AN: Running a bit late with this chapter.
Congrats to The Ravenclawed Demigod for getting last week's puzzle right. The answer: The doctor was the boy's mother. Enjoy your cookie and your acknowledgment.
(::)
Puzzle: Two boys were born to the same mother, on the same day, at the same time, in the same month and year and yet they're not twins. How can this be?
Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. If I did, I wouldn't have made Enchanted Golden Apples uncraftable in 1.9.
Beta: Void of Shining Darkness
Chapter 32
Daymonte
[Cobb]
It's good to sleep on a bed for a change. I thought as I snuggled deeper into the covers. After a week of sleeping in makeshift shelters (some flatter than others) and without knowledge on how to craft a bed, I mostly slept on the hard floor. But beds were so much softer. Like sleeping on a cloud…but not an actual cloud because Normal Sense said there was a major difference between regular clouds and sleepy-dreamy-clouds.
The bed was definitely more like the sleepy-dreamy-clouds, giving me the best night's sleep I ever had.
Wynn had been nice enough (and the rates cheap enough) to reserve four rooms for the entire group. The eight guards had to split up into groups of four and quadruple bunk while Wynn and I each had a room for our own. According to Wynn she didn't want me sleeping with the other guards and being a bad influence.
I had asked her why she didn't want to bunk with them, since, by her logic, she'd be a good influence on them. To which she responded:
'Because, shut up.'
So I dropped it.
After all, who was I to argue when I had a room to my very self. Even better, Wynn, in a rare show of freedom, had given us the day to do whatever we wanted while she was scheduled to visit the King of Daymonte.
And the best way to spend my time would be sleeping until noon to be better rested before exploring—
*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*
"Wha—Agh!" The sudden noise made me roll off my bed in surprise before I banged my head on the bedside table. I clutched it in pain while that same blaring alarm kept ringing.
*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*
I covered my ears as I attempted to locate the source. I walked around the room, trying to best filter in the sound as it echoed about, before finding it coming from the very bedside table I banged my head against.
*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*
I hadn't noticed it before, but the bedside table looked like it was made from another material. It lacked the boarded design of most wooden planks, instead having a checkered design.
And even weirder, light green musical notes were popping out the top with every BEEP.
I had no idea what the block even was, but it was making the most annoying sound I ever heard. And it needed to be silenced.
I checked the block for any lever or button or some kind of 'Shut the fuck up!' switch but found none. Punching it only changed the tune of the alarm along with the color of the note popping out. But still it didn't end!
*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*
With all my other options exhausted, I had to rely on the universal method of silencing annoying things: Repeatedly bashing it in with an axe!
I couldn't whip my axe out fast enough before I hacked at the caterwauling block with all my might. Again and again my axe fell on the object of annoyance. After the tenth swing, it finally, mercifully broke. Along with my wooden axe.
But it was a worthwhile sacrifice.
As I watched the shattered bits of axe vanish into nothing, I noticed a red flashing in the wall behind where the alarm block had been. I bent down to get a better look.
It was some kind of red dust that flashed every second, illuminating the opening in the wall. I trailed far into the wall, but I couldn't find the exact source.
Another thing I noticed was a new block at my belt, likely filled when my axe wore out. A [NOTE BLOCK] was the name of it and from the checkered design, I could tell it was the same alarm block I hacked at.
Before I could examine the note block further, I heard a knock at my door followed by a familiar Captain's voice. "Cobb, I know that woke you up so don't go back to sleep. Gear up because we're heading out soon. And don't think I won't drag you out of there just because we're in a different Kingdom."
Heading out where? I thought to myself. Nevertheless, I complied with Wynn's request and sorted through which gear I'd bring and which I'd leave in my room.
I probably won't need all the shelter building blocks since I have my own room. I thought as I left behind a stack (64) of wooden planks, the wooden door, and the wooden stairs.
And honestly, what am I even going to use these rocks for? I left the granite, andesite, and diorite in the chest, deciding instead to bring my clock. I wouldn't have the sun to tell time while inside the cavernous Kingdom.
I'd definitely need my temporary pass, food, weapons and armor, tools, crafting table, furnace, bucket of water, torches.
…and maybe one of those ender pearls. Just in case.
I kept the note block and dumped some of my more useless stuff before finally being ready to go…
…to wherever Wynn wanted us to go.
"Oh, good, you actually came out." Wynn breathed a sigh of relief as I closed my room's door. There was probably security to prevent theft at the Inn, right?
"Well, after the threat you made, I wasn't going to chance it." I complained as I fished in my belt for the note block. "Also, this weird block started beeping this morning. Do you know what it is?"
Wynn knew practically everything about Minecraftia, so it was no surprise that she had an answer. "It's a note block: a redstone item that can create different sounds depending on the block it's placed upon. They're quite common in Daymonte, in everything from musical accompaniment to alarm clocks."
"But I didn't set this thing to ring at the ass-crack of dawn!" I exclaimed as I checked my clock for the first time to verify how early it was. "And I thought you gave us the day off?"
"I did give you all the day off. The guards can sleep in…though I might have set that note block alarm to dawn to wake you up on time." She confessed sheepishly, to which I just stared at her with a tired, emotionless stare. "But for a good reason!"
"Oh yeah? And what would that be?" I asked as she led us down the Inn's hall.
"I know of a prestigious institution that teaches Newbs and other learning impaired on the basics of Minecraftia." She explained with extra amounts of praise. "The impressive establishment is called 'Knowledge Beginnings' and I was hoping you'd want to spend the day there."
I narrowed my eyes at her offer. The old me would have jumped at the offer, but after the Iron_Lung incident, I was a bit more wary of agreeing to Wynn's proposals. Immediately, several things struck me as odd.
The way she was talking the place up. Like I'd be lucky to go there and that I should want to go there. But, as my internal organs advised, the trick to manipulation is to make the person want what you want them to do.
'…Spend the day there…' That was just another way of saying 'I'm going to dump you there for the day.' She expected me to stay in one, boring place when the whole Kingdom was a mechanical wonder traversable via trampolines and minecarts? No chance.
And 'Knowledge Beginnings' sounded like a childish name a 'prestigious' place of learning. If it was some sort of school, wouldn't they tack the title 'University' or 'Academy' at the end of it?
Clearly, there was something more to her offer. Nice try, Captain. I may be stupid, but I wasn't born yesterday.
I was spawned three weeks ago!
"What's the catch?" I asked bluntly as we exited the Inn.
"Why assume there's a catch? Is it so hard to believe that I want you to grow as a person?"
"Well—"
"Did somebody say 'flamboyant interruption!'" Came the cheerful cry of the blonde-haired Captain from yesterday, Veronica, as she popped from out of nowhere. I jumped three feet in the air in fright and suffered a mini heart attack before being caught, bridal style, by a strong pair of arms.
Veronica whistled appreciatively while holding me up. "Damn, Jumpy. Usually you'd need a leaping potion to get that high. You got good reflexes."
"Um…thanks?" I muttered confused and embarrassed as I tried to get out of her hold.
"Veronica! What a…surprise." Wynn began hesitantly, as if not expecting the boisterous blonde. "I didn't expect you to be up this early, let alone waiting for me. I thought I'd meet you at the King's Fortress."
"Well your expectations were right on the money!" The blonde exclaimed as she dropped me unceremoniously. "I'm less of a morning person than an afternoon-to-night person." She grinned as she leaned in closer to Wynn, reaching an arm around to hug her. "But if it means spending more time with you, I'd brave a thousand mornings!"
I dusted myself off while staring at the pair of Captains. Their friendship didn't make any sense to me. One was a strict disciplinarian and the other was a lax and outspoken blonde.
Or was it one of those 'opposites attract' relationships? Two wrongs making a right. Three rights making a left. That sort of thing.
Wynn quickly twisted out of Veronica's hug and gave her a disapproving frown that barely phased her. "If you don't mind me asking," they both turned their attention towards me, "how exactly did you two become friends. You're laid-back and Wynn is..." Amber eyes glared at me. "…less laid-back."
"Well, my jumpy, young Crafter," Veronica began with a smirk, "good-old whitey here," she gestured to Wynn, "came to Daymonte on her very first mission: transporting a bloodthirsty criminal to stand trial in his home Kingdom."
I listened interestedly in her story while Wynn rolled her eyes.
"But, get this, she lost the guy!" Veronica exclaimed with a chuckle. "He just slipped away right under her dainty nose. So I, Veronica, the Golden Eagle of Daymonte, swooped in and saved the day!"
Wynn lightly smacked the blonde. "One, that's not how it happened."
Veronica leaned over and rested her arm on Wynn's shoulder. "Sure it is!"
"No. It isn't." Wynn took a step to the side, making Veronica lose her armrest and fall over. "And two, I thought your title was the Golden Hawk of Daymonte."
"Eagle. Hawk. Penguin. They're all birds of prey." The blonde waved off before she kicked up and onto her feet. "But really, the criminal parts of the story don't matter. What matters is that it brought the two of us to meet and form a lasting friendship."
"It also helps that we serve as envoys for each other's Kingdoms." Wynn supplied with a shake of her head. "Together we serve as messengers for the Kings. Speaking of which—"
"Yeah, yeah. Your meeting is reserved." Veronica assured with a hand on her hip. "Though I had to convince him to meet with you during his statue posing. Hope you don't mind."
"I do mind." Wynn massaged the bridge of her nose in aggravation. "But if there's no other time that works—"
"By the way," the blonde interrupted while pointing at me, "is he coming too? Because I don't think Rotjes will care for two messengers when he's expecting one."
"No, no." Wynn dismissed with a frantic shake of her head. "Cobb won't be joining us. I was just about to drop him off so—"
"Hey, Veronica?" I interrupted quickly, eager to check my theory. "Being a Captain, you probably know your way around right?" She nodded proudly. "Ever hear of a place called 'Knowledge Beginnings?'"
As Veronica searched her memory, I noticed Wynn silently mouthing the word 'No' over and over while trying to convey to Veronica the message of, 'Don't tell him!'
But it barely registered to the blonde whose eyes suddenly lit up. "Yeah, it's a place that teaches Jibbermen the basics, and I mean basic basics, of Minecraftia. Kind of like a pre-school."
I nodded with slow contempt and turned to face the ivory-haired Captain, who had suddenly taken an interest in staring at a wall. "Hear that, Captain? A pre-school."
"Have you ever appreciated the fine architectural design of a cobblestone wall?" Wynn tried to divert. "Because I—"
"If it's not deafening drill sergeants, it's a pre-school!" I complained with crossed arms. "Why do you keep trying to get rid of me!?"
Wynn pressed her hands together and looked at me pleadingly. "Cobb, I'm not trying to get—well…yes I'm trying to get rid of you. But only because I don't want you getting into any trouble."
"When have I ever…" I thought for a moment. "Fair point."
"Exactly!" Wynn capitalized on my admittance. "You got involved with so many criminals in Ringwood, and I don't want a repeat of that. Especially since I want this meeting with Rotjes to go over well."
"If you were so worried about me screwing things up, why bring me on your mission in the first place?"
"Because, back then, I wanted you to suffer for your crimes." Wynn admitted without remorse. "I was hoping you'd get into enough trouble on the way here and learn to give up whatever meager criminal habits you had. And it worked…partly."
I thought about the rain-soaked night I spent living behind a cutout of a shelter. Getting tossed around by a killer rabbit. Crossing paths with an iron golem. Almost getting killed by Griefers and Creepers and Witches and Wolves.
That stuff scared the piss out of me. But Wynn was right in that it only worked partly. Because the trip had also taught me that I was helpful. I got the group across the Caerbannog Valley and that basin full of Creepers. And that really bolstered my confidence.
"Please, Cobb." Wynn broke through my thoughts. "His Eminence entrusted me to deliver his message to King Rotjes. He truly believes I have the best chance of getting Daymonte to agree to our joint-construction project. And I don't want anything or anyone to ruin my chances!" Talking about His Eminence and all the pressure being placed on her was making Wynn breathe heavily.
"Alright, I get it! This means a lot to you." I calmed her down with raised hands. "But I'm not going to wait in a pre-school when there's a whole Kingdom-worth of stuff to explore."
"I'd recommend the Amusement Park." Veronica supplied helpfully.
"See? They have an Amusement Park, Captain! An Amusement Park!" What other reasoning did I need? They had a freaking Amusement Park!
Wynn shook her head. "You're a Ringwood citizen with a temporary pass. The guards here will know you're with my group. And if you get into any trouble—"
"Then I won't get into any trouble!" I pleaded, with my hand held up. "Fisherman's Promise!"
I didn't even know if that was a real thing or not: Fisherman's Promise. Cara had done it with Leader's Promise and I just assumed you could do it with anything. Captain's Promise. Criminal's Promise. Arsonist's Promise. And so forth.
But it seemed to sway Wynn, who looked like she was considering it. "Even one thing could ruin the deal."
"Fisherman's Promise, Wynn." I repeated, not exactly having any other evidence to defend myself. Floyd would probably be better at it.
Wynn narrowed her eyes before darting her hand to my belt to withdraw my clock. She shoved it in my face. "You see this clock?" I nodded quickly, my nose brushing up against the golden surface. "What time does it read?"
"Dawn."
"Good." She pulled the clock back a bit. "When the picture on the clock face becomes a complete, starry, night sky, what time is it then?"
"Midnight."
"Good again." She pointed towards the Stonewall Inn. "You are to be in your room no later than midnight." I quickly nodded. "And while you are spending the day in the Kingdom, I want you to think every time you want to do something."
"Wh…what do you mean?" I questioned with a puzzled look on my face. "I always think before I do something."
"I don't think you do." Wynn countered firmly in an effort to get her message across. "But today, you are to spend sixty seconds thinking over whatever you do, looking at any and all consequences, before proceeding with an action. And I don't care what crazy Butterfly Effects your mind comes up with. If you think there is even the slightest possibility of things going wrong, you are to forget all about it."
I hesitated before nodding to her request. If it meant having free reign for the day, I'd agree to her terms. Especially since disobeying them would result in a visit from Wynn's rapier, Mr. Stab-You-In-The-Balls.
"And if I get back by midnight, and you're NOT sleeping soundly in your bed…" Her hand twitched to her rapier.
"You'll stab me?" I guessed with perhaps a bit of snark.
Wynn narrowed her eyes before relinquishing the hold of her rapier with a grim smile. "Worse. I'll have the guards hold you down and force you to read all fifty volumes of Redstone Engineering!" My eyes widened in fear, even as Wynn leaned forward to whisper into my ear. "And let me tell you, it will be the dullest experience of your life."
She slid the clock back into my belt before stepping back and strutting towards Veronica, all while I was pale-faced and scared.
Fifty Volumes!?
[Wynn]
"Not gonna lie, Wynn." Veronica began as we left Cobb shivering fearfully in front of the Inn. "That was kind of hot."
I faltered slightly at her words. "Is that more of your slang? Things are cool, things are hot?"
The blonde just shook her head with a small smile. "Slang? You're hopeless."
"Not as hopeless as your toll gates."
Veronica gasped exaggeratedly, feigning hurt. "You fiend! You know of my passionate feelings towards the toll gates!"
"Ha ha." I forced each laugh, my voice dripping with sarcasm as we neared the edge of the bridge. "Careful your hurt feelings don't throw off your aim."
Veronica laughed while stretching her arms. "I'd worry more about your stuffiness weighing you down." She then leapt off the bridge with a shout of, "See you at the bottom!"
I smiled as I followed her lead and leapt off the stone bridge and let gravity carry me down.
Free falling was always an exhilarating experience. The feeling of a cushion of air beneath me as the lights and flashes of the chasm blurred by. Below, I saw Veronica performing twists and flips, fully enjoying the method of travel.
Since the King's Fortress was located at the chasm's bottom, bedrock level, falling was the quickest means to get there. It was actually situated below the river, so the ceiling was a tad leaky, but in all my years as an envoy, Rotjes, nor any of the past Kings, had once complained of it.
I spotted the familiar light green of the landing platform and angled my body appropriately. The wind whipped through my hair and whistled while hitting my iron rapier.
Landing directly on the platform, I bounced off the slime blocks before finding purchase on solid stone. Veronica was already there, rubbing her ears furiously. "Ow…I think my ears popped."
"You'll live." I dismissed as we walked towards a small stone structure guarded by two diamond-armored Crafters. The structure was an elevator that connected with the King's Fortress.
"I don't know. It hurts pretty bad." Veronica winced before grinning. "Could you kiss it and make it better?"
Again her words made me falter, causing me to groan. Veronica had a habit of throwing me off with her overly friendly tones; a weakness she took every opportunity to capitalize on. Why she couldn't speak to me with respect, I didn't know. But if she was going to act like that all the time, it would make things incredibly uncomfortable.
I didn't bother answering her tease as we walked up to the stone structure. Veronica's presence was all it took for the guards to let us pass. "Keep up the good work, fellas." She chirped while I opened the structure's doors.
As we stepped inside, Veronica pressed a button besides the door. Immediately, the floor below us opened up and we descended down a stone chute. Even though we were falling, neither of us batted an eye, since we were so used to it. We were even capable of sustaining a conversation.
"So…back at the Inn…" Veronica began while combing her hair back. "What exactly was that between you and that Cobb guy?"
"What do you mean?" I questioned, unsure whether this was more of Veronica's teasing or not.
"Like, is he a new guard, or…something more?" She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye.
I shrugged indifferently. "You saw the green tunic he was wearing. He's obviously a part of my group, even though he's not a guard."
"Okay, but…after that argument you had with him…" She scratched her cheek sheepishly. "Are you and him…you know…" She held up one hand with her fingers shaped like a zero, and used her other hand to insert her finger through the hole. Then she thrust it back and forth as a sign of—
"WHAT!? NO!" I screeched with flushed cheeks. The blonde's mind must have been in the gutter to have drawn that conclusion from a small argument. "Cobb and I are not in a…relationship!" I explained, not wanting to come up with a better noun for what Veronica just described.
Veronica burst out into laughter. "Oh, man, that face! Hahahaha! I should have figured you'd be too much of a prude for something like that!" She clutched her stomach and pounded her fist in the air. I tried to cut through her howls of laughter to better explain the situation with Cobb.
"Cobb is just an associate I'm traveling with...though he's really just a Newb." I elaborated, trying to find the right words. "He gets on my nerves more often than I can count…but I don't think he's doing it on purpose. He's just..."
"So he's like a puppy that pees on the sofa." Veronica summarized crudely after recovering from her laughing fit. "You hate the animal for messing up your furniture, but you can't exactly blame the thing because you know it doesn't know any better."
"I guess that's the closest simile that fits. Sure." Cobb was like an innocent puppy that peed on every single little thing I owned.
And if that puppy pees on my chances of making a deal with Daymonte, Animal Protection Services would have plenty to say about what I'd do to that puppy.
The stone chute we were in finally ended when we landed on the cushiony slime blocks at the bottom level. Veronica strode out with a spring in her step while I followed in her shadow.
We walked down an atrium of polished andesite and red carpet, illuminated by redstone lanterns strategically placed to offer the most amount of lighting for the least amount of lanterns. A stairwell leading up to another level was heavily guarded by at least seven burly Crafters.
"If only the rest of your Kingdom was as secure as this fortress." I commented while gazing at the rows of red-capped guards lining the halls. They looked ready for just about anything.
"Oh, good. You remembered to give me a boring lecture about security." Veronica gushed with mock celebration. "I thought you almost forgot."
"I'm serious." I continued, urging my fellow Captain to hold her Kingdom's safety in higher esteem. "Do you know that the toll guards didn't even bother checking my group's Inventory? I can only assume it's the same for every Crafter entering Daymonte. They could be carrying TNT or dangerous contraband and you wouldn't even notice."
"Damn, Wynn, relax, will you? No wonder your hair is white."
"My hair color has nothing to do with my security measures! It is a result of how I naturally spawned. Not because of stress." I flipped it just to emphasize its natural color and sway. "Ringwood is a safe Kingdom thanks to the strict toll checks and round-the-clock guard patrols. Which is more than I can say for Daymonte."
The blonde frowned at that. "This Fortress is so well guarded because it has a solid base of indestructible bedrock, securing one whole side, and is a smaller area to cover. Daymonte is a Kingdom in a chasm, meaning that even if I increase guard patrols and have stricter toll gates, anyone could just as easily dig underground and enter the Kingdom illegally. It's impossible to cover everything!"
I just shook my head. "You don't have to cover everything, but you have to at least show an effort. If I remember correctly, the entire Northeast Sector of Daymonte is unguarded."
"That Sector is off-limits to Crafters." She dismissed easily. "The rumors and ghost stories surrounding that place are enough to ward people away. Only the brave or stupid would venture there. And you're one to talk about lapses in security." She jabbed me in the chest. "Your Kingdom practically begs criminal scum to get into the Western District, what with all the shady characters and rundown buildings."
I folded my arms and looked away. "The Western District is a problem I'm working on. And if you care about Daymonte, you'd be wise to have airtight security."
"Whatever." Veronica shrugged uncaringly just as we stood before the main door. Behind it was the throne room. King Rotjes would be waiting for me. "You ready to make this deal?"
I took a couple of calming breaths before rehearsing the proposal in my head.
I'll greet him. Offer some pleasantries. Maybe throw in some subtle talk about forming better bonds with Ringwood. Then, I'll make the proposal.
Remember to be charming. Charming people make good deals.
I put on the most natural smile I could muster before turning to Veronica. She looked disgusted. "What?"
"Wynn, what the hell are you doing with your face?"
"What do you—I'm smiling! What does it look like!?"
"It looks like you're a deranged serial killer is what it looks like! Smile more naturally. Relax your face." She walked up to me and massaged my face muscles. "Here, like thi—"
"What have I told you about touching my face?" I asked sharply before backing off and rubbing where she touched me.
Veronica seemed to consider my question for a moment. "Truth be told, I usually tune you out when you're lecturing me. It makes you cuter."
"Alright, enough jokes." I reprimanded, finally managing a normal smile. "Better?"
The blonde looked at my face and nodded. "Better. Well, here we go." She opened the doors and the two of us entered the throne room.
[Cobb]
"Sorry, bucko. I'm not interested in any glass bottles."
"But…say you're traveling through a desert—"
"There's only one desert in Minecraftia and it's nowhere near here. Besides, I'm a mason. I deal with stone, not glass." The mason Crafter spoke as he hauled a stack of coarse stone over to a furnace.
After Wynn and her boisterous friend left, I thought hard about what I'd spend the day doing. Since emeralds were the currency, I figured I'd need them sooner or later. And since working was out of the question on my one free day, trading was my only alternative.
Finding merchant Crafters wasn't hard. They had a market set up on a bridge running through a chasm wall, just a couple of levels below the Inn. They had a pretty decent selection of items too. The hard part was having something that they'd want.
The mason placed a bucket of lava in the furnace instead of coal, but it had the same effect as regular fuel, making the furnace crackle to life and billow forth smoke. "Now if you had any of that andesite or granite, then it'd be a different story."
My eyes shot wide in anger and disbelief. "You're saying…you would give me emeralds if I had stacks of granite, andesite, and diorite?"
"Of course."
I walked over to the nearest wall and slowly banged my head on it in frustration. Why did I leave those stacks of stone!? Why!? Why!? WHY!?
"You okay there, bucko?"
"Just soul-crushing regret. Nothing to worry about." I assured the mason as my head actually broke a chunk of cobblestone off the wall. I shrieked and quickly patched it up. There was no telling what the Daymonte guards would do if they discovered a chunk of the chasm missing. And after the threat Wynn made, I didn't want to risk anything.
I had to be on my best behavior.
So stealing from the mason was also out of the question.
"Um…wait here. I'm just going to go home and grab some stone real quick." I explained, already hurrying out of the marketplace. "I'll be back!"
"Sure thing." The mason waved with a kind smile.
I quickly sprinted towards the direction I remembered the Inn to be. If Crafters used the slime pads to land from higher levels, there had to be a way to get up from the lower ones. And I was sure it had something to do with those towers threading between bridges.
The nearest tower had a line of Crafters in front of it. But since I didn't have time to wait, I withdrew a hunk of rotten flesh and began chowing down.
The effect was immediate. All the Crafters in front of me looked disgusted by the slop I was shoveling down and quickly left the line, allowing me to move up. Some held a hand over their mouths, barreling past bystanders in a mad dash for a trash can. What was once a line of thirty Crafters soon became seven, made up only of those with strong stomachs.
Ah, rotten flesh. You taste like crap, but you're the ultimate line-remover!
When it was finally my turn, I entered the tower…only to see a few odd things.
First, the tower had a single block chute, big enough for one person at a time, extending upwards. Though the tower was much bigger than the one space allotted to me. What was the rest of the space used for?
Second, it was lined with some of those slime blocks, glass to see outside, smooth white blocks of some kind, furnaces, and some weird block I never saw before.
And in the space I entered, the floor was a slime block with a stone button on one of the walls.
I looked up, seeing how high the tower reached, before checking for any other things I may have missed. Behind me, the line of Crafters was reforming and growling at me to hurry up.
"Yo! Flesh-Eater! Hurry the fuck up!"
I quickly turned around, waving a piece of rotten flesh threateningly in front of my mouth like a warning. The line of Crafters immediately silenced themselves, if the bile rising in their throats didn't already.
"Apologies. Take your time. J-just don't eat that stuff anymore."
I nodded in satisfaction before pocketing the flesh and returning my attention to the inside of the tower. The only thing I had to work with was a button. But there was no way pressing a simple button could lift me off the ground to a new level…right?
And what was that strange block lining the walls? Most of the bottom half of it was dark grey, like a furnace. But the top half of it was made of wood. And through the translucent slime block beneath me, there was another one of those strange blocks facing up towards me.
Not knowing what else to try, I lifted a tentative hand and pressed the stone button with a 'click'.
The next thing I knew, the floor beneath me pushed upwards, the slime block bouncing me up through the chute. I was surprised, but I quickly remained calm. After I reached the peak of my bounce, the next slime block jutted out beneath me before pushing up like the first one, bouncing me further. This continued in a steady rhythm, repeatedly bouncing me higher and higher.
"How is this even…possible? Words…not working…too amazed!" I turned to look out the glass windows lining the trampoline tower and saw the criss-crossing bridges and lights of Daymonte. Some odd vehicle soared across the chasm, transporting groups of Crafters across.
I looked at the slime blocks below me, before realizing that they were not only jutting out to bounce me up. They were also resetting, returning to their original position for the next Crafter to use.
How does it know to do that? It's like this thing is alive!
It had to have been redstone, the mysterious tech stuff that Daymonte was apparently famous for.
Finally, I was shot out the top of the tower and onto a new stone bridge, stumbling on the landing before standing upright. I glanced at the convenient method of travel behind me before walking away.
Okay. No time to admire redstone. I need to focus.
I looked around the vast chasm, trying to locate the Inn. It wasn't above, so that meant I probably overshot it.
Sure enough, I looked down over the edge of the bridge and there it was. Luckily, there was a slime pad I could jump to that was on the same level. Only there was a bit of a gap in between.
If I missed, I'd fall to a lower level and have to ride up another tower. But it was a fun experience so I wouldn't mind all that much.
I got up right to the edge and prepared to jump off, thinking about maybe performing a cool skydiving trick or something.
As I crouched down to spring forward, however, my foot slipped and I lost my balance, falling off the bridge…
…And right past the Inn's level. Just missed it in fact.
"Nghh…" I grumbled while falling, looking for another slime pad to land on. The light green color was noticeable enough against the grey stone of the chasm.
I angled my body, wind whistling past me and whipping my hoodie, before landing on a new slime pad. Though this time, I was several levels lower than the marketplace level I started at.
"Well, that sucks." I commented to myself while staring at my location. "I'll just have to find another tower…to…" I trailed off as I turned around, revealing that the bridge I was on was partly closed off.
Why?
Because there was a huge chunk of it missing.
A massive gap separated the two ends of the bridge. And on one side (the side I wasn't on, because life likes to be difficult) was a trampoline tower.
"Why…" I complained as I checked the gap. The edges were all frayed as if a serious explosion blasted chunks of stone away. There was no way I could make a jump like that. "Who'd ruin a perfectly good bridge like this?"
Whoever it was, must have been real jerks because the missing bridge was a huge inconvenience. I could have jumped down to a lower level, but I was already incredibly close to the bottom of the chasm and I didn't want to risk running into guards. Wynn had fallen down there to meet the King, so it only made sense there'd be higher security. And probably a 'no-entry-zone' for Crafters like me.
So instead, I turned around and found the next best thing.
Er…actually…second best thing! The next best thing would have been a giant robot that could transform into some king of vehicle.
The second best thing, a monorail car, was still greatly appreciated.
It was dropping a bunch of Crafters off on the bridge, even though half of it was sort of broken, and the driver was calling out a destination. I quickly hurried over to see if it could give me a lift, even though I still had no idea what a monorail was.
"Last call for the Daymonte grand tour! Last call!" The driver shouted from the side of the bridge.
"Wait!" I called out before jogging towards the driver. "Can this get me to a different area?"
"Can a bat fly?" The driver countered with gusto, prompting me to blankly stare at him. He groaned. "Yes! This monorail can take you somewhere else. All for only one emerald."
"Emerald?" I questioned hopelessly, fumbling at my belt for an emerald I knew wasn't there. "I…I don't have any money."
The driver scratched his chin, eyes darting over me as if sizing me up before focusing on my arm. Then a smile broke out across his face. "Or you can pay with EXP. I can always use some."
"Huh? EXP?" I looked at the arm holding the light green experience bar. After killing so many Griefers and Mobs, it was no surprise my EXP meter was numbered at twelve. "How am I supposed to give—Wait, I'm not giving you my arm!"
"Nono, nonono." The driver dismissed as he pointed at my arm again. "Crafters can transfer EXP to others. No arm-tearing required. You must be a Newb not to know that."
Again, my Newb status was thrown in my face. I was getting real tired of that and twitched in annoyance at the driver's words, but otherwise remained polite. Making a scene would just cause trouble for Wynn, which would, in turn, cause trouble for me. "So how do I transfer it?"
"Easy." He tossed me a glass bottle from his belt. "Just place any old glass bottle against the meter, neck facing towards it, give it a twist like a faucet, and watch that sweet EXP pour out into a Bottle o' Enchanting."
"Don't you mean Bottle of Enchanting?" I questioned as I followed his instructions.
"No, sir. Bottle o' Enchanting." He grinned as he eagerly waited for the EXP.
Just like he said, twisting the bottle caused the EXP to flow from my arm and into the bottle, filling it to the brim. And as it filled, my EXP meter slowly emptied. There was no discomfort or anything. I may as well just have been peeing into a cup.
Once it was done, I removed the newly obtained [BOTTLE O' ENCHANTING] and handed it back to the driver. "Oh, by the way, I'll be needing three bottles of EXP in lieu of an emerald."
I frowned at the greedy driver, but followed his demands. It was a good thing I had those glass bottles.
Two more EXP fills later and the deal was done. "Good. All aboard the monorail." He commented with a smile as I boarded the car. It was made out of iron and had slime blocks, some of those same half stone, half wood blocks, and a new red block.
So many new blocks! I can't keep up with them all!
I took a seat on one of the metal benches. I had plenty of seats to choose from seeing as how nobody else was riding.
"Thank you all for choosing Ed's Monorail Tour!" The driver exclaimed, even though I was the only one there. "My name is Abalone and I'll be giving you a tour of some of Daymonte's most fascinating attractions. Now, let's begin!" He placed a glowing red torch on one of the half stone, half wood blocks before the monorail car lurched forward. The mysterious half-in-half blocks were pushing the wooden part of it forward like a piston, which pushed the car forward, before something then pulled the stone part of the piston forward to meet back up with its counterpart.
And the repeated process made the car move.
So that's what those blocks do. I thought while watching the piston block push and pull.
"Now if you look to your left, you can see the Potato Tech building." The driver announced from his seat up front as he gestured to the left. The building he described was a multi-story building etched into the chasm wall with a giant mosaic potato plastered on the side. The words 'Potato Tech' shone alone with it.
"Potato Tech was founded nearly four centuries ago, and has been working tirelessly to push the capabilities of redstone technology. It was the brilliant minds of Potato Tech founders Henrique and Vanizon that developed much of the common technology you see today. From TNT cannons and elevators to the very monorail you're riding in. Thanks to those redstone pioneers, Daymonte is kept at the pinnacle of innovation."
He sounded like he was reading the information directly from a book, but the stuff he was saying was at least interesting.
"And if you look on your right, you'll see one of Daymonte's national treasures: The Mega Calculator!" I glanced to my right before doing a double take.
Along the chasm wall was an opening, an entrance of sorts, that led into a larger hollowed out chamber. The entrance was heavily guarded by burly, red-capped, and diamond clad Crafters. A crowd of people was also hovering outside the entrance, looking like they were protesting something. But it was what was in the chamber that had me speechless.
I saw countless paths of that red dust from the Inn, connecting diverging paths into pistons and red torches and flat white objects that I couldn't even describe with words. There were lights and flashes and the entire thing connected to a wall of lanterns with numbers lit across. It reminded me of a complex circuit board.
…What's a circuit board again?
"The Mega Calculator was built by Daymonte's first King and founder, Jeb! After developing and researching several different types of redstone circuits, he decided, on a whim, to make the biggest and most complicated piece of redstone tech known to man. It took seven months to carry out his order to carve out a chamber big enough for the calculator. And it took seven years for him to finally perfect the device. It was so massive, the chamber actually needed to be expanded further!"
"Despite its status as the single most incredible feat of redstone circuitry, today, it is a subject of much controversial debate. People wish to demolish the calculator to make room for new homes and buildings, while others value the calculator's historical significance too much to let it fall. As it's a testament of Jeb's ingenuity, I personally feel like it'd be a waste to demolish such a work of technology."
The tour continued in that same fashion for a while. Abalone would point out a landmark and that chatter aimlessly about it. We passed a few more interesting things. The haunted and restricted Northeast Sector, the McGraw Casino, Bob's Bouncy House.
But still no amusement park.
The weird thing about the monorail, it could only go forwards. So any turns were impossible.
"Hey, Abalone." I called to him over his description of another redstone landmark. "How come this monorail only has one direction?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" He called out with a laugh. "This monorail doesn't have only one direction?"
"Really? Then why—"
"It has two!"
"Oh…" I realized he meant forwards and backwards.
"But if you mean, why is it only restricted to one axis of movement, I couldn't tell you." He admitted, pressing a pushing a lever again to stop the monorail. "But if you want to know, I suggest to start at this next stop."
I turned to see what he was talking about and my eyes immediately zeroed in on a sign. It read: 'Redstone College.' Just behind it was a large stone castle, situated atop a large, carved stone pillar.
"If you want to be educated on redstone, this'll be the place to start." He gestured towards the door. "Besides, those three EXP bottles are only good enough to get you this far."
I stepped off the monorail and thanked Abalone before he sped away to pick up more tourists. I turned my attention back to the College sign. Just below it were several smaller signs.
'175th Annual Redstone Fair. Held Today in College Auditorium. Sponsored in Part by Potato Tech.'
'Potato Tech: We work hard, to make your life easy.'
"Good slogan." I commented as I looked back at the giant college. "Well, I really want to learn more about this redstone stuff…without having to read fifty volumes of material." I spoke to myself as I climbed a winding path leading up to the college.
The redstone tech stuff might come in handy one day, and it couldn't hurt to learn more about it.
I just hope I can learn something from this 'Redstone Fair'...
…And also that it doesn't cost money.
[Wynn]
I had the perfect plan all rehearsed in my head. I knew exactly which points to make and which emotions to appeal to.
Yet even the most infallible of plans can go awry…when the royalty you're talking to is otherwise engaged.
"Are you capturing my Kingly radiance? Well?"
"Yes, Your Lordship! Immaculately so!" Came the shrill stammer of the sculptor as he added more polished stone to the statue.
I kept my head bowed respectively, even as King Rotjes continued to ignore me in favor of posing. I swallowed my pride and never showed how annoyed I was, because I needed the deal to work.
No matter what.
Rotjes was a portly man, with a bald head and a dark, bushel of a beard. He had thin, grey eyes and a monocle. He wore a long, scarlet robe with a purple sash and was completely clad in gold.
He was posing with one hand resting on his hip and the other extended up, holding a golden sword dramatically.
Meanwhile, Veronica was standing beside me, snickering to herself at how I was prostrate before a King that had absolutely no respect for me. I couldn't fathom how the blonde could get away with not bowing before her own King. The way she was standing and acting, it was like she was standing in front of anyone instead of the King of Daymonte.
Shouldn't there have been some semblance of respect between Captains and Kings?
"Could you hold the sword a tad higher?" The shrill sculptor suggested, to which the King followed. "Good, keep it right there."
"I've been keeping it here since dawn broke." King Rotjes complained as he his arm shuddered from the sustained posing. "How much longer?"
"Only a few more minutes, Your Lordship."
Rotjes rolled his eyes. "Well, it had better look good. I want generations of Crafters to gaze upon my—"
I took the opportunity to cough loudly, catching Rotjes' attention.
"Oh! Captain Wynn! I didn't hear you come in…er…" He tried to face me without shifting his pose. "Veronica told me you had an important message to deliver?"
"Yes, Your Lordship." I pushed on, despite the awkward conditions of my audience. "But let me first say that it is good to see you again. I barely recognized you since our last meeting."
I was laying the flattery on a bit thick, but it seemed to have the desired effect.
"Really?" The King asked with disbelief. "Because, I have been following a diet recently, and I wasn't sure it was working."
"Well, it definitely shows." I lied, capitalizing on what he wanted to hear. "You simply must tell me the secret of your slim appearance."
He blushed, causing the sculptor to immediately add reddish stone to the statue's face. "Well, every day I get out of bed and do thirty jumping jacks. Then I—"
As Rotjes yammered on about his diet, I quickly rehearsed what I'd say next. As if I needed diet advice. I already had a slim figure and kept in shape combating criminals.
I did make sure to hear a bit of his words though. After all, it would look really bad if he asked me my opinion on his diet and I couldn't come up with a rebuttal.
"—And I've switched from cookies to carrots. But enough about my diet. Let's talk about this message I've heard so much about."
I flashed a smile towards Veronica for her efforts in building the King's intrigue in my proposal before clearing my throat. "This is a message directly from His Eminence, King Miles. He wishes to extend an offer for a joint-construction project between our two Kingdoms."
Rotjes' eyebrows rose in interest, causing the sculptor to furiously break off and raise the eyebrows on the statue. "And what would this 'project' be?"
"A Trans-Kingdom railway." I stated with steely resolve. "His Eminence believes that forming a means of transportation between our two Kingdoms can increase exports and imports, make more convenient methods of travel, and foster the development of smaller towns and villages between the two Kingdoms."
Rotjes didn't respond right away, though I could tell he was considering it by the way his grey eyes gleamed. I needed to press my advantage.
"The railway we propose would have multiple rails following a straight line from Daymonte to Ringwood to optimize transportation at a time. Scheduling for which times Crafters would travel would need to be planned, and an underground rail would be easier to both conceal and defend from Griefer attacks." I listed the points in order. "Furthermore, the easy transport of supplies would enable more viable means of trade. The availability of wood, stone, and other necessities would support the establishment of new towns and villages along the track, while also supplying existing settlements with the supplies and guards they'd—"
"Jeeves." Rotjes interrupted as he lowered his arm and stopped posing. "You may finish the statue at a later date. This demands my full attention."
The shrill sculptor looked horrified at having to stop his work, but knew that he was being dismissed. He quickly schooled his features and bowed low before backing out of the room.
With nothing else occupying his time, Rotjes placed his gold sword at his belt and sat atop his throne, giving me his full attention. "How much will such a project cost me?"
I hesitated for a second. The price would probably be the biggest issue to overcome. And it was fairly steep. I needed more time to convince him.
"Ringwood would obviously supply the wood and half the necessary rails as well as—"
"How much?" Rotjes interrupted, unwilling to waste time on my diversions.
With no other options, I answered him. "A rough estimate…I'd say 170,000 blocks worth of iron…maybe more."
As expected, Rotjes sank in his throne. The outrageous amount of iron I requested knocked the wind from him. Veronica's only response was a high whistle, acknowledging the sheer cost of the railway.
The King took a shaky breath, before focusing back on me. "And I suppose that doesn't count the gold or redstone we'll need to provide to wire the whole thing up, correct?" I nodded to his assumption, causing the bald man sink once more into his throne. "Daymonte doesn't have the necessary resources to undergo such a project. And even if we did, iron is one of the most basic necessities for tool and weapon building. It's a stable middle-ground, easily mined and common in every corner of Minecraftia. But to irreversibly convert so much of it into rails…"
"You don't necessarily need iron for the rails." I argued, trying to keep Rotjes interested in the deal. "Naturally spawned mineshafts are littered throughout your region, each one filled with a complex system of unused rails. If you were to recycle them—"
"We'd still be short." He interrupted. "We would need iron no matter what, and our stores are nowhere near enough." He looked sorry as he gazed upon me. "I'm afraid you must tell Miles…"
No!
"…that due to Daymonte's insubstantial supply of iron…"
No! No no no!
"…we'll have to decline the d—"
"Are you sure about this, Rotjes?" Veronica interjected as she stepped forward, speaking for the first time during the meeting. "You may be passing up a real opportunity here."
Rotjes narrowed his eyes at his Captain. "What do you mean, Veronica? Daymonte doesn't have the necessary supplies. It's as simple as—"
"You kidding? We have ten times that wimpy amount of iron!" The blonde exclaimed before smiling suggestively. "We just need to dig it up is all."
Rotjes paused for a moment before realization dawned on him. "You can't mean the Northern Swamps. That area has been untouched for centuries."
"Meaning," Veronica continued with a widening grin, "all that buried iron is just sitting there, waiting to be smelted."
The King scratched his bearded chin in thought, seeming to consider the notion before shaking his head. "No no. We'd have to set up quarries and mining outposts. And for what? A railway connecting the two Kingdoms? Is it really worth it?"
Veronica adopted a fake look of defeat. "You're right. After all, it's not like the railway would be a monumental achievement." She stated off-handedly, pretending to give up. "I was simply recalling how the construction of Oak Docks' Cadboro Bridge earned their King such praise. A monument to be remembered by generations of Crafters."
At hearing this, the King's ears perked up and his face brightened. "Remembered for generations?" He echoed, a sharp gleam returning to his grey eyes.
Veronica shrugged uncaringly, subtly offering me a wink. "Ah, well. I guess we'll never know of the praise you'd have received from Daymonte and Ringwood Crafters alike. It's too bad. Wynn, you'll just have to go tell Miles the deal is off."
"Wait, wait, wait!" Rotjes hurriedly sputtered out. "Let's not be too quick to abandon this deal. Er…let me sleep on it." He decided confidently. "Yes, a night of rest will provide the clarity I need. I will give you my answer tomorrow."
His words filled me with renewed hope and I gave Veronica an appreciative nod. "Yes, Your Lordship. Thank you for your time." And with that, I hurried out the main doors with Veronica close behind.
We didn't talk to each other until we were within the soundproof security of the elevator. After we pressed the button and began ascending in rhythmic bounces, I let out a sigh of relief. "I can't believe, he's considering it. He's actually considering it! Veronica, you're a lifesaver! That deal would have been doomed if you hadn't stepped in."
"Oh, no need to thank me." Veronica dismissed with a wave. "Besides, you know what they say," an ominous, cheshire grin spread across her face. "A favor owed is a favor earned."
Those words immediately put the brakes on my celebratory mood. "What…what do you mean?"
"Oh, nothing serious." She singsonged, lifting her shoulder in a single-armed shrug. "I just need a little help finding a certain criminal duo, a pair of serial bombers, and I figured having you by my side would pin those bastards to a wall faster than my arrows." She pulled out her trusty Power III, Infinity Bow and gave it a twirl.
"You need assistance catching criminals?" I questioned disbelievingly. "Don't you have guards that could help you with that?"
"My guards aren't the brightest lanterns in the bunch. And the guys I'm looking for are as clever as they are dangerous…and I wouldn't mind spending time with my favorite Captain." She spoke the last part softly, but I didn't pay it much mind."
"I don't know, Veronica." I stated, trying to convey as much hesitance as I could. "Interfering with Daymonte's criminal affairs? I'm not sure I'd have the jurisdiction to—"
"Like how I interfered with Ringwood's affairs?" Veronica inquired sweetly, though I could sense the subtle blackmail. "Did I have the jurisdiction to do that, because if so, Rotjes miiiight reconsider the deal before tomorrow morning."
My eyes widened fearfully before narrowing. "You planned this to happen, didn't you?"
Veronica placed a hand over her chest and swooned dramatically. "I'm hurt, Wynn. You think I'm some kind of diabolical mastermind that can take advantage of any situation?" Her acting wasn't convincing me, but I had no other choice. I needed to secure the deal for His Eminence.
No matter the cost.
And maybe working with Veronica wouldn't be completely awkward and uncomfortable. Maybe she wouldn't use every opportunity to tease me.
I closed my eyes in acceptance. "Fine. I'll help you find the bombers."
"Then it's a date." She winked flirtatiously as we shot out of the elevator and back onto solid ground.
I groaned loudly. "I'm regretting this already."
Inventory (Cobb): 1 Wooden Shovel, 1 Stone Sword, 1 Golden Sword [Sharpness I, Unbreaking I]{Weak}, 1 Wooden Pickaxe, 1 Iron Pickaxe, 1 Fishing Rod, 54 Cobblestone, 1 Coal, 20 Torches, 1 Minecart, 32 Oak Wood Planks, 1 Note Block, 1 Clock, 2 Signs, 1 Water Bucket, 1 Glass Bottle, 10 String, 1 Ender Pearl, 11 Baked Potatoes, 19 Pumpkin Pies, 39 Cookies, 1 Leather Cap, 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Green, Unbreaking I], 1 Crafting Table, 1 Furnace, 17 Rotten Flesh, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Daymonte Temporary Entry Pass}
AN: Sorry, I'm late. Though let me remind you that it is still, technically Wednesday.
This chapter had more of Daymonte and more interactions between Wynn and Veronica. And Cobb is off doing his own shit. I have some fun ideas for what he'll find at the Redstone Fair.
See you all next week...maybe.
Omake: Just a Little Longer
It was nearly midnight. The other vendors of the marketplace had long since locked up and gone home. The lanterns illuminating the area had all shut down, plunging the stores in darkness.
The only source of light was a furnace cooking stone at the mason's stall. The heat of the furnace continued to cook the coarse rock into smooth, polished stone.
The mason checked his clock in the torchlight, confirming the time.
"Well," he spoke to himself, "The bucko said he'd be back soon…and that was at dawn…"
He glanced left and right, as if expecting the brown-haired Crafter to show up any second, carrying the stacks of stone he promised.
"And now it's midnight…and it's getting kind of cold…" The mason continued to talk to himself, thinking about his wife waiting patiently for him at home. Probably with a delicious dinner waiting.
He checked his clock again.
"I'll wait just a little bit longer. No later than dawn."
AN: Not as funny, but I liked it.