whose dumb idea was it for me to have two major characters whose dialogue needs special formatting (mine)
The crowned enderman looked down at Null, knelt on the ground, then to Valor, standing stiffly beside him.
"This is very unorthodox."
"Oh, come on." Null grumbled. "I know you speak common."
"I know." Valor ignored Null, trying to forget about his existence. "But he is my only chance."
"And you did not think there could be any other way to get him to help you than to promise him freedom?" The enderman berated him. "It is not yours to give."
"Please." Valor pleaded with him. "It need not even be true, but let me have him just long enough for me to find my amulet."
"We do not wish to have a reputation of deceit."
"Then let me be the deceiver." Valor cast another glance at Null, looked back. "Let me have the blame, I just want my father back." The enderman tightened his jaw, looked to his companions. The endermen around him were silent for a few moments, and Valor wondered momentarily if he had said something offensive.
"You may bring him with you." Their leader broke the silence at last. "Perhaps, if he behaves well, his sentence will be changed." Valor's shoulders slumped with relief, and he turned to Null to relay what the enderman had said. "Do not tell him." He was interrupted. "Let him believe he will be set free no matter his behavior. He will be more likely to show his true intent."
"Alright." Valor frowned, hoping he wouldn't let it slip and lose the sorcerer's cooperation.
"Talking about me, I suppose." Null drawled. "All good things, I hope."
"Not only that, but we will send one of our own with you." The enderman continued. "To keep an eye on him." He gestured to his left, and Valor turned as an Enderman came forward. This one was dressed in slightly simpler garments, and was only about a foot taller than Valor himself. A young one, then? "This is Qorin." The sovereign introduced the newcomer as he smiled and bowed elegantly. "He is the son of the one you call Earl. He will accompany you and ensure that your prisoner gets up to no…" He gestured vaguely to Null. "Mischief."
"I see." Valor bowed stiffly in return. "A pleasure to meet you."
"You as well." Qorin responded cheerfully. His voice was fairly high for an enderman, Valor noted.
"It does not sit well for me to allow such a wicked man to go free." The leader continued in the common tongue. "But we owe a debt to Herobrine, and I suppose that his son may claim it in his stead." He looked to Null, who was watching him blankly. "Note that this does not absolve you from facing our wrath again in the future."
"I wouldn't dream of it." Null assured him with no small amount of sarcasm.
"Provisions will be provided for you, as we do not know how long your journey will be." The sovereign looked to one of his companions. "Please take them to the exit portal and wait for us there." The enderman bowed and took Null by the arm, hauling him upright. The sorcerer didn't protest, but spoke up.
"I don't suppose I could have some better clothes?"
"What for?" The leader asked. "It would neither make you look less threatening, nor keep you warm, your flesh itself is cold."
"The same could be said for you." Null gestured at them with his chained hands. "And yet you are dressed." The endermen considered this.
"Fair point." He allowed at last. "Find some clothes for our guest." He instructed a subordinate, who bowed and teleported. "Go ahead," he told Qorin, and the young Enderman reached out to touch both Valor and Null, teleporting them to the portal.
Null shrugged the simple robe around his shoulders, fastening it in the front, and Valor watched in utter confusion as the purple garment turned jet black.
"That feels better." The sorcerer commented. Spying Valor's gaze, he met it. "What are you staring for, boy?"
"It turned black." Val answered. Null looked down.
"So it did. That happens." As Null didn't seem inclined to offer any clear response, Valor looked away, finding that Earl had reappeared with two knapsacks of the same purplish material as Null's cloak.
"Provisions for the journey." He explained, offering one to Valor and handing the other to his son. In near unison, Val and the endermen opened them to investigate the contents. Valor's was filled with fare he was quite used to, bread, dried beef, and cheese, while Qorin's was filled with a purple fruit. Seeing his curious look, Qorin held up one of the small orbs.
"This is Chorus fruit." He popped it into his mouth, swallowing it whole. Valor nodded. Was that the fruit of the strange trees?
As Valor watched, Earl took his son's face between his hands, bending down to bump their foreheads together.
"Be safe." He spoke, in tones low enough that Val could barely make it out. "And remove your earrings." He flicked a dangling jewel, and Qorin smiled.
"Yes, Father, I will." He promised. Earl smiled at him, then backed away.
"I will escort you to the Overworld, then return." He told them. "Good luck."
"Thank you." Valor reminded himself to be mindful of which language he spoke in around Null. It wouldn't do for him to learn something he shouldn't.
"Follow me." Crossing to the portal, Earl waited to ensure they were following, then stepped into it, vanishing immediately. Qorin herded Null in after him, and Valor was the last to follow, giving the entrancing dimension one last look before following them through the portal.
As was standard when traveling between dimensions, the journey was quite disorienting, but soon enough Valor had landed in the middle of an unfamiliar field. Null was pulling his hood over his head, shielding his gaunt face from the sun, and Qorin was looking around with interest. Earl nodded to Valor, gave his son's hand a final squeeze, then vanished.
Valor looked to Null, his trepidation returning. The sorcerer was unchained now, and, though he had been assured that he was too weak to defy his handlers, Val was still unsettled by his presence. His unease was justified a moment later when Null turned towards him and grabbed his wrist.
"Hey!" Valor jerked back, and Qorin teleported a step closer, making a warning sound.
"I thought you wanted my help." A perpetual grin hung on Null's face. "It is your lost trinket you seek, isn't it? The item is bound to you, is it not? I must touch you in order to locate the amulet and be able to track it." Valor scowled. Though Null's reasoning was sound, Val was sure that the unexpected move had been with the intent to scare him. Slowly, the young man extended his arm again, and Null again took him by the wrist. Valor's body tensed up at the cold grip, and a shudder ran through him as he felt Null's magic snaking through him. It was worth it, it was worth it to get the amulet back..
"This way." Null released him suddenly, turning away, and pointing across the field to the west. "The amulet is this way." Valor blinked, surprised at how effective it had been.
"Then lead the way." Nodding mildly, Null turned, leading the small group across the field towards the setting sun.