Chapter five: Valiant dead
As you know, you are one of these few.
If you wish to find him, return to the place where you laid eyes upon the Aether's entrance. But be warned—the Aether is a treacherous place, and you may need help in order to limit casualties.
Help from the mobs you so despise.
Three weeks ago
Jack hauled another basket into the makeshift storage room.
He set it down at the wall, sweat itching on his forehead. The woven basket was empty and easy to carry, but hauling things everywhere all day was tiring. He'd started working in the morning, and the sky had since turned orange as sunset drew closer.
He left the storage area and made his way to Yaebi and Athena's room. Athena had been determined to watch over her younger sibling even during the day, so they'd decided to share a room.
He knocked on the door. "Hey. It's me."
Moments later, the door slowly opened, revealing Athena. Once she was certain it was dark enough outside for her to be safe, she opened the door all the way. "Jack? What brings you here?"
"Yaebi told me he'd made some baskets for the storage room. I'm here to pick them up."
"The storage room? I thought you were working on that this morning?"
"I was. Still am."
"Here," Yaebi spoke up. Athena stepped aside to reveal the younger mob standing at two woven baskets.
"Cool," Jack said. "Let's take them outside first."
With the mobs' help, he removed the baskets from their room.
"I still don't get how you people make these things so fast," Jack said.
"I started working on them when we got to the Realm," Yaebi said. "I wanted to be as productive as possible. The others had the same idea."
"I feel like I could learn a thing or two from that." Jack grabbed a basket and started towards the storage room.
"I'll come with you," Athena said, picking up the other basket.
With her following him, Jack made his way back to storage and placed his basket in an appropriate-looking spot. Athena did the same, looking around the room with surprise.
"It's starting to look like an actual storage," she said. "You've been working on this all day?"
"Yeah."
"Alone?"
"Not entirely." He moved to leave; there were other things he had to bring.
"You know you can ask us for help, right?" she said, following.
He glanced at her. "Of course I do."
"Then why don't you?"
"Don't need it."
"But you could use it."
"If one man can do it…"
"I just want to make sure you can work with us as a team."
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Because of what you said to Ari yesterday."
He stopped and turned to her. "You know about that?"
Not surprising, actually. Ari and Athena were good friends, and Athena was considered the leader of the group. One of her jobs was to keep everyone working together properly.
"I'll be honest," she said. "It kind of worried me that you assumed Ari's cheerfulness came from a grudge."
"Yeah, okay," Jack sighed. "I can see that. But I'm on good terms with her now."
"And what about the rest of us? Are you on good terms with everyone else?"
He hesitated. "I hope so, but I doubt it."
"Maybe you should ask them."
He didn't say anything.
"You saved Yaebi and helped us get here," Athena said. "As far as I'm concerned, we can trust you. But I don't know if everyone thinks of it that way, and I don't want any unresolved tension in our group."
"Mystia is looking for a way to get me back to Earth."
"I know. And?"
"And," Jack said, "if I'm going to leave anyway, why should I care what anyone here thinks of me?"
"That's exactly why you should clear the air. While you still can."
Jack hesitated. "Fine, I'll think about it."
Then he turned and resumed walking. The storage wasn't done yet.
Present day
"Rayallv?" said Raulyn. "You saw Kai and the Stray headed to this corridor?"
"Yes, sir. Kai needed to piss."
"How long ago was that?"
"Enough time for him to piss ten times over, sir."
Raulyn clenched his jaw. He turned to the mobs—specifically to the Wither Skeleton, who had apparently talked to Kai and the Stray before they left the room. Said Wither Skeleton glared right back.
"And," Raulyn said, "the Stray was the only one to accompany him."
"Yes, sir," Rayallv confirmed.
The Wither Skeleton stepped forward. "If Athena is hurt in any way," it said, "Kai's dead."
"Likewise," Galen cut in, "if the Stray turns out to be responsible for Kai's death, you will all pay for it."
The Blaze smirked. "And how're you going to do that? You're outnumbered and we're stronger than you."
"Silence," Raulyn ordered both sides. "There is no point to arguing here. We should search this place."
"The hallway's a dead end," said the Wither Skeleton.
"A dead end our companions have disappeared in. Rayallv, I need you to pay extra close attention; you know more about redstone than any of us."
The mob sympathizer—a human witch named Mystia—perked up. "Redstone…? Of course! That makes sense. Look for buttons, levers, pressure plates…"
Raulyn nodded to his men. "Do it."
The Hunters obeyed, spreading over the corridor. The Ender began searching as well. The other mobs just looked confused.
"Redstone," Mystia explained to them, "is sometimes used to construct hidden entrances."
"So," the Wither Skeleton said, "you think they went through some secret door?"
"I don't." The witch nodded to Raulyn. "He does. Why or how anyone would make a hidden entrance in a place like this is beyond me, but I guess it's possible."
"I would say this place is perfect to hide something," Raulyn said. "Seemingly inconspicuous and insignificant, but with something below its innocent surface. Something…that should be handled with caution."
Mystia held his gaze. "I guess you learn to detect the things you're scared of."
"Threats and dangers, yes."
"If your friend never decided to come here in the first place, he wouldn't have had to deal with this 'threat' and 'danger' now."
"Perhaps…" Raulyn's gaze went to the Wither Skeleton. "But he had come here in order to keep the peace, had he not?"
"If you two don't stop talking and start helping right now," the Ender snapped as it traced the wall with its hand, "I'm going to be a threat and a danger to both of you. Get to work."
Mystia turned to the creature, looking shocked. The two Nether mobs, on the other hand, simply nodded and obeyed.
Raulyn narrowed his eyes at Mystia. Why was she so surprised at the Ender's words…? And the Ender itself—did its eyes always glow like that?
Mystia saw him look. She quickly joined the search. Raulyn followed suit.
Jack continued traveling, watching the sun descend as he did. During his first day in the Aether, he hadn't expected the sun to set at all. Since the Aether didn't really have a horizon, he thought the sun would simply rotate around the floating islands, lighting them from below during the 'night'.
Then the sun had disappeared anyway. Out of sight, obstructed by…something. Thick clouds? Jack wasn't sure.
As he went from island to island, he quietly took everything in. The fauna—floating whales, moas and other strange animals that held some resemblance to the ones in the Overworld and on Earth—was intriguing. Something to be remembered. As much as Jack had come to resent this place, it'd be nice to have a camera right about now.
The flora was impressive too. Aechor plants were to be avoided, but some nearby trees were a sight to see. Some of them seemed to shimmer, as if fragments of gold were embedded in the wood. Others had strangely colored leaves. Yet others had strange white apples hanging from their branches.
Jack slowed his pace and scanned the sky for the Sanctuary. He found it soon enough; from his current position, there wasn't anything blocking his view.
He'd been traveling for a while now, and he'd made progress; if he hurried, he would be at the Sanctuary—or, rather under it—by the end of the day. Once there, he would have to find a way to get up. Hopefully there were some blue Aerclouds to help him.
He let out a breath. His pace was lethargic. He'd been traveling all day.
"You should get some rest," Tristan said.
Jack ignored him, looking ahead. The edge of this island was approaching, and Aerclouds of various colors floated next to it. The next island was quite far, and its surface was higher. It'd take at least one, maybe two blue Clouds to reach the right altitude, and purple or well-positioned white ones to get onto the island itself.
"You should be patient," Tristan said. "We agreed that you may not be able to reach the Sanctuary before tomorrow."
"I'm still going to try it."
"This is risky. If we stop here, we will have more than enough time tomorrow. We are not in a hurry."
Jack didn't respond. He reached the edge and peeked down. Sure enough, there were some blue Clouds floating underneath some smaller yellow ones.
He looked up to the island ahead. There were some other Clouds around of various colors, including a large white one nearby. If he could get high enough to reach it, he'd be able to walk most of the distance to the island itself. The Cloud was too high for him to simply step on though.
Jack grabbed a rock on the ground and dropped it onto a blue Cloud below. It was something he'd done before to test how high the rock would get after bouncing. As expected, the rock soon returned to roughly Jack's height.
The rock didn't get high enough to reach the white Cloud. Jack frowned and took a moment to think.
His eye fell on the golden Clouds that floated above the blue ones. "Hey Tristan, what did you say about the yellow Aerclouds, again?"
"They accelerate your falling speed."
Jack grabbed another rock off the ground and tossed it onto a nearby golden Cloud. Sure enough, the rock was launched straight down at high speed upon touching the golden mass.
Jack tossed another rock, aimed at another golden Cloud. Once again the rock was launched downwards. It hit the same blue Cloud as before, and bounced back up and just about past the golden Cloud—to a higher point than the first rock.
"This is risky," Tristan said. "Aerclouds are not to be trifled with."
"No one's trifling with anything," Jack absently said. He grabbed another rock, looking at the Aerclouds pensively.
He frowned. "You said the yellow Aerclouds sent things downwards when they fell on it, right?"
Tristan nodded. "As we just witnessed."
"What if something shot up at it from below?"
Tristan didn't answer immediately. "You do not want to take this risk, Jack. We should wait until tomorrow, then see if there is an easier way to progress our journey."
Jack glanced at him. Then he threw the rock. Once again it was launched downwards, and once again it bounced back up. It hit a golden Cloud from below—whereupon it shot upwards at high speed.
More than high enough for the white Cloud.
Interesting. So golden Clouds did more than just accelerate falling speed; they accelerated speed in general, depending on which direction an object was 'falling'.
"You are trifling with the Clouds," Tristan said.
"You're the one who told me to use them."
"And maybe I would approve of this foolish idea of yours if it were the right time, but the sun is close to setting."
He was right. Judging from the sun's height, it'd take an hour at most before the creatures of the night came out of hiding. Probably less.
But the Sanctuary was so close. A few more islands, and he'd stand directly under it. If he hurried, he could make it there today.
"If you do this," warned Tristan, "be careful. It is a risky path. Finding the portal will mean nothing if you are dead."
"On this entire island, I haven't seen a single cave to hide in."
"That is because there are none, here. We should return to the previous island."
"What about the next one? Are there any caves there?"
"Yes, but I do not think we can get there in time."
Jack turned back to the Clouds. He repositioned himself, considering from where he'd have to jump, how far, which direction…
Then he jumped.
He landed into a golden Cloud.
A strong gust of wind smacked against him from below as his falling speed doubled. He passed through the yellow mass and landed on the blue Cloud below.
For a moment, the air resistance ceased to be.
Then it returned full force from above as he was sent back up. Soon, another yellow Cloud enveloped him, and he shot skywards. His stomach lurched at the sudden acceleration.
Next thing he knew, he just about reached the white Cloud, right as his ascent came to a stop. The air resistance weakened until it was gone.
He fell onto the white Cloud's steep outer rim. He buried his hands into the soft matter, freezing, hoping he wouldn't slide down the incline. Thankfully he didn't.
He scrambled over to even ground. Once there he stood up. A sigh of relief escaped his lips.
"I warned you," Tristan said. "We could have looked for another way between islands."
"That would've taken too long," panted Jack. He was out of breath. He still hadn't fully gotten used to the hectic Aercloud transitions. Most Clouds were dangerous in one way or another, even if they could help him along.
"Well," Tristan said. "You have found an application for golden Aerclouds. Now you should hurry and find shelter before night falls."
Jack walked over the Cloud and in the direction of the next island. He needed another blue Cloud to actually get on the island, but no overly complicated shenanigans were involved.
Jack looked around the new area. He was all but surrounded by trees. This island seemed to have more vegetation than the previous one. He just hoped he wouldn't run into any Aechor plants.
"Now," Tristan said. "We need to find shelter."
"Can you point me in the right direction?"
Tristan pointed. "Look out!"
Jack turned—and immediately ducked behind a tree. He'd only seen a glimpse of the figure that emerged near the island's edge, but he knew what it was. He'd seen them once before, during his first night in the Aether.
He peeked around the tree. A Tempest—like a small dark wispy cloud with white-purplish glowing marks—leisurely floated along the edge. It hadn't seen him, thankfully.
Jack turned to look at the sun. It had descended faster than he thought, but he still hadn't expected any Tempests to come out this early. And if Tempests could come out safely at this time, so could cockatrices. Tristan was right: he needed to find shelter now.
Tristan had moved further away and was watching the Tempest, holding up a hand to signal to Jack that he had to stay put. Jack suspected the Tempest couldn't see Tristan; he wouldn't be surprised if the Overseers could selectively choose who could and who couldn't see and hear them. Either that, or the Tempest recognized him as an Overseer and just didn't care.
Jack looked to him intently; if any other dangers would come near, or if it was safe to move from his hiding spot, Tristan would know.
Tristan beckoned. Jack moved from behind the tree and snuck over to another, keeping his step as quiet as possible. He didn't know if Tempests could even hear, but he didn't want to take the risk.
Despite knowing that Tristan would watch his back, Jack kept glancing around. He vaguely saw other silhouettes moving in the sky—probably more Tempests, but they were too far away.
"Cave?" Jack whispered.
"Cockatrices," Tristan returned. "Behind those trees." He wasn't whispering; Jack really was the only one who could hear him.
Jack glanced to where Tristan was pointing.
"You will not be able to hide for much longer," the Overseer said. "You are being approached from multiple directions."
Jack's stomach tightened.
"They do not know you are here yet," Tristan continued, "but they will soon enough. On my mark, run in the direction I point to."
Jack nodded. His throat was dry, and something stirred in his gut. The sky darkened as the remaining remnants of sunlight were fading. He felt like he was back at the Trials—feeling as if he was facing some impossible challenge, waiting for help to arrive.
Strangely, Tristan summoned his crossbow. What could he use it for? The Overseers would never allow him to directly influence the physical world.
Tristan pointed. "Now!"
Jack began to run.
He heard a sound like a deep, drawn-out chirp, and he glimpsed the form of a large dark bird with luminous markings nearby. A cockatrice. Jack continued running, trying to use the trees for cover.
The creature's strange noises faded further into the distance.
Tristan materialized before him and pointed to the side. "Go!"
Jack stopped for a moment.
Then he saw the Tempest.
Jack scrambled back. The cloudlike creature shot a small, crackling projectile at him.
Acting on instinct, he leaped to the side. The projectile passed him and hit the ground nearby, where a blast of lightning erupted. The thunder wasn't as loud as that of normal lightning, but it was deafening nonetheless.
Jack glimpsed light blue flames where the storm had erupted moments ago. The air suddenly felt colder.
He resumed running in the direction Tristan had designated—right when the Tempest shot another projectile. It missed again and hit a cockatrice that just emerged from behind a distant tree.
The projectile hit. Lightning and blue fire erupted. The cockatrice cried out, and small ice crystals appeared on its feathers, as if it was freezing.
Jack sprinted away, using the trees as cover. He ended up in a much more open field, where silhouettes of cockatrices moved in the moonlight. He saw the island's edge ahead, and more figures flew about in the air nearby. Tempests.
Jack hesitated. That one figure… The way it moved wasn't like any Tempest or Zephyr he'd seen so far.
He heard a low chirp. He turned to see a cockatrice approach. He flinched, preparing to run.
A short snapping sound. Something shot into the cockatrice's eye and through its head.
The creature chirped aggressively and turned to where it came from.
There stood Tristan with crossbow in hand.
"To the edge," ordered Tristan.
Jack ran. Only then did he realize what had happened; Tristan couldn't harm physical creatures, but he could draw their attention. He'd shot an intangible crossbow bolt at the creature's eye. It was probably more effective than yelling would've been.
Jack desperately tried to avoid the other silhouettes as he ran, but he heard alerted and surprised chirps around him. And were there always that many Tempests…?
He heard the sound of thunder behind him. He guessed Tristan had provoked a Tempest. He doubted the Overseer could draw the attention of every living being here without breaking the Rule. And for him, breaking the Rule would have immediate consequences—
A low chirp. A big bird flapping its wings, blocking his way. Jack froze.
The cockatrice stared him down menacingly. Jack backed off, frantically searching for a way around the thing.
The bird advanced.
In the distance, flying near the edge, the strange figure from before suddenly stopped. It looked like it had taken notice of him.
And it was definitely not a Tempest.
Something small and sharp hit Jack in the shoulder, like a needle. He gasped. What in the—
He stumbled back. His legs suddenly felt weak. A strong sense of vertigo hit him.
The cockatrice chirped aggressively. Jack wanted to step away, but his sense of balance was gone. He narrowly stayed on his feet, gasping. The island was swimming before his eyes.
Then he noticed that the mysterious figure was closer than before. Much closer.
A lance was rammed through the cockatrice from above. The creature shrieked.
Even in his dazed state, Jack could see that the figure wasn't what he initially thought it was. It was a humanoid—one with wings, wearing a full set of metal white and gold armor. They wielded a silvery white lance and a shield, and an ornate side-sword hung at their belt.
It was…an impressive sight.
The figure landed next to him. "Human…" came a muffled voice from behind the helmet's visor. Jack stumbled as the shield was shoved into his hand. "This way."
Jack held the shield up to protect his side, leaning on the knight in order not to fall over. The knight practically dragged him away. Needle-like spikes bounced off their armor.
The knight yanked him to the side, and a small crackling projectile narrowly flew past. Lightning and blue fire erupted where it landed. The knight dropped the lance, drew their sword and threw it at a nearby Tempest like a spear, hitting it right in its front.
"We have to get to the edge," the knight commanded, retrieving their lance and dragging Jack along. "Trust me."
It was then that Jack noticed they had come closer to the island's edge. Just a few more steps, and they'd fall off.
"What…" he grunted, his mind foggy. "What are you…"
"Trust me. If you stay here, you'll die." The knight stabbed an approaching cockatrice in the throat, then let go of their lance. "Drop the shield and hold onto me."
Jack obeyed, releasing the shield and grabbing the knight with both arms. They did the same.
Then they jumped off the edge head-first.
Jack looked down. There were no Aerclouds there to catch them.
The knight spread their wings in mid-air, abruptly slowing their fall. The knight grunted as they glided through the air, headed back towards the island they just jumped from.
Before Jack knew it, they'd flown into an Ambrosium-lit cave in the island's side. They made a rough landing on the stone ground.
The knight recovered quickly and got up. "Come on. We aren't safe yet."
They dragged him further into the cave and through a doorway. In the room beyond, Jack dropped to the ground, and the knight hastily closed the rickety door behind them.
Jack got up on all fours, feeling sick.
"Hm," the knight said. "Of course. Humans aren't used to flying."
Jack ignored them, expecting to throw up. But he never did. He waited for a moment longer, and felt the food that threatened to pass up through his esophagus beginning to settle.
With effort, he crawled to the wall and sat with his back against it.
He felt a lingering sting in his shoulder where the strange needle-like pin had hit him. He slowly rolled up the shirtsleeve. Sure enough, there was a very small opening in his skin, but it couldn't exactly be called a wound. It was barely visible.
"Cockatrice darts are rarely deadly," the knight said. "It's the poison they're tipped with that causes problems. You just need to wait for it to wear off."
So that's why I've been stumbling around like a drunk for the past minutes? Jack thought.
He gave the knight a dumb look. Those wings on their back… Was that part of the armor? He doubted it; the knight seemed to have full control over them. They weren't armor; they were limbs.
"You're…" Jack panted. "You're a Valkyrie…?"
The knight raised the helmet's visor, revealing a feminine face underneath. The woman looked down at him with a gaze that betrayed little emotion.
"Is this the first time you've seen one of us?" she guessed.
He nodded lightly. "Yeah."
"Before he entered the Overworld," another voice said, prompting the Valkyrie to turn, "he had never seen a mob, either."
"Tristan…" Jack sighed, relieved to see him.
"Overseer," the Valkyrie said, sounding surprised.
Tristan looked the woman in the eye. His expression was hard to read, but…was that a hint of anger?
"Thanks," Jack grunted. "To both of you." He looked to Tristan. "Also, I…should've listened to you earlier."
"That is correct," Tristan agreed. "But at least we have made contact with the Valkyries now."
"You sought us out?" the Valkyrie said.
Jack nodded. Then, leaning against the wall, he slowly got to his feet. Aside from some remaining dizziness, the poison's effects had worn off for the most part.
He looked the Valkyrie in the eye. "I'm looking for a portal to the Overworld."
A hint of doubt crossed her face. "I…see. And you think we know where to find one."
Jack started. "Do you?"
"There are no more portals in the Aether."
Jack glanced at Tristan.
"It is true," Tristan confirmed. "The portals have been destroyed. But Herskagul may still be of help."
Jack clenched his jaw. He felt anger rise, all but drowning out the lingering sickness, and he felt the frustration of the ordeals he'd suffered the past five weeks beginning to break free from its bonds.
"You said you couldn't point me to the portal because of the Rule," Jack growled at Tristan. "Not because it didn't exist!"
"It is not that simple."
"Nothing is that simple with you, is it? What, is this revenge for what happened at the Silver Cave, still?"
Tristan frowned. "Revenge? Why would you think—"
"Shut up! I should've known you still had a beef with me. Is that why you've stuck with me this whole time in the first place?! You're no better than Áhýdan, are you!"
"Your friends are looking for you."
Jack stopped.
"They have teamed up with the Hunters to get to a portal," Tristan calmly said. "One in the Overworld. If—"
"They— They what!?"
Tristan stopped.
"They teamed up with the Hunters!" Jack incredulously said. "To look for me! That's… That's…"
"Admirable," the Valkyrie voiced.
"Stupid!" Jack spat. "It was bad enough they went to Ironhand to look for me! Now they're…!" He threw up his hands. He was at a loss for words.
"It was on Herobrine's advice, actually," Tristan said.
"Herobrine! Of course it's fucking Herobrine! Him and his smart plans…!"
"He has a better view on the future than most. If he sent them here along with the Hunters, he probably had a good reason."
"No, he doesn't. Áhýdan is dead! There's no reason why Herobrine would want to see me alive!"
"Even so, your friends are your only hope of leaving the Aether."
"They're going to get themselves killed." Jack gave Tristan a death glare. "And you just said there weren't any portals left!"
"Not in the Aether, no," the Valkyrie cut in. "But there is a portal in the Overworld."
"Once that portal is used," Tristan explained, "a portal that is connected to it will come to be in the Aether. The location of this portal is very specific. I know where it would appear if your friends made it there, but the Rule prevents me from telling you. High Queen Herskagul does not have the same restrictions."
"Either way, I need the mobs' help to leave this place…" Jack sighed.
"While I agree that your friends are taking a risk, human," the Valkyrie said, "they wouldn't be doing this if they thought it wasn't worth it."
"It's stupid," Jack sighed, his anger slowly dying down. "They're doing all of this for one man. One man who left them. This is all happening because of me."
"Herobrine pushed you into this from the very beginning," Tristan said.
"And you're not the one to decide whether the risk is warranted or not," the Valkyrie said.
"Aren't I?" grumbled Jack.
"They all seem to think you're worth saving."
"Well, they're wrong."
"As I said, that isn't your judgment to make."
"And we can hardly stop them now," Tristan said. "We may as well talk to Herskagul to see if she knows where the portal will appear. Just ensure you do not get involved in the Valkyries'…politics."
Jack shook his head. "I still think the mobs are being idiots, but fine. If this Herskagul knows where the portal will be—assuming the mobs get the chance to pass through it at all—I guess I might as well pay her a visit."
"Very well," the Valkyrie said. "For now, I'll return to the Sanctuary. Tomorrow, I'll take you to see her personally."