Chapter 170: Waking up.

Excerpt from the book “Exploration of the End” By Picard

Chapter 3: First contact!

It’s a rare gift to contact a species for the first time. Sadly, it was an empty gift, as the sapient species was under our noses the whole time.

After learning of the Endermens sapience, talks began in Ernest. Of course, I was on top of the list… Second on the list to facilitate discussions between the two parties.

Alas, I was a simple mouthpiece, guarded by my team. Slowly realizing what the goal of these talks was. We needed soldiers, and they realized that an untapped species was a perfect choice. I write these following few paragraphs with a heavy heart and fearful mind.

Rising into the air with a mighty push, the wind brushing past my face like a gentle mist. The subtle chill breathes life into my lungs as my momentum slows. My wings flutter open, held wide to slow my fall as I look around.

Drawing on my own exploratory drives, Jengal should be exploring the forest. That’s what I would do. Locking onto the woods like a homing missile before flying towards it.

Using my eagle eyes, it isn’t long before signs of human travel become visible. Disturbed brush, footprints in the earth, quieter than typical wildlife. It’s a shame that I found my own trail from my last forest escapade.

Returning to the sky, I continue my aerial search, coming across Jengal in short order. Showing a surprising degree of feline grace as he jogs through the thick woods. The canopy is sparse, allowing me to peer in.

With a gentle descent, I land behind him. Not having gone unnoticed, as he quickly turns around. Concern on his face for the barest of moments before being replaced with an anticipatory grin.

“Magic?!” He says in a sing-song voice.

“Magic!” I reply in kind.

He jogs over towards me. Brushing past me and tapping me on the shoulder.

“Race you back.” He says, a moment before breaking into a sprint.

Quick as a whip, I reply, “you’re on.” Rising into the sky as his figure disappears into the dense forest.

Stopping in a hover a meter above the canopy, I prepare my still sore and now tired wings for some hard work. Bracing myself by placing the tips of my feet on a branch before pushing off with a mighty push. Pulling on every reserve of energy to inch out all the speed I can. As I fly, I see Jengals underfoot. His legs blur as he dashes through the forest with practiced ease.

We were close to the same speed, but I won by a small margin. The dense woodland having foiled his plans.

I attempted to hide my mounting exhaustion, but apparently, Jengal doesn’t share my concerns. Crumpling into a ball as he wheezes for air. Shoot me the odd sour look as he revels in defeat.

I simply shrug my shoulders. “Should have run faster,” I mentally say, chuckling out loud.

Once breath had returned to our bodies, we walked towards the witchery area. Jengal with a slight limp, and me off balance due to my poorly and abused wings. We share a look of agreement, having realized that we both tried a little too hard.

On the way, I talk him through what we need to do.

“Our goal is a brew of flowing spirit, right?”

“Yeah,” he nods along.

“Well, I needed mutandis to get the materials to make a spinning wheel to make the fanciful thread. It’s the last item we need to make the brew.”

He slows slightly, “wait, I didn’t realize we were so close to completion.”

“Little sad to leave so soon, are we?” I tease him.

He rolls his eyes before responding in truth, “a little, I’ve really enjoyed the time here, surviving.”

“Helps you had a survival master, hu?”

“Yep.” He says before skipping forward the last stretch of the short journey.

“Okay, let me just whip up this fanciful thread, and we will brew the potion.”

“Brewing isn’t magic!” He whines.

“It’s a magic brew, but I see your point. When we get a chance back home, I will teach you some cooler witchcraft.”

Tilting his head to the side and cropping an inch, “guess I can live with that.”

Making the fanciful threat was trivial after having gathered the witchery plants. When this was a game, it took me what? An hour? 2? It was easy, if annoying. I actually used a glitch after a while. At the time, the tinkers toolbelt went with you into the dimension. It lets you carry a second Hotbar. Pretty easy to abuse.

“Okay, now we have the thread; let’s make this brew.”

Jengal watches with apt attention as I gently add each ingredient. Finding the whole process captivating as the color slowly changes to a Chernoble blue. The radioactive glow of cesium is the closest color I can think of. Once it is gently poured into a container, I turn to Jengal.

“Now, do like 2 more batches. Might as well use up all my wool of bat.”

He does so, being careful. While he does that, I stare into the liquid in joy. Having finally gotten this troublesome material. Each batch produced 2, so we have 6 now. Enough for my bedroom, which should always give good dreams, and to use in a large number of mirrors. Although, I doubt I would need quite that many mirrors.

Heading to the house, I spend a short moment finding Cassie. Who was in the middle of frying some meat.

Walking behind her, I give her a hug from behind. “Hungry?” I ask.

“Just a little.” She says with a chuckle.

“I did it; we can go home now.”

She pauses for a moment, thinking. “Ah, yes, that spirit thing. Let me just finish this steak.”

“Sounds good.”

Half an hour later and we are all stood around the table. Brew of flowing spirit safely in my arms as a free hand holds an icy needle.

“Ready to wake up.”

They both say “yeah,” at the same time, although with differing excitement levels. Jengal is clearly depressed at the notion of having to go home from his survival holiday.

“3, 2, 1, go!” I say before pricking my skin with the icy needle. Feeling a jolt of electricity as my body shoots up in shock. My body is covered in a cold sweat, and my body stiff like stone. I hastily check the brews, finding them on the floor to my side. Undamaged, thankfully.

Looking around, I see my fellow companions also groggily rising from their expensive beds.

“Well, that was a hell of a dream,” I joke.

Cassie lies back, rolling her eyes, whereas Jengal lets out a slight giggle. Having a brief look around, I quickly spot a shadow in the room. A gentle sound slowly seeps from the mouth of the shadow.

“Snore!”

All our heads are now turned to the shadow. Our movement awakens it from its slumber. Rising to its entire 3-meter statue, Paul stretches with a tired yawn.

Looking at us with his purple eyes, “bloody ell, didn’t realize ya humens slept for so damn long.”

Turning around and seeing my shocked companion’s face pushed me into action. “Hey guys, meet Paul.”

He saunders over, sitting on my bed and waving, “nice ta meet ya.”

They are still tired and a little shocked, so I give them a moment to restart and reboot.

“So… He is my friend from the end.”

Cassie, quick on the uptake. “Endermen can speak? Wait, they can think? I thought they were monsters!” She asks and states with great haste, clearly in shock.

Paul lazily interjects, “clearly, we can speak, and ya know, think. And monsters? Dats just rude, ya get me.”

Cassie visibly recoils at the response, whereas Jengal watches with barely contained curiosity.

A quiet standoff takes place for a few seconds before Paul speaks up once more. “I’d love ta answer ye burning questions, but we got a bit of a spickle over eer. Da lass in the castle proper panicking over sumet, so, like you should speak with eh.”

Followed by the look of realization coming over Jengals tired face before he rushes out, shouting, “oh no, oh no,” on repeat.

Rubbing my brows, I got up and followed him with a little less fervor. On my way out, I turn to Paul. “We can talk in a bit; let’s see what the damage is.” Paul nods quietly, lying back down and leaning his head on the wall.

Following Jengal, we quickly find his mother, whom I’ve allowed to stay here for her safety. She is walking up and down the corridor with obvious concern. Jengal wastes no time before tackling her in a hug, relieving the deep-set creases on her face for the barest of moments. She gently strokes his hair as he squeezes her blue.

She looks over at Cassie and me during the short embrace, sighing before letting her son go. Turning to me, she speaks.

“It is as you said. The war has begun.” Those meaningful words left the room in eerie silence as we all realized what that means.

Resting against a wall, I massage my brows in tired frustration. “couldn’t have picked a worse time.” I murmur.

“Why?” Cassie asks, moving close to my ear.

“Damned elves just ripped a hole in the fabric of space. I could deal with both on their own. Together, I have some concerns.”

She turns away, a look of contemplation on her face. Her family is relatively safe, so her concern must be further reaching than blood ties.

Jengal and his mother hug for a short moment more before they rest against the hallway wall. All considering the information we have received a little differently.

It isn’t long before lumbering footsteps echo down the empty hallway. Turning, I see an impatient Paul walking towards us. I was concerned Jengals mother would attack him, but she didn’t even register him, either from shock or prior knowledge.

With that big grin on his face, he speaks. “So… Ya gonna make me wait till da End turns to dust, or we gonna do something? I didn’t spend like 5 charges ta chill here.”

“Sorry, we just got news of a war starting,” I say in hopes he would understand.

“A war? Dats what yall torn up bout.” He rolls his eyes. “if someone ant dead cause ya followed da wrong clan, it’s a rare luna cycle, I tell ya. Death is normal, don’t ya worry.”

What I gathered was a poor attempt at consoling. Feeling a subtle vibration, I see Cassie giggling slightly at his morbid sense of humor.

Personally, I am not too concerned. As much as the loss of life is a waste, what can I do? Jengal and Cassie? They have family and history here. It is a complicated situation. I am no hero, at best, a toy for a God. I will see about helping my town. Perhaps help some ordinary people, but that’s all I can really offer.

Walking towards Paul, “let’s walk and talk.” I say, tapping his back and walking off. He quickly follows. “What brings you here today, Paul?”

“I was bored. Ya been gone for ages.”

“What are you, a puppy? Got nothing to do in the end.” I say with a light chuckle.

“Dude, ya the best thing since chorus wine. Ant bored when ya around. Sorry for wanting to chill with a cool dude.”

“Appreciate it, I suppose. I’ve got to check something, then we can do something.”

“What we checking?” Tilting his head at the inquiry as we reach the exit of my home.

“Just gonna check the elves. They really know how to pick a time to rip the fabric of reality open.”

“Elves?” He asks in confusion.

“Pointy eared, little crazy, love the color green.”

“Ah, the leaf-eaters.”

“I don’t think they are all vegetarians,” I shrug.

Reaching the edge of my island, I peer down and see a positively gigantic green gate. Wood embossed with glittering gold, almost neon green, and pulsating browns. Green energy swirls like a whirlpool within, occasionally lashing out like lightning.

“Well… That doesn’t look stable.” I say as it wobbles and stutters.

Jumping down, we quickly find are selves within the elves camp.