Chapter 157: Sometimes the surprise is bad

Excerpt from the book “Lies” By The Damned One

They bind me to chains and words, trap me in black brick towers. They cannot kill me, so they strap my arms with enchanted metal. Brought here by honeyed words and lies. They shall never break my will.

When the walls crumble to dust from time, the chains rust from the rotten air, when the door falls down, I shall kill them all. Relishing in my fantasies of crushing the hands that dragged me here. Burning the tongues that tied me to the damned contract.

Or, that is how I daydreamed. Yet, upon the day of my escape, it was far from what happened. How I curse their piety, where was God when I was beaten by their staffs? Where was he when rats bit at my bound form?

“This place is too big!” Jengal complains.

“Yeah, but complaining helps us how?”

“We have been walking for over an hour; I would kill for a building not made out of stone brick.”

“When you build your own town, you can decorate it with unique buildings. You can’t fault them for using function over form.”

“I can complain, though.”

“True, but it is driving me mad. Go and ask a pedestrian if an interesting structure is nearby. Use that energy for something productive.” Shooing Jengal towards the closest crowd.

He thinks for a moment before doing as I ask.

The crowds have slowly reduced in density. I am thankful for being able to walk freely, but you tend to find more stuck up people-“

“Go away, you damned tourist!” looking over, I see Jengal hurrying away from an angry woman. Lightly facepalming at Jengal and his poor charisma skills.

He rushes towards me, bringing the fuming woman and a small entourage of her friends.

Standing in front of Jengal, holding my hands in surrender. “Ladies, ladies, I am sorry if my friend disturbed you.”

“Your friends with that mongrel, how dare he approach and speak with me.” Sharing a look with her friends and spitting at the ground.

Frowning at her utter disrespect. “No need for trouble; we will be on our way.”

“Yeah, run away, you non-human trash.”

Turning away, “at least I don’t need to cake my face in makeup to look half decent.” Walking away.

She spits venom at me, “how dare you to speak to me like that.”

Turning my head around and sending her a glare. “I dare because you can’t touch a hair on my head.”

She took it as a challenge, rushing towards me to slap me. Using a small amount of time in a bottle, I walk around her. Holding my finger to her neck. Once my speed up expires, “don’t you dare.”

She visibly gulps. Lowering my hand and walking away with Jengal.

Out of the corner of my eye, her panic-filled eyes look around in paranoia. Returning to her friends with care.

“That was awesome,” Jengal comments.

“It was, wasn’t it.” Smiling slightly.

Finding another, less noble-looking group. I approached them.

“Hello, fine friends. I was wondering if you knew of some places intriguing me and my companion should visit. The size of this city is quite jarring, after all.”

A finely dressed gentleman steps half a step forward. “Well met, friend. You might find the museum of interest. Down that road, second left, just ahead.”

“Thank you.”

He nods in reply, turning back to his group. Walking to Jengal, I see his look of disbelief. “How did you do that?”

“What? I spoke with them.”

“No, you changed the entire way you spoke.”

“Yeah, because they are more used to polite conversation. It is common sense.”

He frowns, “you are something else.”

“Yeah, yeah, let’s go.” Walking in the direction of the museum.

“Where to?” Cocking his head, following me.

“A museum.”

“A bunch of dusty books and bones, lovely.”

“You shouldn’t look down at history. If you can see through the lies, It tells you a lot.”

He doesn’t reply, just following quietly behind me. I used to love museums back home. Seeing giant dinos, rare gemstones, relics of the past, so many things. Of course, it was dumbed down and censored so children could enjoy it too. Which took away from it a little.

Walking along the paths, towards the museum. It wasn’t hard to spot, being the bulkiest building on the street. Giant marble columns support a Greek-themed 5 story building. Approaching the oddly familiar structure, we greeted warmly by an older man manning a desk just outside the building.

“Hello, welcome to the museum or the Imperial Family. 1 silver for the entrance fee.” His smile is bright and welcoming.

Handing over the silver, “sounds interesting; what is there to see?”

“The history of the royal family, and how the city was founded. We also have several artifacts that were thought lost and unique unidentified objects.” He says in an aged voice, clearly passionate.

“I will assume the objects were found safe.” Rubbing my thin idly.

“Of course.” Opening his arms wide, “everything is perfectly safe.”

The royal family likey hoards dangerous or powerful artifacts.

“Good to know; thank you for your time.”

“Any time.” He says, smiling.

Walking into the building, we see clean corridors with a multitude of entrances on either side. Signs of foreign languages speak volumes about the type of museum this is. Each door holds a different theme, time, style, or anything that can be it's own ‘type.’

“Let's go in this door,” Jengal suddenly says. Dragging me to the first door on the left. Walking through, we see a small library. Old relics such as grinding stones and other tools litter the room.

Walking up, I see each book is about the civilization before modern living. The caveman era, or at least their version of it, gently picking up a hand-crafted stone sword. Picking up a book called ‘The First Know Crafting Table.’

The first recorded crafting table being used is by our very own royal family. They discovered it after a divine revelation, bringing the empire into a new age.

They attempted to hide it at first. Yet, the simplicity paved the way for others to make them. Spreading across the world rapidly, allowing for everyone to craft their own items. This brought forth the age of discovery. When resources were carelessly wasted in the hopes of learning recipes. Most failed, but those who successfully found powerful recipes are still around today, flourishing. A good example is the positively ancient Dagger family, who were thought to have been the first to discover the Ender Eye.

Well, that makes a lot of sense. Aside from this book stinking of bias, it has a nugget of truth. Perhaps Felix opted to reveal the recipe for the crafting table to select people. Might petition Felix to allow the crafting book. In newer versions of Minecraft, you learned recipes for items you had the ingredients for. It is a slightly weaker version of NEI.

“You know, that is a good idea!” I hear from behind me, causing me to drop the book in surprise.

Turning around, I see the ghostly form of Felix. Decorated in the frills of a Victorian dress. Faded past the knees with a pocket watch on his hip and a fez on his head.

Jengal looks over, “why did you yelp, Aeternum?”

“You can’t see him?” Suddenly confused, he is right there.

“See who?”

“Felix… you know what, never mind.” Realization dawning on me, shooting Felix a dirty look.

He just shrugs, “I hope he didn’t get the deep crazies.” I hear him whisper, turning back to a map of the terrain before the capital was founded.

A transparent bubble suddenly appears around me. I hear Felix mumble, “better.”

“Silencing bubble?”

“Good guess.”

“Not a hard one.”

He just shrugs, “anyway, onto business. I was idly reading your thoughts and liked your idea. It will really stir up the world, so I am enabling it.”

“Isn’t that a bit hasty; why not wait a little while. And, rude!”

“Why should I?”

Stumped for a solid moment, suddenly an idea blooms within my mind. “The war, that’s the kind of power you want to give during peaceful times.”

I’ll think about it; tapping his phantom limb on the ground. “That makes sense,” idly thumbing his frilly collar. I sigh in relief. “Guess I should start the war early, get it over with.”

Stunned into silence as he disappears. “This is bad,” I say out loud.

“Felix! I thought you wanted fun! Why are you going to push forward a fucking war!” I shout loudly as the bubble dissipates.

Like a chuckle in the wind, I hear a voice. “Well, how else will I get to the peaceful times?” A laugh echos through the room; a laugh of sorrow, of the death of thousands. I can hear the ghosts wailing.

“I am beginning to hate Gods. Not a single sane brain cell between the two I have met. “Any Gods with a sense of morality and sanity listing?”

Causing Jengal to look at me in confusion.

A chime appears in the room, a quiet and passive sound. No more than simple confirmation of the existence, but it was enough for me.

Suddenly, feeling a thousand eyes watching me. “What am I, a TV show?” That makes 4, including that freaky thing that appeared in the nether.

Putting the thought out of my mind, I walk towards a very confused Jengal.

Grasping his shoulder, “the war is about to start.”

“And how do you know that?”

“Just this once, trust me.”

A serious expression appears on his face, “really?”

“Yeah.”

He goes to leave the museum, “we have a short while; let’s enjoy the museum.”

“After you just told me the blasted nether war is starting?”

“This is our last chance to do something interesting. Make the most of it.”

“One hour, then I am warning my mother.”

Feeling the damper on my mood, walking to a different room. Watching over my shoulder at Jengal, face going through a pinwheel of emotions. Walking to the opposite room, I see a large number of crystals of varying sizes. Normally, this would be interesting; yet I can't bring myself to enjoy the trip anymore.

Turning back to the main room and approaching Jengal. “Let's go!”

“What about seeing the museum before the war?”

“Not in the mood. If it is still standing, we can visit it another time.”

He nods, allowing me to teleport us back to the room we are staying in. Jengal rushes to his mother, who is a little stunned at our sudden appearance.

“Mum, it looks like the war is about to begin.”

She frowns, “how do you know?”

“Jengal told me.”

She turns her gaze to me; “how confident are you it is about to begin?”

“Ballpark? 80%”

“Can I ask how you know?”

“Sorry, you wouldn't believe me if I told you. Just understand, I don’t say this as a joke. I genuinely believe the war is moments from happening.”

“Okay, let me pack. We are heading home. Or, would you be willing to lend us a room for the war?”

“It would be my pleasure. And… Thank you for the trust.”

She just laughs.

It took about 2 hours to pack everything, buy some small items, pay the bill, and talk with the driver.

I took the liberty to warn my golden carriage companions, but they laughed it off.

“War, nonsense. A stick fight at worst.”

Stood in a circle, Me, Jengal, and Hanna teleport to the town. Letting them arrange things to move to my island. Jengal has a telepad; he can easily get to my home.

Walking towards Cassies, I go over what I should say. Thoughts spinning around my head. “What do I say?” I ask myself.

Before I know it, I am outside the door. Sat there umming and erring. I don’t know why I am worried; I am pretty much neutral. But a lot of lives will be lost.

Gulping, I knock on the door.