Chapter 16

Never Know...

Notch's Blood and Notch's Hand, the false God rose to purge the land.

But the First would have none and fought the lost son.

Time went on its way but the battle did not sway

Till as last the First, his heart nearly shattered, reached out to the Father on a subject of dark matter.

Strike him down, till innocent blood spills no more, but Notch refused to this he swore

I cannot kill what I have made, with this truth our God could not be swayed

The First in a state of betrayal vowed, he would do then what must be done, to hunt down his brother, to kill the lost son

Through magic and fire, the battle went for days, till finally the Lost succumbed to the fiery blaze.

Notch's Blood and Notch's Hand, the false God rose to purge the land...

To kill his own bother, he had paid the ultimate price, but it left him broken, with only now a heart of ice.

He realized now, what Notch could not do, unable to face the creation he should have hew

The world went quiet, and the tales went dark, till none could remember who gave this world its gruesome mark

Notch's Blood and Notch's Hand, the God had still in the end...purged the land

Aiden fiddled with a wilting flower in his hand, leftover from a hard day of extracting plant essence. Even wilted down and faded, the Cosmic Orchid was still pretty, the internal part of the flower still mimicked the heavens it was named after, but was now more muted, the color flatter...

Ivor had been buried in the journal all day, he came out for breakfast that morning, and that was the last Aiden saw him. He didn't mind, the house was quiet, but he still had nothing to do.

So Gill and Maya had come over for a bit to help him withdraw and boil down flower extract. The cosmic fluid worked wonders in the medicinal field. It was mostly used to prevent plagues and things that could kill you. Ivor found out the leaves made a great tea, which he took advantage of since he couldn't stand Aiden's coffee. And Aiden had discovered this world's variety was also useful in handling headaches and other bodily pains-

Such as Ivor's surprises.

Aiden jumped as Ivor threw the antique book rather loudly down onto the table. He was really starting to get sneaky with that wheel chair.

"I hate writers," the older male grumbled.

Aiden recovered from his surprise and set the flower in the pot on the table, he grinned lopsidedly, "Aw come on now Ivor that is offensive to a lot of people, including you."

Ivor rolled towards the steaming kettle on the furnace, still grumbling.

Aiden picked up the journal and thumbed through the pages, some of Ivor's notes were stuck to the ancient texts, "Did you get it all translated yet?"

"I got some parts of the original journal done," Ivor said as he poured himself a cup of hot water and dropped some tea leaves into it, "But I thought I'd work on some of the newer sections for a bit,"

"And that is a problem?"

"Whoever wrote it was paranoid."

Aiden flipped to the biggest and newest section of the book, finding Ivor's copies tucked inside. "How so?"

"Look at the lettering."

The pages were covered from head to toe in unintelligible scrawl, none of the letters made any solid word.

"Did you translate it wrong?"

Ivor looked offended as he rolled up to the table.

"Okay... so what's wrong?"

"I noticed after awhile that the letters I was translating were not making words," the elder explained, "I figure it must be in some sort of code..."

"Uh-huh," Aiden mumbled, as he pulled loose a blank piece of paper from Ivor's stack and pulled a pencil from his pocket.

"I was never any good at codes, but I've tested it on all the ones I do know, and as far as I'm concerned this is no code I've never seen of. We are this close on possibly finding an amazing discovery and now we can't even figure out what this person has written-"

"Caesar Cipher,"

"I beg your pardon?"

Aiden set down his pencil, "It's a Caesar Cipher, look here, read the first section now,"

Ivor glanced down at the new lettering, "August 15, in the fall of - How did you figure that?!"

"Lukas and I used to be real nerds as little kids," Aiden shrugged, "We had a tree house and a secret code and all that other tacky crap." he tapped the pencil on the table, "We got really obsessed with ciphers and hidden messages for awhile. So I know a thing or two about them,"

Ivor stared.

"Stop it," Aiden frowned, "Why are you looking at me funny?"

"You sound so adorable as a child,"

He threw the pencil at Ivor, "Shut up!"

"I can only imagine what happened to that little boy," Ivor caught it laughing delighted as Aiden turned scarlet. He looked down at the journal, "I guess that solves my problem though. I'll translate, and if any of the pieces are coded, you break them." he took a sip of his tea, "I do wonder though, how did you know what cipher it was?"

"I guessed," Aiden said bluntly. "Caesar is one of the most basic ones there is,"

"Oh my word you are a nerd,"

"Ivor..." he warned.

"Calm down," Ivor handed him back his pencil, "Now, I'll start writing and you start deciphering...Mr. Code Breaker."

"Notch be damned Ivor!"

The creeper smashed into Titan with such force, if knocked the horse down onto his side. Petra yanked up her legs, and pulled the girl close to her chest, rolling through the impact as they hit the ground.

Hiiiisssssss!

The girl screamed - the sound ear splitting loud against Petra's ears- as the creeper lunged forward-

Thwip!

Two arrow's - the diamonds glittering a morbid red in the sunlight, blossomed through the forehead of the large spawn. Petra covered the little girl's eyes, slightly horrified herself as the blood ran down the face of the creature. The giant creeper toppled over, and didn't disappear in a poof of smoke and loot.

Alex was standing behind where the now corpse was once upright. Her bow was drawn, another set of arrows already notched.

"Petra are you alright?!"

"Y-yeah, we're fine," Petra cautiously got up the child in her arms. She was still waiting for the creature to vanish. Why wasn't it despawning?

"Don't look at it, he's not going anywhere," Alex said, as if sensing her thoughts.

"Why isn't he poofing away?"

"They don't always do that here, anther unique feature to the First World I'm afraid" Alex said solemnly, she withdrew her arrows, "The other creepers retreated already, come on, let's get this young one back to her parents."

Petra looked and saw that the caravan had stopped some ways away from the battle, the men and woman going over their people and inventory for damage.

Alex ran a hand along Petra's arm, inspecting for damage, "Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine Alex, don't worry," she assured.

"It's my job to worry,"

Petra smiled, "This coming from the one who told me to relax not ten minutes ago, you know, right before you jumped off the cliff and crashed into a tree."

"When you're my age, you have a right to worry," The older female said. "Besides, think of it as my inner mother kicking in. I'm covering for your parents till you get home."

"I don't think they have even noticed..." Petra said quietly.

Alex was clearly shocked by her statement, eyes squinting a little as she processed the new information. But before she could say anything the dark haired woman from earlier raced up.

"Oh by the grace of Notch Alex," she managed to gasp out through exhausted breath, "Your timing is impeccable."

"I try Eliza," Alex said.

Petra adjusted the child in her arms, "We have the girl?" she inquired.

"And I have her parents," Eliza gestured to a clearly stressed out couple. The pair rushed to Petra, who quickly handed them their child. They sobbed in delight, kissing and holding her tight, mumbling dozens of thanks in their native tongue.

The girl, no longer terrified, waved to Petra as she and her parents returned to the group.

"Thank you for rescuing her, Miss-"

"Petra," she extended her hand.

"I'm Eliza," the woman took it.

"Eliza here is writer from the village by the coast," Alex explained.

"Hardly a writer," Eliza answered, "More of a journalist," she smiled, "I find out what's happening and I get the word around."

"Speaking of 'what's happening' " Alex gestured to the temple, "What happened?"

"Well, we were traveling to the Festival, as we always do every year," the woman explained, "When traveled through the dark oak woods as we always do. I know it's not uncommon for creeper packs to make hibernation there. We knew it was cold enough out now for them to be settling down in caves for the winter. Honestly we had no trouble in the forest. But shortly after we hit the sunflower fields and passed the Old Builder temple back there they started to swarm. We weren't very loud, and I don't understand why they would be in the temple, it's too far from the forest, they don't like to come out this far. It wasn't the biggest pack we've seen, we assumed they got separated from the main group."

"It all happened so fast though, one of them came out of the temple - that large one you killed. We were pretty far away; we had made good time and decided not to stop here for the night like we usually do. Anyway, our archers didn't bother to shoot it, we were out of its range. Then suddenly, he looked at us and just started charging. There was this awful screech and then more of them kept coming - pouring out of the temple like ants in a nest." Eliza shrugged, "We started to fight them, but there got to be too many, so we fled. They chased us and well...you showed up shortly after that."

Petra looked back across the field, observing out many of the slain creepers had not vanished alongside the large one. There were a few piles of gunpowder, but there were also a lot of corpses. The sight made her uncomfortable.

Alex was looking towards the temple eyes full of worry. "I've never heard of swarm attacking like that. Not since..." She returned her gaze to Eliza, "You said the big one started it?"

"Yes. I've never seen one get that big."

"Hmmmmm." Alex returned her attention to the wagons, "How badly damaged are you?"

"Two of our wagons have split wheels; the third one had its axel shatter."

Alex looked to Petra, "Can you keep an eye on them till I get back with supplies?"

She returned her look, a little surprised, "Are you sure?"

"We are probably going to be stuck here overnight, there is a forest nearby, I'll get the stuff we need to repair the wagons."

"If that's what you want..."

"Please?"

"Alright."

"Eliza, Petra is going to stay with you," Alex explained, "I'll be back soon. She's a good fighter she'll handle things till I get back."

"I understand."

Alex smiled, and then turned on her heel, heading off.

"I'll introduce you to the others," Eliza gestured.

Petra followed her, but she did look back once, to watch Alex.

The female was collecting her arrows littered across the battlefield, coming to a stop at the massive creeper. Her gaze was cold and steely as she stared at the corpse, reaching down and violently yanking the arrow from the skull. Then, much to Petra's confusion-

Alex reached down and checked for a pulse.

"No Steve,"

"I am literally offering to pay double Amber,"

Lukas and Jesse watched as Steve continued to bicker with the local

The baker crossed her arms, "You are getting fat."

"This is a horrible business method," Steve frowned.

"You are getting fat," the blond repeated.

"I cannot get fat, have you seen what I have to do all the time?"

"Yes, and you seem to be getting sluggish at it,"

"You just gave the kids a pie a week ago!" Steve threw his hands in the air, "For free!"

"They needed it," Amber said, smiling impishly, "Nothing like a pie to warm the heart. They're far from home Steve I'd thought I'd cheer them up."

"But calling me fat, seriously? That's a lame reason not to sell me pie,"

"I couldn't pass up the chance to ruffle your feather. But in all honesty the real problem is the Festival is a little less than two weeks away,"

Steve clicked his tongue, "Ah, forgot about that."

"I have to make sure I have enough, you know that, I can only make so many pies a day and I'm sorry you missed them. How about I deliver you one tomorrow?"

"Want me to pay in sugar or whatever baking supplies you need?"

"I could use some wheat?"

"Two bushels?"

"Sounds nice..."

Lukas let the conversation trail through one ear and out the other, now that Steve wasn't going toe to toe with the woman, he didn't feel the need to listen to them do business.

The village was full of hustle and bustle, even so late in the evening. People were setting of banners, and streamers everywhere. The large - maypole as Steve called it - in the center of the town had been wrapped with colorful rolls of ribbon to be used in a dance later on. Lukas wondered what kind of dance required a pole and ribbon.

In the past few weeks since first arriving here, the town's population had all but tripled. What had once been a few hundred people now easily reached thousands. The 'Festival' was a really big deal. According to Steve, every town from here to the coast would come for the party. There were lots of elders from different villages and scholars as well, here to trade history, and other valuable information. While the mayors and counsels gathered for trade route information, and other things that could benefit the towns. Then, to top it all off, there were all the traveling caravans. People with no solid house to call home gathering here to entertain, trade stories and do business. Most of the farmers fields that were now clear of crops were packed to the brim with caravan wagons.

A group of women walked by, carrying baskets of various colorful flowers, they were singing.

"Sing the song
Of the wind
When you know it's time and

Sing the song
Of the wind
When having sweet dreams

Sleep until the night ends
The wind of the night
Your song and my song

Our song goes on
The wind of the night
Your song and my song..."

The music was soothing, and that's what it should have done, soothed. But Lukas felt very little ease this evening. His mind kept wandering back to the house.

He didn't mind Jesse taking a nap - frankly his friend needed one- and he enjoyed talking with Steve. But then Lukas had cracked that joke, after Jesse had got up, the one about staying. And there was this look...There was this look in Jesse's eyes, even though he had laughed it off and stated he preferred to be home. His expression if only for a millisecond, gave Lukas the feeling that Jesse almost considered it. He was glad Jesse was able to relax here, seeing him without his armor was a nice sight, but at the same time Lukas was worried.

Lukas wasn't stupid, oblivious at times he would admit, but not stupid. Ever since this whole trip had started Jesse had stepped up to the leader position and boxed his feelings up like and oyster to its pearl. Lukas was very much aware that Jesse was stressed, tired, and worn down. He needed someone to talk to, and Lukas more than once had offered to be that ear, Petra and Ivor had too. But Jesse never said a word. He simply clammed up and kept it in. He put on that strong face, flashed that brilliant smile, decked out some corny speech and kept going. Lukas knew why.

They weren't Olivia and Axel, or Rueben.

Try as he and the others might, they didn't grow up with Jesse they weren't there since the beginning.. So he didn't feel the need to burden them. Lukas recalled growing up that the trio were always as thick as thieves, hardly ever apart.

Lukas sometimes wondered if losing Rueben had anything to do with it. Jesse never really...talked about it...ever.

He just wished Jesse would tell him something, anything, to ease the stress. It scared him that this world made Jesse more comfortable then Lukas ever could. Not jealousy, just worry.

"The singing is pretty here," Jesse said suddenly.

"Y~eah," Lukas replied.

Jesse looked at him, "Lukas you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," He returned the look, "Are you?"

There was a momentary pause, maybe a millisecond long, and then there was that smile, "Yep! Doing good,"

Still clamming up. Still a wall...

He sighed inwardly, "Cool."

"Cool Beans!"

"Coolio..."

Jesse must have noticed Lukas wasn't really into their trademark banter at the moment, and he frowned, "Lukas, seriously what is up?"

"Nothing, just thinking,"

"About what?"

"I'm sorry about what I said at the house,"

Now the other male was very confused, "What did you say?" he squinted thinking, "I wasn't half asleep was I?"

"No. It's about - you know," Lukas plucked at a weed growing from a wall, "The joke about you staying here,"

"Oh."

He tilted his head towards Jesse, "We are still going to get home, that is that plan still isn't it?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't it be?"

He shrugged, "Well you seem, I dunno, comfortable? ...Very comfortable...here?"

Jesse frowned, "So I feel a little more relaxed here, so what? It's just nice not to have to worry about dying for a change. And we have help to top us off. That's a bonus!" He crossed his arms, "Lukas, I still plan on getting us home, all of us."

"Just checking," Lukas sighed, he gave a weak smile, "You know if you ever need to talk-"

"Lukas, I'm fine."

That was the end of the conversation; Steve came back supplies and whiskey in hand and they headed towards his home. Jesse put on his usual face acting as if nothing changed, and Steve continued to awe and inspire with all the cool stories he had seemingly oblivious to the tension.

But Lukas slipped a little deeper into his worry, staring at the stress hiding in the corner of Jesse's smile, which seemed to vanish now that Steve was there.

"Hey,"

Petra looked up from the hypotonic flames of the central fire, "Oh hey,"

Alex dropped down next to her. "Everyone alright?"

"Yeah, the last of them just went to sleep, I was staying up to keep watch."

"That was sweet of you,"

Petra smiled, "Get everything you need?"

"Yep, we'll have them up and running in the morning, and if you'd like, we can still hit the temple. It's clear of creepers now."

"Sounds good."

The fire crackled matched with a symphony of crickets it filled in the silence of the night.

"Petra?"

"Hmmm?"

Alex was staring firmly at the fire, "Can I ask you a personal question?" she inquired after a moment.

Petra hesitated, but nodded, "Yeah, sure. What's up?"

"What did you mean earlier today?"

"I don't understand."

The older ginger turned her gaze to Petra, "What did you mean when you said, you don't think your parents even noticed you were gone?"

Petra stiffened.

Alex noticed, "I see," she returned to her fire, "You don't have to tell me, it just worried me that's all-"

"They were gone a lot," Petra said quietly.

Alex raised an eyebrow, the fire reflecting of the sea blue-green eyes.

"They traveled a lot," she kept going, "Dad did a lot of digging and Mom did a lot of business. So they were never around ya know?" she shrugged, "After awhile I just stopped trying to get their attention. I went my own way. I started digging, doing deals. I haven't solidly been home in over four years."

The other was silent.

"I check in every now and then, just to prove I was alive." Petra sighed, "They never had issues with me going on my own. I mean - I know they love me- but would it kill them to show it now and then?" The words were slipping faster now, "One time I didn't come home for six months, six frickin months. They never wrote, or tried to get a hold of me...I didn't even check in before I went through the Old Builder Portal. Then one day, oh, they started caring. They wanted quality time because they realized that family is important. Yeah? Well I didn't care! So I stayed busy, I did a lot of business, I was never home. "

"Oh sweetie..."

"Now look, their daughter is gone, Notch only knows where! But because I turned out exactly like them, because I hardly ever - if never - check in, they don't know where I am! I wonder how long I'll be out here before one of them thinks 'Hey anyone heard from Petra?' I think sometimes, what if I die out there. Will they look for me? Will they wonder?! Or did I push them away for good?!"

"Petra-"

She threw her stick in the fire, "Sometime I wished I tried a little harder. Just to be there. But I had to be an ass, and now...they might never know."

Silence.

Alex leaned close; pushing away a tear that Petra hadn't realized escaped, "Petra, you can't plan these things..."

She shook her head, "I can never take it back."

"You keep wishing you had, you'll miss what you can do," Alex said sadly, "If I could tell you the things I wish I could take back..." she hugged Petra, "We're gonna get you home. And you're gonna get the chance I never got, okay?"

Petra leaned into the hug, shaking, she didn't realize...

The fire crackled into the night.

"Okay..."

Next Time On MCSM Immortal's Child

"You're giving a dangerous weapon to an in experienced youth?" Petra teased.

Steve shrugged, "I believe in learning on the job." he extended the dagger, "Wanna give it a go?"

Petra took it, "Is this where you get payback on Alex for the Lukas arrow incident?"

"Perish the thought Petra, I would never!"

Author's Section.

Lukas Emotional Breakdown: Check

Petra's Emotional Breakdown: Check

Jesse's Emotional Breakdown: ? ? ?

This was a fun chapter for me to write, even though it was a lot of talking, I was eager to do it. This was one of the earlier pieces I developed when starting Immortal's Child.

Response Section:

At ImmaGuest2: Glad the ages can help with the imagination! As for the adults, which I assume you mean physically, haha, Ivor I imagine to be in his later fourties perhaps mid fifties, while Steve and Alex are pushing late twenties. Hope it helps!

At MystiKitty : No, I am afraid the Youtubers will not be featured in Immortal's Child, their only cameo was the mention of the white pumpkin at the beginning of the story, Sorry :(

As usual, thank you guys for all of the support! Can't wait to see you soon! Tune in next time to see Steve's tutorial on how to play with knives!

*Edit!* I totally forgot!

Special thanks to DragonRyd3r for the name suggestion! Thanks for naming the baker!