AN: Happy Valentine's Day everybody! This Chapter has sorta romance in it. Sorta.
Honestly, nothing important happens. You can just skip this Chapter.
(^_^)
Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. Bwuh.
Chapter 126
Dance
[Cobb]
'Nothing makes things more awkward than a night of Awkward Potions.'
It had been one of Wynn's many life lessons, like 'Never go drinking with Veronica' or 'Stay away from Charged Creepers' or the tried and true 'Don't do anything stupid'.
Jokes on her. I do stupid things all the time. And look at me now!
Looking at me now, I was hung over my bed and hung over in another sense of the word. Mundane Potions, Thick Potions, Awkward Potions. They all swirled within my body, making my head pound and the world spin. A memento from a night celebrating our hard-fought loss. We must have dropped a lot of emeralds to get this wasted. How any of us made it home was a mystery.
Bleary eyes caught sight of Lenz hunched over a toilet and Floyd shielding his eyes and moaning on the floor. Soul seemed oddly immune to drink, or else he had a higher tolerance. While the rest of us suffered for our night of fun, he was sleeping soundly. Likely he had been the one to get us back.
But... where was Jade?
"Hum…" Soft breath tickled my ear before two arms enwrapped my chest from behind. "Comfy…" A feminine voice yawned before snuggling deeper into my neck.
Heart: Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Brain: Not so loud! All that drink made me shrink!
Jade's bed was right next to mine. She must have clambered into it by mistake. Either that or Soul laid us in the same bed to mess with us.
Heart: Thank you, Soul!
Brain: Shut up! Ow! Everything hurts! Never drink again!
My mind felt sluggish as I tried to think on what to do. Waking Jade up now would just lead to an awkward morning and exacerbated headaches. Better to just slip away to an empty bed.
However, when I tried to prop myself up, my brain sloshed around the inside of my skull.
Brain: ARGH! STOP!
The room spun and one arm flopped against the bed uselessly. The other was busy nursing a dull throb in the back of my head. I bit back a wince, trying to be quiet, but Jade heard it, stirring as she too felt a headache. She buried her face deeper into my neck and tightened her hold, trapping an arm. Her legs joined in, tangling with mine and making escape all but impossible.
There I lay, feeling Jade's body warming mine and mine hers. The only consolation being the layers of cursed armor and clothing separating us. My head was pounding too much for me to think.
…Well, I tried.
I closed my eyes and snuggled into the bed, content to let Jade wake up first and piece together her own conclusion. I drifted off after a few minutes, the sound of Lenz retching into the toilet being the last thing I heard.
The dull throbbing in my head lessened as sleep overtook me. And then I began to dream.
It was a pretty good dream too. I was in Ringwood with my friends. We were all eating at Wynn's place, and for whatever reason, we weren't hunted anymore. It was great. Erin made a feast, Soul was playing with his pet Cat-Face, Wynn was telling me how all the guards were using fishing rods, and Jade and Erin, somehow, were never in the same room at the same time. One would always leave as the other entered.
We were all laughing when there was a knock on the door. Then I found myself the only one laughing. Everyone else had gone dead quiet.
My mirth quickly faded as the knocking on the door grew louder, echoing like the tolling of a distant bell. Everywhere I looked, smiles were replaced with tight-lipped, conflicted expressions. It freaked me out when everyone stood up at the same time and moved to arm themselves with weapons. The food melted away as swords, bows, axes, rapiers, and cutlasses took their place.
My eyes darted to the plate before me, watching how it transformed from a hearty steak to my fishing rod, Backlash.
The horrible knocking continued and everyone made to answer.
"I'll get it!" I blurted out, pushing myself to my feet. Everyone turned to stare back at me, and even the knocking stopped, but I dragged myself around the table, silencing all their protests. I laughed it off, pushing some of them back down.
"Don't get up!" I assured them. "It's good, I can get it."
I hurried to the door, pausing to make sure everyone was seated and getting back to talking, before wrenching it open and glaring at the one interrupting our dinner.
It was Noman.
Why was I not surprised?
As soon as the door opened, Noman began making wild gestures, pointing behind him and working his mouth. But no sound came out. I glanced behind me before closing the door enough so the others couldn't see.
"I thought I made it clear, you aren't welcome here." I hissed. Noman paused for a second before continuing his muted warnings and gestures. He pointed behind him with more urgency, and I watched as the lush grass and mansions of Wynn's neighborhood began to decay.
"What are you talking about? Everything looks fine!" I assured him.
The meticulously shaped hedges caught fire.
"You're worrying too much."
The sky turned blood-red.
"That's perfectly normal."
Crafters fled down the street, screaming. Some of them were shot and vaporized by something I couldn't see. Something I didn't care to see. Heads and gear littered the lawn before getting caught in the spreading fire.
Noman looked at my, wide-eyed and desperate. He whispered something, and even though I couldn't hear any of his mute warnings before, this time I could.
"Help."
"No."
I slammed the door in his face, shutting both him and the burning outside world from sight. I tensed and released my fists, schooling my expression before pasting a smile on my face.
"It was just a door-to-door salesman. Nobody important. Let's get back to—hello?"
The table, once full of friends, was now empty. There was no food, no sign that anybody had been sitting there. The only sound being the creaking back door as it swung open and closed.
"Guys!?" I ran over and threw the door open, only to stagger back when an intense heat washed over me. The entire backyard was engulfed in flames. The cloying smoke hit my face and made my eyes water, but I tried to fight my way through it.
"F-Floyd!" I coughed out, waving my hands and walking through the smoke and flames. "Wynn! Lenz!" I coughed some more, tears streaming down my face. "Erin! Soul! Jade! Where are you guys!?"
Something streaked by from above—some kind of screaming missile—that struck the roof of Wynn's mansion. To my horror, the whole building was on fire, the back door lost in burning wreckage and flames.
"HEY! ANYONE!" I violently coughed, trying to keep my lungs clear. I fell to my knees and crawled around, ignoring the flames licking at my palms.
When my fingers touched something wet, I knew I had hit the pond in Wynn's backyard. I threw myself in there without delay.
The water didn't just feel cool. It felt freezing. Like icy claws were clutching at my chest, making me wonder whether I was breathing in water or holding my breath. Immediately, I missed the warmth of the burning backyard above. And was the pond ever this deep…?
I was sinking further and further from the surface. Something was dragging me down. I took a glance and my eyes widened to find Lieutenant Leadstripe hanging on my ankles!
"Billionth!" He jeered, his voice warped and eerie. "Billionth!"
I shook my head. I wasn't the Billionth! Not the one they were looking for! Noman took my number! It was a mistake!
"Billionth!" The lieutenant reached up and wrapped an arm around my neck, dragging me down. The surface of the water shimmered like a mirror, revealing my missing friends.
They were all lined up, on their knees, beaten and bruised, surrounded by cultists sporting black-leather caps.
"Let them go!" I tried to shout, only for a stream of bubbles to come out instead. They couldn't hear me. The water was getting colder, bits of ice encasing my legs.
The cultists above were shouting stuff I couldn't understand. What did make sense was when another Lieutenant, 4Blite, walked up and pressed an axe to Wynn's neck.
"Where is our Founder?" He spoke coldly, his eyes piercing mine.
"I…I don't know! I'm not the Billionth! Please, let them—"
4Blite lashed out and any other plea I had was lost when Wynn's Head tumbled to the floor.
I couldn't breathe.
A stream of bubbles erupted from my mouth and I struggled madly against Leadstripe, snarling and thrashing like a wild animal.
"Where is Founder, Billionth?" 4Blite asked again, holding his diamond axe to Soul's neck next.
"STOP!" I screamed. "DON'T—"
Another movement and Soul's Head toppled.
Something inside started to splinter, the beginning of a crack. Something that came undone as I watched 4Blite move down the line.
Again and again his axe fell, claiming Lenz, Floyd, Jade and Erin. Anger turned to grief as I begged him to stop, to kill me instead, to kill Noman instead…
I wasn't the one…
I didn't know…
I didn't even register when Leadstripe released me. I just floated in that body of water, curled upon myself as the surface cracked and shattered like ice.
And then, suddenly, I was swept away by a strong current, moving further and further from the shattered surface. I didn't know where I was going or what was happening, nor did I care.
My friends were all…
I was spat out of the fountain in Zeppil, landing hard on my back. The sky was stormy, lightning flashing across and striking the nearby roofs.
And then, with the sound of stone scraping against stone, something large and imposing came into view.
A statue of Zeppil's guardian angel: The Angel of Death.
It was the same massive statue from the toll gates. A cloaked figure with a dark skull mask. Nobody in Zeppil knew who she really was.
The statue loomed over me for a second before lowering its hood and pulling free its mask. Carys' face was just as I remembered. Cold, dark, and ruthless. Only this time her expression was literally stone as she plucked me from the ground with one massive hand and held me before her. Then she whispered something.
"Your enemies are closer than you think."
I shot out of bed, gasping and in a cold sweat. My heart drummed in my chest, and even though I still had a headache it couldn't compare to the terror of my nightmare.
I scanned the room, desperate for assurance, and breathed a sigh of relief seeing Floyd and the others. It was a little later in the day—all of us sleeping in and nursing headaches—and everyone seemed to have recovered. They looked perplexed by my panic, but that just meant it had been a nightmare.
I could breathe again.
"About time you woke up." Jade called from… her bed. "Soul was about to get the water bucket."
"I still can! Don't ruin this for me!" Came a voice from the bathroom.
Everyone was safe. Everyone was here. I could laugh it was so good to know. I hid my quivering in the act of wiping my face. My head throbbed and a groan slipped past my lips.
"Here." Lenz supplied a bottle of cool water. "Rehydrating will make you feel better." I gratefully drank it. "We better clean ourselves up if we want to rub elbows with royalty tonight."
"Yep. Last chance for an airship." Floyd nodded, patting his cursed leather armor. "I hope they don't have a dress code."
"It should not be unusual to arrive in team colors." Lenz commented.
It was as they said. The End-of-Games Celebration was literally our last, final crack at obtaining an airship. For retrieving the Anemoi from Rudy and her team of cheaters, Captain Fo had promised to introduce us to airship owners at the party. All we needed was one of them to be willing to part with their airship. So long as the price was right.
Looking over to Jade, I noticed she was blushing and averting her eyes, sitting firmly on her own bed. So I hadn't dreamed her snuggling into my back. She must have woke up sometime after, saw our compromising situation, and swapped beds without waking me. Well, if she wasn't going to admit to anything, neither was I. The less teasing material Soul had, the better.
"I slept like a log." I alleviated Jade's fears with an exaggerated yawn, stretching my arms. "No more giggle juice for me for a while."
"Same." Jade said with a mix of mirth and relief. "We got time until the party. Time to show you boys how to use a sword."
Floyd stirred from his spot recovering against the bed, and even I looked forward to it. After so many wasted lessons teaching Jade, we would finally be getting somewhere in sword-fighting. I only wished there was something I could do for her in exchange. She was already tutoring me in parkour on top of sword-fighting. Maybe some fishing rod lessons?
"How about it, Lenz? You must be tired of using a bow all the time."
"Hardly." He fixed his glasses with a snort. "The bow is where I excel. I would think my performance in the Games made that clear."
"…Sorry." Floyd muttered for what felt like the fifth time, earning a chorus of groans. "I am! We lost because of me!"
"Floyd, enough." Lenz stressed. "None of us blame you for what happened. We know you did all you could, and considering the circumstances, I am proud you managed a point at all. You risked a lot using your powers in the second round."
"But… if I had gotten one more point—"
"And if Cobbert had gotten one more point," Lenz interjected, "things would be different. Perhaps we would have won. Perhaps there would have needed to be a tie-breaker. But as of now, the cold, hard truth is that we lost. I for one do not blame you for that."
"Now if we could only get you to stop blaming yourself, we'd be set." Soul chuckled. "Hell, just go ahead and say we lost because of me. I wouldn't have settled for silver against Captain Anchor-Arms. I'd have gotten first."
"Sure, Soul. And while you were at it you could have singlehandedly ended world hunger and disposed of the Endward Cult."
"Yup."
"Ugh. Shut up." I shook my head before turning back to Floyd. "Point is nobody blames you. The past is in the past." I waited for Floyd to nod, knowing he would hate himself for it otherwise.
"With that out of the way, let us turn our attention to tonight's celebration." Lenz said. "If we want even a miniscule chance of obtaining an airship, we will have to be on our best behavior. Nobody will do business with us if we cannot impress."
"We got time until tonight." Jade waved an arm. "But if you don't want to swing a sword, you can stock our supplies instead. I'm low on food."
We all were. Getting to Zeppil had put a serious dent in our rations. And considering the possibility that we might have to walk to our next destination…
The Mesa Kingdom of Akasha.
The plan had always been to visit Akasha after Zeppil. According to Floyd and Soul—who heard it from Brett—there was serious cultist activity there. However, considering the false alarm with Zeppil, there was no telling whether the threat was genuine or not. Still, they had to check it out. Just to be safe.
The cult, huh?
Images from my nightmare flashed through my head, filling me with unease.
"…obb?"
"Huh?" I looked up, only for Jade to swat my head playfully.
"Quit spacing out. We need to get our training in before Lenz gets back with our supplies."
She was right. In my moment of thought, Lenz and Soul had left. Floyd was at the door, waiting on us.
"Right. Sorry." I followed them out, ignoring the dread I felt over reaching Akasha, where we would be more likely to run into cultists.
My guild faced challenges before. But what Noman said the other night had me thinking that the Endward Cult was a bigger threat than even the Hack Clan. Their schemes were on a grander scale. They had an end goal.
Something world-ending.
But so long as it wasn't my World…
Floyd. Lenz. Soul. Jade. Wynn. Erin.
I won't lose them.
More than anything else, sword-fighting with Jade showed firsthand how much she had been holding back.
Armed with her diamond cutlass, she was a whirlwind of crescent cuts and slashes. Each one was as powerful as a Critical Hit per the weapon's ability. White stars always erupted from the razor sharp end, and Jade's parkour skills enabled her to move around the field with ease. Good footwork, leaps, and flips.
She was impossible to pin down, even with two of us facing her.
Thankfully, she didn't just beat the tar out of us. This was training. Practice. Most of the time she disarmed us, occasionally sneaking a hit in, before stopping to allow us to pick up our weapons.
She also offered tips. For better defense and stopping power, she recommended a stance lower to the ground. For speed and evasion, loose, light on your toes. The latter of which she preferred.
"I started training this way when I got the cutlass from my teacher." She explained, spinning into me. Her sword crashed into mine at various angles as she changed directions in a dizzying tempo. "The thin, curved blade makes it easier to swing and move around. I could never do this with a clunky sword."
I could see what she meant. The standard sword was thick, durable. And heavy. Good for power, but power was useless when Jade could just as easily evade. She hopped aside to dodge before kicking off and taking my back. I couldn't bring my blade up in time before she got a slash in.
Floyd ran in to help, only for Jade to flip over his telegraphed swing. She swung her handle into his chest, making him choke on his own breath. Then she performed a spin kick that sent him sliding across the ground.
"Ow…" He groaned before lighting up. "Hey, my armor lost a bit more durability!"
"What!? No fair!" Jade complained, hands on her hips. "I want this cursed armor off just as much as you!"
"Then stop dodging so spectacularly." I countered.
"And miss out on your compliments? Why must I choose?"
I slipped my hand into my belt, subtly brining out my weapon of choice.
"Upupup!" I froze. "We agreed no fishing rod. This is supposed to be sword-training."
"I know. But… dual-wielding is perfectly—"
"Put it away."
"Fine." I tried reaching for something else.
"No snowballs either."
Well now she's just being unreasonable!
Regardless, I took out my sword and charged her, overly telegraphing my attack on purpose. She spun out of the way, but I was expecting it, throwing my body into hers. It was clumsy but it caught her unaware, making her teeter off-balance. My blade struck the ground and I used it to pivot my body and launch a knee into her side. It landed, but not before she flicked out her cutlass, scoring a hit on my neck.
We rebounded off each other, but Jade dove forward, attempting to skewer me as payback. Taking a page out of her book, I dove to the side, staying on my toes. She flipped overhead, slashing from above, but I blocked it before spinning around to where I knew she would land. My blade met hers, but she couldn't possibly defend against the heavier blade.
She skidded back, disengaging with a smirk. "That's more like it." She complimented.
"I have a good teacher."
We skipped aside at the same time, the both of us parkouring around one another's attacks like some strange dance. She was much better at it than me, being the master; for every hop I made, she performed two and a backflip. I at least got some slashes in, reducing the durability of her cursed armor.
It ended with us both panting for breath and smiling, our swords tickling the other's neck. Floyd sat on the sidelines, forgotten.
"Let's call it there." Jade laughed breathlessly before sheathing her cutlass.
"Yeah." I returned the sword to my belt. "I'm starving."
"Then do we have the thing for you!" Soul announced, strutting into the clearing like some grand savior. To be fair, he looked like one with all the food under his arms. "Hope you like mutton, losers!"
He began tossing out heaps of the sheep meat, uncaring for if it landed on the ground or not. Lenz was more civilized with the stuff, placing it in our hands like a decent human being. We tore into it like animals, ravenous after our training.
"We purchased five stacks of mutton; enough to last us until Akasha, if we are careful. Assuming we will travel there by foot." Lenz added, somewhat pessimistically. "The bad news is it cost us forty-six emeralds—"
"And the good news is that, with our insane funds, this barely puts a dent in our airship budget." Soul grinned, slapping a hand on Lenz's shoulders and jostling him. "We even refilled Lenz's supply of arrows. We are good to go!"
"There is no sense in being wasteful." Lenz admonished, straightening his clothes. "The less emeralds we take out of our ender chest, the better."
"Right. Not like we have a Silk Touch shovel to earn it all back—oh, wait!" He slapped a hand to his forehead, prompting Lenz to roll his eyes. "Oh, come on. We have three-thousand emeralds in savings."
"An airship might still be more."
"Then we'll get more emeralds selling grass blocks. You worry too much." Soul looked around at all the people happily munching on mutton. "You guys have a good time at the party, yeah?"
"You sure you don't want to come?" Floyd asked. "Captain Fo did say we could bring a guest. Nobody would mind if you—"
"I appreciate the thought, but this party sounds more like the fancy-pants kind than the party-animal kind. Know what I mean?" Reluctantly, Floyd nodded. "Besides, I got things to do."
"Oh? Like what?"
"Not more recruiting." Floyd groaned. "Didn't you say you almost got arrested?"
"I was fully justified in throwing stone slabs at those people." He defended staunchly. "And anyway, I already got a new recruit. That Nowhere_Man that hates curses."
The cooked mutton slipped out of my fingers.
"Nowhere_Man? Oh, you mean Noman! He did help fight against Leadstripe." Jade realized. "He wants to join the Silver Intent?"
"You bet. He's got promise with that shield, even if he's a little odd. Then again, who isn't? So long as he can fight—"
"Can I speak with you for a moment?"
I hooked my arm through Soul's not waiting for an answer as I dragged him off the clearing and into an alley. I could feel the confused stares of the others, but I powered through because my insides were twisting over Soul's comment.
"Hey! Hey! Let go of me, Cobb. What's wrong with you?"
Soul protested, squeezing my arm to get me to release him, but I ignored the pain, gripping his shoulder like a vice until we were out of sight and earshot. Only then did I let him fight his way out.
"What's your problem?"
"What are you doing talking with Noman?" I hissed, the accusation bringing a frown to Soul's face. He needed a better explanation. "Did he approach you? Did he follow you? Did he—?"
"He didn't do anything. He was watching your Spleef battle, same as me. Same as a lot of people. I was the one who talked to him about the Silver Intent." He lifted an eyebrow. "Is that a problem?"
"Yes." I couldn't stop myself. "It is a problem. That guy. Noman. He's dangerous. Stay away from him."
"Dangerous?" Soul scoffed derisively. "Cobb, the guy's too innocent to swear. He uses a shield, and while he's pretty good with it, I don't think he's threatening—"
"I'm telling you," I interrupted, "to stay away from him."
The mirth faded from Soul's face. "You're serious?" He looked into my eyes and knew. "Shit, but… but why? He helped us against Leadstripe. What makes him dangerous?"
"You don't need to know that!" I snapped. The less he and Floyd knew about Noman, the better. "He might seem innocent, but being around him is just asking for trouble."
"Trouble follows us around anyway. You need to give me more, Cobb. What do you have against this guy?"
"Would you just—!" I took a calming breath, stepping back. "Just trust me on this. He may have helped us now, but he has… other responsibilities."
I knew I wasn't explaining it very well, but how could I say Noman was on a crusade given to him by Notch to destroy the Endward Cult? If he heard that, Soul would seek out Noman in a heartbeat, if only to offer his help. And then Floyd would go with him, and then I would go with them, and then the whole guild would go with me.
Right into the path of the Endward Cult.
I couldn't risk it. We had enough on our plate being wanted criminals, and my nightmare from earlier was making me panic the more I thought about it.
Noman's mission—whatever it was—was important enough that he couldn't bother sharing it with me, the body-double decoy. He may have saved me once, but his mission meant more to him than our lives.
Well, our lives meant more to me than he did, and I told him as much. No way was I going to expedite the process by getting involved with him.
Noman was a danger to us, whether he knew it or not. And he definitely knew it.
But Soul did not. I saw him shaking his head, a deep frown upon his face.
"Fuck you. The Silver Intent needs all the help it can get."
He made to leave but I snagged his arm. "You're not listening to me!"
"And you're not telling me shit!" He snapped back. "You expect me to just follow you blindly without all the facts? Contrary to what you think, you are not a know-it-all! You've been wrong before."
"Name one time."
"Hunderprest." The ready response made me freeze. "You spared him and he came back to haunt us. I didn't make that mistake."
"What are you…?" My eyes widened. "No, you…killed him?" His silence was telling and his red eyes were cold. "N-no… you… when…?"
"While you and Jade were springing Floyd. Lenz and I kept it secret because we figured you wouldn't be able to take it." He replied. "I can take it, though. And I don't regret it. That guy thought we were cultists, even after you spared him. He was never going to leave us alone. But you were wrong then, and you're wrong now."
"That's not…" I screwed my eyes shut, fighting for the right words. "You think Noman gives a shit about us?"
"Enough to save you." Soul replied coolly. "I'd even say he went above and beyond, giving two solid shits."
"Knock it off!" I slapped his hand aside. "As your guild leader, I am forbidding you to—!"
Soul laughed coldly. "Uh-oh, look out, Cobb be busting out the authority now. I'm shaking in my diamond boots."
"Don't test me, Soul." I warned, my hand inching towards my belt. "If you see him again, I'll—"
In a flash, Soul's axe was resting on my shoulder, the threat clear. Even so, Soul looked shocked that I would even try to draw a weapon against him.
"I don't know what you have against this guy," he began, "but I intend to find out. And that includes meeting him. You can't stop me." He lifted the axe and I made to protest, only for him to interrupt me. "Or Option B. I shout to the others you have a problem with this guy and we make it one, big, open issue for all of us to talk about. You want that?"
No, that wasn't what I wanted at all. I felt a shiver run up my spine. If the others heard I thought of Noman as a danger, they'd all ask questions, and one of them was bound to figure out the truth. Or go to Noman trying. I couldn't risk that. This had to be contained. But Soul wasn't budging!
I clenched my fists and bit my tongue in frustration. Why was Noman such a danger?
Because he has a mission to destroy the cult, which would earn their ire for obvious reasons.
Because he gave me his number, painting a target on my back.
Because he was content to let me and my friends go off and draw attention away from him.
None of these answers would satisfy Soul. They'd only make more problems.
"Hey, are you guys okay?" Floyd called from afar, making me freeze.
"Yeah, everything's fine." Soul called back with a sigh, stepping away and leaving me alone in the alley.
There was nothing I could do to stop him.
Slowly, mechanically, I pushed off the wall and rejoined my friends, making no mention of my chat with Soul. The axe-wielder followed suit.
But when it grew later, and the sun dipped past the extreme hills on the horizon, it was time to go.
Soul left with a short wave and a promise to meet back up later via our maps. He paused by me, sharing a firm look before moving on. He was going to Noman, and I only prayed that he had the sense to keep his business with the cult a secret.
As for us, well…
We had a party to attend.
[Noman]
Maybe this was a mistake.
I was in the stable of my Inn, combing my fingers over my horse's back. Beetroot whinnied gratefully, nibbling on the sugar I held out to him. I did it as a distraction, since I kept going back and forth over my decision to meet with the bulky axe-wielder of Cobb's entourage.
He's just a contact. I told myself. I only need him to introduce me to the Silver Intent organization, then we can part ways and never see one another again.
It wasn't that I had anything against the man. Soul, while foul-mouthed, seemed like a good man, fighting against the Endward Cult and doing his part.
No, what frightened me more was Cobb. He was livid, blaming me for taking his number. And while I could understand his anger, it wasn't entirely my fault he was branded as the Billionth. He chose the number himself. And the Billionth is all he'd ever be to the cult.
At least until he shared the truth of the matter. Then it would be my problem.
But he was very protective of his guild, making it clear I wasn't to endanger them. Wasn't to talk to them. Wasn't to look at them.
And here I was, ignoring his warnings by waiting for one of his friends. It made me shuffle uncomfortably. I didn't want to involve anyone. If I had all the artifacts now, I would go looking for the cult myself to end it and spare Cobb the trouble.
But life was unfair. I only had two of the nine artifacts and no current leads on the others. There was Ciro and the Yanhua Gong, of course, but I didn't know where the Millionth was hiding.
I couldn't protect Cobb's group AND search for artifacts at the same time. One took precedence over the other, and Cobb knew which one I would choose.
I sighed dejectedly, feeling worse about what I was doing and vowing I would get it over with as quickly as possible. No reason to endanger Cobb and his friends anymore. Talk with the Silver Intent, ask for leads, ride off into the sunset. Though the last part would be tough with how late it was getting.
A few moments later, the axe-wielder himself showed up. He had no trouble finding my Inn per my instructions.
"Soul." I greeted with a nod. Formal. Polite. Nothing too friendly.
"Hey there, sterile-tongue."
…What?
"Been waiting long?"
"Er… n-no. I was feeding my horse, you see." I gestured to Beetroot, but Soul didn't seem interested.
"Alright, so I'm gonna bring you to the nearest Silver Intent base. It's not too far, so you should save all your questions for the guy in charge when we get there. Unless you have something personal you want to go over?" I shook my head. "Cool. Let's head out, then."
We left the stable, maintaining both a comfortable distance and a comfortable silence. We were comfortable. Nothing needed to be said. Certainly nothing that would bring attention to my number, mission, or artifacts—
"So, I told Cobb I was going to meet with you."
Oh, fiddlesticks.
"He was pretty upset about it. Really upset." He watched me carefully, prompting me to look away. "He seemed to think you were dangerous. Care to share?"
Whyyyyyyy?
"…Could we not?"
"Tch. No." He folded his arms. "I'm too damn curious."
"Language."
"Okay, let me put it to you this way. Either you explain or I lead you around the block fifty times." He looked at me expectantly. "Well?"
"I… agh…" What was I supposed to say? Cobb had every right to not want Soul and I to meet. He wanted me far away from all his friends. "Cobb and I… we don't quite see eye to eye."
"Yeah, I noticed." We turned the corner, heading towards Cloud Castle. "What happened between you two?"
"Well…" Maybe a half-truth was the way to go. "A long time ago, I stole something of Cobb's without either of our knowledge, and it put him in a difficult position. He resents me for it, and I… deserve it." I shook my head. "This… this was a mistake. I'm sorry, but I shouldn't be here." I tried to walk away, but Soul rested a hand on my shoulder, stopping me.
"Whoa, whoa, hey! Calm down. Nobody's saying you shouldn't be here." He scratched his head. "Geez, I was kind of hoping for something more. I thought you said you only met him for the first time the other day."
"It was the only time we were properly introduced. What I stole, I did without meeting him."
"What was it?"
"…"
"Ugh, you're as tight-lipped as him." He groaned.
"I'm sorry." I said. "It's not for me to say."
"It's not for Cobb to say either. It's making me nutso." He shook his head. "God, why can't people just be blunt all the time. They got to be sensitive."
"Sorry."
"Stop apologizing." He snapped, dragging a hand over his face. "You remind me of… look, there's this guy I know. He kept beating himself over something he did too. It was a moment of weakness and I… held it against him for a while… but that was all wrong! He felt bad about it, like you do, and it turned out that all the time he spent hating himself just hurt him more. One of the many reasons why being sensitive is stupid."
"So… you're saying I shouldn't feel bad?" I asked. "No, no I can't do that. Cobb's still in a difficult position because of what I stole."
"So give it back."
"I… can't do that either. What I stole can't be returned."
Not unless I freely admitted it to the Endward Cult. I'd have to show them the mission book and artifacts just to get them to believe me. But then what would they do? Kill me? Capture me? Question me? I still had no idea about their Founder.
"How about instead of apologizing and hating yourself, you do something productive?" Soul suggested with a tight smile. "That's what Fl—the guy I talked about did. Actions speak louder than words, after all."
"And you forgave him?"
"Yeah. Of course." He paused in thought. "Eventually."
"I don't have time for eventually." I countered.
"No time like the present." He pointed to a garden of sugarcane. "We're here."
"For what, sugar?"
"Cute. No, the Silver Intent base is hidden there. I'll show you the way. Stay close."
I allowed the axe-wielder to move ahead, thinking on his advice and wondering if maybe, just maybe, I could make things right with Cobb.
…Without revealing myself to the Endward Cult.
[Cobb]
"King_Cobb, Flawwed_Floyd, AceOfJades, and Lenzington of Team Beginners?"
"That's us."
"Very good. Right this way, please."
We were escorted past the front gates and through a large archway into the base of Cloud Castle. White-capped guards were everywhere, the security of the End-of-Games Celebration being of grave importance.
My assumption that the castle was built into the hill proved true as we passed corridor after corridor. All of them looked to wind deeper into the packed earth and stone, leading off into mysterious chambers and rooms. None of which we were allowed to enter.
Instead, we were closely guided to a grand staircase made from pristine nether quartz. All along it were redstone lamps, lighting through the late hour darkness. The walls were covered with Zeppil's banner and beautiful paintings.
Jade whistled appreciatively. "Fancy tastes."
Up, up, up we went. The grand staircase branched off at certain landings, leading to even more mysterious corridors, but they were usually accompanied by three or four guards. We weren't allowed to free roam.
On the way up, we came across other competitors, winded from the climb. Chen, Cin_Spire, Eric, Abyssal. One or two of them glared at me traitorously for my stunts in the Spleef Event, but I ignored them, whistling innocently all the while.
Lenz got tuckered out after the tenth flight of stairs, prompting Floyd and me to carry him the rest of the way. Jade, who already scaled Cloud Castle in the second round of the Parkour Event, had a better grasp of how much further we had to go, and alerted us when we reached a decorated stone archway. The threshold to the great hall. And looking inside…
We were blown away.
The hall was interspersed with tall stone pillars that raised the ceiling thirty meters. Chandeliers of wooden fences and torches hung suspended, and the ceiling itself depicted a colorful rendition of a fearsome tortoise. Tall windows that stretched to the ceiling were on all sides; the great hall exposed from Cloud Castle's packed design, closer to the top. The windows allowed us to look out into the night at the whole Kingdom and the dotted glowing lights of warm homes and buildings.
The center of the hall was packed with people, though a small clearing was made, presumably for a dance floor. Crafters twirled there, hand in hand, to the rhythm of a jukebox. People looked on, laughing and clapping in appreciation, or otherwise speaking in a low din. Those that weren't dancing or chatting were at the back, where a large table, laden with delicious-looking food, had been pushed against the wall. Crafters were digging in with gusto, helping themselves to the offered food and drink contentedly. Though, the four of us collectively grimaced at the sight of drink, reminded of the morning's headaches. Only water for us, tonight.
There were also white-capped guards all around, not just providing security on the outskirts, but also handing out drink and food as waiters. They looked mortified at the job, but did so with dutiful resolve. Even when handing out cookies and napkins to greasy-fingered gluttons.
There were also games. Over in the corner was a series of dispensers that Crafters sat at and deposited emeralds. They looked like some form of slot-machine, and one such Crafter must have earned a great payout since emeralds began spewing from one of the dispensers.
"Fascinating." Lenz remarked, eyeing the slots. Not for the emeralds, but for the redstone involved. "I must examine one, have I the time. Now, where is the Captain?"
"Uh…" Floyd sweatdropped, pointing to the center of the dance floor. "I might be seeing things, but…"
I craned my neck and couldn't help but laugh as I saw Captain Fo vigorously breakdancing, spurred on by an entourage of guards. She was usually so refined and stern; it was out of place, like if Wynn suddenly decided to strip.
Not one to be outdone by their rivalry, Captain Bak was also on the dance floor, though his movements lacked the grace that Fo's had. Still, he had an entourage of guards cheering him on too. The Prince and Princess were at the table with, I think, the King of Zeppil—a man so ancient that his wrinkles covered his eyes.
"We should probably wait until she finishes her… breakdance." The word sounded strange coming from Lenz, but he soldiered on, turning to Floyd. "Come. Let us examine those slot machines!"
Floyd groaned, resigning himself to another boring redstone spiel from the engineer as the two of them made their way through the crowd.
"I guess that leaves us to… and she's gone." I threw my arms up, suddenly finding myself alone. "Guess I'll grab some food and be a wallflower."
At least there was a bunch of food on offer. Mutton, steak, porkchops, chicken, rabbit, fish, stews and soups, carrots, potatoes, apples, melon, bread, cookies, cake, pumpkin pie. Every food in existence, cooked to perfection. The beetroot stew looked new, the result of a Bounty Day, probably.
I took a handful of everything and steered clear of anyone from the second round Spleef Alliance. I barely dodged Eric before making my way over to the windows.
Outside, I could see tall towers climbing out of view, reaching for the star-dotted night sky. But past them, the Kingdom of Zeppil and all its curved-roof innocence.
And that bastard Noman.
I didn't feel comfortable with him and Soul talking. I had no idea what he would do, if he would let Soul in on his Endward Cult eradication plan or not. There was also the possibility that Soul would ask too many questions and figure it out himself.
But I also owed it to Lenz to try and help arrange an airship deal. It wouldn't feel right leaving Zeppil without one, not after how far we traveled and how hard we worked.
Hopefully everything will be settled by tonight. And if not, I'll find Noman myself and force him to leave.
The first step would be tracking Soul. Ah, but with my map, tracking him was as simple as playing a game of 'spot the white blip'.
I fumbled for my map when a flash of green caught my eye. Jade. She was over by one of the windows…
Being cornered by XoX.
Didn't she say XoX was hitting on her yesterday? But she broke things off by kicking him in the crotch. So why was he back for more? Unless he was into that…
What was I thinking!? Jade was in distress!
I hurried over, watching as XoX tried to put his hands on her, only for her to swat him back and reach for her cutlass. XoX, however, grabbed her arm, yanking her over to the wall. He growled something and I saw Jade wince.
Red hot anger urged me forward. I pushed Crafters aside, picking up momentum—and a chair—and when I got close I swung the back of it into XoX's skull.
"Step off, Buff Armstrong, she's with me!"
XoX turned around, barely injured, and stood up to his tallest height, glowering down at me. "Billionth want start something?" He growled.
"Take a hint! The lady doesn't want to be with you." I said loudly, drawing the attention of the guards. They could smell trouble, and could easily see who was in distress and who was causing trouble.
"Mind own business." XoX growled, refusing to release Jade. His other hand reached for his warhammer only for Captain Bak himself to show up.
"XoX. I must ask you to release the young miss." Bak warned. "I will not allow you to cause a scene in front of Princess Daju and the King."
"Cobb, get this creep off me!" Jade snarled, wrenching her hands from side to side. I stepped forward and wound my arm around Jade's waist before withdrawing Backlash and tapping XoX on the wrist. He recoiled from the Knockback, breaking his hold on the parkourist.
He roared in defiance, only for the guards and Bak to swarm him. Even then, he lashed out with his warhammer, knocking out two before he was fully restrained.
"Guards," Bak gasped, a little winded, "please escort Captain XoX from the premises. Use the back exit. I don't want anyone's evening disrupted by one rude jerk."
XoX snarled something foul as he was dragged away to the back, kicking and screaming. Jade held my arm tightly when Bak asked if she was alright.
"Yeah. I'm fine." She rubbed her arm, watching XoX go. "Creep couldn't take a hint." She turned in my arms and flashed me a smile. "Luckily, I had Prince Charming watching my back."
"I expect similar aid if I'm groped by any clingy women." I quipped.
"Not me though, right?" I choked on her reply, earning a laugh. "Come on. Let's hit the dance floor."
I found myself dragged through the crowd towards the center of the hall. My heart hammered in my chest as I saw dancers moving to the beat of the jukebox.
"H-Hold on." I pulled back, prompting Jade to shoot me a questioning look. "I-I can't dance like that. Is it hard?"
Jade shook her head, having to raise her voice over the music. "No, it's fun! Really! Just follow my lead!" Seeing I was still reluctant, she had another idea. "Remember today's training session?"
"…Yeah?"
"Just do that! And try to move to the beat!"
She didn't wait for a reply, grabbing my arm and spinning me into the center of the dance floor, where escape was impossible. It was just as a new song was starting too. It started off dour and depressing, but soon changed into something catchy and electric.
Before I could think of what to do, Jade darted forward, striking out with her hand towards my face. "Whoa!" I stepped aside, evading her. "What are you… doing?"
Jade spun in place, stepping in tune to the rhythm of the song, her hand rearing back again.
Oh, wait… I get it…
The next time she struck out with her hand, I twirled out of the way before sending a half-hearted palm strike in her direction. She smirked, batting it aside and making it look like some complicated dance maneuver. She stepped under my outstretched arm, stretching her own while our hands were linked.
Dodge with a twirl, step towards her, throw out a hand, step backwards. So what if it looked like training? If it impressed those watching, it worked for me.
Jade was graceful, moving her body in ways that got people staring. And, to my surprise, I had one or two girls staring too. The music picked up tempo, and I started growing more confident.
Other people were dancing too, using fancy moves and spins that I decided to throw in. So long as it was in tune with the music.
As Jade spun into me, instead of backing up, I grabbed her by the waist and dipped her. She went right along with it, arching her back and smirking at my boldness.
Yeah, this was kind of fun.
Of course, Jade took every chance to show off. She did a swift backflip over my head like the one she did in training. I spun in place, re-facing her and linking our hands back up. The crowd gasped in appreciation.
I let out a giddy laugh.
"What's so funny?" She asked, stepping close enough for our noses to touch.
"I'm just relieved." I answered, following Jade's lead in steps. The song was winding down anyway and nobody looked insulted by our improvised dance routine. "I never realized it before, but the Beginners haven't had much time to relax lately."
"Oh?" I lifted my arm and Jade performed a half-spin before coming back, pressing her rear against me.
"Y-Yeah." I stuttered before coughing valiantly, much to Jade's delight. "I mean, with Halstatt, the Creeper Herd, being wanted," I added in a whisper. "Then the business with Thed and the Berserkers. We never really had a time to… let loose."
"I get you." Jade filled in, twirling up close once again. She felt warm. Was that creepy to say out loud? "And here in Zeppil, nobody's tried to kill you yet."
"Except Leadstripe."
"Except Leadstripe." She corrected. "Well, we should savor it while we can. No telling what troubles we'll encounter."
I laughed nervously, not wanting to think too much on The Endward Cult or Noman or my horrible nightmare.
Jade held her arm up, silently waiting for me to twirl. I did so with a bit more force than necessary and slipped out of her hands, my two left feet sending me stumbling backwards. Straight into another dancer.
"Sorry…" I laughed distractedly, feely goofy.
"No worries. After all, what's another lump of coal to your funeral pyre?"
...Huh?
"Wait, what do… you…" I half-turned, face frozen, as I recognized a voice that turned my blood to ice.
Crimson eyes narrowed with dark amusement, their owner smiling maliciously as she stood before me. A reminder of the warning from this morning's nightmare.
'Your enemies are closer than you think.'
"What's wrong, Cobb?" Carys_Angel asked with the innocence of a shark and a smile to match. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Inventory (Cobb): 1 Leather Cap [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III], 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III] {Weak}, 1 Leather Leggings [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III] {Weak}, 1 Leather Boots [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III] {Weak}, 1 Fishing Rod {Backlash} [Knockback II, Luck of the Sea III, Unbreaking III], 1 Golden Shovel [Silk Touch I, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Sword, 1 Banner {Beginners}, 64 Cobblestone, 47 Cobblestone, 1 Bed, 5 Dirt, 19 Torches, 34 Coal, 12 Jungle Wood Logs, 64 Jungle Wood Planks, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Clock, 1 Bucket, 5 String, 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Green, Mending I, Unbreaking I], 1 Diamond Leggings [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Iron Boots, 21 Emeralds, 16 Snowballs, 16 Snowballs, 8 Snowballs, 2 Gunpowder, 61 Cooked Mutton, 15 Rotten Flesh, 1 Book {How to Kill Stuff for Numb Nuts}, 1 Book {Advanced Mob-Slaying}, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}
[EXP: 29]
Inventory (Floyd): 1 Leather Cap [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III], 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III] {Weak}, 1 Leather Leggings [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III], 1 Leather Boots [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Pickaxe, 30 Iron Ingots, 1 Fishing Rod, 1 Flint and Steel {Weak}, 1 Furnace, 61 Cooked Mutton, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Minecart, 1 Bed, 1 Boat, 1 Emerald, 1 Iron Sword, 1 Diamond Helmet [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Diamond Chestplate [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Diamond Leggings [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Diamond Boots [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Iron Leggings, 17 Gunpowder, 1 Iron Helmet, 1 Iron Chestplate, 1 Iron Leggings, 1 Iron Boots, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}
[EXP: 31]
Inventory (Lenz): 1 Leather Cap [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III], 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III], 1 Leather Leggings [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III], 1 Leather Boots [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III], 1 Bow, 1 Shears, 2 Levers, 1 Stone Button, 5 Redstone Torches, 1 Bed, 9 Redstone Repeaters, 3 Redstone Comparators, 28 Redstone, 18 Blocks of Redstone, 2 Hoppers, 3 Pistons, 2 Sticky Pistons, 21 Cobblestone, 1 Minecart, 1 Compass, 25 Gunpowder, 36 Arrows, 16 Jungle Wood Planks, 1 Crafting Table, 62 Cooked Mutton, 16 Sugar Cane, 8 Paper, 5 Ink Sacs, 3 Leather, 5 Emeralds, 1 Book {Airship Piloting 101}, 1 Book {Notebook}, 1 Book {How to Kill Stuff for Numb Nuts}, 1 Book {Advanced Mob-Slaying}, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Daymonte Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}
[EXP: 15]
Inventory (Soul): 1 Diamond Axe, 1 Iron Pickaxe, 64 Iron Ingots, 55 Iron Ingots, 12 Gold Ingots, 1 Milk, 1 Diamond Helmet [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Chestplate [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Boots [Protection IV, Feather Falling IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Crafting Table, 1 Bed, 1 Furnace, 1 Anvil, 35 Torches, 34 White Wool, 37 Dirt, 61 Cobblestone, 33 Coal, 32 Jungle Wood Planks, 2 Sticks, 1 Armor Stand, 28 Emeralds, 64 Cooked Mutton, 24 Cooked Mutton, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}
[EXP: 49]
Inventory (Jade): 1 Leather Cap [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III], 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III], 1 Leather Leggings [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III] {Weak}, 1 Leather Boots [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Helmet [Protection IV], 1 Diamond Chestplate [Protection IV], 1 Diamond Leggings [Protection IV], 1 Diamond Boots [Protection IV], 1 Iron Sword, 1 Diamond Cutlass, 1 Bed, 1 Iron Pickaxe, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Furnace, 61 Cooked Mutton, 17 Coal, 36 Torches, 30 Jungle Wood Planks, 64 Cobblestone, 29 Cobblestone, 24 Obsidian, 1 Water Bucket, 1 Bucket, 1 Compass, 1 Clock, 23 Emeralds, 2 Ender Chests, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Dover Plains Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Lazuli Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}
[EXP: 30]
Inventory (Noman): 1 Diamond Sword [Sharpness I], 1 Diamond Chestplate {Severe Shield}, 1 Leather Boots {Bottes Zephyr} [Dyed White], 1 Black Shield {Slight Shield} [Blue Cross], 1 Bow [Infinity], 28 Birch Wood Planks, 35 Iron Ingots, 18 Sticks, 13 Torches, 1 Bucket, 1 Crafting Table, 58 Cooked Mutton, 2 Ender Chests, 1 Potion of Healing II, 1 Potion of Healing II, 1 Potion of Healing II, 1 Potion of Regeneration II {0:22}, 1 Potion of Regeneration II {0:22}, 1 Potion of Regeneration II {0:22}, 1 Potion of Water Breathing {8:00}, 1 Bed, 1 Book {Artifact List}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Map {Zeppil}, 1 Compass, 64 Arrows, 3 Sugar, 14 Bookshelves, 6 Enchanted Golden Apples, 1 Diamond Helmet, 1 Diamond Chestplate, 1 Diamond Leggings, 1 Diamond Boots, 10 Emerald Blocks, 2 Bones
[EXP: 20]
Beetroot the Horse
See? What did I tell you? Nothing important happened. And I bet nothing important will happen next Chapter either.
(^_^)
Happy Valentine's Day.
See Profile for Forum link.
Fav, Follow, Review.