Chapter Text
Avery was trying to work on his math homework. Like, actually putting effort into it this time, but something was different about today. It seemed as though every student had forgotten about their studies and instead latched onto the arrival of a new kid like a lifeline.
He didn’t understand what all the excitement was about. Sure, a new kid was rare, even more so when all of the teachers refuse to mention what mob they are, but they’re just a regular college kid. Probably.
“Look, look!” A nearby enderman hissed, “a car is pulling up to the entrance!”
In an instant the entire class rushed to the windows, all hoping for a glance of the mystery transfer and for an escape from the endless supply of busywork.
“I heard they’re an Ender Dragon hybrid!”
“They must be a Warden! That’s why all the teachers are so secretive!”
The crowd was silenced as muted car door reverberated throughout the courtyard below, as if every sound in the building was holding its breath. At this point, Avery abandoned his work and pushed into the mass of bodies, easily molding to squeeze past other mobs.
Peering out the window, a figure stood illuminated only by the soul lanterns that lined the campus. A striking red tuft flowed gracefully around gleaming yellow armor.
“What is that?” Someone to his left mumbled.
Avery wondered the same thing.
The armor moved, reflecting soft blue light and walking with confidence. His mind tried to apply every visible detail into all the mob characteristics he knew. But none of it quite matched.
The second that the student disappeared from view, everyone shuffled away from the window, curiosity simmering but deflated. Avery followed the others, sitting back down and staring at his assignment. Of course the one day he decides to try and pay attention is the day that everything is interesting.
The teacher resumed his lesson, but his voice was drowned out by Avery’s thoughts. Having absolutely no clue as to what the new kid might be, even though he knows practically every mob there is, bugs him. He mulls over information in his head, eventually internally sighing when he realizes he’s going in circles.
If he wants to learn more about the mystery student, he’ll have to meet them first.
A grating ring signals that math class is finally over. Avery piles his work into his back, slings it over a shoulder, and flees.
Despite his rush to leave math, he takes his time in the halls, talking to his friends, stretching his legs, and postponing being stuck in a desk for another hour.
Only after most people are tucked away into their classrooms does Avery decided to go to his. He only makes it a few steps until the late bell echos throughout the campus.
Shoot. I thought I had more time.
And, because the universe loves him so dearly, an ethereal voice sounds from behind him.
“Again, Avery?”
He twirls around, looking anywhere but the principle’s blank eyes.
“Yeah, sorry, I just uh, lost track of time. I swear it won’t happen again!” He defends.
“That’s what you said last time. The past few times, actually,” Herobrine stated, sounding mildly disappointed.
“But, just this once, I’ll let you go. Only if you show our newest student around,” he offered.
Avery’s eye’s widened. This was the perfect chance to learn more about them!
“I’d be happy to!” He beamed.
Herobrine stayed silent for a moment, analyzing Avery, before speaking. “I’ll send him out with his schedule.”
A minute passed after he vanished back into his office before the new kid came out. His armor made soft clinking sounds as he moved up to Avery, holding out a piece of paper.
“Hey man! My name is Avery, what’s yours?” He accepted the offered schedule, looking over it while greeting him. After a long pause of no reply, Avery glanced up at the other.
He wasn’t as imposing as Avery thought he would be from his previous glance. A few inches shorter than him, the stranger ‘stared’ wordlessly back. Stared as in his glimmering knight helmet was angled towards Avery.
Unfazed, Avery continued on. Guess this guy wasn’t much of a talker.
“Well, school’s already started, but we’ll just go from your first period,” he announced. Quietly he mumbled the room number to himself, trying to picture it.
“Oh, yeah, it’s right this way!” He began walking down the hall the way they were already facing. “You got Realm History first in the morning. It’s a bit heavy on note-talking, but Ms. G is great at explaining stuff.”
Still nothing from the knight. At least his head was slightly tilted towards Avery, so he was probably listening.
“The halls all follow a pattern, so you’ll be able to find your class even if you get lost”
Avery pointed down the way they just came, “if you go that way, all the numbers go down. And the hallways further into the school go down the alphabet. Upstairs just has a ‘U’ on the room doors.”
He hoped he was explaining it alright. When he first came to this college, he couldn’t wrap his head around the naming system, and always ended up lost.
The knight stopped, catching Avery’s attention. Looking at him, then the door he was facing, he realized he almost walked past the guy’s classroom.
“Oh, thanks man! I totally would’ve missed it.”
“Ok, next is uhhh.. oh hey! We’re in the same Language class!” He started following the familiar path to his class, albeit without the usual dread.
“This one’s right upstairs. It’s one of the best ventilated rooms too, so you don’t have to worry about it getting too warm for your armor,” he glanced at the full suit of gold next to him, “not that it gets to warm at night anyways.”
Since there wasn’t much else to do, Avery tried to subtly look at the knight. His form was obscured by thick gold plates and a short, slightly rugged cape. Anything past his armor was shadowed beyond recognition.
“You stare a lot.”
Avery jumped and almost lost hold of the paper in his hands. Apparently he wasn’t subtle enough.
But the knight talked! His voice definitely fit his entire vibe. Deep and slightly intimidating.
“Sorry,” he said, now finding anything but the knight’s helmet extremely interesting.
“I’m just, ah, curious as to what mob you might be,” he paused for a moment, wondering if the other would speak up. “You don’t have to tell me though, I’ll stop prying if it’s weird.”
They lulled back into an awkward silence. He meant his apology, so he’d stop trying to analyze the guy about his species.
Doesn’t mean he wasn’t still curious, though. He’s just move on for now and try to learn about him as a person.
.
Avery still chatted away without D3rlord’s input, even after his small falter after being called out on his staring problem.
He knew the slime would be loud, and that much of what he said would be useless information, so he tuned him out before he even introduced himself.
It was still weird, getting used to knowing so much. Daily life held no learning or surprises.
This entire day would prove to be pointless. He already understood the school’s layout, his classes, everything that was taught in them-
But it didn’t matter. He had to play along as a normal person. The best way to do so was to stay silent and as unremarkable as possible.
He caught Avery sending another poorly concealed glance his way. It was proving to be difficult with the current air of mystery surrounding him.
And just like all else, he knew that this behavior would subside and he would slip into the background.
“-m looking forward to sparring with you! You good to find your class from here?” D3rlord jerked his head up, then remembered to relax a second later. He hadn’t meant to tune back in, but it seemed like Avery was done with showing him around.
He nodded at Avery, before plucking his schedule from his translucent green hands and walking away at a calculated pace.
“Oh, uh, see you soon!” Avery called out after him. D3rlord didn’t turn around to acknowledge him.
Slightly shook, he made his way through the empty hallways, boots clicking on the tile, whispers filtering back in from cracks in the stone walls. A collage of voices ripped across his mind in languages he shouldn’t know.
A horrid metallic shriek bounced across empty stone, and mobs began filing out, mindlessly traveling to their next class. A few eyes caught his armor as he traveled through the crowd, but he soon disappeared from view.
Soon, the school did too, as D3rlord ran until only the surrounding forest surrounded him. Then, he chose to walk all the way back to his apartment, as to not draw any unwanted attention.
The ever-present overlapping voices had returned in his head. But they returned.
Because somehow, Avery had made them quiet.