Chapter Text
“Whatever you do at the crossroads, don't turn left.”
<🌺>
For all that could be said about Avery, it could not be denied that he is an adventurous and curious individual. He rarely thought about the risk of doing anything before he did it, preferring to go in with his sword.
He could always just think it out later!
Yes. That was his motto. Fists first, plan later. Most of his problems were simply solved by equipping good gear and setting off. He isn't some genius with puzzles, or some March 7th with a hidden power.
He's just Avery. Bedwars champion and resident slime Avery.
He had a habit of slipping into places when unwelcome, and an even worse habit of staying. That said, he did know how to fight.
If you asked any of his friends, they would all tell you that every brain cell he has is devoted to the tip of the blade. Where to hit someone in order to render them out of commission, when to adapt to his surroundings…
Yes, while Avery wasn't the brightest, he certainly was the sharpest tool. Even the sharpest tool can go dull.
<⚔️⚠️>
Every king needs his knight. His protection and shield. This knight was the best for the king, driven by a sense of curiosity and yearning for the truth.
Intelligent, too. Knowing exactly when to use force and when to use that brain in his head. It made him perfect.
Ideal.
This man, adorned with the finest gold armor, now felt true fear. He could feel something warm leaking out of his nose, not even caring enough to wipe it.
Past.
Present.
Future.
He saw it all. It was all ingrained in his brain, flashing brightly overwhelming him. His brain felt like it was going to explode. He could feel the pressure on his brain and it felt like it was compressing the organ, twisting at it until it no longer resembled a brain.
He was frozen at the golden gates, feeling the knowledge flooding his very being. He couldn't take it. His mind couldn't take it. He brought a hand up to his nose, feeling his own tears through his armor.
When he pulled his hand back, there was blood.
It wasn't normal blood.
It was a frightening golden color that shone despite the lack of light. It shook the man to his core. He trembled as he willed his body to turn, to walk away. One hand braced his head as he retraced his path, dragging his feet and covering up any signs of him having been there.
It was a slow process, one that took him far longer than it would have a mere thirty minutes ago. He decided not to note that he had to take multiple breaks, screaming in agony as the knowledge invaded his head.
‘No. I must warn him. I must warn….’
These thoughts, barely heard through the agony and screams that his other thoughts were, kept him going. He paused, feeling his hand trembling and trying to steady himself before he pressed down.
Ink touched paper, sprawling out words that were barely legible.
“Whatever you do at the crossroads, don't turn left. Don't be fooled. It's listening. You can't outsmart it. It's listening tom e. It's watching me. It isn't from this world. At the crossroads, don't durn left. At the crossroads, DONT turn left. At the crossroads, don't turn left. ATt the crossroadsa dont durn left. At the crossroads, dont durn ldft. At the crossdoads, dont durn left. At thhe crossroads, donf durn left.”
The knight saw the golden liquid dropping onto the page, a shaky breath forcing its way out of his throat as he watched his blood drop on the page. He desperately hoped that Avery was smarter than him. That the slime would heed his warnings.
Would ignore the whispers that plagued this tunnel. Would let go of his curiosity.
Yet, in every future thread, he could only see Avery's fall. He could only see Avery ignoring his warning, turning left at the crossroads. He searched desperately, leaning on the chest with wild eyes.
The knight couldn't help but wish he had truly walked away after reading that book in the village. He was so close. He was almost there…
But no. He let the whispers pull him back. He let the thirst and curiosity bind him, chaining him down and creating a future in which he could never live normally again.
He leaned against the chest, silently swearing that he'd create a thread where Avery remained normal. He did not know how just yet, but he would.
And when he did?
Maybe he'd throw himself off a cliff. Lord knows he could not handle these visions. The constant flashing beneath his eyelids.
He was a child playing with their dog.
He was a woman hugging her newborn child.
He was a husband coming home from a long day of work.
He could see all of that and more.
He remained frozen where he was, crouched down next to that chest, bleeding out on the book. It took him a great amount of effort to open the chest and put it inside, forcing it shut. He used it as a crutch, forcing his legs to work as they should.
He felt the pressure of those eyes returning, and the sensation caused him to freeze. A chilling sound rang throughout the cave, sounding like a choir and screams of agony at the same time.
“My knight,” the king started, his voice a grating sound, “return to me. Leave this foolish errand at once.”
The knight felt a shiver go down his spine, glancing at his shoulder. There laid a black skeletal hand, one that rested on his shoulder heavily while he was led away.
The knight and king both ignored the dripping blood that created a trail, heading towards the left side of the mine. The knight couldn't stop himself from looking back, his earlier panic pushed onto the side.
The—no, his— king's hand burned. He wanted to flinch back, to scream bloody murder and escape.
However, both the king and the knight knew what would happen if he did.
As all things were, such was a possibility that was also one of the many threads. The ending to that frayed thread led to the knight's never-ending captivity, a thing he needed to avoid if he wanted to help Avery in the future.
Avery.
A name he had to protect. Even the thought pleased his mind and quieted his thoughts. Someone who knew not of him, but was still something precious despite it all.