AN: 5000 views! 29 Favs! 29 Follows! AND FINALS ARE OVER!
The answer to last week's puzzle: Vowels! A, E, I, O, U...but not Y. Poor Y. It deserves Vowel Status. Congrats to Void of Shining Darkness for guessing it correctly first. It was pretty close. Enjoy your cookie and your acknowledgement.
(::)
Puzzle: My first is in riddle, but not in little. My second is in think, but not in brink. My third is in thyme, but not in time. My fourth is in mother, but not in brother. My last is in time, but not in climb. What am I ?
Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. If I did, Golden Swords would shoot lasers.
Beta: Myself since I couldn't get this to TheWritingReader in time. My bad!
Chapter 25
Combat Plus
[Cobb]
I watched carefully as the mass of guards ran laps around the barracks. Captain Iron_Lung had informed me to stay seated while his men finished their exercises.
And man was the Captain brutal.
He kept yelling at the people lagging behind, and added more laps the longer it took them to catch up. Meanwhile the guards were so red-faced and weary, I was afraid some of them might collapse.
Then again, if they collapse maybe the Captain will postpone my sword training in favor of medical attention.
…
Pass out! Pass out! I mentally chanted.
But it was to no avail as the green-capped guards finished their run before collapsing on the well-kept lawn. They took out water bottles and bread to satisfy their thirst and hunger.
Iron_Lung looked them all over before speaking his next words. "NOT BAD! NOT BAD!" He marched in front of them all. "BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT OUTSIDE THOSE WALLS," he gestured to the Kingdom's outskirts, "GRIEFERS AND MOBS WON'T LET YOU OFF AS EASILY AS I!"
That was him being easy on them? Then what's he got planned for me!?
*Gulp*
"STRING BEAN!" He suddenly turned to me. "STOP YOUR GULPING! IT'S LOUD AND OBNOXIOUS!"
…what? My barely audible gulp was deemed 'loud and obnoxious' by a man who could easily pass as a cross between a fire alarm and an air horn?
How the hell does that work!?
The green-haired Captain turned his attention back to his men. "OUTSIDE THE WALLS YOU NEED TO GIVE 1000% OF EVERYTHING YOU GOT…OR ELSE JOIN THE MILLIONS OF DEAD CRAFTERS IN OBLIVION! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!?"
"Sir, yes sir!" The guards all shouted in unison.
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"
"SIR, YES SIR!" They all blared.
"OKAY, A LITTLE BIT SOFTER NOW!" The Captain backed-down lamely. "THAT LAST ONE HURT MY EARS!"
"Uh…Sir, yes sir?" They repeated, softer, but rather questioningly.
"MEH, WE'LL WORK ON IT!" The Captain stated as an afterthought.
"IN THE MEANTIME, I HAVE A SPECIAL TREAT FOR YOU ALL TODAY!" He gestured to my sitting form. "THIS LITTLE STRING BEAN NEEDS TO LEARN THE BASICS OF SWORDSMANSHIP, AND HAS THUS GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO A LITTLE SPARRING MATCH BETWEEN HIM AND I SO THAT I CAN SHOW HIM, AND YOU LOT, THE ROPES!...OR… SWORDS IN THIS CASE!"
"I didn't say anything like that!" I argued half-heartedly, already knowing I would be dragged into it regardless of any words I offered.
After all, Wynn had passed me off to Iron_Lung like some kind of unwanted puppy. Just to enjoy some time to herself. Apparently I was too annoying for her.
I hope she's having a miserable time right now! I thought spitefully as Iron_Lung dragged me to a small arena.
[Wynn's Mansion]
Wynn was not having a miserable time right now.
She was lounging on her bed, a soothing record playing relaxing music, while she enjoyed a long-time favorite book of hers. Even though she's read it numerous times, it was so enjoyable and immersive that she could almost feel her troubles melt away.
Being one of Ringwood's Captains was stressful work, and she was on her vacation after all.
No Erin. No Cobb. Just her and her thoughts.
She glanced at the clock framed above her bedroom door. It was roughly noon. She was planning to pick-up Cobb from his 'sword training' at sunset. That left her with enough time to train. She really hadn't gotten any exercise…apart from trouncing Cobb in a surprisingly exhausting duel.
She bookmarked her spot before walking out of her bedroom, down the stairs, and out into the backyard.
She had been trying to get Cobb to use a sword and lose properly, but instead he had stubbornly clung to his damned fishing rod. She couldn't stand it. All his boasts and bragging about how it took down Carys_Angel.
She thought they were all lies at first, but after dueling him, she realized that it was not as ridiculous as she once believed.
So what if the fishing rod did no damage. It wouldn't have to if they were suspended over lava. Just one simple hit would knock her down. No different from a tossed snowball or an egg.
But Carys is…was…a monster.
Wynn remembered the first time she met her. There were reports of mass killings in the Western District. When Wynn went to investigate, she saw Carys, surrounded by piles of gear from guards and civilians alike. Her red eyes so cold and impassive, as if she had simply squashed a few ants instead of end fellow human lives.
And then they crossed swords.
Even with a superior weapon like the rapier against a diamond sword, Wynn and Carys were evenly matched. Trading blows, spitting out insults, red eyes staring down amber eyes.
Finally, when back-up was nearing, Carys gave a parting smirk before leaping on her pig steed and taking off. Wynn could have pursued her, but she didn't.
Because she had seen the tattoos on her arm. She only had two hearts left to Carys' five.
Chasing her would have been suicide.
Returning her mind to the present, Wynn found it hard to believe that someone like that would fall to someone like Cobb…over something so trivial like a fishing rod.
It was embarrassing!
Deciding to practice her archery, she withdrew her bow and began taking shots at the targets she lined up against the hedges. The shots hit the targets, but none of them were bulls-eyes. She was really better with a sword than long range weapons.
Which was a problem she was trying to rectify. If she had enough proficiency with a bow, than the incident with Cobb knocking her into the pond wouldn't have happened in the first place. She would have shot him in the face and extricated herself from the pond with ease.
Instead, she was humiliated by him.
Him and his stupid fishing rod!
After loosing all her arrows, she walked over to the targets to retrieve them and start over. That's when she noticed an item littering the lawn.
She stooped down to pick it up and discovered it to be…Cobb's stupid fishing rod! He must have dropped it after she knocked him out.
She scoffed at the tool as she weighed it in her hands, remembering Cobb's words.
'Don't mock the fishing rod until you try it. I'd be happy to instruct you on its usage…'
"Yeah right." She mumbled as she walked over to a chest specifically designated for any garbage she found on her lawn. As she opened the chest, ready to drop the rod into it, she heard a faint grumble.
*UHNNN*
She glanced across the pond to spot a lone zombie. It emerged from a patch of darkness underneath an old tree and was steadily making its way towards her.
That is, until it caught fire in the sunlight.
It quickly abandoned its movements towards the Captain in favor of the cooling water of the pond. Perfect for extinguishing flames.
Also perfect for being a sitting duck.
Wynn walked away from the chest and moved to take out her bow and end the undead Mob intruding upon her property…but stopped half-way.
Watching the Zombie, she realized the situation was remarkably similar to how the duel earlier that day had gone. Opponent in the water, someone out of the water…and possessing a fishing rod.
She still had the rod in her hand and looked between it and the Zombie trying to get out of the water on her side. The idea was already forming in her mind before she realized…and Cobb did seem to enjoy himself a bit.
She shrugged as she pulled back the rod, readying to whip it after the Zombie. Just one hit to its face before I shoot it. She thought confidently as she remembered the concept of fishing, hoping it would apply the same for hitting Mobs.
Although if Cobb could do it, how hard could it be?
She cast the rod and watched the bobber sail through the air before making contact with the Zombie, knocking it back a bit. Satisfied she hit her mark, Wynn smirked lazily while reeling the rod in, hoping to quickly swap to her bow and finish the Zombie off.
The only problem was, she reeled in with far too much strength. The hook of the bobber actually latched itself onto the Zombie's torn shirt and pulled it clear out of the water…straight towards the white-haired Captain.
Surprised and caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, Wynn was knocked down as the Zombie swiped at her with its claws and tried to take a bite out of her. Holding the Mob at bay with her outstretched arm, Wynn fumbled at her belt for the familiar iron rapier.
Meanwhile, the Zombie, being in sunlight again, caught fire, adding a new element of danger to its strikes. Wynn dodged as best she could, but found herself catching fire as well.
What is happening right now!? I'm a Captain! I don't lose to simple, run-of-the-mill Mobs like this! She thought angrily as she finally withdrew her rapier and skewered the Zombie through its neck. The next instant, it vanished in a puff of smoke, EXP, and rotten flesh.
And she was still on fire.
She quickly rolled into the pond and came out sputtering and soaked, but alive.
As she dragged herself back onto solid ground she had to wonder.
What did I do wrong there?
She cast the fishing rod, just like Cobb had. She hit the target, just like Cobb had. But instead of just knocking the Zombie back, it had actually yanked the Zombie from the pond.
Cobb hadn't done that…well actually he had. He yanked Wynn into the pond to begin with. But then he had switched to simply 'bobbering' her. His casts never pulled her from the water. If they had, then she would have sunk her rapier into him sooner just as the Zombie had attacked her.
So where did she go wrong with the 'bobber'?
Already she was analyzing possible techniques. Perhaps I put too much strength into reeling in. Or took too long with the cast, allowing it to fasten securely to the Zombie before—
WAIT A MINUTE!
Why do I even care!? It's a fishing rod! It's not even a proper weapon! She mentally screamed.
She looked at the fishing rod with disdain, as if finally realizing what she was doing, before walking over to the garbage chest and dumping it unceremoniously. She also took a nervous glance around the backyard to see if anyone had seen her use the rod in the first place. Her pride depended on it.
She wasn't going to get dragged into Cobb's idiocy. A fishing rod is a tool to obtain food! And at best, it can maybe pull out useless junk and trash items.
But not for combat. Never for combat! And she'd be damned if she was going to waste the rest of her vacation obsessing over some useless tool. She had better things to work on. Like her archery!
Yes! Archery! Proper combat! That was what she needed to focus on.
She took out the bow again and began taking rapid shots at the targets, trying to repress the memory of her failing to use a fishing rod successfully…
While Cobb could.
[Cobb]
I stood across from Captain Iron_Lung, who I strongly suspected was a blaring-banshee-fire-alarm-in-disguise, while he put on his iron armor and, strangely enough, a green leather cap. The other guards were sitting on the sidelines, both content with taking a break from training and eager to watch their Captain trounce some no-name Crafter.
Namely: Me.
Before we began the spar, however, Iron_Lung called me over to whisper something to me.
And I only use the word 'whisper' because it was several times softer than how he usually…spoke.
"String Bean! I gotta ask, what's your combat experience like!? What exactly am I working with fighting you!?" If he was trying to be discreet, he was failing miserably as all the guards' attention was immediately drawn to us. "How many Crafters have you killed!?"
"Um…one." Being Carys_Angel.
Even though Floyd was technically the one that tossed her into lava, I had to stick with the story I told the King. That being, I had killed one of the most dangerous criminals in Ringwood…with a fishing rod.
Speaking of which, where did I lose my fishing rod? I know I had it with me when I fought Wynn.
"I see!" Iron_Lung continued. "In other words you're a Newb at Combat! Well then, how about I make this a bit more interesting!" He pulled a gold sword from his belt and it shined in the midday sun. "I don't want you to give up so easily! So here's the offer! You land a hit on me and damage my health, and I'll give you this gold sword, free of charge!"
Looking at the sword, I could see my own awestruck expression reflected right back at me. The sword had such luster that I couldn't believe I had never noticed it before.
Then again, the one and only time I had seen a golden sword was when it was pressed against my neck by a red-eyed killer.
Despite the awful yellow color, it had to be good. Stronger than my stone sword if Iron_Lung was offering it in the first place. Plus it was made of gold! It had to be powerful, right?
Defeating a trained Captain may have been an ordeal, but just landing a hit? I could handle that…even though I couldn't land a hit on Wynn.
"I'll take those odds." I agreed somewhat confidently. The Captain just smirked as if I had acted how he hoped I would.
"VERY GOOD!" He switched from his 'whispering' tone so quickly that I flinched backwards, ears ringing. "NOW WATCH CLOSELY ALL OF YOU! IT NEVER HURTS TO REMEMBER THE BASICS!"
He held the gold sword in a stance and I mirrored his actions with my stone sword. It had been a while since I held it, and once again I felt the stronger weight. I could feel that it could do a lot more damage than a wooden sword.
"LESSON ONE!" The Captain screeched as he aimed a simple slash at my torso. I quickly backpedaled, dodging it by an inch. "THE SIMPLE SWORD STRIKE! VERY STANDARD AND CAN BE DONE FROM ANY ANGLE YOU WISH!"
In response, he angled the slashes from various sides. Most of them I dodged, but some of them were too fast and nicked me in the shoulder. I quickly aimed some slashes at him, but he dodged them without even trying.
"LESSON TWO!" The Captain held up two fingers as I aimed a strike from the left. He held his gold sword vertically and stopped the strike with a block, sparks flying as stone clashed against gold.
"BLOCKING CAN REDUCE DAMAGE DRASTICALLY AND MAKE YOUR OPPONENT LOSE THEIR MOMENTUM!" As he said that, I tried another attack from the right. But his sword intercepted it again, stopping my blade cold. "IT WORKS THE SAME WITH ARROWS! SOMETIMES A BLOCK CAN BE BETTER THAN A STRIKE!"
Come on, I just need to land one hit!
Slash after slash I struck at the green-haired Captain, but each time he just blocked. I noticed the guards on the sidelines, cheering for the Captain, while I felt myself slowing down. I really needed to eat something.
"AS YOU MEN CAN SEE FROM STRING BEAN HERE, HE'S LOSING STEAM AND HUNGER WITH ALL HIS RAPID STRIKES!" The Captain kicked my calf, easily toppling me to the ground before he backed off. "A STRATEGY RELYING TOO MUCH ON OFFENSE CAN BACKFIRE! SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO GAUGE YOUR STRENGTH! SWITCH FROM OFFENSE TO DEFENSE WHEN APPROPRIATE!"
I quickly munched on some baked potatoes to fill my Hunger Meter before returning to my feet. The Captain noticed this and readied his own sword to strike me.
Remembering his advice, I tried blocking his slashes. They were slower than Wynn's strikes and I vaguely wondered if he was going easy on me for the sake of teaching.
This is the basics of sword fighting? But I've already done all this stuff! This can't be all there is.
After blocking two of his strikes, he leapt back…and got into an odd stance. Both of his arms were gripping his sword to the side and his eyes were focused on me. The next instant, he rushed forward, sprinting all out. "LESSON THREE!"
I had my sword ready to block, but just as his blade crashed into mine, I felt my blade and myself get battered back.
More like launched back. He had so much momentum in that strike when it crashed into me and I was sent into the air before landing on my back.
"THAT WAS A KNOCKBACK STRIKE!" He explained to the watching guards. "WHEN RUSHING AN OPPONENT IN A SPRINT, YOUR FORCE CARIES INTO YOUR STRIKE! IT CAN STAGGER A BLOCKING OPPONENT AND SEND THEM REELING BACK!"
"THERE'S A KNOCKBACK ENCHANTMENT THAT CAN PULL OFF THE SAME THING WITHOUT RUNNING, BUT SOMETIMES, YOU NEED TO RELY ON YOUR OWN SKILLS!" I got back up to my feet and wiped the sweat from my forehead. "ENCHANTMENTS RUN OUT, BUT YOUR SKILLS STAY WITH YOU!"
I got into a stance similar to the Captain's Knockback Strike (damn that sounds cool!) and rushed at him. For sure, that would land a hit.
But just as I was about to hit him, he sidestepped out of the way and stuck out his leg. I tripped, rolled, and slid across the arena, getting a face full of dirt.
"HOWEVER, THE KNOCKBACK STRIKE PUTS SO MUCH FORCE INTO ONE BLOW, THAT A SIMPLE DODGE CAN MAKE IT FALL APART!" He planted his gold sword in the ground and leaned on it as he regarded my prone form. "IT ALSO DOESN'T HELP WHEN YOU TELEGRAPH THE ATTACK SO OPENLY LIKE STRING BEAN HERE! TAKE NOTES NANCIES. THAT IS WHAT NOT TO DO IN COMBAT!"
I seethed in annoyance as the Captain's comment elicited some laughs from the crowd, which was steadily growing larger as more guards came to watch our spar. I got back up to my feet, ready to try the Knockback Strike again, but with more subtlety.
Alright. Maybe I should pretend to be too slow. Make him think I'm exhausted and have no energy left to attack. Then, I'll surprise him with a—
Heart: Hey, Cobb. I know you're busy, but I felt you should know that Brain has finally recovered.
What?...oh…that's great, but, yeah, I'm kind of busy.
Brain: GAH! Stop shouting! I have a splitting head ache!
I'm…not scream—wait how am I supposed to scream in my thoughts anyway?
Liver: Like this. BRAAAAAIIIIIN!
Brain: GAH! LIVER! CUT IT OUT! My head is pounding!
Heart: He still has a hangover. Even after a day.
Stomach: And I think Liver is using it as payback.
Liver: Hey Brain. I heard that hangovers give killer headaches and make every sound feel 100 times louder. IS THAT TRUE!?
Brain: AUUUGH! Liver you little shit! Shut up!
Heart: Perhaps this will teach you not to drink so much.
Brain: But…I was celebrating you agreeing with me…
Liver: Hey Bladder. Do you have an air horn I can borrow?
Bladder: *hands over air horn*
Brain: No, Liver, p-please…have mercy.
Liver: After all those insults you threw at me?
Brain: Oh come on…those were…I was just messing around…heh heh…
Liver: Alright then. I won't use the air horn, but you have to promise not to make fun of me from now on.
Brain:…
Liver:…
Brain: …just use the damn air horn.
Liver: *mashes air horn in Brain's ear*
Brain: AUUUGHHHHH!
Heart: You'd rather go through agonizing pain than to just not make fun of Liver anymore?
Brain:…it was an easy choice…and you're gonna pay for this, Liver…as soon as this splitting headache subsides…
Liver: I believe the phrase is…YOLO! *mashes air horn*
Brain: NGHHHHH!
Why do you guys only speak up at the WORST possible times! I internally complained. I was so focused on my internal organ squabble that I failed to notice Iron_Lung taking a new stance. Only one arm was holding the sword before he charged right at me.
"LESSON FOUR! NEVER LOSE FOCUS IN BATTLE!" I tried to ready my sword to block, but I was too shocked to position it in time. "AND LESSON FIVE!"
At those words, the Captain leapt into the air, and pulled his sword back. What I saw next were tiny white stars gleaming off his sword. They were so unnatural that I could tell they had nothing to do with the golden sword's shine.
And that they somehow meant trouble for me.
He slashed with the blade, white stars dancing of the surface as it struck me. I was blasted back, taking a lot more damage than the regular hits, and found myself spread out against the ground, belly-up, like a helpless turtle.
"CRITICAL HITS!" The Captain roared in triumph as he sheathed his sword at his belt. "WHEN A CRAFTER MAKES A STRIKE WHILE AIDED BY GRAVITY, THE FORCE TRANSLATES INTO THE BLADE, COATING IT IN WHITE STARS OR, AS I LIKE TO CALL IT, 'CRIT AURA!'"
"THE SAME OCCURS WITH ARROWS FULLY PULLED BACK ON BOWS! CRIT AURA INCREASES YOUR DAMAGE OUTPUT SO LONG AS YOU'RE FALLING WHEN MAKING THE ATTACK!" He took out some steak from his belt and tore at it ravenously. "ANY AMOUNT OF FALLING WILL ACTIVATE THE CRIT AURA! THE ARROWS DON'T REQUIRE AID BY GRAVITY, BUT THE SWORD STRIKES DO! REMEMBER THAT!" He pointed to the crowd who had all nodded, some probably taking mental notes.
As for me, I just laid flat on my back, admiring the clouds drifting through the peaceful blue sky. Everything hurt, and I figured my health was below half.
Would it hurt for there to be one fight I could win?
[Wynn's Mansion]
"Missed again." Wynn complained as she walked over to the targets. After her failure with the fishing rod, whatever meager skill she had with a bow was slowly dwindling. Her arrows had gone from at least hitting the wooden targets, to hitting the hedges behind them.
And she knew full well what was throwing her aim off.
It was that garbage chest. If it had eyes, she knew it would be staring at her, almost mockingly, because of what was inside.
The fishing rod.
It was in that chest, sitting on a pile of garbage, as a constant reminder that I had failed to do something that even a moron like Cobb could do.
That was a scary thought. That Cobb might actually possess a skill that she didn't. Even if it was a completely useless skill.
She had sword fighting, minor archery, enchanting, and so much more experience under her belt.
But Cobb had a skill that she didn't. A Newb had more experience than her. And it was tearing her up on the inside. Making her lose focus on her shots. Her swordsmanship would probably be lacking as well. And that was something she couldn't allow to unfold.
She couldn't jeopardize her skills just by the mere failure at using a fishing rod in a specific way.
So, with great reluctance, she opened the chest and withdrew the fishing rod, performing a few practice swings to test the timing. But she still needed some targets. Moving targets.
She hurried inside and grabbed a ton of cobblestone.
By the end of the day, she would master the completely useless skill…so she could immediately repress it from her memory and get on with more useful tools.
Curse you Cobb! Wynn thought to herself as she began constructing a cobblestone structure in her backyard. Even when you're not here, you plague me with your stupidity!
[Cobb]
Would it hurt for there to be one fight I could win? Cobb internally groaned.
Actually, not even win! I just need to land a solid hit! But every time I try, he just blocks or dodges…or yells.
"HEY, STRING BEAN!"
See? More yelling.
"I HOPE YOU'VE GOTTEN YOUR SECOND WIND! BECAUSE THAT WAS JUST A WARM-UP!" He screamed as he gripped the scruff of my hoodie and yanked me to my feet.
Warm-up!? He was going easy on me!?
He withdrew the gold sword and gave it a deft flip before catching it in his left hand. "C'MON, I'LL EVEN USE MY NON-DOMINANT HAND!"
I rolled my arms to get feeling back into them as I thought up a strategy.
He's strong, fast, and experienced…but he's underestimating me because I'm a Newb. Which means he won't be expecting me to get a solid strike in.
If I could surprise him, just for an instant, then I'll have an opportunity. But I'll need to do something unexpected. Something…unorthodox.
I smirked as an idea popped into my head. "Timeout!" I shouted as I fumbled in my Inventory for my Crafting Table.
"TIMEOUT!?" The Captain roared with laughter. "I GET THAT YOU NEED A BREAK FROM THE CAN OF PAIN I'M DISHING OUT, BUT IN A LIFE-OR-DEATH SITUATION YOU DON'T GET 'TIMEOUTS!'"
The watching guards, too, were chuckling at my inappropriate timing. But screw them! They wanted to watch me get my ass handed to me. I placed the table and formed some sticks before arranging them with some string.
"HEY! NO BOWS! THIS IS A SWORD FIGHTING LESSON!" The Captain shouted as he saw the materials I was laying out.
"It's not a bow I'm making." I stated simply as I completed the tool: Fishing Rod Mark II!
"A FISHING ROD!?" HAHAHAHA!" The Captain guffawed and some guards joined him.
That is, until one guard spoke up. "Now I remember! I knew that Newb looked familiar! He's the fishing rod guy!"
At once, the neighboring guards gasped in shock or began to murmur rumors at the recent revelation. It was kind of hilarious how the rumor mill assisted my story, which now sounded more like a legend coming from the guards' hushed whispers.
"That's him? The guy claiming to have killed the Carys_Angel?"
"There's no way! That witch could kill legions of guards without breaking a sweat! How could a Newb stand up to that?"
"I heard from the King's guards that he's an undercover detective!"
"So what? He's posing as a Newb?"
"If so, then he's really convincing."
"Convincing enough to discover Kane's identity."
"I thought Captain Wynn handled that arrest."
"Maybe they were working together. The guards said they looked pretty chummy. And she even took him back to her home."
"Maybe things are more than chummy between them. Eh? Probably sharing a bedroom and all?"
If by sharing a bedroom you mean getting forced at gun-point into an old outhouse…then yes. We were totally sleeping together. I thought dryly as I readied my fishing rod.
"WELL, WELL, WELL! LOOKS LIKE I UNDERESTIMATED YOU!" The Captain shouted before adopting a suspicious stare. "OR MAYBE I'M JUST OVERESTIMATING THOSE RUMORS! AFTER ALL, THESE NANCIES ARE EASILY IMPRESSED!"
The guards protested to being called 'nancies,' but the Captain's words had also made them reconsider the rumors.
"Yeah, who can say for sure he did any of those things?"
"Carys' wanted posters have disappeared. But maybe he's just taking credit for someone else's accomplishments."
"Plus, he's using a fishing rod to fight a Captain? That's newby no matter how you slice it."
"Ha! Yeah, what's he going to do? Fish him to death?"
"Now now. We don't know what his strategy is. Maybe he'll pour some water down, catch some salmon, and cook the Captain a nice dinner! Y'know, to lull him into a false sense of security?"
"Pftt! I'd actually like to see that."
A tick mark appeared on my forehead at their jeers. Oh yeah assholes? Maybe I will cook him up a nice salmon dinner! Just to spite you! It seemed bizarre that the most obvious use for a fishing rod (catching fish) was something I hadn't tried yet.
Meh. One day at a time.
"WELL, STRING BEAN, IF YOU THINK THAT LITTLE TRINKET OF YOURS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE, BY ALL MEANS, USE IT TO YOUR HEARTS CONTENT!" He held his gold sword loosely in his left hand. "JUST KEEP IN MIND, A STRIKE WITH A FISHING ROD DOESN'T COUNT AS DAMAGE! ONLY SWORD DAMAGE!"
I nodded to his words and slowly circled him with my fishing rod ready to whip forward. He mirrored my movements, the both of us circling each other with the guards cheering the Captain on or jeering at me.
The Captain sprung first. Both hands gripped his blade as he sprinted towards me.
Knockback Strike. I recalled. In response, I just stood my ground, not even attempting to evade, with my fishing rod ready to whip forward at a moment's notice.
As soon as the strike met my chest, I was once again launched backwards with tremendous force.
But this time, I was ready.
While getting launched back, I whipped my fishing rod towards the Captain and hooked him by his gakuran. I skid to a halt, feet still on the ground, and used the force the Captain hit me with to pull him towards me.
Not expecting the action and still recovering from the Knockback Strike he used, the green-haired, human air horn was pulled off his feet and met the ground with his face.
The watching crowd had gone silent at that, but I was more concerned with the opening I just created. I swapped to my stone sword and raised it to deliver a simple strike to win me that gold sword.
But the Captain wasn't going to lose so easily. He quickly rolled out of the way before sweeping at my legs in a low kick. I fell onto the ground just as the Captain recovered and struck at my face.
I blocked his first strike before battering it back. He backpedaled to put some distance between us. At first, I thought I had scared him off. But then I saw how he was gripping his blade.
Critical Hit. I concluded a second before he sprinted towards me again. I swapped back to my fishing rod and took aim. He leapt into the air, white stars dancing off his blade…
Until a quick bobber nailed him in the face.
"Bobber!" I shouted with a grin as I rolled out of the way of his interrupted Critical Hit. I noticed that the white stars had faded as soon as the bobber hit him.
Now's my chance! I thought as I aimed a low strike at his legs. He responded by leaping over the blade before aiming a strike at my shoulder, which I blocked in turn. Whether he was intentionally going easy on me or not, my response time was improving.
Again we clashed blades. Our faces were close enough that I could see the determination in his dark blue eyes. Our blades were straining against each other, neither of us giving an inch. The crowd was getting into it too. Actually cheering both of us on instead of just the Captain.
"NOT BAD STRING BEAN!" He praised with gritted teeth. "MAYBE THOSE RUMORS ARE TRUE! BUT YOU WON'T BE GETTING THE GOLD TODAY!"
I growled in frustration as I recalled everything the Captain taught. There was the Crit Aura, but I needed to be falling.
…Would just jumping work?
I disengaged the Captain to test it out, but the Captain had immediately aimed a slash at my torso. With no time to waste, I crouched below his strike before springing up in a jump. My sword was held back, and I saw the white stars erupt from the grey stone surface.
With no time for amazement, I swung the sword crashing forward.
And I got a hit in!
It nailed the Captain in the head and destroyed his green leather cap, but I got a hit in. That had to have done damage!
I was so overjoyed at my accomplishment, I failed to notice the Captain's hand which caught my head and held me off the ground by it.
Uh-oh! Human beings shouldn't be suspended by their heads like this!
The Captain glared into my eyes with a cold unmatched fury.
…before his frown split into a grin and his uproarious laughter filled the air.
It was about as confusing as it sounded.
"WELL STRING BEAN, YOU SURE SHOWED ME!" He put me down and patted off the dust I accumulated during the spar. "IN ALL MY YEARS AS A CAPTAIN, NEVER HAVE I BEEN BESTED BY A FISHING ROD! AS PROMISED, YOU HIT ME, SO HERE'S YOUR VERY OWN GOLD SWORD!" He handed his shining blade over to me, which I gratefully accepted.
While I felt perplexed by his joy over losing, I vaguely noticed some clapping coming from the crowd of guards. They were actually applauding the fight. Applauding me! There were whistles too.
And a bit of comments, here and there.
"He's the real deal, alright! Did you see that!?"
"Yes we're all standing right here! Of course we saw it!"
"He landed a strike on the Captain. No guard has ever been able to do that…ever!"
"How…how did he…with a fishing rod…"
"Dude! Dude! We have GOT to get one of those!"
"What's the recipe for a fishing rod again? It's been so long since I used one of them."
"Geez, I don't know. There's sticks and string…but how many?"
"Why don't we ask King_Cobb?"
"No way! What if he heard my comment about the salmon dinner? You think he'd hold a grudge?"
"I think I may have some string lying around."
"The market might have some rods and string handy."
"Hey, good thinking…Can I borrow some emeralds?"
"No way man! I want a fishing rod too!"
"Oh shoot! I think everyone wants one now. We should hit the market right after training."
I laughed in disbelief. I had drastically changed their perception of a 'useless' tool with my performance. It wasn't too different from my goal of proving to Crafters everywhere that numbers and experience aren't everything. And accomplishing such a task with a simple fishing rod just felt right.
"NANCIES!" Iron_Lung screamed as he pointed to the crowd, immediately silencing their excited murmurs. "MY GREEN LEATHER CAP APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN DESTROYED! FIRST ONE TO GET ME A NEW ONE DOESN'T HAVE TO RUN LAPS TOMORROW!"
At those words, all the watching guards stampeded over to the barracks to retrieve the Captain a cap. It seemed weird how he valued something like that.
"Why do you wear a leather cap for armor anyway? Couldn't you get an iron helmet or diamond?" I asked as I munched on some cookies.
The Captain looked at the chocolate-chip dessert with disgust before withdrawing some steak. "SURE, I COULD HAVE THE MOST POWERFUL HEADGEAR IN MINECRAFTIA! BUT IT WOULDN'T MEAN A THING TO ME IF IT WASN'T DYED!"
"THE GUARDS AND CAPTAINS DON'T JUST WEAR THEM AS A FASHION STATEMENT! GREEN IS THE COLOR OF THIS KINGDOM! IT'S OUR SYMBOL! AND MOST IMPORTANTLY..."
Surprisingly, he pulled me in and adopted his 'whispering' tone to speak the last part.
"…it shows that I'm a brother in arms to those nancies!" He pointed to the handful of guards who had managed to procure a green-dyed helmet as they ran towards us. "Our color is the symbol of our camaraderie. And every guard or Captain worth their salt knows it!"
As we separated, one of the leading guards almost crashed into the green-haired Captain as he presented him a fresh green-dyed cap.
"VERY GOOD JONAH! NO LAPS FOR YOU!" The guard named Jonah smiled in relief despite his exhausted pants. "AND AS FOR THE REST OF YOU SLOWPOKE NANCIES! TRAINING IS DISMISSED! YOU'RE GONNA NEED YOUR REST FOR TOMORROW'S LAPS! I'M THINKING…5 TIMES AROUND THE PLATEAU…FOR EVERY HIT I LANDED ON STRING BEAN!"
The guards all groaned in despair, still holding their own green-dyed caps, before they trudged back to the barracks.
I should have felt bad hearing they had to run laps, but I was too busy thinking how awesome it was that I didn't have to run laps.
Unless, of course, Wynn sent me back to the green-haired drill sergeant.
*Gulp*
"STRING BEAN!" The Captain roared. "YOUR GULPING IS GETTING TOO LOUD FOR MY DELICATE EARS! SO KNOCK IT OFF!"
Delicate ears? Is this guy serious!? I mentally screamed as I walked away from the training grounds, intent on practicing my newly learned sword skills before Wynn came to pick me up.
…
…she…she did say she was going to pick me up right?
[Wynn's Mansion]
Wynn cast the fishing rod into the pool several times. Figuring out what technique was necessary to effectively grapple an opponent. Or how to better hit an opponent with a bobber (a move she reluctantly named bobbering to save time).
But mostly she was waiting. Waiting for an opponent to appear. And Wynn knew an opponent would appear eventually because of the laws of Minecraftia.
Mobs were a constant threat to Crafters everywhere, especially since they spawned from the darkness itself. However, if someone wanted to fight a bunch of Mobs, they would construct a sealed room devoid of light and wait for them to spawn.
Wynn was just desperate enough in her need for a proper opponent (that couldn't spread news of her using a fishing rod in combat) to construct such a structure in her backyard. It was made out of cobblestone and was a huge eyesore, but Wynn wanted to be done with the fishing rod as soon as possible. And for her to master the useless weapon and get on with the rest of her vacation, she needed Mobs to test the skill on.
And it looked like her time of waiting was nearly over.
She could hear moans emanating from the cold rock. A few Zombies by the sound of things. Maybe a silent Creeper or two.
She would just need to be careful.
She mined out an exit in the cobblestone for the Mobs before quickly retreating to the furthest edge of the pool. The Mobs spilled out of the room and into the sunlight: four Zombies, two Creepers.
The Zombies caught fire instantly, giving Wynn the chance to test her 'hook' skill. She cast the rod towards the nearest Zombie and yanked it into the pool.
Flawlessly.
The hook skill was easily the most useful for the fishing rod. It pulled Mobs in so quickly. Although the combat applications of pulling dangerous Mobs towards you were as nonexistent as Cobb's common sense, it was still easy to perform.
But that wasn't what Wynn was after. She wanted to perform the bobber technique. Just to prove to herself that Cobb wasn't some kind of fishing rod genius with masterful skills.
And yes that did sound as ridiculous as it sounded, but Wynn was frustrated. And frustrated people tend to shove rationality out the window.
The other Mobs had fallen into the pool, whether to put themselves out or get to Wynn, and the Captain readied the rod to cast again. She aimed it at one of the Zombies, seeing as how if she screwed up bobbering against a Creeper it would result in a smoking crater in her backyard.
With a flick of her wrist, the bobber sailed through the air and right into the Zombie. She waited before reeling in and noticed that the undead Mob was pulled towards her. The hook was given too much opportunity to snag onto something.
Alright. That meant she just needed to be quicker.
She cast at a different Zombie that was getting closer and watched how, once again, the bobber nailed the Zombie in the head. Again she reeled and again the Mob was drawn towards her, albeit a bit less.
She was getting closer to the proper wrist-flicking and reeling-in speed.
One more time. She mentally edged herself on as she cast once more.
*SNAP*
The 'one more time' she gave the fishing rod was all it had left. Its durability gone, the broken pole and snapped string crumpled in her hands before disappearing into dust.
Wynn could only stare at where the fishing rod had existed just a few moments ago. It wasn't until twenty seconds later that she registered what had just happened and what it meant for her.
It broke.
…
It broke. She mentally repeated.
…
I broke it.
I broke Cobb's fishing rod.
Another more terrifying thought crossed her mind.
And Cobb knew he left it in the backyard. He'll know it was here.
And when he sees that it's not here…
He's gonna blame the only other person who was here the whole day.
Me.
Wynn could already picture how things would transpire.
'Hey, Wynn. I just wanted to tell you that you were right all along. I was being a stupid newb, thinking I could ignore swordsmanship in favor of a simple fishing rod.'
'Oh…don't worry about it Cobb. I know you can't help your idiotic personality.'
'It is but the curse I bear. If only I was as graceful and talented as you. Instead I am nothing but filth polluting this fine Kingdom.'
'Well admitting the problem is the first step to turning your life around. It won't be easy, but I'm sure you can become an upstanding citizen…in a few years.'
'Golly. I better start right now by using the fishing rod how it was intended to be used. For fishing.'
'That…that won't be necessary, Cobb. Why don't you…help Erin out in the kitchen. Preparing dinner and—'
'Hey, shouldn't my fishing rod be back here? I know I dropped it during our fight.'
'I haven't seen it. Fishing rod? What's a fishing rod? Why are you looking at me? I have nothing to hide!' *whistles innocently*
'Where could it have…wait a moment...*gasp*…Wynn! You used it didn't you!?'
'What!? N-no! Of course not!'
'You used it so much that the durability ran out! And to think I thought you were a dignified Captain.'
'I am a dignified Captain! And wipe that smug smirk off your face!'
'I knew you couldn't resist using it. Looks like you're just as newby as me. Forget becoming an upstanding citizen. Stupidity for the win! Derp-Derp!'
'Nooooo!'
Just then, his Eminence walked into the backyard. 'Wynn. I can't believe how newby you are using a fishing rod for combat. I can't wait to tell this to all the citizens of Ringwood. They'll find it hilarious and your reputation will be forever ruined! Oh and Cobb. Fishing rods for the win! Derp-Derp!'
'Ha-ha! Thanks, Your Eminence! Derp-Derp!'
'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!'
NO!
She would NOT let those overly exaggerated events happen!
She quickly sliced apart the Mobs in the pool.
Her pride was on the line and she would make sure nobody discovered the truth! She would dispose of the evidence, get Cobb a new fishing rod, and repress the events of the day into the furthest corners of her mind, never to see daylight again.
And she would have to get all that done, before she picked up Cobb.
So much for her vacation.
"M-m-ma'am?" Wynn whirled around expecting a nosy eavesdropper, but relaxed when she saw it was her housekeeper Erin…holding an armful of pumpkin pies. "I was just c-coming to ask if you've seen Cobb anywhere? I w-wanted to give him some of these p-pies I made since he says he loves my cooking so much. Then I noticed the structure in your backyard. Are y-you building a new addition? If s-so I have to say cobblestone doesn't m-match well with—"
"Erin! There are more pressing matters to attend to." Wynn silenced the housekeeper's tirade before it began. Time was of the essence. "I need you to go to the market and buy a fishing rod. It's very important that I get one before dark."
Erin looked perplexed at the command. "A f-fishing rod? D-doesn't Cobb have one you can use—"
The Captain cut her off by pressing a hand against her mouth. "Cobb can't know about this. Ever. Lives are at stake. Understand?"
The last part was a complete lie, but Wynn needed to make her point clear. Nobody could know. And judging by how Erin's eyes widened in worry, she understood the implied severity of the situation.
"O-okay! I'll b-be right back." She hurried away while Wynn withdrew her pick and dismantled the cobblestone room. There could be no evidence tying Wynn to that fishing rod.
She mentally kicked herself for not realizing that fishing rods lose durability faster when used against Mobs. It's almost as if it was never meant to be used against Mobs.
She mentally kicked herself a second time when she realized she could have spared herself so much hassle if she had just dropped the stupid fishing rod in the garbage to begin with.
[Floyd]
"I still say those rates are ridiculous." I attempted to start up a conversation as we walked across the wheat fields carrying what percentage of iron we were allowed to keep.
"Hm." Soul mumbled half-interested as he took a bite of fish. Despite the…minor truce, he still wasn't talking. But he was trying to keep his personal feelings from affecting his behavior as a Silver Intent Member.
By the time we reached his cottage, the sun was beginning to set. Time sure had gone fast during the day and I still had to meet up with Cobb come midnight. I'd probably have to explain everything that happened recently too.
Even though conversing with him would certainly take up a huge chunk of the night, it didn't bother me that I might lose sleep over it. In fact, I was sort of dreading sleep after that dream with Silent.
The decapitated Head.
The pool of blood.
The Void.
…
And it wasn't like a few sleepless nights would affect me at all. Traveling to Ringwood, I didn't sleep for two to three days and I was fine. And there was no way I'd give those nightmares the chance to resurface.
So, without seeing Soul to the door of his home like a weirdo, I offered a simple 'see you tomorrow' and began to walk to the park.
"You have a place to stay?" Soul spoke words. Actual words. And it sounded like he actually cared if I was to spend another night braving the elements. Whether they were words as friends or associates…probably more associates.
"Sort of." I replied vaguely. Even though I'd risk getting busted by some guards, the park was a nice camping spot. The pond had a source of food. Trees offered decent shelter from onlookers. So long as I left before the guards saw me, I'd be fine. "I'm meeting a friend. Lot to discuss."
Soul narrowed his eyes at the last bit I said. "You really have a friend?"
I nodded, wondering why it was so surprising I had made friends when Soul had too.
Soul scratched his spiky brown hair. "Well, just don't mention the Intent's HQ. We don't want uninvited guests."
I chuckled at that comment before responding. "He's trustworthy enough. Also, if you want to keep you HQ a secret, you should probably burn that framed piece of paper." His eyes widened at my remark, no doubt realizing how stupid he was in framing the directions to a secret organization.
"Take care." I concluded as I walked towards the park. I had a few things I needed to do, and I could probably get them done before Cobb arrived.
First and foremost: A full set of iron armor.
[Wynn's Mansion]
Wynn was pacing the floor as she awaited Erin's return. She had already dismantled the cobblestone structure, but now she was desperately searching her mind for a specific piece of information.
The durability level of Cobb's fishing rod.
There was a small chance that he'd notice the replacement fishing rod was fresher and newer than the one he last saw. Therefore, Wynn would have to specifically wear it out to the point where he couldn't tell the difference.
And just to be absolutely safe, she wasn't going to hand over the new fishing rod until it was capable of deceiving her. Those were the standards she had set for herself.
However, when Erin finally returned, she wasn't expecting her to arrive empty-handed.
"I'm s-sorry ma'am!" She pleaded with frightened eyes. "I-I looked everywhere! Every market every vendor. But they were out of f-fishing rods and string! Apparently a crowd of guards purchased the entire stock of it for some reason."
Wynn clenched her fists in frustration. Of all the times for something to go wrong! And where did the sudden wellspring of fishing rod enthusiasts come from? Was it some new trend or something?
Wynn checked her clock. Cobb would need to get picked up soon or he might just start wandering the streets. And that would be bad if Kane's men found him.
But if Cobb was brought back, he would discover the missing fishing rod and her pride and reputation would be down the toilet!
She needed more time and an alternative source for fishing rod materials.
"Alright, listen Erin." The Captain gripped the housekeeper's shoulders firmly. "Cobb is at the Central District by the barracks. I need you to pick him up and bring him straight here. No detours." Erin nodded.
"In the meantime," Wynn took out her rapier, "if we can't buy the materials, I'll just go hunt for them myself. Two string and three sticks." She sprinted to the door, but stopped to utter one last order. "And if you get back here before me, keep Cobb from going into the backyard…or bringing up fishing rods."
"T-tell me again how l-lives are at stake over a fishing rod?" Erin inquired tentatively.
"Just do it." Wynn dismissed as she rushed out the door and headed to the Northern Toll Gate. All the while she was thinking about killing Spiders for string and hoping she'd find enough outside the walls.
[Cobb]
I had begun waiting to get picked up by sunset.
And now it was night.
…
And I was still waiting.
…
I sighed loudly as I looked through my inventory for the umpteenth time. Turns out the gold sword Captain Iron_Lung gave me was weaker than my own stone sword. Not only that, the durability on the gold sword was so low after being used by the Captain. It made the whole battle seem like a pyrrhic victory.
…Whatever that is.
And I was supposed to meet Floyd at some park in the Eastern District. I checked my clock and saw that I only had a few more minutes until midnight.
You'd think Wynn would be a bit more punctual given her haughty nature. Or is she just living it up without me to bother her?
…I hope I don't miss dinner. Erin even said she'd make mutton for the occasion. Bless her for her cooking.
"C-Cobb."
And now I'm even hearing her in my thoughts. That's odd—oh wait, no, there she is.
I turned to the approaching housekeeper. "Hey, Erin. I take it Wynn asked you to pick me up?"
She nodded silently, her face turning scarlet again. I swear, either she was always like that around me, or her face only lit up on days ending in 'y.'
Still, there was a problem. "I'm actually meeting someone later so I was hoping she would let me go off on my own."
Erin shook her head frantically. "N-no Cobb. M-miss Whispers was very specific that you sh-should come home immediately."
"I will, I will, but my friend is probably waiting for me and I don't want him to stay in the park all night." I needed to reason with Erin to let me go, or at least accompany me.
"The…park?" Erin inquired as she tilted her head, her black ponytails swaying from the movement.
"Yeah. In the Eastern District. You've been there?"
"Y-yes I h-have." Her face was once again red. "T-there's this pond in the center that reflects the midnight m-moonlight at just the right angle to set the s-surface aglow. It's quite…r-romantic."
"Yeah it does sound romantic." I agreed only half listening to her words. I really needed to convince her quickly, no time for pointless chit-chat. "Would you want to accompany me to the park? Wynn doesn't have to know we're taking a detour."
I think I said the wrong thing since her red face became ten shades darker and she devolving into a stuttery mess.
"Y-y-you m-mean l-like a…d-date?" She asked hopefully.
"Yeah, sure, whatever." I agreed quickly as I looked at my clock again. "Let's just hurry it's almost midnight." I grabbed her hand and rushed us towards the plateau's eastern staircase. All the while she had a blissful expression on her face and was mumbling things about holding hands and romantic outings.
Must be a girl thing. I shrugged as we continued towards our destination…
Unaware that an obscured figure was following us.
Finding the park was easy. Just a big mass of trees in a landscape of farms and fields. We quickly navigated through the foliage until we found the pool. And true to Erin's words, the moonlight reflected off the pool at just the right angle to give it a pearly luminescence.
But I wasn't there for that.
I spotted someone standing by the edge of the pool with full iron armor and fishing. But other than that I couldn't find Floyd.
Did I get here too late?
"Cobb." I looked up as the iron-clad man walked over to us, speaking my name. Surprisingly, it was Floyd. "It took you long enough."
"It's nighttime isn't it?" I countered as I walked over to him. "I see you're fishing for—"
"W-wait!" Erin interrupted as she came between us. Both Floyd and I raised an eyebrow at her odd disruption. Realizing she was the center of our attention made her fidget in embarrassment and mumble out an excuse. "D-don't mention f-fishing…or f-fishing rods."
"Uh…why?" I questioned while Floyd scrutinized Erin as the newcomer she was.
"It's…er…it's taboo…to m-mention fishing in the park?" She posed it more as a suggestion than a reason and it made little to no sense either way. But honoring her request was the least I could given that she agreed to accompany me to the park without tipping off Wynn.
"Okay my bad." I conceded as I returned to my conversation with Floyd. Maybe it would be better to introduce Erin. "Floyd this is Erin. She's Wynn's housekeeper and a genius cook." She blushed at my statement and looked away. "And Erin this is Floyd. He's a good friend that doubles as a damn good lawyer."
Floyd laughed at his introduction before walking forward to shake Erin's hand. "Nice to meet you." After parting hands, he turned to me. "Not to be rude or anything, but any reason why you brought her with you?"
"I'm still on parole remember? But Wynn couldn't be bothered to do her job so Erin has to act as my…chaperone?" I tested the word to see if it fit properly. "A lot's happened in the past few days and I have loads to tell you."
"Same. Although I'm pretty sure what's happened to me over the past two days tops whatever happened to you."
"Challenge accepted." I countered with a grin before remembering what he was wearing. "Glad you finally found some decent armor."
At my words, Floyd scratched his head awkwardly. "Yeah. I would have gotten you some, but the mine charged an enormous percentage. I barely managed to scrounge up this armor."
"It's fine. Because I've learned proper swordsmanship techniques." To prove my point I reached to my belt to whip out the sword, only for it to fly out of my grip mid-whip and 'ding' off of Floyd's armor.
"Oops." I offered as I picked up the stone blade, Floyd just shaking his head the whole time. Erin offered a giggle at my antics before returning to her silence. "What about you and Song?"
"His name is Soul." Floyd corrected. "That's the second time I've had to correct you—"
"They're very similar names!"
"—And I think we've worked something out." He looked up into the night sky. "We're not exactly friends, but he's giving me a chance as a co-worker."
"Co-worker?"
"Oh, that's right!" Floyd smacked his head in realization. "I have so much to tell you."
"Well I do too, but I also have to get back to Wynn's place before I'm gone too long." I explained as I ran a hand through my hair. "So, in the interest of saving time, why don't we just explain our stories to each other simultaneously."
Floyd stroked his imaginary beard in thought. "Alright…let's try it."
I nodded before holding up three fingers. I slowly ticked them off as a countdown for our explanations.
3…2…1…
"So after we left I went back to Soul's house where I discovered a secret note leading to a barn. The cool thing about this barn was—"
"—I went to register my number, but it turns out some Crafter already had it. And I'm thinking to myself, 'like whaaaaaa?' and then Wynn called me a pathological liar, whatever that is, and then—
"—secret organization called the Silver Intent. Their symbol is a silver horseshoe…not sure why I mentioned that…and they want to eradicate the Endward Cult from existence—"
"—Wynn was all like, 'BAM!' and 'WHOOSH!' and 'KA'PLAH!' and she was jumping around and doing flips like some kind of ninja-bunny-rabbit-lady…don't quote me on that…and she tells me the attackers were Kane's men—
"—they want me, Soul, and some purple-haired woman named Cara to go to the Kingdom of Nitebane to replace the Cult's banner with our own. Apparently banners are a big deal—"
"—Potatoes! Baked Potatoes! You have no idea—"
"—I struck a deal, if you'd want to call it that, where I could go along with your mission to Daymonte before parting with my group towards Nitebane. It's a little out of our way, but Brent was understanding—"
"—Cookies! Mounds of Cookies! You have no idea—"
"—I talked with Soul about reaching an agreement, and he was nice enough to give me all the iron he mined! That's got to be a sign I'm getting through to him, right? Although he—"
"—and my first thought was 'cannibal' but apparently that was wrong. Also I slept in an outhouse…I've suffered worse…but the next day Wynn was dissing the fish—"
Erin coughed loudly.
"…oh, my bad…rod. But then—"
"—I know he hates me, but I'm still trying to figure out what I can do—"
"—and if the first Captain wasn't bad enough, this next one was a walking, talking, fire alarm! And he gave me a crappy gold sword, which isn't as amazing as I first thought, as a reward for all my hard work. But on the plus side I think I started a…rod…trend with all the guards."
Erin's eyes widened in shock at my statement. Although I had already covered myself from calling it a fishing rod, so I had no idea what was so shocking.
"—But I know if I work hard, I can convince him to forgive me, somehow."
After finishing our tirades, we both took a long breath of air.
"Looks like I was wrong." Floyd broke the silence. "Your story beat mine."
"You got all that?" I asked.
"I think so…I heard the word 'cannibal' in your story. Did I mishear that?"
"Nope. That's how I said it." I placed a comforting hand on Floyd's iron-clad shoulder. "And I'm positive you can win Soul over."
He smiled confidently at my assurance and I was glad that we were both caught up with each other's accounts.
"Well, well, well!" A deep voice emanated from all around the park, shocking us into defensive positions. Erin just cowered between us. "Look what we have here."
The surrounding bushes rustled before ten or eleven Crafters walked out. Each of them was clad in iron armor and wielding stone and iron blades.
And they didn't look too friendly.
The Crafter with the deep voice spoke out again. "I didn't think you'd be stupid enough to waltz around the city without that white-haired witch's protection." He smirked as he hefted his blade onto his shoulder. "Congrats on proving me wrong."
"And you were even gracious enough to come to a secluded park. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw you and your little lady friend by yourselves, but that makes things much easier for us."
"Um…who are you people?" I questioned as I felt Floyd withdraw his own iron sword. He was right to be on edge.
At my ignorance, the deep voiced Crafter's eyes bulged out of his face. "You don't know!? We're part of Kane's Black Market heirarchy…or at least we were, until some shit-faced punk in a black-and-white hoodie blew the whistle on us and ruined EVERYTHING!"
At that moment, I really wished I had the ability to stash my permanent black-and-white hoodie away.
"We had good pay working for Kane." One of the other goons spoke up. "I was weeks away from opening up my own cat farm. Now it's a struggle just to keep myself out of jail."
"You may have escaped death once, but the Captain isn't here to save you now." Another goon spoke menacingly as he took a step towards us. The rest of the goons followed suit.
"Cobb," Floyd spoke up from beside me. "If we die here today, I just need to tell you one thing, and one thing only…so I leave this world with no regrets."
"What is it Floyd?"
"…This is all your fault."
Inventory (Cobb): 1 Wooden Shovel, 1 Stone Sword, 1 Golden Sword {Weak}, 1 Wooden Pickaxe, 1 Wooden Pickaxe {Weak}, 1 Wooden Axe, 1 Bow {Weak}, 1 Fishing Rod, 26 Cobblestone, 12 Flint, 4 Coal, 8 Torches, 1 Minecart, 16 Oak Wood Planks, 1 Clock, 37 Dirt, 2 Signs, 1 Water Bucket, 10 String, 1 Stick, 5 Cooked Fish, 20 Baked Potatoes, 49 Cookies, 1 Leather Cap, 1 Leather Boots {weak}, 1 Crafting Table, 3 Rotten Flesh, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Entry Pass}
Inventory (Floyd): Wooden Shovel, 1 Wooden Pickaxe, 1 Iron Pickaxe, 1 Iron Sword, 1 Wooden Sword {Weak}, 1 Wooden Axe {weak}, 1 Bow, 1 Flint and Steel, 1 Fishing Rod, 1 Furnace, 1 Crafting Table, 3 Sticks, 41 Oak Wood Planks, 17 Cobblestone, 1 Oak Wood Door, 1 Minecart, 1 Book {Miner's Warren}, 2 Flint, 2 Gunpowder, 9 String, 1 Pufferfish, 5 Raw Fish, 12 Cooked Fish, 10 Ink Sacs, 1 Iron Helmet, 1 Iron Chestplate, 1 Iron Leggings, 1 Iron Boots, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Entry Pass}
AN: DUN DUN DA!
I felt really good about this chapter...even though I'm literally typing this Author Note an hour before publishing it. Finals took priority, but I still managed to hammer out a good chapter.
This chapter has some genuinely funny moments for me. Action isn't as good, but writing fights is always hard. Something about making the actions feel real.
I don't really want to discuss it too much since I have to publish it really soon. I'm actually gonna publish this a bit earlier since I'm going to be driving home during the usual publish time. So have a good day and I'll be back next week.