AN: Alright, important stuff. I have a decision to make concerning my story and decided to crack out the 'Poll' function to make it easier to decide. The details are on my profile, top of the page.
Anyway, the answer to last week's puzzle was the letter 'E.' Don't believe me? Go back and check the riddle again. You'll see.
Congrats to TheDiamondArcher for being the first to guess it correctly. Enjoy your cookie and your acknowledgment. Also, some people were wondering what type of cookie a Victory Cookie is...It's victory flavored. 'Nuff said.
Puzzle: What can travel around the world while staying in a corner?
Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. If I did, fists would cause more damage.
Beta: TheWritingReader
Chapter 19
Experience
[Noman]
Incredible! I thought as I was dragged through the streets by Spark's invisible hand. I never realized a Kingdom could hold so many people.
The Southern District (as the signs designated) was a massive urban area. Five-story high buildings of wood and cobblestone lined the main streets. Smooth gravel and stone paved roads served as paths for Crafters to walk along.
It was a good thing Spark was guiding me. The streets were packed with so many Crafters of all shapes and sizes. The myriad of hair and attire colors made the street appear as a moving rainbow. I would have easily gotten lost in the crowd.
A map along a bulletin board caught my attention and I subtly convinced Spark to steer us over to it.
The map showed the entirety of Ringwood and had signs to explain each landmark. The Kingdom had a wall that stretched around the entire inner city. The buildings themselves appeared to be arranged in a circular grid with a main street connecting the center to each of the four toll gates.
In addition, the Kingdom was split into five separate districts. The Southern District held merchants and marketplaces to trade and buy useful materials. The Northern District held the wealth of the Kingdom and was where all the major political and important people were housed. Contrastingly, the Western District was the run-down part of the Kingdom and was mainly responsible for coal mining, trash burning, construction projects, and other hard labor jobs. The Eastern District was mostly green, containing a lush park and large tracks of farmland responsible for growing the Kingdom's food.
And the final district was the Central District. It contained an expansive bastion and guard barracks, complete with training grounds for guards, and was situated atop a plateau smack-dab in the middle of the Kingdom.
I tried my best to memorize the map, but no matter how long I looked at it, all that registered was that the Western District should be avoided and the center of the Kingdom was a plateau.
And where exactly were the Crystal Catacombs? The map had nothing.
I heard a sipping sound to my left and turned to see a floating bottle containing a light-gray liquid slowly draining. Spark was probably recharging her invisibility effect. I covered her as she drank so that no one would notice a ghostly floating bottle.
Once she finished, she grabbed my hand again and led me further through the crowded streets. I figured she wanted to take care of her store of spider eyes before taking me to the Catacombs.
After a few minutes, we wandered into a large marketplace. There were carts and vendors set up everywhere; selling so many wondrous items that I felt I needed ten pairs of eyes just to witness them all.
They had it all. Multicolored bottles of potions. Trays of sugary confections. Cooked meats. Armor displayed on wondrous looking stands. Sets of tools in materials I never knew could be used: Gold, Stone, Wood. Books of Crafter tips and tricks. Records of music that added a beautiful symphony of sounds to the otherwise cacophony of bustling Crafters.
They had it all!
And with the stack of emeralds I had lining my pockets (or in this case backpack), I knew I could purchase all the necessary tools I would ever need.
If Spark would only slow down so I could get a better look at the wares…
"OW! Stop!"
A shrill cry of pain caught my attention and I turned to see what it was.
"See? I told you boys! The only way to get these beggars to leave you alone is to show them who's boss!"
The second voice I heard was deeper and burlier.
As I zeroed in on the source, I noticed it was emanating from a small group of iron clad Crafters in the middle of the marketplace.
What's happening over there?
I peered over the heads of the crowd and noticed that one of the iron clad Crafters was gripping a young woman's arm. She looked like she was crying and in pain.
How dare that ruffian! I internally shouted as I yanked Spark's invisible hand and gestured to what was going on. She didn't respond (obviously), but she didn't pull me away either as I led us over to the distressed woman.
I didn't know why I couldn't stand the sight of one man hurting a young woman. Maybe it was my Billionth genes wanting to protect someone. Maybe it was just my good-natured and kind self. Maybe it was an unknown sense of normalcy that told me I should do the right thing.
Whatever it was, only one thought crossed my mind.
This looks like a job for the Billionth.
"What's going on here?" I inquired loudly as I stepped in between the iron clad man and the crying woman.
Immediately, the iron clad man released his grip on the young woman…
…and punched me in the face.
"Ow!" I cried out as I hit the ground and felt Spark's hand slip from mine.
"Mind your own business, skinny-boy." The man that punched me in the face threatened.
Not the best heroic moment. I thought as I nursed the wound on my face. I stood myself up to confront the iron clad man—DomPiano—again.
"Uh…" I stuttered as I searched for the right words. "It…it is my business when you try and hurt innocent people."
That sounded heroic enough…or it would have if my voice hadn't cracked on every third word.
DomPiano and his iron clad cronies guffawed at me. "Well boys, looks like skinny-boy here is some kind of hero!"
"H-how'd you know?" I asked thinking he deduced I was the Billionth.
"And a comedian too!" DomPiano joked to even more guffaws from his cronies. "Well if you must know, Mr. Comedian—"
"It's Noman actually—"
"—we were just minding our own business when this filthy peasant," he pointed to the tearful woman, "tried to make us donate our hard-earned emeralds for her selfish cause."
"It's n-not selfish." The woman spoke in a terrified squeak. "The emeralds g-g-go towards the Jibberman rehabilitation fund. It's p-purpose is to support them on their g-goal to reintegrate themselves into—"
"Do I look like I care!?" DomPiano roared as he stomped over to the woman. I quickly got between them again, despite the pain in my cheek.
"Move aside skinny-boy." DomPiano growled. "This is between me and the peasant behind you…unless of course you want to throw down."
"Uh…throw down what?" I questioned to even more guffaws from his cronies.
Unexpectedly, the woman I was protecting peeked over my shoulder. "H-he's not afraid of you!" She defended weakly as she clutched me for protection.
"Oh really?" Dom asked with a sneer and a raised brow. "Because he looks like he's about to wet himself."
As much as I hated to admit it, Dom was right. I was sweating bullets at the situation I had unknowingly walked into. And while the woman's words to defend me were well-intentioned, she was digging me into a deeper hole.
"Look, let's all just calm down—" I began in an attempt to diffuse the situation.
"H-he'll take you on right now!" The woman behind me shouted. "One on one! You'll see!"
"Miss," I hissed under my breath, "please stop egging him on!"
"Now that," Dom began as he cracked his knuckles and downed a dark red potion, "is something I would love to see." Immediately dark red particles began swirling around him. It must have been some kind of potion.
Uh-oh.
"W-wait!" I held up my arms in a placating manner while the woman behind me backed away. "L-let's talk this out. I…I don't want to fight."
"Did someone say fight?"
One Crafter uttered those words. That was all it took to gain the attention of every nearby citizen. They gathered around and formed a circle penning Dom and I in. Their comments were spreading like wildfire.
"There's a fight going on here?"
"Oh man! A fight is breaking out!"
"My money's on the burly guy."
"Yeah skinny-boy doesn't stand a chance."
"Taking bets! Taking bets!"
"This might get messy."
The blood-drained from my face as I realized I was trapped in a fight with a burly and drastically more armored Crafter.
*Gulp*
Dom wasted no time as he charged me like a bull with his arms swinging wildly. I quickly dove out of the way as his fists tore through a street sign unfortunate enough to make contact.
I got back up to my feet as he returned his attention to me. He lumbered forward and drove a fist straight towards my torso. I twisted my body to avoid it, but seconds later felt his other fist nick my shoulder. It was enough to make me wince in pain before feeling his left fist crash into my lower jaw, sending me tumbling into the ground.
In my hazy, stunned state, I could only hear the cheers and jeers of the surrounding crowd as Dom slowly approached.
How…how did this get so out of control?
I glanced around and saw that the woman I defended was nowhere to be found. Well, at least I managed to 'save' her…in a way.
"Get up skinny-boy." Dom growled as he stood over me. "Get up so I can knock you back down!"
I tried to pick myself up, but suddenly found my face forced into the ground as Dom's foot pinned the back of my head.
"Come on skinny-boy. This crowd is looking for a better fight than that!" His face broke into a malicious smile. "So get up!"
I tried my best to displace his foot, but he was too strong. Whatever potion he drank must have strengthened his muscles. I couldn't budge him.
All I could do was lie there and wait for the inevitable beat down. Still, I had no regrets. I had saved a Crafter in need and had done what a true Billionth would do.
…but it would've been nice to win.
No sooner had that thought formed in my mind, than the foot pinning me was swept away.
I lifted my head in surprise to see Dom sprawled across his back, groaning in pain. The crowd looked just as bewildered as they wondered how I had unbalanced the burlier man.
I didn't know at first…until I felt an invisible hand grip my shoulder comfortingly.
It was Spark who knocked him over.
I turned my head to flash a grateful smile, but before I could, the invisible hand yanked me away from the now recovered Dom's bull charge.
"You're gonna pay for that skinny!" Dom roared as he changed the direction of his charge without losing speed.
Just as I was wondering what to do, Dom's left leg jerked unnaturally, as if an invisible force had kicked it in the middle of his charge, and he staggered unstably towards me. I quickly dove to the side and the crowd parted to dodge Dom's reckless charge.
He was heading straight for a merchant and his stand.
"Dirt! Get your fine quality dirt here!" The merchant shouted before noticing Dom stumbling straight towards him. He backed up as Dom crashed into the stand, dumping dirt all over him.
This earned a couple of laughs from the on looking crowd as Dom extricated himself from the dirt pile. His once pristine iron armor had become filthy and he looked murderous as he charged back towards me.
Understanding Spark's strategy, I quickly positioned myself in front of another merchant stand and readied myself to dodge at the last second.
Once again, As Dom charged at me, his leg bent at an unnatural angle from Spark's invisible kick and he was sent stumbling. I dove out of the way and the crowd parted yet again.
"Cacti! Get your prickly, painful cacti here! Great for décor!" Another merchant shouted before he too noticed Dom and backed away to let the burly man crash into his cart.
Immediately, Dom howled in pain and leapt away from the cacti pricking him painfully. This earned even more uproarious laughs from the crowd and even I was beginning to chuckle amusedly.
Why was I ever afraid of this guy? I thought as the fear left me.
"NGHH! Hold still!" He hollered as he made one last charge towards me. I had already set myself up.
This time, his legs didn't bend unnaturally by Spark's kicks, but I was confident enough to shrug that off. I waited until he was right up in front of me as he aimed a heavy swing towards my face.
Then, in one swift movement, I fell backwards onto my back and aimed my left foot at his stomach. I pushed my foot against his gut while I was falling and used his momentum to flip him over the shocked crowd.
Right towards one of the stands.
"Flowers! Get your soft, cushiony flowers! Right here!" A merchant called out from his stand.
For a split second, Dom's face relaxed upon hearing the stand had no dangerous material.
"—riiiiiight next to this boiling hot pit of lava for sale!" The merchant finished as he gestured to the adjacent pool of lava.
Dom's eyes widened in fear and he screamed as he fell into the searing magma, splashing a few of his nearby cronies.
A few seconds of silence passed before Dom jumped out of the lava pool wailing like a baby and trying to put out the flames engulfing his body.
"WAAAAH! WATER! GET ME WATER!" He screamed as he crashed into a few more stands. His cronies quickly recovered and chased after the fleeing Dom with buckets of water held aloft.
As his wails petered away, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause. Some Crafters were even grumbling as they reluctantly slipped each other emeralds. Apparently, they bet on Dom winning, and lost.
"The winner is…this guy!" One of the Crafters declared as he gripped my arm and held it in the air. I was too relieved to care as people chanted my name.
Sort-of.
"Skinny! Skinny! Skinny!"
"I-it's Noman actually—" I tried to explain before a stronger hand gripped my shoulder and led me away from the cheering crowd. Some admirers attempted to follow, but Spark was fast enough to lose them.
We veered into an empty alley before we relaxed our pace. As we walked slowly, hands still interlocked, I couldn't help but blush at Spark's assistance.
"…Hey Spark—ow!" Once again I received a sharp flick to the forehead. "Sorry, nobody's around the alley so I figured it was okay to talk."
After a moment of consideration, Spark patted my head as an apology. I smiled at how much better I was getting at understanding her gestures. I guess talking with her through books heightened my sense of 'picking up on emotional gestures.'
"Anyway…thank you for helping me back there. I…would have been beaten to a pulp if you hadn't stepped in…or kicked in?" I questioned as I thought of a better phrasing. Spark apparently appreciated my thanks as she closed a second hand around mine.
As touching as the moment was, I had a few more questions for her. "So, where exactly are we going?"
Spark remained silent (obviously) and gave two sharp tugs of my arm to continue traveling down the alley. I simply nodded and followed, wishing that I could see the rest of her to read her expressions.
A few moments of walking led us to a back alley door leading into one of the penning buildings. The door was much different to the doors I had witnessed prior to Ringwood. It had no panes and appeared to be made of a darker wood than the oak doors. In addition, the wood of the door was set in vertically and the handle was replaced with a metal ring.
Spark released my hand before taking out a bucket of milk. It floated in the air as a sipping sound was heard. Moments later, Spark materialized before me.
She walked up to the door and knocked several times. A few moments later, footsteps were heard behind the door before it swung open to reveal a silver-haired woman wearing a blue shirt and white skirt.
Her eyes zeroed in on Spark's before her passive expression broke into a smile. "Spark!" She exclaimed as she walked forward and gave the orange-haired ninja a hug. "It's been a while. How've you been?"
Spark just waved her hand in a so-so manner.
"Aren't we all?" The silver-haired woman chuckled before taking notice of me. "And let me guess. He's another hapless Crafter eh?"
Spark nodded unashamed, despite the fact I was standing right behind her. Then again, she wasn't wrong. I was pretty much next to useless on my own.
"Nowhere_Man. Interesting name." The silver-haired woman commented as she scrutinized me. "I like your suit."
"Oh…thanks…I suppose." I replied politely. I wasn't exactly comfortable with strangers.
Thankfully, Spark snapped her fingers to regain the silver-haired woman's attention. I made sure to look above her head to find that her name was 'Rita98.'
"Right." Rita stated as she walked back to the door and gestured for us to enter. "Sorry for getting distracted. I bet you have some merch to sell, right?"
Spark nodded and tapped her eyes twice before moving her hand like a crawling creature across her arm.
"Spider eyes? How many?" Either Rita was a master at charades or the two had known each other long enough to establish a bond of unspoken communication.
Spark just parted her arms wide, as if to say 'this many.' Rita nodded before leading us into a dimly lit room. She guided us over to a small counter adjacent to a chest.
"Alright, let me see them."
Spark nudged my elbow and I quickly withdrew the stacks of spider eyes I was forced to carry and placed them in the chest. They looked disgusting and I wondered why anyone would even consider purchasing such revolting drops.
Rita, however, took an avid interest in the eyes. She examined them like a professional jeweler examines priceless gems. Finally, she nodded as if satisfied and exited through another door with a quick promise of 'I'll be back shortly.'
As we awaited her, I walked over to a nearby table and sat down. I was still thinking about the fight with Dom. I had been so stupid just rushing in without a plan, but my heroic instincts were what prompted me to intervene.
As I replayed the events in my head, a few questions came to mind. Why were Crafters so mean to other people? Why was the crowd so interested in fights rather than preventing violence? Were all Crafters inherently violent—no, wait—that wasn't true. Spark wasn't like that. She stepped in when I was in trouble.
…unless she was an exception.
No! Spark's a good person…even though she technically broke the law by passing the toll invisible…she's still a good person!
In fact, I dare say she'd make a better Billionth than me.
Just looking at the facts, the girl knew ten times as much about Minecraftia than I did. She's a nice person who seeks to help others. She probably would have stepped in to stop Dom if I hadn't done it first.
She has so much experience over me.
She…would be a great Billionth.
A lot better than me.
A fist bonked the top of my head and I clutched it in pain as I curled over onto the floor. I looked up to see Spark standing over me with a book in hand.
[WHAT'S WRONG, SKINNY?]
"Not you too." I cringed at the terrible nickname. I didn't need to see the lower half of Spark's face to tell that she was smiling under her mask. "It's nothing."
She took the book back and scribbled in something new.
[IS IT ABOUT THE FIGHT?]
[YOU FEEL EMASCULATED BECAUSE A GIRL HELPED YOU?]
"What? N-no that's..." I began before considering her comment. Was what I was feeling emasculation? It was only because she was a lot more experienced that I felt inadequate as the Billionth. It didn't really have anything to do with gender. "No it's definitely not that."
[THEN WHAT?]
"…have you…ever heard of the Billionth?"
Spark simply shook her head.
I smiled to myself as I began to explain the whole Billionth 'legend' as described by Notch. I made sure to glance over the parts where I was the Billionth and that the Crystal Catacombs were the next part of the Billionth's quest.
Spark's quill remained still as she listened to my explanation. When it was done, she still didn't write anything as she considered her reply.
Finally deciding on something, she scribbled it down and handed me the book.
[ARE YOU THE BILLIONTH?]
…
Uh-oh.
"W-what?" I chuckled nervously. "Me? The Billionth? The…the savior of Minecraftia? HA! Please. Ridiculous."
[IT'S YOU ISN'T IT?]
…
How'd she figure it out!
[YOU'RE BAD AT KEEPING YOURSELF NONCHALANT. JUST LIKE AT THE TOLL.]
Easy for you to say. With half of your face covered up, people can only read half of your expression.
[ALSO, BACK IN THE ORIGIN FOREST, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT A TEN-DIGIT NUMBER AND BEING A FAILURE. IT WAS WHEN YOU WERE LYING ON THE GROUND WAITING FOR THE SKELETONS TO GET YOU.]
I cursed myself for being so stupid. Of course Spark would have overhead my depressing, and quite vocal, words.
[IS THAT WHY YOU LIED AT THE TOLL? SAYING YOUR NUMBER WAS 999,999,999? A NINE-DIGIT NUMBER INSTEAD OF A TEN-DIGIT?]
So she picked up on that too. I thought as I nodded sadly. "I didn't want people to think less of me…only to find out later that I'm supposed to be their savior. But really...I'm just a joke."
A sad smile adorned my face as I looked up to Spark's bright orange eyes. "I should have died to that Spider Jockey back in the forest. Then at least you could have stumbled upon my gear and become a better Billionth than I could ever be."
Spark's eyes widened at that before she looked down. Her quill was held loosely in her hand as she struggled to find the right words.
"I mean," I continued in a depressing tone, "you're obviously more experienced. I tried to help in the marketplace and that would have exploded in my face if it wasn't for you. And you help Crafters all the time, if those books are any indication. You can craft things so rapidly. Why would Notch even pass on a job like this to me when, literally, anyone else in the world would be better?"
Suddenly, Spark's eyes flared in anger and she furiously scribbled down something in her book. It was a very long message as she poured her emotions into the paper before abruptly shoving the finished text into my hands.
[YOU'RE WRONG!]
[WRONG WRONG WRONG!]
[ }:( ]
What? Right curly bracket, colon, open parenthesis? What's that—Oh, it's a mad frowny face.
[YOU THINK YOU'RE UNWORTHY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DO CERTAIN THINGS? YOU THINK EXPERIENCE MAKES A CRAFTER BETTER!?]
[WELL IT DOESN'T!]
Her orange eyes were set in a scowl while I turned the page.
[YOU SAW MY ARCHIVE COLLECTION OF BOOKS, RIGHT?]
[YOU SAW A BUNCH OF SIGNATURES FROM CRAFTERS I 'ASSISTED?']
[WELL, DID YOU HAPPEN TO NOTICE THAT ONE OF THE SIGNATURES READ 'DomPiano?']
Shock hit me upon reading that line. DomPiano, the burly guy picking on a helpless Crafter…he needed Spark's help at one point?
[THAT'S RIGHT! BACK WHEN I FIRST MET HIM, HE WAS HOPELESS! COULDN'T EVEN COOK HIS OWN FOOD! JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER CRAFTERS I HELPED OUT, HE WAS INEXPERIENCED. ALL OF THEM WERE NEWBS!]
[SO, OUT OF THE KINDNESS OF MY HEART, I HELPED THEM. AND YOU WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENED NEXT AFTER I GUIDED THEM INTO THE KINGDOM?]
Feeling a pang of guilt, but too riveted to the story to put the book down, I turned the page.
[THEY GOT EXPERIENCED AND STARTED PICKING ON OTHER NEWBS. THEY FORGOT PRETTY DAMN QUICKLY THAT THEY THEMSELVES WERE NEWBS BEFORE MEETING ME!]
[BUT EVEN KNOWING THEY'D TURN INTO ASSHOLES, I KEPT HELPING INEXPERIENCED CRAFTERS BECAUSE I FELT SOMEONE NEEDED TO BE NICE TO THEM!]
[SOMEONE NEEDED TO REMEMBER THAT WE ALL SHARE THE SAME ROCKY START.]
As I read that line, Spark gripped my hand with such force that I felt it would break. Still, I read on.
[SO DON'T SAY THE WORLD WOULD BE BETTER OFF WITH SOMEONE OF MORE EXPERIENCE! BECAUSE I WOULD MUCH RATHER PLACE MY FAITH IN AN INNOCENT CRAFTER LIKE YOU, WILLING TO INTERVENE IN A FIGHT TO SAVE A RANDOM PERSON, THAN SOME JACKASS LIKE DOM!]
With that last sentence, I closed the book and stared silently at the floor.
Once again, that weird sense of normalcy hit me in waves. It was telling me that I should choose my next words to Spark carefully, since it was clear that sharing her past was done for my sake.
For the sake of my crumbling confidence.
Unbelievable. How is Spark able to write out words powerful enough to evoke so much emotion? I wish I could do that as well.
I guess being a woman of few words makes her choose them more carefully.
Finally, I settled on a statement. I lifted my head up and locked my royal blue eyes with hers.
"Spark." I began, and I was relieved that my voice didn't crack (it would have really messed up the whole 'heroic' vibe). "I promise you, that I will never become a…a…donkey."
Spark blinked at my words and tilted her head questioningly.
"What I mean is…" I stuttered out, "I will never become a…butt-hole"
Again she blinked and tilted her head to the opposite side.
Ugh. Really wish I could curse right about now! I internally groaned while making another attempt.
"Alright look…I—Nowhere_Man—swear upon my pride that I will never become a…"
"…"
Just say it!
"…J-jack…ass."
I closed my eyes and let out a sigh of relief as it took every amount of willpower I had to wrestle that one word from my mouth. When I opened my eyes again, I saw Spark rolling around on the floor, laughing (albeit silently).
"Hey! Don't laugh!" I shouted indignantly. "I'm being serious here! I won't become a j-jack…you know the word!"
I was astounded that anyone could laugh so hard without making a sound. Her eyes were screwed shut and her face was bright red. She even had to roll down her mask just so she could get enough oxygen to supply her hysterical laughter.
I folded my arms and waited patiently for her to calm down. The entire time, my face was set in a deep frown and my cheeks were flushed in embarrassment. This only served to fuel her laughter more as my expression was apparently too priceless.
Finally, she picked herself off the ground and rolled her mask back up to cover her mouth. Then she shakily scribbled something down on the book while the bright red faded from her face.
[SORRY. IT'S JUST THAT YOU WERE TRYING SO HARD TO SOUND HEROIC, BUT FAILED MISERABLY.]
"Yeah, I surmised as much," I replied with my arms still folded and frown still upon my face.
She mimed a page turning motion.
[BUT I SUPPOSE THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT MORE GENUINE. KIND OF LIKE YOU.]
Genuine, huh.
[MAYBE NOTCH CHOSE YOU BECAUSE YOU STILL HAVE A GENUINE INNOCENCE AND DESIRE TO HELP. MOST CRAFTERS HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT FEELING.]
I hadn't thought about that. Come to think of it, there was a crowd of Crafters that didn't want to intervene. Did that mean all Crafters were selfish?
If what Spark said was true, did experience beget selfishness? Why else would Notch entrust the task of protecting Minecraftia to some random newb?
Spark was right. Notch wanted an inexperienced Crafter for the job.
Still, experience was needed if I was to be able to protect anyone. It would be a challenge to stay selfless through it all…
…But if it was easy, then anyone could be the Billionth.
"I think—no—I know you're right Spark. This is a duty only I can accomplish." I patted Spark's shoulder comfortingly. "Thank you for opening my eyes."
Spark smiled with her eyes just as Rita returned.
"Alright. I did the math, and I'll purchase your spider eyes for…10 emeralds." Rita stood over by the counter and displayed the payment.
Spark, on the other hand, didn't even bother replying with her book. Instead she just walked over to the counter and stared at Rita passively.
But for some reason, it was making Rita uncomfortable. "Nice try Spark, but I can't offer you anything more. Times are tough."
*Stare*
"Seriously, cut it out."
*Stare*
"Ugh…I…I can maybe go up to…15 emeralds? But that's the absolute max!"
*Stare*
"…18 emeralds."
*Blink*
"What!?" Rita looked affronted. "No way! That's WAY too much for what you're selling!"
*Stare*
"…"
*Stare*
"FINE!" Rita shouted as she nearly chucked 18 emeralds and a bonus five potions. "18 emeralds AND five Invisibility Potions! Just please stop the stares!"
Satisfied, Spark collected her payment and beckoned me over to the exit.
As we left the shop, I noticed how dark it had gotten. The only source of light in that alleyway was the glow of the moon.
It took us the entire day to reach the shop and we still had the Crystal Catacombs to find.
However, after noticing the subtle heaviness in Spark's eyelids, I could tell that she was struggling to stay awake. I, myself, was pretty exhausted after everything that had happened.
"Hey, Spark. Why don't we find someplace to stay for the night," I suggested. Spark seemed to roll the idea around in her mind, as if she was a bit reluctant about staying in Ringwood any longer than she had to. "We'll both be better rested for tomorrow."
Finally, she relented with a nod and downed an Invisibility Potion. I was unsure if it was one she initially brought with her, or one she got from Rita. I was also unsure as to why she had the need to stay Invisible while in the city.
Although considering how much she hates experienced Crafters, maybe she just doesn't like being around them. That would also explain why she lives away from civilization.
Once again, I was in the situation of being led around by an invisible, silent, ninja. We exited the alley and traveled to a quaint Inn. Spark was intent on paying (if the floating emeralds being forcibly pressed into my hand were any indication), but I managed to convince her to let me pay. I was worried they would question why I reserved a two-person room, but the woman at the counter didn't seem to mind as long as I paid her the emeralds.
Our room was nothing major. Two beds, two chests, a furnace, and a window overlooking the street. The oddest thing, however, was a lantern object hanging from the ceiling. It had a lever attached to it and appeared to be illuminating the room.
After I closed the door, Spark immediately drank a bucket of milk to materialize and plopped on the bed, face first. She probably fell dead asleep before she hit the bed.
I, on the other hand, just flicked off the lights and stared outside the window. The crowd of Crafters from earlier in the day had petered out to a few strays, probably hurrying home to friends.
"It's not going to be easy," I commented to myself as I observed the Crafters below, "but I'll do my best."
And with that final thought, I fell upon my bed and let long-awaited sleep claim me.
Inventory (Noman): 1 Diamond Chestplate {Severe Shield}, 1 Diamond Sword {Sharpness I}, 1 Bow {Infinity}, 1 Crafting Table, 10 Oak Wood Planks, 1 Book {Notch Mission}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Entry Pass}, 1 Arrow, 52 Steaks, 10 Enchanted Golden Apples, 64 Emeralds, 33 Emeralds, 2 Bones, 1 Gunpowder, 12 Rotten Flesh
AN: Comedy, action, AND character development? How could I ever write something like this?
This was actually the first chapter to not have Cobb in it at all. I think Noman and Spark were enough to hold up the chapter. We'll check up on Cobb next time.
I used my extra Daylight Savings Hour to finish up a project I was procrastinating on. Time well spent.