The Minecraft Story: The Beginning: Chapter 2
1213 Years After the Clash of the Gods…
"Praise be to the new Miter Knights of Notch," Pope Zekiel exclaimed, "By the light of Notch, by the will of the Bible, rise now as holy soldiers."
Marcus and his twenty-nine comrades rise in the dimly lit cathedral. The Pope stood on a grand altar at the back of the Cathedral.
"Draw your swords and recite the pledge," Pope Zekiel commanded.
Marcus and his comrades draw their iron swords from the sheaths and raise them to the Pope's altar and recite the pledge, "With this sword and with my life, I carry the light of Notch and the will of the Pope. For the words of Notch, I fight, for the safety of the holy land, I fight, for the lives of the believers, I fight".
"Go now, feast as the new Miter Knights of Notch," Pope Zekiel praised. Marcus and his comrades sheathed their swords and began to walk out of the Cathedral Hall. He could hardly contain his excitement. After five years of training, he was finally a knight in the Order of Notch, not just that, but he was now a member of the Miter Knights, the most esteemed legion in the Holy Notch Army. He could finally join the war effort against the heretics of the Southern Territories.
They entered the Banquet Hall. A large wooden table full of food. Chicken, beef, pork, watermelon, apples, and even pumpkin pie and cake. Marcus had never seen so much food, especially since they'd been fasting most of the past five years. At the end of the table, the existing members of the Miter Knights were waiting. Clapping and cheers rang out in the hall. Over two hundred knights were waiting for them. At the center of the mass of soldiers was the leader of it all, General Ausmin of the Miter Knights.
General Ausmin raised a cup, "Congratulations my loyal knights, you're the one percent of participants that made into the Miter Knights. Drink up and eat hearty, tonight we celebrate, tomorrow, we head out for Fort Deepslate!" The hall erupted in cheers.
Marcus was happy to finally meet the General in person. He was as scary looking as they said. His dark beard and mangy hair look as if it had been unwashed for days. His old, wrinkled face gave the impression he was some feeble old man, but General Ausmin was one of the deadliest soldiers in the Holy Army of Notch. He could see the eyepatch over his left eye, the remnants of his injury at the infamous "Battle of Dark Oak Bridge". But as happy as he was to meet the General, he was looking for someone else, his brother, Franz.
Luckily, the other knights began to take their seats and his brother emerged from the crowd in his Captains attire. He hadn't seen his older brother since he officially joined the Miter Knights three years ago. His brother moved past the crowd towards him, his long blonde hair flowed behind his head as he rushed to Marcus. "There's my little brother," Franz said as they embraced, "You finally made it!"
"Yes brother, I finally did, I now carry the words of Notch," Marcus exclaimed.
Franz laughed, "And soon you'll carry the word of Notch to those damned heretics. But for now, we indulge a little!"
Marcus and Franz gorged themselves on the pounds of food. Marcus had never seen such an obscene amount of food in his life, even before he began his training. Rations haven't always been the greatest, especially not during wartime. He looked at the long stretching table and observed how overabundant the food was.
"This feast, there's so much food brother", Marcus remarked.
"Of course, there's now two hundred and thirty knights here", Franz responded.
"Yes, but all this food could feed five hundred people", Marcus said, "perhaps this is a bit much, even for all of us, shouldn't some of this food go to the people?"
"Listen brother, we protect the people", Franz answered, "A good soldier can't fight on an empty stomach. If we fall, everyone falls. Now enjoy yourself, you've earned it."
Marcus smiled. "You're right brother, I have earned it, we all have" Marcus ate his fill, more than his fill. He had to eat, tomorrow, he would be sent off to war. What good would he be on an empty stomach?