Chapter Text
The sun is just beginning to leave the horizon as I wrench my sword free of the last zombie, letting the monster poof into nothingness on the ground. I can’t resist a little smile of triumph as I tuck my sword back into my inventory.
This is going to be a good day.
Most people probably wouldn’t consider spending an hour or so fighting off mobs a good start to any day, but I do. It’s part of my routine now- patrolling the outskirts of Beacontown just before dawn, making sure any monsters left over from the previous night don’t get close enough to be a danger to anyone.
It’s a solo task, unfortunately, since it’s very rare that one of my friends is willing to get up early enough to help, but it’s part of my job as the protector of the town, and I welcome it.
As the beginnings of warm sunlight touch my face, I turn away, heading back into Beacontown. The town will be rising soon, everyone else getting up and ready to start their day. But for now, the streets are empty, the dawn light gradually stretching over the rooftops.
Nothing in this little town stays normal for long. It’s been a just barely over six months since Petra, Lukas, and I returned from our adventure in the Portal Network, but plenty of things have cropped up since then. The town is growing, surely but steadily, and with new changes come new problems.
Of course, we as the New Order have gotten wrapped up in enough of our own problems. I’m not saying that we go looking for trouble, but we certainly get into enough of it.
Not today, though. The past few weeks have been calm, and I’m determined to keep things that way for as long as I can.
Wishful thinking? Maybe. But that’s never stopped me from trying before.
I can hear my friends’ voices as soon as I step inside the house I share with the rest of the New Order. It’s a bigger place than I’m used to, but with five people living there, sometimes I’m not sure it’s big enough.
From the sound of it, Olivia and Petra are already gearing up for an argument, and I follow their voices to the kitchen.
“I’m just asking for you to look where you’re going. It’s not that hard.”
“I said I was sorry, alright? We don’t have to make this a big deal!”
Leaning into the room, I see Petra slouched against the counter, sipping a mug of coffee and glaring halfheartedly. Olivia’s seated at the small table with a notebook open in front of her, and Axel appears to be in the process of making breakfast. He’s the only one who doesn’t seem grumpy, and grins at me when I walk in. “Hey, Jesse.”
“Morning. What’s going on?” I ask, aiming the question at Olivia.
She sighs. “Nothing. Petra just made a mess of one of my Redstone experiments, one that I was hoping to have done today.”
Petra mutters something under her breath, and Olivia cuts a glare at her. Evidently deciding to try to alleviate the tension, Axel glances at me again to ask, “How was your patrol?”
“Fine. Just had to deal with a couple zombies and skeletons- nothing too bad. You guys should join me sometime, it’s actually really nice to be out before the town gets moving.” I offer, pulling out a chair and joining Olivia at the table.
Making a face, she replies with, “Getting up extra early just to fight things? I think I’ll pass.”
Axel laughs. “You’re no fun. What’s the point of getting up at all if you’re not going to fight things?”
“Says the guy who’s only decided to help me twice in the past four months!” I prod good-naturedly. We all spend a lot of time making fun of each other, but it’s all part of our friendship. Our ascension to ‘world-renowned heroes’ has changed some things, but not everything. “I take it Lukas isn’t up yet?”
“Nah. I think he was up late again last night.” Petra says, setting her cup down on the counter. “He and I were thinking about going on a mining trip today. Communal supply depot’s getting a little low on coal and whatnot, so I offered to go get more. Plus, he wants more flint for making arrows.”
I nod. “Good idea. Liv, what do you have going on today?”
She taps her notebook and says, “I wanted to adjust the lighting system in the treasure hall a bit. I was hoping Lukas could help me, but if he’s going with Petra…maybe you could?”
“Sure. I don’t have anything planned.”
“Me neither, though I doubt I’d be much help to you guys.” Axel says. He sets a plate of scrambled eggs and toast in front of Olivia, and asks me, “You want any?”
I shake my head. “Not hungry yet. Maybe in a bit.”
He shrugs, and sits down with his own plate. Axel’s easily the best cook of us, though Lukas and I aren’t bad. Olivia doesn’t have much in the way of kitchen skills, and Petra doesn’t even try. Knowing her, though, that might be for the better.
“Does anyone else find it low-key suspicious how calm it’s been lately?” Petra asks. “Seems like it’s been awhile since anything’s blown up in our faces.”
Olivia groans. “Oh, don’t jinx it. Please.”
“No, I was thinking the same thing yesterday.” Axel contributes around a mouthful of toast. “We should plan another adventure soon, maybe something a little further from Beacontown. It’d be neat to really get out there, y’know?”
I prop one elbow up on the table, leaning my chin on my hand. “Yeah…but I really don’t like all of us being gone for too long. It just feels like inviting trouble.”
Petra laughs, picking up her coffee again. “Come on, Jesse. You know by now that if trouble wants to cross our path, it won’t wait for an invitation. I’m with you, big guy. Let’s get into messes of our own before something decides to do it for us.”
“Without Ivor around, it might be harder to find a good temple or something.” Olivia muses. She has a point. He did leave us several maps and notes and whatnot before he left for Crown Mesa, but it’s not as simple as just asking him anymore.
“Well, then that’s what I’ll do today. I can glance through Ivor’s notes and stuff, and find us a cool temple to raid or something. Then when you guys are done mining and fixing lights or whatever, we can prepare and form a plan and all that.” Axel says, sounding excited.
I grin. “You must be really desperate for an adventure if you’re willing to do research.” I note, and he laughs.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
After breakfast, Olivia and I head immediately over to the Hall. She tries describing the changes she wants to make, but I’m only partially listening. I understand Redstone well enough to help her, but not enough to follow perfectly along with what she’s saying.
We’re just walking towards the entrance when I stop dead. “Hold on. Is it…why is the door open?”
“Holy- it is. What the hell?” Olivia exclaims, quickening her pace. The Hall is always kept closed at night, and usually locked. But now the large doors stand ever so slightly open, just wide enough for someone to slip inside.
“Who was the last one in here?” I ask, trying to remember if I’d gone in at all yesterday.
Olivia hesitates, thinking. “Lukas, I think. Yeah, it was him- I remember him saying there was a book he wanted from the library. But he wouldn’t just leave the doors like this.”
Neither of us say it, but I know we’re thinking the same thing- someone broke in.
I carefully push the doors open wider, stepping cautiously inside. Olivia reaches for the lever to turn on the main lights, but I shake my head vehemently. If the intruder is still here, I’d rather take them by surprise.
My first instinct is to go to the treasure room. Sure enough, the entrance is wide open, though the lights are still off.
“How the hell did they get in? This place is supposed to be locked! None of us are that irresponsible, right?” Olivia whispers to me. I just shake my head, scanning the room. There’s plenty of light streaming in from the large windows, and at first I don’t notice anything out of place.
Then I see it, and my breath hitches.
The Atlas is gone.
I grab Olivia’s arm, and point to the empty pedestal. After his little solo journey through the Network, Ivor had returned both the mystical book and the enchanted flint-and-steel before leaving for Crown Mesa. Aside from him, only the rest of the New Order and I know what the Atlas is, so there wouldn’t be much motive for anyone in Beacontown to steal it.
So…who took it? And why?
The little hairs raise on the back of my neck. There’s something off here, I just know it.
“Jesse-!”
Olivia shouts a warning, and I turn just in time to avoid what would surely be a solid blow to the head from the intruder. I gasp in shock, ducking away from them. Where had they been hiding?!
There’s no time to react. They move incredibly fast, whirling around to deliver a brutal kick to Olivia’s side. She goes down with a shout of pain, and they turn to face me again.
They’re completely clad in black, as far as I can tell. A hooded cloak hides most of their body, and a black cloth mask disguises their mouth and nose. I barely get a glimpse of piercing purple eyes before they lunge at me, pulling back a fist.
I grab their arm, deflecting the punch. Whoever they are, they’re strong, and I can’t hang on as they nimbly twist away. I don’t even have enough time to reach for my sword before they attack again, slamming a fist into my side.
I grit my teeth, glad I hadn’t taken my armour off after returning from the patrol. I kick at their knees, but they dodge my attempts. I’m still shaken up from the idea of being attacked in my own treasure hall, and the surprise is throwing me off a bit.
“What do you want from me?” I snap.
“I already have what I want.” they reply smoothly. I think their voice is male, but I’m not sure. What I am certain of is that I’ve never heard it before.
I spend just a second too long considering this. They don’t hesitate to drive their elbow into my stomach, then land another hard blow to my head as I collapse. I end up sprawled on my side, trying to regain the breath they knocked out of me.
Olivia is at my side in a moment, helping me sit up as I gasp shallowly. I’ve gotten injured all sorts of fun ways in my time as a hero, but I hate getting the wind knocked out of me. Not being able to breathe is the decided worst, and I find myself glaring at the floor as I gradually regain my ability to talk.
“Where…did they go…” I ask, rubbing my head.
“They ran. Probably going to get out of town as quick as they can.” Olivia tells me as she helps me stand.
I square my shoulders and brush her aside. “I need to go after them. Now.” Thieves are not to be tolerated in Beacontown, especially not if they try to make off with something as valuable as the Atlas.
“Are you sure? You’re not hurt?” she checks.
“Nothing lasting.” I assure her. Before I run to the exit, I pause to grab the enchanted blue-flint-and-steel. Since they took the Atlas, I’m willing to bet they want something to do with the Portal Network- and I’m not letting myself be caught unprepared this time.
“Wait! Shouldn’t we get the others?” Olivia asks as I head for the doors.
“No time. You can if you want, but I’m going after this guy. You’ll have to catch up.”
I charge out of the Hall, making a beeline for the stables. The thief is nowhere to be seen- there’s no way they’d hang around after taking something that valuable.
In less than two minutes, I’ve saddled my favorite horse and am racing out of town. I make out a figure in the near distance, the long black cloak making them almost laughably distinguishable.
But the thief must’ve used some sort of speed potion, because I can’t catch up as they run further and further from Beacontown. I can follow, sure, but I can’t overtake them, and can’t gain enough ground to even get a better look at them. My mare Athera is a fast horse, but nothing is faster than a Potion of Speed.
I’d just wanted a normal day. That was it.
But Petra had made a good point- if trouble wanted to pay a visit, it wasn’t going to wait for an invitation.
The chase continued. I wasn’t sure if the thief knew I was following or not, but they certainly had a specific destination in mind. Although they have a bit of a head start, they’re not able to lose me as we cross a plains biome and head into a forest.
It takes me a few minutes too long to realize that things were beginning to look familiar- this is the way to the jungle temple that hid the entrance to the Portal Network.
I knew it.
I duck low to avoid a few branches as I consider this. Whoever this is, they do know the significance of the Atlas- they’re not a random robber looking for any treasure.
The portal has since been closed and re-hidden, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be re-lit. If the thief has their own flint-and-steel, they can easily reopen the gate and vanish into the Network. And with the Atlas in hand…who knows what chaos they might be up to?
In what seems like almost no time at all, I arrive at the jungle temple. I leap off Athera’s back before she’s even fully stopped, a trick I’d learned for fun and am very glad I did. The unknown thief has already disappeared inside, and I waste no time in charging in after them. Their speed potion seems to have almost worn off, as their descent up the vines is barely quicker than my own.
I whip out my sword as soon as I make it to the second floor. Just like I remembered, the quartz-and-gold portal is pushed back into the wall, hidden from any passing glance.
But this person clearly knows where to look. They stomp on the pressure plate on the floor, bringing the portal forward again.
“Hey!” I shout. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? Who are you?”
The thief looks at me again. Their face is still mostly hidden in the shadow of the hood, but judging by what I can see, it is a man.
“I am a servant of fate. I am the bringer of the end.” the stranger declares. His voice has a reedy, sort of unhinged quality to it that sends a chill down my spine. The way he speaks immediately gives me the impression that maybe I’m not dealing with someone totally sane. Wonderful.
I point the sword towards him. “That’s fascinating. Now, just give me the Atlas, and I won’t hurt you.”
“Oh?” he asks. A flint-and-steel appears in his hand, though while mine glows turquoise and teal, this one shines gold. “I’m afraid I can’t make the same promise.”
Quick as a lightning flash, he throws a Potion of Harming at me. I instinctively cry out and dive out of the way, nearly losing my grip on the sword. I’ve righted myself in just a few seconds, but he’s already gone, the familiar portal glowing again.
“Oh, no you don’t.” I growl.
I don’t even stop to think, just leap into the portal. My vision disappears for a few moments, drowning me in blue light.
When it fades, I’m somewhat surprised to find myself not up on Sky City, but already in the Portal Network. The thief is some ways ahead of me, walking down the hall of portals with a sense of great purpose as his black cloak billows dramatically behind him.
I adjust my grip on my sword, then shoot into a run, chasing after him at top speed. He hears my footsteps and turns, eyes widening in surprise. I guess he thought I wasn’t brave enough- or stupid enough -to follow him.
He turns, preparing to run. I’m just a few feet away from apprehending him when someone suddenly comes through a portal to my left, colliding with me and sending me off-balance. I don’t even see who it is at first, because the thief lunges for me and punches me hard in the jaw.
There’s a terrible crack as my body flies backwards, the back of my head crashing against the stone floor. A bright green light fills my vision, mixing with the black and white dots dancing in front of my eyes. I have no idea what just went down, but for the moment…I’ve lost the thief.
“Oh, my Notch. The hell just happened?!” A new voice exclaims. I start to sit up, wincing as I rub my sore jaw. When I finally catch up with this man, I’m going to give him a hell of a beatdown.
I have to blink a few times to clear my speckled vision, and once I do, I feel like I’m still seeing things. This isn’t real. There’s no way I’m actually seeing this right now.
The person who interfered with my attack on the thief is a guy around my age, and a familiar one at that. I stare at him, refusing to believe my eyes. This is who cost me my victory? As if he hasn’t caused enough trouble in the past?
“…Aiden?!”