AN: It's been a while since I did a count. 26,000 Views. 74 Favs. 69 Follows. 475 Reviews.
That's awesome.
Also, just throwing this out there, I got a review from an anonymous reviewer named Eladar. He wanted me to contact him when the story concluded, but I think he put down a url or something. Fanfiction does not like urls or something, which is why it didn't show up. To get around this, a url needs to be typed with spaces instead of dots. Then it should work. (Though, Eladar, I'd prefer to have the url in a PM rather than an anonymous review.)
Summer Vacation is nearly over. I remember it like it was still happening. Ah, sweet memories~!
Puzzle: At night they come without being fetched. By day they are lost without being stolen. What are they?
Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. If I did, I'd add an Internal Council of Organs.
Beta: Void of Shining Darkness
Chapter 54
Duty
[Lenz]
I cracked an eye open, taking in the familiar yellow tint my glasses provided. Judging by the clock on the wall, it was a little past dawn. Waking up early was one of the many positive habits drilled into me from attending the Redstone College. After all, I could not get to those early morning comparator classes if I slept in.
Since I already had my Inventory packed, I left my room and hurried to Cobbert's to wake him up. Not even an imminent Griefer Attack could rouse him from his heavy slumber.
I knocked once, then twice, but got no response. I could not even peer through the openings since the door was made out of dark oak. When I finally decided to abandon proper door etiquette in favor of barging in, I discovered that Cobbert was nowhere to be seen. His room's chest was empty so he had everything with him, including his armor, but he must have already left.
He got up before me? I suppose the Griefer attack worried him more than he let on.
Just as I was about to leave, however, I noticed something knock into the lone window from outside. It looked like the bobber of a fishing rod.
I rushed over to the window and saw the same bobber flung into the air from within a small garden owned by the Inn. "Cobbert?" I called out, knowing the adventurer's talent with a fishing tool. The bobber continued to be flung into the air, but my call received no response.
Does he always get up this early to practice? I pondered as I promptly left the room and searched for an alternative exit to the garden. Not that I did not understand the need to practice to refine one's skills—it had taken months to learn archery—but I usually practiced at night before bed.
Whatever he was doing, we did not have time to waste. We had to leave as soon as possible to put as much distance between us and those barbaric Griefers. The further, the better. And since Cobbert was the only Crafter who would bother to protect me (as per our agreement), I could not lose him in between Daymonte and Ringwood.
When I finally managed to get to the gardens, it was to discover that the Crafter practicing with a fishing rod was not Cobbert.
But a Ringwood guard.
A female guard, though her name escaped me. The guards had never really bothered to introduce themselves when I first joined their group. The Captain, Wynn_Whispers, had briefly mentioned I would be tagging along, but aside from that, they largely seemed to ignore me.
Which was acceptable. They did not need to know who I was.
With that in mind, I turned to leave, only to bump into someone.
"Watch it!" A guard with green hair growled, slamming his shoulder into mine as he passed. I winced as I massaged where he hit me, but muttered an apology.
That guard I remembered. Bitters. Easy to remember since he always seemed bitter about something.
"Yeah, you should be sorry." He smirked arrogantly before gasping at the female guard with the fishing rod. "Wha—Solara! What are you doing with that thing!?"
"Uh…practicing?" Solara replied with mild annoyance before resuming. The bobber whipped through the air, changing directions at a moment's notice with just a flick of her wrist.
"You know how the Captain feels about that tool!" Bitters hissed, stomping up to the guard and trying to take her fishing rod.
"What, are you going to tattle on me again?" Solara shot back, keeping the tool high above Bitters' reach. "Besides, I think I'm really getting the hang of this."
"It's not about getting the 'hang of it'. You should be practicing archery or swordsmanship. Not fishing!" Bitters turned to glare at me, even as I tried to leave quietly. "Cobb and that new guy…they think they can last with their useless skills…before you know it, we'll be learning redstone engineering!"
"Redstone is not a useless skill." I could not help but reply. Leave it to barbarians like them not to realize the importance of redstone. It was the very essence of Daymonte, powering elevators, lights, rails, airships, monorails, clocks, and anything else the engineering mind could conceive.
Bitters doubled his glare and turned to completely face me. "Redstone is a luxury that Crafters can only partake in when they have the time and security to do so. In Kingdoms protected by guards, Crafters are more than welcome to piss away their time tinkering with redstone. But out here," he gestured around, indicating all the surroundings, "there's no time for it."
He was not wrong. Advancements in the world of redstone engineering were only possible within the safety of the Kingdoms' walls. A safety that was further bolstered by the protective guards.
But that was their job: To use their strength to protect.
"I hate to agree with Bitters," a third guard spoke up from the side, "But he's right, this engineer guy shouldn't be out here. He's too weak to even hold a sword."
Bitters sneered, bolstered by his support. "Thank you, Liam. What that newb, Cobb, sees in bringing someone like him along is beyond me. Though if I had to guess, he'd make a decent human shield—"
"Bitters, give it a rest." Solara lightly smacked Bitters on the head. "You're just jealous that Cobb is getting more of Wynn's attention than you."
Was that what that was? Attention? I wondered as I recalled the spar they had. That looked more like the Captain taking her anger out on Cobbert.
"Jealous? Jealous!? HA!" Bitters let out an unnatural laugh. "What could I possibly have to be jealous of? That I can't whip a fishing rod around? That it was him and not me that figured out how to cross that basin full of Creepers? That a newb like Cobb couldn't tell the difference between diamonds and lapis lazuli!?"
"Hmmm…All of the above." Solara replied cheekily. "And I'm fine with it. It's a nice change of pace where someone besides you, the Captain's pet, is soaking up her attention. Besides, Cobb is incredibly experienced. He took out Car—"
"Carys_Angel! Yes, yes! I heard it!" Bitters waved off angrily. "But that doesn't mean a thing! He's a newb! A NEWB, I tell you! Why doesn't anyone believe me!?"
Solara rolled her eyes. "If you're talking about all those times he did newb-ish acts—angering those wolves, building cutouts for shelters, and mining andesite—we all laughed at first, but I think he just did that on purpose. You know, to look more approachable. If he looked too experienced, we'd all probably think he was too intimidating. After all, nobody that defeated the Carys_Angel could be that much of a newb, right?"
While the guard named Liam nodded in concession and Bitters folded his arms in defiance, I was still focused on that last bit of information.
Carys_Angel?
The Carys_Angel?
Cobbert defeated her in battle?
That was news to me. Carys_Angel was infamous, even in Daymonte. The stories about her, slaying Crafters without a second thought, making her foes freeze in terror with just a glance of her crimson eyes…riding into battle on a pig.
That last one had to be made up.
Solara put her fishing rod away and glared at both Bitters and the guard named Liam. "Just because Cobb looks and acts like a newb, doesn't mean he isn't strong. How did he put it, again? 'More than anything, I want to show Minecraftia that experience isn't everything. That anyone, regardless of number, can have their own piece of knowledge to impart to others. That everyone is valuable enough to survive in this world.'"
"What, did you memorize it word for word?" Liam chuckled.
"Of course." Solara puffed out her chest proudly. "I bet that's why Cobb brought Lenzington along. He probably sees something in him—some valuable piece of knowledge or skill—that nobody else can."
Was that why Cobbert brought me? Probably not. After all, I was the one who asked him if I could come.
But could he really see something in me? How would he be able to tell?
And if he could, all he would see is a survivor.
"Lenzington, you have your own skills that make you strong, right?"
"…You are wrong."
Solara's face fell a bit. "Wha—huh?"
"I repeat, you are wrong." I could see the confusion on her face as well as the curiosity on the other two guards' faces. "I am not, nor have I ever been, strong. And I will never be strong.
"The strong, like yourselves, are unconditionally obligated to protect the weak. To throw away your lives for the sake of others. Why would I ever want to be anything like that? I happen to enjoy living.
"I am one of the weak, because that it all I am capable of. One who flees in the face of danger. One who relies on intellect rather than the brute strength you lot are accustomed to." I stated it evenly, trying to convey the message to their neanderthal brains, even as their irritated frowns deepened. "And that is fine with me."
And with that, I promptly left the gardens and the three taciturn guards behind to resume my search for Cobbert.
The only Crafter who I trusted to protect me on my travels.
[Cobb]
"Phew. I think we got all the iron we could from this tunnel."
Perched beside a chunk of coal ore, I watched as Cosmic and the large Crafter exited a tunnel, their belts laden with iron ore. Halstatt's quarry had several tunnels at the bottom, with ladders along the side to climb up.
I stifled a yawn to remain undiscovered and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. If I was tired, the two mining Crafters were probably exhausted, having spent the whole night mining supplies for the inevitable war.
But I knew it was no use.
There were only twelve Crafters at last night's meeting, Cosmic, Billy, and the large Crafter included. They were probably the only Crafters left. And Testificates couldn't fight. Or at least not in the way where they could take on a thousand Griefers.
So those twelve Crafters—oh, and Leslie—versus a thousand, plus Burke, LeShui, and Alec.
It'll be a massacre.
Brain: That's not our problem.
Heart: How can you be so heartless, Brain?
Brain: How can you be so brainless, Heart?
Bladder: …Good counter.
I couldn't understand why I was feeling so guilty. Even as I watched those two Crafters climb back up those ladders, leaving me to my thoughts, I was still no closer to figuring out why I felt guilty.
Was it because they were trying so hard to do something so futile?
Was it because it was a bad thing happening to good people?
Was it because I was capable of doing something—that Wynn and her guards were capable of doing something—but we all chose not to?
UGH! Why can't I get over this!? I grabbed fistfuls of my hair in frustration. I barely know these people! I don't owe them anything! This is just a terrible occurrence!
So…why…why can't I let it go?
Brain: Beats me. It's stupid no matter how you look at it.
Heart: No, it's not stupid. It's compassion, Cobb, and there's no shame in feeling it.
Brain: Sure, why don't you go compassionize over every single tree that gets cut down to make houses while we all stay in the real world where things actually matter.
I clenched my teeth in frustration. I couldn't figure out any of what I was feeling. I needed someone else to talk to about this. Maybe pick someone's brain—
Actually, scratch that. That's a disgusting saying.
Brain: Yeah, reminds me of ice pick lobotomies. *shudders*
…Where are you even getting this from? I know it can't be Normal Sense because that sounds way too absurd to have ever been a thing.
Stomach: Yeah, no sane human being would qualify an ice pick to the brain as a proper medical operation.
Yes…um…anyway, maybe instead of picking someone else's brain—
Brain: Ew…
—I can ask all of you. You're all part of me, right? So you must be as conflicted as I am!
Brain: Meh…
Heart: Hush, Brain! Ask away, Cobb.
I stood up, leaning against the chunk of coal ore and oddly accepting of this inner council thing I was doing, as I thought up my question.
Okay, if you were me—which you are—what would you do in this situation and why?
Brain: This feels like an essay question…
Heart: If you won't answer then I'll start. If it were me, I'd stay and help Halstatt in any way I can. This village let us stay the night, offered us their quarry's limited resources, and is full of good people.
Brain: The same people that abandoned this place.
Heart: You can hardly blame them for wanting to live! Maybe if the Halstatt guards, the people the villagers look to for safety, hadn't up and left, then they would have stayed to fight.
So…your final vote?
Heart: I vote to stay. Because it's the right thing to do.
Brain: Well, thankfully, we're not all one big magnanimous charity.
You think we should leave?
Brain: No, shit. We should be sprinting out of here. An army of a thousand is coming and all we got as an advantage is a thirty-two ton Leslie. If we stay, we'll lose. But that's not even the biggest issue! We have no reason to stay! These people are strangers. Strangers that have chosen to stay for their own reasons. We owe Daymonte nothing. We want to live. I vote for leaving, plain and simple.
Bladder: I agree with Brain on this. I do feel bad for them, and I want to help, but there's a point when you can't help everybody. This is that point. We need to help ourselves, first. I vote to leave.
Brain: Finally, someone who uses common sense. Anyone on stupid pills want to disagree?
Liver: I disagree.
Brain: Liver…why am I not surprised? Always against me.
Liver: I'm not doing this out of spite, Brain. I feel pity for these people, knowing that they're refusing to back down from their deaths. There's a courage in that which I admire; The little guy, standing up to the big, bad bully.
Brain: Well, the big, bad bully in this situation is gonna shove Halstatt into a locker, lift that locker off the ground, dunk its head into a toilet, spank its ass with a paddle, and psychologically torture it into killing itself. Then pee on the dead body for good measure.
…That's dark.
Brain: Blame Normal Sense.
Liver: T-that only makes me want to stay more! I don't want that to happen to anyone! I won't allow it! I vote to stay!
Brain: Ugh, we're tied. Stomach, help me out here.
Stomach: …
Brain: Stomach? You're being oddly silent. As silent as Lungs in fact…who I only now realize hasn't been talking.
Stomach: …I like food.
Heart: …
Liver: …
Brain: Really? Never would have guessed.
Bladder: You should pay more attention, Brain.
Brain: …You are on stupid pills.
Bladder: They're too addictive! *nom nom*
Stomach: I like food. To eat food, we must not be dead. If we stay, we'll die—
Heart: You don't know that. Maybe…maybe we can win…
Stomach: We are more likely to die if we stay in Halstatt, than if we leave. Right?
Heart: …Yes.
Stomach: We have no idea what awaits us when—well…we do know what'll happen. Billy told us as much. But we have no idea if we'll be able to escape. Staying could very well mean our deaths.
And?
Stomach: If we die, I'll never be able to enjoy food again.
Heart: Oh for the love of—is food all you think about!?
Stomach: Of course it is! In case you haven't noticed, I'm the fucking stomach! But it's not just about the food! We'd be risking our entire life on this village if we stayed! All our future happiness. All our future wealth. All our future experiences! Gone! And for what? The off-chance that we might win? At least the villagers are fighting for their village, their Testificates, and their home. Us? We're fighting because we feel bad! That's it! Too much risk, not enough reward. I vote we leave.
Bladder: Well said.
Brain: Unless my counting's wrong, that's three votes for leaving, two votes for staying. We only need one more vote.
Heart: …Lungs?
Brain: Don't listen to them, Lungs. Just speak your mind. Tune everyone else out. In fact, tune me out. Lungs? Lungs, you hear me? Lungs? Good, it's working.
You guys are gonna have to translate since…wait a second. No matter what Lungs says, it's up to the interpreter to decide!
Brain: Shit! He used his brain! Damn me!
Lungs: *Sigh*
Brain: Uh…Lungs says we should leave.
Heart: No he doesn't! He wants us to—
Brain: He also told me to tell you not to listen to Heart or Liver because Heart's been popping stupid pills like Tic Tacs and Liver is a certifiable monkey.
Liver: Hey!
Brain: Shut up and have a banana.
Brain, you're not being fair here. Translate Lungs honestly.
Lungs: *Sigh* *Sigh*
Heart: Lungs says—
Brain: No! Don't listen, Cobb! Heart is the liar! Can't you see I'm doing what's best for our survival!?
Liver: I think—
Brain: Nobody asked you, monkey-boy!
Lungs: ENOUGH!
All my organs gasped in unison, along with myself.
Did…did Lungs just…
Brain: Holy crap!
Stomach: I don't believe this!
Heart: Lungs! You…you can talk!?
Lungs: Of course I can talk, you idiots! The rest of you can talk so why wouldn't I?
Brain: I dunno. You just never did. You always spoke in Sigh Language.
Lungs: Only because you all had no trouble translating…until now that is. Now, we are faced with a difficult choice, one that is tearing us apart. We must agree unanimously in order for Cobb to pass this situation with no doubts. He cannot waver.
Stomach: So…what do you vote?
Lungs: I vote…we stay.
Stomach: What!?
Brain: Of all the times to say something and you choose something stupid like that!
Lungs: I vote we should stay. And you should all agree, because of what I am about to say.
Brain: Well, what is it? What's sooooo important that—
Bladder: Oh, I get it! He said Sigh Language instead of Sign Language. I get the joke now!
Brain: …
Bladder: …
Brain: …What's sooooo important that it'll change our minds and have us defend Halstatt?
Lungs: Because to do otherwise would go against Cobb's core belief.
Brain: …what?
Lungs: Cobb. Do you remember what you said to Wynn on the day you crossed the Creeper herd? I know Brain does. 'More than anything…'
Brain: …Ugh. 'More than anything, I want to show Minecraftia that experience isn't everything. That anyone, regardless of number, can have their own piece of knowledge to impart to others. That everyone is valuable enough to survive in this world.'
Wow…I really said all of that?
Lungs: Indeed you did. And it's the last part which I find most interesting. 'That everyone is valuable enough to survive in this world.'
Brain: So what?
Lungs: So, the reason Cobb is feeling guilty is because his brain is telling him to go against his own beliefs. The Griefers intend to run into that village and kill everyone, for no reason other than they can. Like they've been doing to who knows how many other villages. How can Cobb possible stand by his words when he's about to abandon a village to the mercy of a Griefer army.
Brain: That's not the same! Cobb only meant he wants to prove that the inexperienced can overcome anything!
Lungs: Then isn't this the perfect chance? For his inexperience to overcome this? To counter an army using only his inexperience would be a monumental achievement for him.
Brain: If he lives to brag about it! This is nuts!
Lungs: He's going to stay, because deep down, he wants to stay. He wants to protect this village. He wants to prove to everyone that the inexperienced are a force to be reckoned with. That they have a power that nobody can stop.
…Yeah. Lungs' words were resonating in my soul, almost leeching that guilty feeling away.
Brain: Cobb! Don't get sucked in to this craziness. Lungs must be taking stupid pills if he thinks this is a good idea!
Stomach: Actually…I think Lungs is right.
Brain: Stomach! You too?
Stomach: The Griefers aren't going to stop. Like Wynn said, they're the epitome of chaos, trying to assault those that don't even want to fight. Cobb's dream would look like garbage if we were to back away from this.
Heart: And he would always regret it if we left.
Liver: H-he'd never forgive himself.
Stomach: If leaving Halstatt to die puts Cobb's dream at risk, then we do have something to fight those Griefers for.
Bladder: I guess we're all taking stupid pills, then.
Brain: Wha…bu…ugggggh…
Heart: Sorry, Brain. If you want, you're free to leave.
Brain: What is that, a joke? You're stupid. You're all stupid.
Lungs: Forgive me, Brain. But I had to say my piece.
Brain: I hate you.
So…we're really doing this, then? I still felt terrified, but that guilty sensation was no longer twisting in my gut. We're really staying?
Lungs: Only if Brain says so. We need to be unanimous after all.
Brain: I hate all of you. Especially Liver.
Liver: Darn. I thought I'd get moved up to second-to-most-despised.
…So?
Brain: I hate you all, but I guess I'm stuck with you. If we're going to do this, we may as well do it right. With my superior wits.
Heart: And my compassion
Liver: And my c-courage.
Bladder: I'm just here for the pills—I mean, uh, my unpredictability.
Stomach: And my strength.
Lungs: *Sigh*
"Okay then." I spoke aloud. Alone, but not feeling alone. Feeling all of my being, united under a common goal. No confliction or turmoil.
I knew what I needed to do.
"I'm gonna face an army of Griefers!"
I immediately fell to my knees.
"Oh God, I'm gonna face an army of Griefers."
Brain: D'oh! Now you look weak and flimsy like a flaccid dick! And after our big motivational moment, too!
Stomach: Not cool, Cobb.
Heart: I'm embarrassed for you.
Liver: Very wimpy.
Bladder: Boo, you suck!
Lungs: *Sigh*
Bladder: Ha! Good one, Lungs.
Okay, baby steps. Baby. Steps. I shakily stood myself up and looked around. First things first…can't fight Griefers in a quarry.
"Cobbert! There you are." Lenz ran up to me before resting his hands on his knees to catch his breath. "I have…been looking…everywhere for you! Literally everywhere."
"Really?" I questioned with a bit of humor. "Did you check the quarry?"
He took a long pause, punctuated by his haggard breaths. "…Literally almost everywhere. What business did you have at the quarry?"
I chuckled sheepishly, wondering how I was going to tell him. "I was there for some…self-reflection. Heh heh."
"That chuckle was quite awkward." Lenz slapped his head in realization. "Comparators, I forgot! The Captain said to get to the front gates soon! And that was a few minutes ago, so soon is right about…NOW!"
My eyes lit up, even as Lenz tried to push my resisting form. "She's at the front gates?"
"Yes! They all are! So if you do not wish to be left behind—whoa!" I grabbed Lenz's hand and proceeded to rush towards the front gates, desperately hoping I knew what I was doing.
As we hurried through Halstatt's streets, I spotted Cosmic cooking iron and the large Crafter making it into armor. The sight alone was enough to embolden my decision.
This was the right thing.
When we finally reached the front gates, Lenz collapsed from the amount of running he had to do. The guy really needed to work on his cardio.
Just as the engineer had said, Wynn and all the guards were gathered. They were all just mounting their steeds. "Cobb, there you are." Wynn spoke up, turning her horse to face him. "Where have you been? Not angering that Iron Golem again, I hope."
"No, Captain. I…" I paused as I looked into her amber eyes. I didn't really have a plan for what to say. So I opted to start out cautiously.
"I think we should help defend Halstatt."
And then I botched it up with a blunt statement.
The effect was immediate. Half of the guards turned their attention to my absurd declaration. Bitters sneered, muttering something about 'hogging attention' before mounting his horse. Lenz, still collapsed on the ground, propped himself up by his elbows to fix me with a befuddled look.
But Wynn just let out a chuckle. "Alright, Cobb. Save the humor for when we're clear of this place. Now come on."
The way she made my statement roll off her seemed to calm some of the guards, who laughed it off as another of my jokes. A few were skeptical, including Lenz, who didn't see any humor in my statement.
"I'm serious, Captain." I spoke louder, wiping the smiles from the guards' faces. Wynn's expression became sterner, her amber eyes abandoning any attempt at humor.
"And why do you think we should stay and defend this village?" She asked evenly. Behind me I could hear Lenz getting to his feet. I really wished I had talked with him about this prior to addressing Wynn.
But, hindsight, what can you do?
"The remaining villagers aren't running." I explained. "They intend to stay and fight off the Griefers…or at least attempt to."
Wynn remained silent, her amber eyes locked with mine. If she was surprised by the information, she didn't show it. In fact, her expression was completely neutral. Was she considering—?
"And?" She finally spoke, surprising me. Was she expecting something more? What more did I need to say to spell it out for her?
"And…they're going to try and fight off a thousand Griefers!" I exclaimed, looking to the guards for any sign of compassion. Surely Wynn must have explained to them about the Griefer attack. "If we don't help them, they'll die. Steamrolled by those Griefers, just like all the other—"
"That," Wynn interrupted with a raised hand, "is not our concern."
"…What?"
"Whether the villagers stay or leave matters little. Halstatt is still one of Daymonte's villages and we're still Ringwood's guards." She spoke it very formally, as if reading off a set of laws. "We lack the jurisdiction to intervene."
"But…but the Griefers—"
"Are Daymonte's problem, not ours." Wynn finished for me. "They only have themselves to blame. They allowed this Griefer threat to grow unchecked. From a simple campfire to a blazing wildfire. It's their mess and I'm not risking my guards to clean it up."
A few of the guards behind her nodded their assent. They, after all, had nothing riding on Halstatt's survival or the lives of a few villagers. If it was a Ringwood village it would have been a different story. But since it was Daymonte…
"But…" I turned to look at Lenz, seeing the same hesitance the other guards shared. "But…Daymonte is Ringwood's ally—You just got done proposing a railway to unite your Kingdom with theirs and yet—!"
"Don't act like you know the relationships between Kingdoms." Wynn snapped. "If a similar problem was facing Ringwood, Daymonte wouldn't bat an eye. So why would I take the risk in defending a small village?"
I opened my mouth to protest, but one look at Wynn's expression and I knew it was pointless. The other guards were looking between us, obviously listening more to their Captain than the surprising newb they'd only known for…ten or twelve days? I had lost track.
Wynn wasn't going to budge. She was a Captain of Ringwood and only a Captain of Ringwood. She valued her guards' lives far too much to gamble them away in a battle of a thousand Griefers. And for what? Nothing.
Was that what being a guard was about? Protecting your own first and everyone else never?
"It's tough, Cobb, but we have to accept that this isn't our problem."
I clenched my fists and stared hard at the ground. How was I supposed to accept it? That bad people just did what they wanted and could get away with it. Cultists. Griefers. It was all the same. Maybe if someone just took a moment to stand up to them…
"Fine, Captain…" I muttered, my eyes still locked on the ground. "You shouldn't risk the lives of your men."
Wynn let out the smallest sigh. Exasperation or relief. I couldn't tell. "I'm glad you understand, Cobb. Once we're clear of this village you'll feel a lot better about—"
"Which is why," I cut her off, lifting my head to watch her widening eyes, "I'll stay behind."
The guards shared quizzical looks at the unwavering tone in my statement. Bitters' eyes lit up in what I only assumed could be happiness after hearing I was staying behind to face certain death. Lenz's eyes were obscured by his tinted glasses, but judging by his mouth hanging open, I could tell he wasn't too pleased by my announcement.
"…Excuse me?" Wynn recovered the fastest, probably because she was used to my stupidity.
"If this isn't your problem, then that's fine." I clarified, feeling oddly lighter. Maybe it was because I no longer had to worry about them dying in the fight if they weren't there. Killing others with my stupidity sounded way worse than killing just myself with it. "But I can't leave these villagers to face this alone. I wouldn't be able to live with it."
"You…" Wynn narrowed her eyes. "You're seriously considering saving a village that has nothing to do with you? Do you even know the names of all the villagers?"
"I know some..." I protested meekly. "Leslie, Cosmic, Billy, Oswald…that one guy…"
"Cobb, this is a new level of stupidity, even for you." Wynn dragged a hand over her face. "Just stop this already and let's get going."
"I'm sorry, Captain." And surprisingly, I really meant it. "But I'm staying here. If I let this village fall to those Griefers, it would be a spit in the face to my dream."
"Enough!" Wynn suddenly shouted, throwing herself off her horse and stomping up to face me. "His Eminence decided that your punishment would be to accompany us and follow my command! So I am ordering you to drop this senseless heroism of yours and leave this village to its fate! Do I make myself clear!?"
I was shocked at how forceful she was being. Her amber eyes were narrowed in anger, but there was more to it than that. It didn't feel like real anger.
I felt cornered though, since I had given my word to accompany them. And just like dealing with TheAvoided, I didn't break my word easily. My eyes were darting left and right, trying to think of a way to stay in Halstatt and keep my promise to Wynn. The corners of her lips were already tilting up, confident that she had me beat.
But then I remembered. "I won't be breaking my word. I was only supposed to accompany you for the duration of my sentence or for the distance to Daymonte. Both ended days ago. So I'm no longer required to stay with you."
Wynn bit her lip in frustration. Her amber eyes wavered, remembering His Eminence's exact words and knowing that I was right. Not a second later, she had her next attempt ready. "Well that's fine and all, but let's not forget that you owe Ringwood a debt. You still need to pay off that emerald with interest. And until you do, you must stay with us."
Immediately, my hands flew to my belt to withdraw all eight of my emeralds. "This ought to be enough to cover that. And if not, there are more resources in Ace's chest. Lapis, iron ore, gold ore, coal. Take your pick."
Reluctantly, Wynn reached out to accept the emeralds. She counted each one and grinded her teeth at how I had squirmed out of her latest trap. "Yes…it is more than enough to cover your debt…"
"Then I wish you the best of luck, Captain Wynn." I nodded respectfully, turning around to walk back to the gates. Lenz had his glasses raised, his magenta eyes fixed on my interaction with Wynn.
"S-stop!" I heard the distinctive rasp of iron followed by a few startled gasps. Lenz's eyes widened at whatever had happened and I whirled around to see Wynn's Rapier drawn.
It wasn't aimed at me, though. In fact, it was held at her side, almost as if she had done it on impulse and was now regretting her action. I couldn't help but wonder if she intended to threaten me to follow. She tilted her head to look at the guards watching behind. Judging by their reactions, the same thought had crossed their minds.
"That is…I…" Wynn shuffled in place before awkwardly returning the blade to her belt. Whatever she had wanted to do in that moment, it looked like she hadn't planned it through very well.
That wasn't like her.
"…Captain?" One of the guards raised their hand toward the Captain who was trembling slightly.
"If you stay here…" Wynn spoke low, her ivory hair obscuring her eyes. "You will die. Do you understand that? Those Griefers will tear you apart."
"Yeah, I kind of figured that by myself." I commented sarcastically. Wynn didn't laugh. "I don't know how I'll stop them, but I'll think of something. I'm sure of it." I patted the items at my belt and offered a small smile.
The smile was more for her sake than mine. It was clear that the Captain was doing her damnedest to keep me from dying. A small part of me felt guilty to have thwarted her every attempt at forcing me to follow, but a greater part was telling me it was for the best.
And who knows. Anything can happen. Maybe I'll beat them easy.
Brain: And maybe Carys_Angel will come back from the dead.
Hardy-har-har.
"…Very well, Cobb." Wynn spoke up, her hair still obscuring her eyes. "You can stay if you want."
"Thank you, Capt—"
"But first," when she finally lifted her head, her expression was stone cold, "I'll need to take back all those items I granted you."
I raised a brow at her latest demand. "What do you mean?"
She looked at me neutrally, without a hint of emotion. "You know what I mean. The iron pick I gave you to mine resources, those pieces of iron armor, the donkey…even that gold sword of yours."
"I earned that sword!" I argued back, anger rising in me. "You have no right to—"
"You enchanted that blade at my home. With lapis I generously provided. And those items were meant to be given to a fellow comrade. Someone worthy of being called a Ringwood guard." She gazed at me coldly. "If you would rather defend Daymonte than stay with Ringwood, then return those items."
She held out her hand expectantly, waiting for me to move. Her other hand was at her Rapier again, daring me to disagree and give her an excuse to knock me out. I matched her frosty gaze with a burning glare.
Then, slowly, I withdrew my Sharpness Golden Sword. Back when she had allowed me to enchant it, she had wanted to make me stronger. To give me a better chance at fighting those Griefers. Now she was demanding it back when I needed it most.
I handed her the sword which she slid into her backpack.
Next was the iron pickaxe. It wasn't the original one she offered me to mine resources. It was a replacement. But she didn't know that. And I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of making me protest.
I gave her the pick without a word.
Then the iron armor. More specifically the iron leggings and the iron boots. She gave me those as thanks for staying out of trouble in Daymonte. Even though I had done the complete opposite, what with getting sent to another dimension and all. I hadn't even worn them long, but she wanted them back nevertheless.
I reluctantly handed them over, feeling lighter and unprotected without them.
"Well?" She inquired with folded arms, looking me up and down. "Still feel like taking on those Griefers without your armor and weapons?"
Anger surged through me at her words. But not because of all the weapons she took or the cutting remark.
It was because of something I remembered Wynn saying.
'Being a leader necessitates difficult choices. It's your responsibility to make such decisions. Especially if it means being hated. The choices I make might earn resentment, but if they keep my guards alive, I'd much rather hear their hate than not hear them at all.'
I had asked her if that extended to me too.
'You're wearing our colors aren't you?'
That was it. This was just another way to force me to go with them. Strip me of my items in a last ditch attempt to weaken both my supplies and my resolve.
'Especially if it means being hated.'
"You won't last with your pitiful gear, Cobb." Wynn commented loud enough for me to hear over the angry buzzing in my head. "And that fishing rod won't do you any good against a thousand Griefers."
'The choices I make might earn resentment, but if they keep my guards alive, I'd much rather hear their hate than not hear them at all.'
"Will you still stubbornly cling to this doomed village? Or have you finally seen reason?"
'You're wearing our colors aren't you?'
I lifted my arms and wrenched my green dyed leather tunic off my chest. "Here. Can't forget about this." I flung the tunic, the symbol of my camaraderie with Ringwood, into the ground where it skid to rest at Wynn's boots. The guards let out a collective gasp, the true value of the green dyed leather quite familiar to them. "I guess it wasn't my color after all."
Wynn's eyes were focused on the leather tunic, knowing how symbolic the dyed leather was, before she slowly raised her head. And there looked to be real pain in her eyes. "Don't do this, Cobb. Don't make me the bad guy, here."
"Nobody's making you do anything!" I shot back. "You have your duties and I have mine. They're just different is all."
"That's not…you don't…" Wynn was struggling to find the right words, her neutral expression breaking. "It's more complicated than you're making it!"
I shook my head sadly. "It seems pretty simple to me."
For a while, the two of us just stared at each other, neither one of us wanting to back down.
After several tense moments, which were only magnified by the silence of the onlookers, Wynn stooped down to pick up the tunic and patted the dirt off of it. "Fine. It's clear this village has finally found its idiot."
She spoke it so coldly before turning to mount her steed. My only consolation was that I knew she didn't mean it. She didn't want me to die. Not really. Hadn't she done everything in her power to try and get me out of it?
"Let's…go!" She caught her voice, keeping it strong as she called the guards to mount their steeds and ride. She ordered one of the guards to take my donkey, Ace, in addition to their own steed. I saw that the other guards were sad at how our exchange had gone. Aside from Bitters, who was humming merrily despite the general mood, they all seemed depressed that I wouldn't be returning with them to Ringwood.
As they rode further and further to the tree line, I felt a presence stand beside me.
"You should probably go with them." I informed the engineer. "Things are going to be ugly."
Lenz shook his head. "Ah, if only it were that easy. The Captain has already made it clear that her guards would not protect me. And I could not survive out there on my own."
"…You know you could have lied and said you'd rather fight with me to the end."
"Forgive me, I am not familiar with this situation. In fact, every cell of my body is screaming at me to run as far and as fast as I can. To put as much distance between those Griefers as possible."
I turned to look at the engineer. "So what's telling you not to?"
He shook his head. "I do not know. Perhaps it is because there is no point. Perhaps because staying here, as absurd as it sounds, is my best chance at survival. After all, you must have some rudimentary plan to combat this Griefer army."
"…If by rudimentary you mean nonexistent…then yes."
"…You know you could have lied and said you had the perfect plan."
"Yeah…sorry…"
Lenz let out a sigh. "Well, since I do not have any other choice, I suppose I will have to pretend to be one of the strong. At least until that Griefer army appears, in which case, I will dig a pit and proceed to hide myself in it."
"That means a lot, Lenz, thanks." I rolled my eyes. "I'll be sure to give you a shout if I ever need you to make an elaborate redstone machine…or…trap…"
I trailed off as I gazed towards the tree line. The guards and Wynn had all just vanished into it, obscured by the trees. I thought I saw her look back, but I couldn't tell for sure.
But I had something else on my mind. The makings of a plan. A plan that could utilize Lenz's skills.
"Cobbert?"
"Hey, Lenz?" I spoke calmly, even as the idea bloomed further in my mind. "Remember that Stronghold in Daymonte?"
He stared at me dully. "I only spent a good portion of my life obsessing over that ruin's secrets."
Hey, he learned sarcasm.
"Remember that one pitfall trap with the retracting floor and the lava?"
"…Yes. Tripwire triggered if I recall. Why?"
I turned to him with a grin on my face. "Think you could make something like that. Only army-sized?"
Inventory (Cobb): 1 Wooden Shovel, 1 Stone Axe, 1 Stone Sword, 1 Wooden Pickaxe {Weak}, 1 Fishing Rod {Weak}, 1 Flint and Steel, 8 Cobblestone, 12 Flint, 22 Torches, 50 Oak Wood Planks, 8 Oak Wood Stairs, 1 Oak Wood Door, 1 Stick, 1 Clock, 45 Dirt, 2 Signs, 1 Water Bucket, 10 String, 1 Ender Pearl, 1 Bone, 3 Baked Potatoes, 14 Pumpkin Pies, 20 Cookies, 1 Cake, 1 Pumpkin, 1 Chainmail Helmet, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Furnace, 9 Rotten Flesh, 4 Item Frames, 1 Book {Advanced Mob-Slaying}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Daymonte Temporary Entry Pass}
[EXP: 12]
Inventory (Lenz): 1 Bow, 1 Shears, 3 Levers, 4 Wooden Buttons, 3 Stone Buttons, 5 Redstone Torches, 29 Redstone, 7 Redstone Repeaters, 3 Redstone Comparators, 1 Hopper, 1 Dispenser, 3 Blocks of Redstone, 3 Pistons, 8 Gravel, 10 Cobblestone, 10 Torches, 5 Sticks, 3 Redstone Lamps, 1 Minecart, 1 Compass, 12 String, 25 Gunpowder, 15 Carrots, 29 Arrows, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Pumpkin, 1 Book {Notebook}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Daymonte Entry Pass}
[EXP: 0]
Inventory (Reginald the Ass): {Empty}
AN: Hopefully Lenz took Trapmaking 101 at the College. He'll need it to match LeShui's skills.
This Chapter, at least in my opinion, had a good balance of humor and seriousness. The humor from the organ council and the seriousness from...well...you can probably guess. But the whole Chapter went through the reasons why Cobb should stay, whether it was worth the risk to defend Halstatt. And each of the organs, portraying different parts of Cobb's psyche, helped to show his struggle.
And speaking of struggle, that whole scene with Wynn was a little heartbreaking to write. There's no right or wrong, just two people that want different things for different reasons. Completely understandable.
Unfortunately, next week I won't be able to publish a Chapter because of college-related reasons. Therefore the next Chapter will be published...
...
August 31st!
The Omake below was an idea Ari-Dexel13 gave me.
Enjoy the rest of your summer and have a nice - *searches internet* - National Thrift Shop Day? Okay, who wrote this!? No way this is a real thing!
Omake: One is All You Need
"Alright, this looks as good a spot as any."
After liberating Maplefrost's Testificates—which was completely legal and not a criminal offense at all—Noman had said his goodbyes to the Scout Marble and the newly Scouted Righty, Bethany, and Legoless.
Although, after saying goodbye, the Billionth was stricken when he realized the amount of emeralds the Scout had left him. Not that it was insubstantial. On the contrary, it was more money than Noman knew what to do with. Over three-hundred emeralds! That was triple what Notch had left him!
He tried to find Marble to give him back the emeralds, but the Scout and Slime-girls were long gone. Whether leaving him the emeralds was intentional or not, the next leg of Noman's journey was funded with interest.
After getting another horse and some supplies—and avoiding the yellow-capped guards of Dover Plains—Noman traveled South, where he made camp.
While he was still trying to figure out which artifact to go after next, he decided to finally try out the bow he had been carrying.
It wasn't that he thought archery was daunting. He only ever had one arrow to spare, so he never had the chance to practice. But now that he bought a whole stack of arrows, he was ready to try out his bow. Especially after seeing the level of skill Ciro displayed.
The Millionth knew exactly where to aim to optimize damage, even going so far as to shoot his own arrow. He had to have trained rigorously to master that. Although Noman had no idea whether he survived or not, it couldn't hurt to devote more time to archery.
Noman arranged a series of targets from some wooden planks and dirt blocks and took a few steps away. Nodding in satisfaction at his work, Noman withdrew his bow. "Time to see what this Infinity Enchantment does."
He held his bow as Ciro had, and reached at his belt for an arrow. Immediately, one met his grasp and he loaded it, aiming at the center target.
He focused all of his attention on that target, calmed his breathing…and fired!
And missed!
"Well, it was a practice shot…" Noman dismissed. He reached down to his belt for a new arrow, but he must have already done so because there was one already in his hand. "Huh. Must have spaced out."
Again he loaded and fired. Only this time it came up too short.
Noman frowned in dissatisfaction, already aiming his next arrow before realizing he hadn't even reached at his belt for one.
This one sailed way over the target, nearly hitting his horse who whinnied in protest.
"Sorry, Carrot!" Nowhere_Man. Carrot. He wasn't the best at naming things. Not like Marble.
After moving his horse, Noman continued shooting at the center target, his efforts growing worse and worse as his dejectedness grew.
Ten shots. Twenty. Thirty. Forty.
Noman was seriously beginning to question whether the Infinity Enchantment purposefully made shots miss. Because after shooting fifty times, the arrows had hit everything except the target. The feathered bits of the arrows comically bunched on anything that's not a target.
"Okay, so I'm terrible at this." He finally admitted, not that there's anyone to judge him.
Just the critical stare of that horse…
"Don't look at me, Carrot." The Billionth mutters in embarrassment, walking over to retrieve the arrows.
Only for them to remain stuck in place.
"Er…" He tugged at the arrows again and again, but they refused to come loose. In fact, it almost felt like he was gripping air between his fingers. "What is this?"
He was fairly certain that arrows could be retrieved after being shot, so long as they didn't hit a Mob or Crafter. So then what was the problem?
Deciding to examine the arrows at his belt, Noman gasped when he saw the untouched stack. All sixty-four arrows were still neatly bunched together.
Noman came to a conclusion. If it wasn't the arrows, it had to be the bow. More specifically, the Infinity Enchantment. Suddenly remembering reading something about Infinity, he checked his artifact book on the Yanhua Gong.
[-Infinity Enchantment. Unlimited arrows]
"Unlimited arrows…" He spoke the words aloud as if not believing them. His bow had an infinite number of shots. Its only limit was the bow's durability, which, since it was never used before, was fairly full.
But suddenly, another revelation crossed Noman's mind, completely overshadowing the first.
"This whole time…I had an Infinite amount of arrows…AND I WAS CONSERVING THEM!?"
Noman was immensely glad nobody was around to hear him. Because he let out one, enraged curse that echoed across the empty field.
"FIDDLESTICKS!"
AN: GASP! Not the 'F' word! Noman, you pottymouth!