Jesse watched her go, "Lukas wasn't kidding when he said you were popular."

Steve blushed, "Ah yeah, well..." he started to walk onward down the road, "I just like to help people."

"What was this about a play?"

"Hmm? Oh!" Steve lit up, "There is a festival we host at the first of November each year. It's a pretty big deal for the village. There is horse races, dancing, drinking, contests. It's also a time we celebrate the blessings provided by Notch throughout the year. We take the time to honor and respect our history as well. There is a play that is put on each year - it's the same everytime I don't know why Mia is so worried. But anyway, it is a narrative on the history of the First World. So it has Notch creating the world and the Immortals and all that jazz."

"People here really revere the First don't they?" Jesse asked.

"I wouldn't say that. It's more of a..." the adult thought on it, "A deep respect for the Hand of Notch."

"Hand of Notch? But you just said-"

"The First, I know."

Now Jesse was confused, "Then who is-"

"They're the same person Jesse," Steve laughed, "The First, the Wanderer, the Hand of Notch, all are different names for the first Immortal. You see," Steve gestured around. "Imagine being by yourself, in this great vast world, with no one to show you how things are done. If finally after all those ages, Notch finally created people, who were as confused as you first were. Wouldn't you want to help them?"

"Yeah, I suppose I would."

"That's where he gets the name the Hand of Notch. They say he guided them, like Notch would have, and showed them the way. That's why the people here look highly at the Immortal. He started them off."

"Huh," Jesse looked off, somewhat impressed, "Sounds like a neat guy."

Steve smiled.

"The festival sounds like a lot of fun."

"It's only a few weeks away. Perhaps if you are still here, Alex and I can take your friends to it."

"I'd like that." Jesse said softly, "I'm pretty sure we'll still be looking by that point."

Steve put an encouraging hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry kid, we'll find it. We won't stop until we do."

"I hate to take up so much of your time,"

The other chuckled, "Jesse, I have a lot more time on my hands than you think."

"Welcome to the library," Steve said quietly. He had already said it once, but apparently had said it too loud, and was promptly shushed by three people, "This building has our entire history here."

Jesse gaped. From the outside, the library looked like a simple wooden building, but inside, that was a completely different look. There were rolling beams, curved and swirling as they supported the wall. They were carved down to the finest detail portrayed small scenes that Jesse couldn't make out unless he got closer. Tapestries hung from every available wall space and upon the edges of the bookshelves. Oh and the bookshelves, dozens upon dozens, each one filled with a hundred-hundreds of books.

"They all look so different."

"Well they're not all books per say, about ninety percent of them are journals or logs, things from the ancestors."

"We...could be here awhile." he mumbled out.

Steve grinned, "Naw, here, follow me."

The adult led him past all the tables and large comfy chairs where multiple people were reading or studying and up to a desk with small lean man. The 'librarian' Jesse assume - was bald at the top of his head, common amongst the older men here, his nose was long, slightly crooked and the way he glared at his paperwork made Jesse feel guilty talking to him.

"Charles," Steve whispered.

Charles stopped his stamping and looked up, "Hmmmm?"

"I need your help."

"Hmmmmm," the sound came out very condescending. "Shouldn't you know this library by now Steve?"

"I need everything you have on Old Builder's" Steve said, ignoring the comment, "My friend here needs more information on them to get home."

"Hmph, very well." Charles reached under his desk and hefted up a book with such thickness to it, Jesse wondered how the little man managed to pick it up. The book touched down on the desk and the woodwork groaned under its weight. It was about as thick as Jesse's waist and easily fifty pounds.

Charles opened the book, the gem trimmed cover hitting the table with a soft tap. "Old Builder's?" he thumbed through the index, "Old Builders..."

"Yes,"

"Don't rush me Steve,"

"I wasn't-"

"Shh!" Charles stopped on a page, "Old Builder's. Here we are." He pulled out a piece of scrap paper and wrote down a list of books and names. "All mentions of Old Builder's are in these journals."

"Thanks Charles."

"Hmmmph."

Steve grabbed the paper.

Charles stopped him, "Oh and Steve?"

"...Yes?"

"Do put them back this time."

Steve chuckled, "Alright Charles,"

As they left the librarian desk, Steve patted Jesse on the shoulder, "Find us a big empty table - cause we're gonna need it - and I'll start getting the books." then he split.

Jesse moved to a back corner, that was where the only empty table was. It was quieter in this part of the library, quiet for a library anyway. It was far from the hushed whisperings of youth, and the noises of disgust that occasionally came from Charles. And as well maintained as the building and the books it contained were, there was still dust in the corner of this part of the building. This section was not used often.

He took a moment to admire the books against the wall. They were labeled with a long fancy name that Jesse couldn't even begin to pronounce. The first book was thick, and very old, the leather long faded and crinkled. They gradually got newer, and the binding changed, till he finally reached the end- there was a gap.

It was then Jesse noticed that there was a small sign, but he couldn't-

Steve dropped ten books onto the table, earning him an audible growl from Charles all the way at the front of the building. Jesse jumped and whipped around, facing the male, "Is that all of them?"

"No," Steve puffed out, "But I'd thought this would be a good start. No point in getting discouraged."

"And ten books isn't?" Jesse smiled.

"Naw, that's easy. How fast can you read?"

Jesse joined him at the table, taking a chair across from him. "Pretty fast. Hey, i have a question."

"Hmmm?"

He pointed a thumb to the book case behind him, "Why is there a book missing, and what is the sign for?"

Steve looked over his shoulder, "Oh? That, well, it belongs to the oldest family in the village. Every patriarch in that family had kept their life journal there. The first book is supposed to belong to one of the first settler's here."

"So it belongs to the First?"

"No, it belongs to the people who came after him."

"Oh..." Jesse glanced at the empty spot, "There seems to be a gap."

"There is," Steve explained, "It belongs to the last member of the family. Unfortunately she had some sort of mental breakdown over a decade back. She took her journal, and tore out various pages from the others, gathered her family and left through the Portal. The elder's decided to be respective of the books and put that no touch sign on them till they can repair the damage inside."

Jesse looked sharply at Steve, "You mean, she left this world?! They haven't come back?"

Steve shrugged, "Yeah, there is no law last I checked that forbids you from leaving the world you were born in," he chuckled, "Or else you and your friends are in some serious trouble. Anyway, we all assume she left and decided not to come back. I guess she's living on a new world now, and as long as they are good with her being there that's fine. Now let's get to reading!"

They both immediately flipped open a book and Jesse froze quickly after, "Um..."

"What's wrong?"

"I don't..." Jesse stared at the letters with reddening cheeks, "I can't read it..."

"You can't- oh wait- do you not know the language?"

Jesse slowly nodded. "Now I get to sit here and be useless.

Steve thought on this, then his eyes lit up, "I got it," he shoved the majority of the books of the side, then proceeded to pull out a map that covered half the table. "Can you read longitude and latitude?

"Yes,"

"Alright," Steve grinned, "Now one thing I know is that to the Old Builder's, longitude and latitude is very important. That way they could always find their doors, they probably did the same to their temples and caches. So I'll read through the books and find the markers, then you find it on the map."

Jesse felt a little better with that idea, "Sounds good."

"Cool," Steve quickly scanned through the first log, "And were in luck, this one has a location on it already. So find-"

"Steve?"

"Yeah?"

Jesse smiled at him, "Thanks."

Steve stared for a second, and then smiled brightly back, "No problem kiddo. Now find longitude..."

"Careful, slippery here,"

Lukas switched the torch to his other hand and stepped around the slippery stone, which would have led to a easy fifty foot plummet down, "Swamps an odd place to build a temple. I thought you said it was a desert"

Alex had taken off with Petra and Lukas via horseback, shortly after Steve and Jesse had started off to the village. It was nearly two hours on horse, but they managed to get there.

Lukas wasn't exactly encouraged to see a rotting building made of wood in swampy waters right in the middle of a Notch hot desert. Would anything still be useful and intact in such an awful place?

"Well it was last time I was here," Alex said, hoping over a broken gap in the stone stairs. The temple itself was nothing miraculous or fancy, but it went down deep. "Of course, last time I was here, it was rigged with TnT."

"What?!"

"Relax, I've removed the traps by this point," she stepped around a leaking ceiling point and the tiny waterfall it created. "It has been pretty rainy this year, perhaps the desert got a few flash floods."

"Maybe," Petra ducked a broken beam, "I wonder why they just didn't build their temple in the abandoned village where the door is."

"They didn't know it would end up there, so they built temples all over this world hoping one of them would be close."

"You seem to know a lot about the door," Lukas said.

"I've read my history on them yes," Alex answered, "Before the Old Builder's the only one who could travel worlds was the First, or Notch himself."

"How did the Immortal do it?"

"They say that an Immortal never truly dies," the woman explained, "That he 'respawns' or is reborn elsewhere. Somewhere along the way the First figured out how to do it freely from the Ender dragons."

"Ender dragons?!" Petra asked, "How?"

"Well, the Immortal has taken out a few in his day," Alex said, "But after awhile he began studying them. Tell me, have you ever fought one."

"Can't say we have," Lukas said.

"Well have you heard of the bright light that comes when they die?"

"They leave an egg behind yes."

"Well, turns out. The End Portal is an entrance to an Ender Dragon's nest in that dimension. They go to different worlds to lay their eggs. You see Notch created the Ender Dragon with the skill to travel the multi worlds. The First figured it out, that bright light is them leaving that certain dimension. The only time an Ender dragon actually dies, is if there is a corpse left behind. The Immortal scarred a dragon in battle, and later thought he killed it. But when they met again on the field of combat and he saw that scar he started to figure the white light was more than a death rattle."

"So how did the First do it?"

"He harness magic, deep powerful magic," Alex said, "Took it from the very earth, and he created a portal. It's called the Immortal's Gate. And it gave him the ability to safely leave this world."

Immortal's Gate.

Brine wasn't lying, Lukas thought, "Alex, where is this gate? If the Immortal started here, it should be here. We could use it to get home."

"It was hidden long ago," She said softly, "Buried deep away, never to be used again. Sadly even if it was available, the user cannot control your Destination. Only an Immortal can."

"Oh..." he tried not to sound too disappointed.

Petra piped up, "So, what happened next?"

"The First realized that he alone should not have the privilege to travel these worlds. But how? Mortals couldn't use the gate. So he gathered," she paused to open a door, "This is the vault. Anyway he traveled all across Notch's creations and brought together dozens of people, and using their collective knowledge, brought it here. Then the First and the Old Builders of the First World began building temples across this world, places they hoped the magic was deep and strong. The doors were a lot different then you see, you couldn't build it just anywhere. When the magic was created to make the door, it appeared in the old village. Which is why there are no temples near it, save for the one they built around it."

"Fascinating, so the First founded the Old Builders." Lukas hummed, as he opened a chest, "Your story would explain why the temple wasn't as ruined as the village."

"No one had been up there to the mountain till the door was formed," Alex admitted. "Things that are part of the First's history are sacred and usually left untouched except by him."

"Guys I think I found something," Petra said, the other two joined her as she pulled a book out of a dusty old trunk. "But I can't read it," she handed it to Alex.

"It's in old tongue," Alex skimmed the first few pages, "But we're in luck, this is a list of some the first doors they created. Gotta love Old Builder's they were so unorganized, they left books everywhere."

"I doubt ours was part of that group though." Lukas sighed.

"No, but they have which ones are which, we can cross reference it with your map and mark off them as no go's."

Petra whistled, "That is good news."

Lukas grinned, because that had to be the most progress they made in awhile. It was refreshing for a change. He now looked at this mission with a new sense of hope. Having Steve and Alex was indeed the best plan yet.

Whatever plan number that was.

Next Time on MCSM Immortal's Child:

"Wait did you say First?"

"Oh Notch, not you too," Aiden sighed, "Yeah, what about it?"

Isa hesitated, "Well...I had a book."

"A book?"

"It contained information on the First, and the other Immortal."

"The Healer?"

"No...there was another one."

Disclaimer

The name Mia is credited to UnderTaker from Tumblr, thanks for the name dear, you are one of my favorite people from there just so you know!

The name Charles is credited to Anon from Tumblr. Thank you!

If you want to have a small part in Immortal's Child, suggest and name and maybe even an occupation, and you will receive credit and my thanks at the end of your names featured chapter!

Author's Section

The fact that some of you are still faithfully waiting for an update warms me inside. But I'm hyped and can't wait to get this up and rolling again!

Who's all thrilled that a Season 2 of MCSM is announced cause I know I sure am! Let's show the world how excited this fandom is WOOOO!

Thanks for all the favs, follows, and reviews. Be seeing you all soon!