The Tiny Order/Order of the Kids/Origin of the Order on this blog is a rewrite of @minish-maeâs original fanfic about what the Order of the Stone from Minecraft Story Mode mightâve been like when they were children and their adventurers.
@minish-mae is the original producer of the Order of the Kids, however, if this is the first time youâre hearing about the Tiny Order, I honestly encourage you not to read ahead in her fanfic before you read mine if youâre interested in the story, hence you not getting spoiled.Â
Donât get me wrong, @minish-mae absolutely deserves all of the credit, from the childrenâs designs to the general idea, itâs all her; Iâm only rewriting the chapters and penning the resolution of the series of which she never finished, though some details may be altered.
Just staring. Just staring. Just staring. All Just Staring. Continuously staring. Staring. Staring. All staring. Plop. Feeling something wet land on his head, the instinctive backlash of slightly...
Last HNI chapter for a bit!
Takinâ a break to focus on my mental health, amidst other things, =>!Â
Probably wonât be online much until I feel the time is rightâŚ?Â
On the following day, it appeared his luck had not only run out but shortly after it had received a bluntly disheartening letter about how its entire family had cruelly died in a shooting, it was...
This was originally planned to be longer and I did write it to be extended but then I realized that it would be more dramatic if this was split into three different chapters, XD
âSorenâŚit seems that youâve forgotten that weâre only childrenâŚâ Voice calling out into the gentle light blue of pretty morning, Sorenâs feet frantically paced him back and forth, Sorenâs mind itself desperately striving to come up with a plan of which he and his friends could become renowned heroes that day. Granted, the ginger did understand that legends werenât simply summoned out of the thin airs; they had to begin somewhere. Somewhere mild. Somewhere simple. Somewhere tediousâŚAfter all, there wasnât all that much that was âheroicâ for children to do without getting cold stares and judgement gazes from adults and kids alike as time itself hardened, annihilating his self-confidence and positive atmosphere alongside his determination and encouraged character while piercing mocks haunted within his head, throughout the rest of his life. Oh, and thatâs only a portion of Sorenâs illusion, if you were curious. There had to be something impressive that they could do! Somethingâanything that would get them acknowledged! As the ginger continued to sink back into the darkened blacks of deepened, desperate thought, his friends were beginning to recognize that their dear friend, Soren, was losing more of his unprotected patience by the moment. Even more so when Ivor made that comment as if he wasnât already aware of that. And continued. âWeâre not going to get famous overnightâŚâ
âI know that!â Soren corrected, almost aggressively. Almost. I donât think any of them would like Soren when heâs angry, âI justâŚwant us to be knownâŚâ
âWeâll get there, Soren!â Gabriel encouraged, âItâs just going to take some time! We can start small for the time being!â
âExactly!â Ivor added, âIt doesnât really even need to be something grant that we doâŚ!â You know that moment when you keep talking for no reason? Even when you donât really stand by what youâre saying? Even when itâs completely pointless? As if youâre unconscious? âEven something small, likeâŚâ
ââŚCommunity serviceâŚ?â Did Magnus just try to bail Ivor out, saying that slowly? Well, if he was, that was until everyoneâs judgmental stares instantaneously darted at him, donning expressions that just screamed how stupid that he sounded saying that. Even Magnus himself recognized how out-of-character it was for him to suggest such. Why did he? Glancing away, desperately trying to evade eye-contacts with his friends and change the topic whist keeping his pride up, âAlrightâŚâ
âOrâŚ!â Ellegaard suddenly perked and spoke up, âWe could try to get our parents to take us to EnderConâŚ! If I remember correctly, they have all sorts of contests and conventions andâŚ! Weâre all so variedâŚ! We could really shine individually there!â
âYeah, letâs just ask our parents to take us hundreds of miles to EnderCon!â Magnus mocked, ââcause thatâs gonna work out oh-so-well!â
âIt was only an idea, Magnus,â Gabriel interfered.
âAnd itâs a good one!â Soren insisted, âMaybe weâll be able to go this summer! How long do we have before the con?â
Speaking up, Ivor momentarily sighed, âNot long, I donât thinkâŚyouâd need tickets in advance to goâŚâ
A breath of disappointment from a ginger, âWell, there is always next year and⌠next year weâll have more experience inâŚwellâŚclearly everything!â A sentence of optimism from a green-eyed.
Of course, everyoneâs spirits were slightly uplifted by Sorenâs words of encouragement, however, despite that, this isnât some sort of Disney-princess story; they still hindered at this standstill for as what to do to get themselves accomplished and acknowledged amidst the sickening streaks of overlook, frantically streaming through the world of ordinaries and evils. There they were, fleeting a few moments of being showered in sun, alongside each otherâs diversified personalities, not sure what to say. That is, before Gabriel had a suggestion.
âMaybe weâre looking at this the wrong way thenâweâre all so worried about getting noticed in the world when we donât even know what our ultimate intention isâŚâ Thing is, the entire idea of the Order of the Stone was Sorenâs idea, so was it official that he was the leader? Maybe he just did the majority of the talking. Guess thatâs why Gabriel turned to him curiously. Alike to the rest of the group, âwhat is our goal, SorenâŚ?â
âTo become the worldâs greatest heroes, of course!â Soren exclaimed, âTo be able to help so many people and revolutionize the world with our exploits!â
âThen we just need to start by saving someone!â Magnus noticed aloud, âThat shouldnât be too hard, yeah? Weâd just have to find someone in dangerâŚ!â
Of course! It was so simple! Why didnât they realize that sooner? In fact, everybody in the group agreed without too much of an extra comment! Besides Ivor, that is, âButâŚwe save whoâŚ?â Perhaps he was the most down-to-earth. Perhaps he was a pessimist. Regardless of which one, once again, everyone had become grounded in a standstill, stuttering, trying to figure out what to say.Â
Feminine sigh. âI mean, I guess we could just walk around until we find someone to rescueâŚâ Train of thought. âThenâŚtheyâllâŚreally let us know how much they appreciate us and tell the tale of The Order Of The Stoneâthe kids who saved them!âÂ
Though that was a perfect idea, whoâs to say that that wouldnât be harder said than done?
They didnât have a compassâŚ
They didnât have a traceâŚ
They didnât have a clueâŚ
Of where to look.
They justâŚ
Hopelessly wandered around their towns.
But mainly their forest.
The children desperately sauntered throughout the broad proximities for several hours, striving to locate someone in need of help. They asked people about their problems, looked at âmissing personâ fliers, questioned their parents if they needed assistance with anything but, of course, nothing was there that children could truly do. Naturally, the one day that they were actually aiming to listen and fix peopleâs difficulties, there was no one in need of any sort of support. Then again, they were expecting what? Evidently, everything was just as peaceful as ever. Not that the hushed atmosphere was a complaint though; if it was dangerous about, it was dangerous about. Despite that, that didnât stop Soren from sighing fiercely, becoming frustrated with, to put it simply, everything;
âWhy is it just so hard to find someone with a problem?!â
âI mean, itâs not like the worldâs in peril,â Magnus reminded, âEverythingâs been peaceful for a long time around these partsâŚ!â
âWell, sometimes I wish that something more interesting would happen around hereâŚâ Soren stated unobtrusively, âIt gets boring when everythingâs so tranquilâŚâÂ
âI mean,â Gabriel suggested, âwe could always go and explore another cave.âÂ
âIâm not sureâŚâ Ivor spoke up shush-ly, glancing away to avoid eye-contact with anyone, âCavesâre dangerousâŚâ
âYeah, thatâs a terrible idea,â Ellegaard added, âDonât you remember what happened last time? Besides, I donât think anyone, especially Ivor, is too keen on going back until we have something other than wooden swords.âÂ
âWell, then we just need something to protect us then!â Magnus debated, âMaybe armour or bigger and better swords and weapons!âÂ
âMagnus,â Ellegaard continued, âWhere are we ever going to find âbetter and better weapons?â Youâre forgetting, weâre all kidsâŚ! We canât use them; theyâre too dangerous!â
âWell, I miss going caving!â Magnus proceeded, âWe need something to protect ourselves, otherwise weâre never gonna have any fun anymore!âÂ
âItâs not a matter of that, MagnusâŚ!â Gabriel explained, âOur parents arenât going to allow us to use anything better than wood! Theyâre too dangerousâŚ!â
âWeâd be carefulâŚ!â Magnus claimed.
âMagnusâŚ!â Ivor told-off, Magnus, himself replying after, âTheyâre not going to trust us, even if we ask!â
âI donât knowâŚ!â Magnus shouted, âI meanâŚmaybe, as Soren said, we find somebody to save?!â
âThatâs idealistic!â Ellegaard argued.
Magnus slightly irrelevantly returned, âThis is all idealistic!âÂ
âWhatâŚ?!â Soren retorted.
âUgh!â Magnus without thinking calls-out, âYou really think that weâre gonna become a gang of legends?!â
âMagnusâŚ!â Ivor stood up for Soren, saying that debate-ly; Soren was just too stunned in the abrupt-nature of that sentence to speak, only being able to haphazardly stutter.
âYeah, MagnusâŚ!â Gabriel spoke up loudly, continuing the argument tone, âThis isnât-!â
âAWOOOOOOOOOOOO!â
Suddenly, a powerful wail fiercely howled beyond and throughout the enigmatic forest, sweepingly sending vibrating chills up the childrenâs spines, everybody effectively freezing in their tracks as they gawked at each other in both confusion and fear. The deep howl just sounded soâŚunhuman. Sure, the kids were generally, genuinely looking for an obvious indication of disturbance butâŚthat? In fact, none of the kids even knew how to react. They just kinda stood in place for a moment or two, giving themselves and their friends time to comprehend what the actual hell had just cried outâŚnot that that really helped when trying to think of a slight clue on what had presently called.
âWhat on earth was that?!â Ivor was the first to ask, kinda afraid of what the indefinable being mayâve been, alike to the rest of the group.
As Soren began to run off in the direction that the creature howled from, his voice called, âWhatever that was, it came from this wayâŚ!âÂ
- - -
I think that people will be peer-pressured into doing things that they donât really want to, at least, once in their life. That wasnât really the case here. Sure, Sorenâs can be a bit more impulsive than an ordinary child, but that doesnât mean that his friends werenât curious as well, though they were scared. Honestly, none of them were really thinking when they started to pursue the howl. That is, the creature they had wailed its voice into the atmosphere didnât call any other tie, I mean. For all that the group knew, the entity had already left the proximity. It didnât whimper at all, it seemed. Not loud enough to be heard at a few-minute distance anyway. After the group traced the creatureâs cry through the woods, none of them were able to do anything but stare nervously yet inquisitively at the discovery that they had stumbled upon.Â
âItâsâŚâ Ivor quietly murmured as he knelt down and extended an arm out to get a closer look at the being and gently touch it, ââŚItâs a wolfâŚâ That is, before the critter protectively growled and barred its teeth and the group, startling Ivor to swiftly shift back onto his feet, the other four to take a smaller step retrograde, ââŚIâve never seen one beforeâŚâ Indeed he hadnât. Especially not one that had such outrageously red, stained fur. The wolfâs natural, ruby-coloured, blood continuously depleted from its owner, cause of an arrow vigorously lodged into its side, overwhelmingly suffocating the childrenâs thoughts of anything else other than the injury fixed against the pitiable animal.
âBut what could have struck it with that arrow?â Gabriel asked.
Soren casually answered, âLikely to be a-â Suddenly, something rather slender and remarkably fast intensely thrusted past the group, including Soren, âSKELETON!â
Some of them tripping to the ground, they all heard a noise that they recognized all-too-well. As they concurrently glanced at what had sounded, red-flags violently began to go off in their heads by survival-instinct. Heavily. Because, dear god, If they didnât have reflexes, they wouldâve died. Or, at least, wouldâve been in extreme pain. Brutally. In front of their friends. In the middle of nowhere. Yeah, did I say that a shooting arrow was a laughing matter? One of which their red-flags had been was that, if there was a dart, a skeleton must be in proximity, no? Sure enough, as the team coincidently glimpsed upwards, in the shade of a tree, stood a skeleton, frantically preparing another arrow for its antagonists.
Fortunately, Gabriel was competent enough to lash out the boarded sword which he had always carried alongside him and sprinted towards the skeleton, but not before Soren instinctively, instantaneously shot out one of his arms, as if he could just stretch out and grab Gabriel, stopping him that easilyâstopping him from jeopardizing his life, him not getting much of a personal benefit. However, luckily, the darker-skinned was able to efficiently evade the monsterâs ranged assaults and strategically lure it out into the dayâs sunlight, where it eventually, inevitably began to smoulder and shortly blazed into its hushed, ash grave.
As Gabriel started to saunter away from the deceased enemy, the children all turned their heads to get another look at the wolf yet again, which they had nearly forgotten about following the entire âand-thereâs-a-skeleton-nowâ thing. Although every one of the kids was absolutely fine with acting as passive as could be to the pure-white-furred critter, they could clearly see that the animal definitely didnât feel likewise. Evidently. The wild fiercely glared back at them, defensively snarling and growling its fangs, giving an obvious warning to anyone who had dared to come near it and, god help, touch it. The children could swear that the wolfâs eyes were nearly gleaming into a bright red, its fluffed tail hissed. Looks can be deceiving, guessâŚ?
âSince it was attacked, it seems to be hostileâŚâ Ellegaard mentions, âAndâŚsince I like wolves more than I like people, I wanna help it.â
âThanks for the input, Ellie,â Magnus rolled his eyes and sighed before continuing, âRightâŚand we donât know if itâs rabid or notâŚI donât wanna touch itâŚMaybe we should tell someone else about the wolf insteadâŚ?â
âButâŚ!â Ivor quarrels, âCouldnât this be out chanceâŚ? Couldnât we save this wolf and show the townâŚ?âÂ
âItâs not a tamed wolf, Ivor!â Gabriel responded, âIf we bring this wolf back to town, itâd just attack, the townspeople killing it!â
âBut if we help it, wouldnât it trust us?â Ellegaard insists.
Ivor comments, almost angrily, âWe help it how though?â
âWe donât!â Magnus interrupts, âItâs a wolf.â
Ellegaard and Ivor debated simultaneously, âOh, come on!âÂ
Whist the four diversified children were sharply bickering regarding the plan for the animal, Soren slowly began walking towards the wolf, delicately and cautiously reaching a hand out to it, seeking to assure the wolf that he and his friends werenât any sorts of threat towards it. He believed that all that they needed to tame this wild was to thoroughly persuade the creature that they werenât going to harm it more than what was already done. Sure, Soren unquestionably didnât want to risk him or his companions getting bitten, scratched, or generally attacked by it, but, at the same time, he did feel like they were obligated to help it. After all, they did dedicate several minutes only to assisting this creature of they didnât even know what it was, when they started. Even beyond the endless squabbling, Gabriel was able to notice Soren kneeling towards the wolf out of the corner of his eye;
âSoren!â The other three turned to glimpse at the purple-eyed in a concerned matter as Gabriel shouted that, continuing his sentence, âGet away from it!â
Soren didnât listen. The wolf emphasized its aggressive, bared teeth and intensified its snarling growl of self-defence as Soren approached her. Soren, himself, only performing as much as a quick, brief pause, but not fiercely flinching his hand away in panic like the wolf appeared to have rathered him to. I mean, of course, Soren was actually somewhat apprehensive about touching an untamed animal alongside the incredibly menacing appearance that the wild bestowed him and his comrades with.Â
âShhhhhhhhâŚâ The ginger soothed in a quiet, calming tone as his friends remained radio-silent, âItâs alrightâŚwe arenât going to harm youâŚâ The white-furred upon hearing that had been hushed to suspend its guarded growling with Sorenâs reassuring pitch, but it still persisted with the intimating expression that it had worn, still not exactly trusting anyone yet. Sorenâs arm halted in place for a moment or two. He was waiting for something. He was waiting for the wolf to stop hissing its fangs. It did slightly, but that was just fine with Soren. Better than nothing. Soren lowering his palm before the wolf, he dropped his hand to the wolfâs head, animal closing its eyes, troubled expression in tow. After all, the kids did just destroy the thing that had hurt it. Besides, what could they possibly do to it? As Soren released the somewhat heavy weight of his hand insignificantly, he warmly smiled and fully knelt down, bringing his other hand upwards to pet the mane on him.
âHushâŚâ Soren quietly murmured to the creature, the animal letting out a weak whimper as it softly shifted its head forwards, reluctantly streaming her tongue over Sorenâs face, the ginger himself to crackle a small laugh as his emerald-green eyes playfully glimpsed back at his friends who had, for whatever reason, remained soundless throughout all of his hazardous experience with the white-furred cutesy, âSee? We can help it now!â
The others anxiously strolled over, evidently acting extremely cautious of the barely tamed animal that was literally gnarring and threatening them two minutes ago, them hoping that it wouldnât abruptly lash out on them as they sat down. Especially when they began to settle their fingers on the arrow, obviously intending to take it out of its wound. Luckily, Soren, Magnus and Ellegaard were able to keep the wolf sidetracked with lots of pettings and cuddles as Gabriel and Ivor took care of the dart, to which the wolf let out a surprised yip suddenly started to growl, mainly at the purple and blue-eyed yet again, prompting all of the children to instantly stand up and take a step backwards, away from the animal in case it tried to make any violent actions onto them as its dark-red blood began pouring from the wound as the children observed the injury in disgust.
âUgh,â Magnus said, âwe need to cover it with somethingâŚâÂ
âThank you, Captain ObviousâŚâ Ellegaard gibed, sighing after, âAnyways, I donât think that itâs been injured for too long, so we just need to stop it from bleeding to its death.â
Everybody quickly, briefly glanced around the proximity with no success with spotting anything that could possibly be used to be enveloped around the white-furred. As Soren skipped his eyesight from left to right, scanning for something to bind the wolfâs blood in, he noticed the scarf that was neutrally wrapped around his throat, gently choking him. Sure, scarfs couldnât really be washed properly but what was the most important this right now, was that they save this animalâs life. After he generously unhitched his grey-or-sable sash from around his neck, he benevolently waved his hand over the eyes of the critter, aspiring to reassure the creature that it was only him and to somewhat divert it. Once the animal had stopped the majority of its growling, the ginger settled his scarf up to the wolfâs bloody fur and firmly pressed.Â
- - -
âI can run home and grab some medicine for them!â Once the scarf had belatedly absorbed all of the flowing blood, they removed Sorenâs sash, and although the scar had appeared to stop bleeding, a scarf wasnât going to work forever. The cut would just open back up, obviously. The children needed a permanent fix for the harmed animal. Thatâs why Ellegaard suggested that. âMy parents are scientists and they work with medicineâI think that they may have something for her!â
With that, she was off to get some supplies.
âSo whatâre we gonna do with it?â Magnus urged, âWe canât just leave her here.â
âWell, theyâre in no condition to walk,â Gabriel explained, âIt needs to rest up.â
âWhen Ellie gets back, weâll see how sheâs feeling,â Soren added before being licked off the stroke of wet togue from the wounded.
âHe really seems to like you, SorenâŚ!â Ivor quotes, âHeâs been doing nothing but showing affection to you since you got to her.â
âIâve had a cat before,â Soren mentions, âBut she died when I was younger, so I donât remember them all-that-much. Perhaps I just have a way with animals?â
âOr perhaps this wolf just likes you,â Ivor proposes.
Soon enough, Ellegaard had eventually returned alongside all sorts of medical supplies in her arms although they definitely didnât need all that she had brought with her. Granted, she does explain how her father was at work and that she already knew that her mother wouldnât allow her to take any sort of medical equipment. Fortunately, they didnât really have to tell them. However, it was a bit of a risk of how they sort of justâŚrandomly chose a treatment and applied it onto the bruise. Luckily, sure enough, it appeared that the scar was actually beginning to heal and seal up. TheâŚthe kids had done itâŚ? They actually saved someone, rescuing this wolfâs lifeâŚ?! Of course, they were hoping that it would butâŚthey had actually achieved something?!
âWaitâŚwe actually did itâŚ?!â Magnus asked more than said, âThe Order of the Stoneâs first official mission was a successâŚ?!â
âThe Order isnât even official yet,â Ivor answered pessimistically.
âYET!â Soren corrected, âThe Order isnât official yet!â
âRightâŚâ Ellegaard added.
âWell,â Gabriel urged everyone, âwe should head home now, donât you think?âÂ
âWait!â Soren brought to everyoneâs attention, âWhat do we do with the wolf?â Â
âUm, leave them?â Magnus reminded, âItâs a wild animal.â The wild animal growled slightly at that, Magnus looking at it, back at the rest, âI donât think that any of our parents are gonna let us keep it.â
Soren peered down at the critter again, âThey can stay with me!â Soren realized that the stone was slightly cold as he sat next to the wolf, âMy parents love animals! Weâve been thinking of getting a dog anyways!â The green-eyed looked curiously at the creature, âWhatchaâ say, buddy?â He directed, âWanna come home with me?â
Bark!
âYay!â He cheered, hugging the wolf, âI knew youâd want to, Krita!â
âKrita?â Magnus asked, âIs that their name?â
âYes! I just came up with it!â Soren explained, âPretty nice name huh?âÂ
âActually, itâs kinda dumb,â Ellegaard added, prompting Ivor and Gabriel to angrily glare at her for lowering Sorenâs self-confidence.
âWell, if Kritaâs coming with us, letâs head back,â Gabriel declared, âI donât wanna be caught out in the forest at night.â
Soren earnestly nodded and stood onto his feet, urging the newly-named dog to accompany and follow behind them. Well, more like âfollow alongside them.â Although the canine distinctly staggered, still injured, it shadowed among closely. Occasionally, the children would take a glimpse at the said animal, only to notice that it seemed more peacefully open-minded than anything. Which was fine. They were completely okay with that as long as it refrained itself from violently clawing their hearts open. But at the same time, it certainly seemed to be friendly. And fierce. But it was unquestionably better than nothing.
The kids continued to saunter to Sorenâs address and to everyoneâs surprise, the gingerâs parents actually allowed him to keep the previously-wild hound that was clearly threatening to end their lives and literally rip them to shreds twelve minutes ago! Despite that, she was properly tamed and even got a snazzy new collar, padding down its furred chest. Of course, not all can be good. Several of the other kidâs parents were a tad annoyed that their child put themselves in dangers, only to save a desert creature; That said, they were at least pleased that they were able to help it.Â
Unfortunately, none of the children actually got many recognitions for bettering Kritaâs well-being. Though that was the whole purpose of this mission, nobody really heard about it. In any of their villages. Of courseâŚthereâs always a bright sideâŚAt least now they had what they had lacked! An identifiable and iconic mascot for their smaller team of heroes! Krita would be a supplementary charm that everybody amidst the world of sin would acknowledge and know of! That is, alongside its famous owners, obviously! And, of course, who would be famous, well-trained, legends! This was nothing more than another factor in their required acknowledgements!
Everything just falls into place sometimes, doesnât it?
The beaming, gleaming sun blazes down onto the moderately vivid grass of a village, sleekly grating through the mellow atmosphere and translucently shallow, white clouds far overhead which were doing nothing to dwindle the gradually pounding temperature of the ambience, the weather somewhat scorching the proximities. In fact, it was even brewing enough for the heat to be audible, the sun beyond the skies a shimmering glitter outwards, gitting through the clouds. Sure, the skies were as calm as could be but I suppose that the oranging daytime star had other intentions for the misfit children. As suggested and promised, the kids organized themselves together a bit of a while after the cave incident, when none of them were occupied with anything else, unrelated to the aforementioned five. And as suggested and promised, theyâd have nothing more than a day of well-reasoned and well-deserved relaxation with one another that pretty sun. It was all that some of them were looking forward to. Regardless, although the children had rather assorted personalities, they were such good friends with each other!
Soren enthusiastically proposed, jumping onto his feet, âI have an idea! Letâs play The-One-Word-Story game!â
Everyone looked at him confused, Ellegaard asking, âThe what?â
âWhere you take turns to finish each otherâs sentences, forming a story,â Ivor answered.
Gabriel and Magnus perked up upon eavesdropping the idea. After all, they were both in a foot or few proximities, Iâd be unmanageable not to overhear. Ellegaard shuffled herself closerâher body tighter. A word game. If performed correctly, it may have the capabilities to be entertaining to the physically warm children, their only identified motive to try to beat the heat, a result of the sunâs blaze. Regardless, although it was Sorenâs suggestion, he didnât say anything; He merely rathered to make sure that his companions were having at least a bit of satisfaction and pleasure to be in the hangout. Ivor was the first to converse, prior to Ellegaard, before Gabriel, Magnus concluding the sentence.
âI,â
âWant,â
âTo,â
âDie.â
Soren swiftly sat back onto the grass, a circle, visible annoyance with the slightly rude response he got from his friends, âOh, come on nowâŚâ
Despite the shared enthusiasm, the circumstances turned out to be quite tedious that rather warm summer date. Seeing as none of them were all that willing to further onto any kind of adventure anew, caving or otherwise, a good fraction of the day was plagued by doing nothing other than aimlessly resting on the grass, nearby to Ellegaardâs address, the corner of her village, close to the entrance. Sure, an easygoing day of relaxation was all that the children had wanted previously, itâs just that, purposeless sitting around, plucking out the grass in boredom wasnât particularly entertaining or enjoyable eitherâIâm sure that you can understand. None of them had any kind of thought or idea of what to do with their gleaming day. The blade collection of five simply paused there for nothing, lazing on the grass, desperately endeavouring to determine what to do with their boredom-filled day. That is, other than plainly playing frivolous games amidst the waves of the gentle hum of the daylights.
âUgh,â Magnus began, âThis heat is hell.com.â
âItâs-â Gabrielâs heart moderately pounded in his chest as he coughed out the summerâs atmosphere, âSorry-â
âThatâs it!â
The boys all whirled their heads back and gawked at Ellegaard, for she exclaimed that phrase rather loudly, discontinuing their darker-skinned companion. Notably, she didnât verbalize the exclamation close to similar to how she wouldâve if she was exasperated or angryâshe articulated that more likewise to her suddenly getting an idea to share amongst the four others present, within her friend group, her expression that she was donning confirmed that, her finger and thumb piercingly pointed after instinctively snapping her claws sharply. The boys didnât really know what precisely to think. I mean, what was she on about? After all, Gabriel didnât actually even state anything hitherto. Notwithstanding, once Ellegaard realized that her friends were all staring at her, her expression momentarily broke before going back to a more humble and calmly enthusiastic tone.
âIâve just remembered! My parents said that there was going to be a comet storm tonight! We could all sneak out and watch the meteors!â
That was a wonderful idea! The star rainfalls were eternally so beautiful and yet they were so unfortunately rare as wellâyou would necessitate to rush to witness them, not to mention that you could only be informed with such a short notice. It was rather fortunate that Ellegaard was recollected of that! Sure, the concept of that wouldâve required that the children wouldâve had to slither out of their homes and into the outdoors yet again, but at least this time the suggestion wouldnât be nearly as intimidating or threatening for the kidsâŚright? Of course, everyone approved and liked Ellegaardâs idea but as always, Magnus was there to rain on their parades.
âOkay, but where would we watch the meteor shower? In case you havenât realized, Ellie, thereâre lots of dangerous mobs at night! Even more so than in caves!â
âOne: thatâs an exaggeration,â Ellegaard replied, âTwo:â The brunette shifted onto her feet and speedily hasted off, prompting the boys to follow her to wherever she was going. Interestingly, the blokes observed their female friend to swiftly stir out of the community through the open, iron-barred gateway. Where exactly was she going? What, was she leading them to another adventure? She could be going literally anywhere. The boys didnât know what to expect beforehand of when they found Ellegaard still nearby to the passage of the entryway, pointing to a completely grass-covered cliff with a single dark-wooded tree, the leaves of so matching the shade of the grass, something unclear hung on the tree, a natural pathway directing to the height of the hill, although they didnât seem to be a single barrier or anything to keep anyone from falling to their death, it looked like. âThere!â Ellegaard verified, lowering her arm, turning to her friends, âThatâs where people go for picnics and stuffâitâs always well-lit with the lantern and firefliesâŚ! We could go there tonight and watch the comets!â
Magnus encouraged, slowly nodding, âNot a bad idea actuallyâŚâ
Soren claps his hands together, âYes, that should be funâŚ!â
Ivor threw his opinion, âIâve never seen a real, live meteor beforeâŚI believe that there was one when I was younger but I really donât remember itâŚâ
âYeah, I know what youâre talking about, Ivor,â Gabriel rejoined, âI was, I think, seven when I first saw it with EllieâŚâ He slightly lowered his head, shaking it left to right, âIt was beautiful.â
âIt was,â Ellegaard confirmed.
âSo itâs agreed then?â Soren asked in a rather enthusiastic voice,
âTonight, we meet on the hilltop!â
- - -
The friends accepted and departed to their separate directions for the evening. The plan was that theyâd each inconspicuously perform their ordinary nighttime routines and await until they were confident that their parents were asleep for themselves anxiously creep out of their homeâwhich, may I remind you, was much easier said than done. You endeavour to continuously investigate if your guardians are resting without composing a single sound while desperately attempting to make sure that they think youâre resting, your caregivers possessing the authorities to restrict you of whatever they feel like, all in a restrained amount of time. Some of the children were even required to precariously climb out of their bedroom windows in a danger-filled action in order to evade captivating any noticeable attention to themselves, for their parents displayed no symptoms to go to bed anytime soon.
That said, Soren made it to the predetermined of where he and Ivor had organized to gather with each other, prior to the nighttimeâs shade. Soren remained at the meet spot for a bit, merely being able to trust that Ivor was on his way. Yes, it would make more sense for all of the children to simply go to the hill they all had purposed to assemble on, however, it was unquestionably dangerous to experiment to venture into the unrestricted without anyone byside of them. It didnât help that the natural, eerie sounds of the nighttime were whispering past the edges of the visible proximity. Was that a footstep? A twig snap? Ivor couldnât have gotten to the side of Soren sooner. They both accompanied each other to the hill which was actually quite a ways from Ellegaardâs and Magnusâ community in continuous fear of a monster assaulting them or sneaking up on them or really just the sight of an abnormality, at all.
Fortunately, the duo was capable of making their way up the more moderate mountain-than-hill without any interruptions from monsters. Or otherwise. Neither Soren nor Ivor noticed this before but Ellegaardâs and Magnusâ settlement had some sort of guard towers among walls of their village and occasional lights of presumable flashlights beaming out, irregularly witnessing the silhouette of someone watching them from a distanceâŚ? Not sure. Regardless, Soren and Ivor conclusively approached the height of the hill, the ultimate creep of the realization that their newer companions couldâve thoroughly flaked on them gradually bubbling to the front of both of their thoughts. Ellegaard, Magnus and Gabriel faded into view.
Their friends presented them both with unimportant, verbal and physical acknowledgments of their sudden presence as the duo perched down and anticipated for the opening glittering comet to trace across the sky, Â splintering the radio-silence. That is, besides the sound of twinkling stars in the nightsky. The air just appeared to be so much more vast that twenty-four than any other moon. It all just seemed so pretty even though there wasnât a single, glimmering shooting-star cross just yet. Or perhaps, it was simply the fact that they just hadnât gazed at the nightsky all that much. After all, it was dangerous for children to be sauntering around at night; guardians never permitting kids simply to come and go as they wished, so they truly never got to see the superb nighttime prospect, especially from such a view.
Time passed.
And more time passed.
And even more time passed.
Everything faded into black.
More black.
âŚ
- - -
âLOOK, THEREâS ONE!â
After a familiar voice enthusiastically shouted that, within a second, the universe itself seemed as if it was continuously whirling in large circles as the children awestruck-ly gazed into the gorgeous nightsky overhead. The children never observed anything like it. None of them were confident about what they were anticipating but what had blazed just then significantly outperformed any expectations that the youngers biasedly possessed. Ellegaard and Ivor had already been slipped to a sleeping standing whilst the other children were waiting. Not to mention that Gabriel and Magnus were significantly drowsing off. Soren was the only one who was able to endure consciousness throughout all of the uninteresting waiting. Once Soren had shouted that, everyone was remarkably appreciative that he had informed themâit was absolutely beautiful.
The galaxies were piercingly harmonized with blindingly bright, blue, white, and pink blasting bolides that fragmented the ghostly atmosphere with the jingle statics of encouraging twinkles that consistently sounded as the meteorites darted past the visible proximity to the children. The discharging asteroids frantically plummeting throughout the skies at that instance was so surreal that it seemed as if you could gently press your fingers against them and feel the blasting comet upon your eerie-ly chilled fingertips although you would obviously feel nothing but the cool airs. The beautiful blare shattered the ordinary nighttime hues with its flushed, milky, and sapphire coloured, lingering trails as it shadowed the bolides athwart the skies. The children could swear that the meteorites were what was causing the wind to rhythmically sway their outfits and hair into the breeze slightly as they gawked that shooting stars.
As Magnus swiftly jumped up the tree, hopping onto the same branch that the aforementioned lantern had, still standing upon the branch, clinging a single hand onto the tree itself to evade falling, he whispered very quietly alike to the rest of the group, âWoahâŚâ
âThis is so beautifulâŚâ Ellegaard murmured, the lights from the meteors shining in her eyes.
Ivor attached, âAstonishingâŚâ
âEven better than the one I saw all those years agoâŚâ Gabriel softly added, awestruck at the scene, âSimply breathtakingâŚâ
There was a brief pause before Soren sighed happily, âWouldnât it be wondrous if we could spend every day together like thisâŚ? No worriesâŚno argumentsâŚplainly a few friends hanging out and enjoying their time togetherâŚâ
âWhy not thoughâŚ?â Ivor hushedly remarked, not really thinking about his answer. There was a more prolonged silent gap with Sorenâs troubled expression. He seemed to be in intense thought.
âYouâre right!â Soren broke the shush custom by exclaiming that loudly, jumping out of his sitting position and onto his feet, behind the group. His friends immediately shot their heads to gawk at him, prompting Soren to say something. After all, this the ginger presently crashed the dazzling comet storm that the children were all dying to observe following the dayâs noontimes. Even Soren was visibly fascinated by the shower. What was more significant than the blasting meteorites? âWe should do it! Letâs continuously be together! Every single one of us! We could develop likeâŚa kind of club! Of heroes! Keeping people safe! We could spend every day with each other! We could formulate our own group and go on unbelievable adventures and expeditions! And when weâre older, we could assist people implementing our eventual professionsâŚ!â
Oh. That is. The children all welcomed that Sorenâs scheme was an amazing idea and his initiative impulses were something admirableâŚ! Very admirable. Admittedly, all of the children wanted this, itâs just that none of them were confident enough to directly purpose the idea. What if their idea was completely shunned by their friends who gave them an âitâs-kinda-common-senseâŚâ reply? As yes, sure it was slightly idealistic but they all understood that they had all the time that could ever require to accomplish their lifetime goalsâŚ! Doing it with their dearest friends would be even better! Could you even envision how fun that would be? Sorenâs enthusiasm in those sentences accompanied everybody into a humbly smiling status. Magnus swiftly bounded off of the tree; he was just all too distracted and fascinated by Sorenâs passionate suggestion precisely alike to everyone else. Soren could obviously recognize all the encouraging and supportive expressions from his companions and eagerly anticipated for a spoken acknowledgment and approval from them, a smile donned;
âWell?â
Gabriel nodded, standing up, âThat sounds like a good idea to me, SorenâŚ! Helping people is all that I want to do when Iâm older!â
Magnus exclaimed, turning to the ginger excitedly, âIâm in!â
Ellegaard announced, rising to her feet, âMe too!â
Ivor confirmed, lifting himself up onto his boots, âAs well!â
Soren brought his hands together, not clapping them hard enough to make a loud sound as he grinned, âWeâd need a name for our group! A clever name! Something thatâs never been thought of before. Something significant!â He very briefly paused, âLike, TheâŚâ Soren had no idea what to label the club. He just apprehensively pushed the word âtheâ for a moment. That is, until his friends proceeded to arrive at his aid. Just like an earlier in the day, they exercised turns alternating words, but this time, a bit more seriously. Gabriel began, Ivor subsequent, Magnus second to last, and Ellegaard concluding.
âOrder!â
âOf!â
âTheâŚ!â
âStone!â
Sorenâs laughs softly echoed into the night, for he had such amazing friends! They were all so supportive of him and his impulsive schemes! The name that they had come up with that moment sounded remarkably unique and unique was all the better! I mean, sure everybody had been put on-the-spot, meaning that the title was simply composed of the first words that the children had thought of, however, the design still performed to be so wondrous! The denomination, of course, was only a label. They necessitated some sort of binding or promise to make with each other. Promises break. They had completely overlooked the comet storm behind them, even more so when Sorenâs hand was enthusiastically placed in front of him, his proximity, his encouraging glare struck to his friends. Thatâs what prompted everyone else to thoroughly develop an ecstatic circle of children to sincerely arrange their hand atop Sorenâs.
Magnus.
Ellegaard.
Ivor.
Gabriel.
âFrom this day forward, weâre no longer just a group of friends! We are The Order Of The Stone!â
As everyoneâs arms prepared to accompany the detailed atmospheres momentarily, their throats becoming ready to simultaneously chant a loud confirmation synchronically, their broad smiles about to transform into loud grins and laughs amongst their mirths, they all reflected about how much this was so overwhelmingly exciting! They were merely children and they were already organizing and promising something grant for the lingering remnants of their lives! Whether some would admit it or not, they could only hope that their promise would persist. Evermore is a long time, after all. Evermore switches peopleâs motivations and moralsâŚbut not these friends. No possibility would there be to any of them ever leave each otherâs sidesâŚ! They promised! They were committed to always be the best heroes that they could possibly be! To always stay byside of each other!
The white streaks overhead of the children from the comet storm glittered and glimmered within the darkened blue, purple and white skies as Soren felt proud. Heâd accompany and lead his bestest friends to victories and ultimately convert into the greatest assortment of heroes ever to exist! But for now, they were only in the preparation and planning stage. First, they had to get acknowledged. They had to get recognized. Just something to make people understand that theyâre not just some unnecessary lifeforms doing nothing positive to contribute to the sin-filled earth. Conclusively, he knew that they would have to do something significâŚ! Something that characters would remember for generations to comeâŚ! Something that no one else would ever be courageous enough to doâŚ! Then again, that could undoubtedly be accomplished in rather long ways off. After all, they had all of the time in the world and barely had the smallest idea of what tomorrow had in store for them!
Just like that, the concept of Order Of The Stone was convinced. Ellegaard The Redstone Engineer, Gabriel The Warrior, Magnus The Rogue, Ivor The Alchemist and, of course, Soren The Architect. The five ambitious children present enthusiastically prepared themselves to provide the remainder of the world with their assorted personalities, the children gradually developing into something astonishingly extraordinary. They intended to significantly increase any diminished atmosphere. To eliminate any solicitudes. To be heroes. They all had enthusiastic and optimistic ideas for their faraway destinies, individually or otherwise. They all dedicated to enduring a successful, happy, prolonged life together. They would continuously be appreciated and inspire other aspiring champions with their never-ending determination to benefit the normal residents of the world, donning pure integrity unconditionally!
That was the plan anyways.
For, what the children didnât know at that moment was that all that their destinies endured for them was tragedies, disappointments and sorrows. They had believed that their adolescenceâs climax would be the most critical that their lives would ever become for them but in actuality, much, much worse maintained in the far futures of these, aforementioned children. All that they had desired beforehand was to adult and become the official Order Of The Stone. Learn from this group of few to never take a singular moment of slight pleasure for granted. Everything in the prospect warranted the âlegendsâ to have nothing to exist for, subsequent to the lengthened event about communities realizing that the way that The Order actuallyâŚIn summarizations, disastrous catastrophes strike. Desperate outcries of pleading go neglected. Depressions, heartaches, and abandonments become undesired actualities.
The chime of dismissal immediately became overlapped with childrenâs shouts and exclamations as the signal vociferously clanged out, into the pretty-blue atmosphere. The polished entrances of the schoolhouse were rapidly swinging open, very rarely switching back into its resting, closed state because the students were more than eager to leave the schoolhouse and return back to their homes or carelessly engage in a more enjoyable activity, even if they knew that essentially, the exact alike day would be repeated the next sunrise. Despite that, the seconds were still thoroughly supplied with deafening calls and shouts of the students who were hastening down the several stairs onto the ground, the majority of children paying no mind to the concept of safety by disregarding the railing of the steps, however, thatâs more of a nitpick. The slight zephyr enclosed its pretty winds, constantly whirling around the children, a gentle blanket of breeze. Every child was acting visibly rough and eager...well, almost all of them.
Whist all of this roughhousing and enthusiasm was happening, in the background, a more meek boy waited for a bit. He waited until the majority of people left. He waited until they were barely in-view. He waited until they forgot that he existed. He wasnât really much of a people-person. He didnât like to talk much. Once the rough crowd cleared up, only then did he begin to take as much as a step out of the schoolhouse, timid as could be. Keeping his eyes to his feet, hands grasped to the humerus portion of his arms, his schoolbooks loosely hugged to his chest, he carefully hopped from one step of the stairs to another, a careful action. He wasnât really thinking as he made his way to the ground, nothing besides just getting to his home really mattered. He didnât pay much attention to the environment around him. Fair enough. Everybody already went home. There was nothing to pay much attention to, in the first place. Besides, he was used to it. After all, this was the same routine that he followed every day. Granted, it was only the beginning of the school year. He was about to leave the school proximity. Everything was normal. That is, until an irregular and abrupt shout shifted the still atmosphere.
âHEY!â
Startled, the boy instinctively twisted his head around, a surprised action, only to find a kid, approximately the likewise age as him, blond hair, a longer purple scarf, swiftly strolling up to him, a calm and casual smile plastered onto his face, matching his tone in his voice. The fact that someone seemed to want to voluntarily talk to him, an unusual event, made him spin himself around, startled action. He recognized the kid. Sort of. Although he was more than accepting as to talk to somebody, the blonde was the first one to start a conversation. Well...âconversation...â
âYouâre âIvor,â right?â
âUm...yes!â Ivor wasnât really used to talking to people, so he was a bit nervous about what to say, his voice evident, âAnd youâre...â Ivor really had to think before being able to remember what his name was, âKyle! Right?â
âThatâs me,â Kyle confirmed, swifting to the front of Ivor--Ivor, not expecting that, he jerked a step backwards, âWhere are your friends?â The blonde asked, stirring a bit closer to Ivor.
Ivor didnât want to explain that he didnât really have any, therefore he played a lie, âOh...theyâre somewhere else...â
âOh, theyâre somewhere else...â Kyle mocked before saying something as blunt as could be. This question fell onto Ivor like a million bricks. Like a tsunami just fell directly onto his head. Like someone just smacked him with a heavy book. Like something from a million feet in the air just collapsed onto him. Like an entire building just plummeted onto his head. Like he discovered that the entire school knew all of his secrets. Like he was just abandoned in a near-death situation, âOr do you just not have any?â
âW-what...?â
âDonât be silly, Ivor...! Why wouldnât anyone wanna be friends with someone as socially-awkward as you...? Why wouldnât anyone like your little gay hairstyle...? Why would anyone hate how much of a leech you can be...? So tell me, Ivor...why do people hate someone as likeable as you...?â
The questions really surprised Ivor. Câmon, you try to think of a clever response to that, âI...I...I donât know...â
âOh? A bit of a liar?â Kyle laughed, âWell...lemme tell you something...â Ivorâs head momentarily felt like it was violently fractured against a stone barrier before it stung as if alcohol was thrown onto an open wound. It felt like it was smashed with a hammer and then infected. It felt like he was maimed and ultimately died a-week-and-a-half later from starvation. It felt like he was stabbed and left to bleed to his eventual death. It felt like he was hit by a truck and was knocked over a cliff. Ivor hadnât been through much physical pain in his life. It was an overstatement. All of a sudden, Ivor realized a pressure at the lower part of his neck. Kyleâs hand was gripped against Ivorâs collar, other fist clenched as if he was about to punch him. What was Ivor pressed against though? The wall of the schoolhouse. Without even realizing, Ivor had been backing away in intimidation, ultimately backing to the wall of the school. Kyle raised his fist,Â
âLying people piss me off.â
- - -
âHey!â
The unwanted pressure upon Ivorâs neck reduced slightly as the blonde quickly turned his head, a troubled expression and freehand flinched away in startlement. Busted. The voice that shouted out wasnât recognizable to Ivor in the slightest. However, despite that, he knew that it sounded to have resembled the type of pitch belonging to another kid, around their ages...? Ivor didn't actually have a prolonged amount of time to think about that, however, for he somehow briskly slipped into a kneeling position, audibly coughing the unforeseen situation out of his lungs. He barely was able to understand that the clutch on his collar was fully released before the same voice that had saved him, reprimanded the blonde, thatâs all Ivor distinguished because he didnât even glance up to get a glimpse at who had saved him from what was presumably going to be, a fight;
âLeave him alone!â
âHe did nothing wrong!â
âGet out of here before I report you!â
Kyle was evidently endeavouring to keep up the entire âtough-guyâ impersonation, however, that didnât exactly work because, oh god, the stranger had an aggressive, rather excessively hostile tone of voice. The kid who had recused Ivor didnât even allow the brown-eyed to obtain as much as a word in the one-sided argument dialogue edge-wise. A few seconds after Ivor continued to finish hacking his lungs out, he looked up and saw the boy who had saved him. His appearance wasnât familiar either. The blatant rebuking endured for a while, it almost felt as if the things that were said were repeated over and over again, echoing throughout. That or Ivor just couldnât handle the general idea of shouted at. The argument lasted for a while. That is, until whoever bailed Ivor out ultimately screamed for Kyle to âjust go home,â the blonde falling into a hushed state and tongue-tied in the surprise of being abruptly yelled at. After all, why the hell was he even in the area?
âFreak!â
Kyle stomped off after adamantly declaring that but not before aggressively shoving the boy--the boy catching himself an exasperated and exhausted sigh as soon as the blonde was out of the audible proximity. As previously mentioned, Ivor was remaining on the ground though he glanced upwards--Ivor himself didnât really know why he, himself was remaining to be crouched on earth and dusty terrain. Maybe it was because he was simply endeavouring to catch his breath...maybe he was simply still in shock of the events that just occurred...maybe...maybe...A welcoming hand materialized in front of Ivor. Guess he was supposed to grab it. As Ivor shifts to his feet with the assistant of the stranger, both of their expressions soften from their previous scared and assertive personas.
The unfamiliar asked, âYou okay?â
âYes...â Ivor replies, âThank you...â
âNo problem...I plausibly was a bit extra, wasnât I?â He asked in a laugh but that soon vanished, âIâve just...â He swiftly brings a small few of papers out of his inventory, putting them to a position in front of his eyes, holding the documents with both hands, reading them, his expression troubling yet again, âHad some bad news.â
âO-Oh...â Ivor didnât really know what to say...I mean, what if someone in his family had passed away? Ivor hushed his voice, âWhat is it?â
âAh,â The nameless boy smiled in an indescribable way. They appeared like they were sad yet trying to make sure that Ivor wasnât worried about him--polite. He casually tossed his writings back into his inventory, âNothing really. My club at this school was just shut down, due to not having enough members.âÂ
âOh, thatâs terrible...â
âItâs alright,â They closed their eyes, the same smile as they reassured that, gradually beginning to walk in a way that prompted Ivor to follow alongside him, âUh...my name is âSoren,â by the way,â He said with a more genuine smile.
âOh!â The purple-eyed introduced slightly meekly, âIâm Ivor.â
And like that, the boys processed to saunter to distance from the schoolhouse without any interruptions, making it all the way back to their hometown neighbourhood of which they had turned out to share with one another, not knowing that fact beforehand of the aforementioned experience. I mean, they didnât even acknowledge nor knew that each other had existed, previously. Quite a surprise. As they got to know each other, they turned out to be a bit comparable to, talking, smiling and laughing enough to be qualified to classify them as friends. It was fun. They actually hung-out with one another for the remaining duration of the day; they didnât reckon that they could have any more of a fun experience. Of course, that was merely their initial, meeting performance. As the clock ticked on, in the long run, they became closer allies. They played more often. They became to have more of a casual relationship. They had a friendship. They rathered to stay nearby to one another whenever possible...because...well, neither of them had anything else to do. Fortunately, they had each other, at least. They always wanted to stay byside, physically or other. Of course, not all childhood friendships last to adulthood.
"Alright, everyone!â Iâm not sure if anyone else knows this, but it does take a bit to convoke any kind of courage once you get so used to running away from your problems and are far from being used to asserting your self in the faces of seven others. Luckily, Soren ain't much of a wallflower. âItâs time to go! We only have one shot at this! Remember, once the Formidi-Bomb is crafted, it will explode in a matter of seconds! This means that whoever is doing the crafting will be in grave dangerâŚand...well, I was hoping thatâŚperhaps we could draw strawsâŚ!â
Although Soren was as straightforward as he could be, a heavy wave of awkward fell upon everyone, hushing them into silence.Â
No.Â
No, no, no, no.Â
Thatâs an understatement.Â
The wave that was Sorenâs warning violently collapsed directly onto their heads from behind, abruptly in the sense that they could feel the spine-chilling presence of the thousand-foot tide at the back of them, a thunderous collision powerfully plunging onto them as they shrieked. That is, before the brackish water forcibly crammed into their noses, the unbelievably uncomfortable event had them to reflexively gap their mouths in teeth-grit, only to be forced to gasp even more salt-filled water, the roofs of their throats ironically dehydrating, the desperate desire to screech bloody murder merely intensifying as the strong current threw them, shuttling them into a harsh tumble, flailing their arms about, incompetent to swim to the oxygen cruelly teased overhead of them as they each try to preserve their lives, ultimately asphyxiating without a witness about, their lifeless body to only be discovered and mercilessly ripped apart, limb-to-limb by a sharp-toothed predator, their blooded remains to be left at the bottom of the ocean for centuries, for all some know--an unquestionable death for all.Â
Except for one survivor, that is.
âAnyone?â I mean, even requesting in as meek of a tone of voice that was, Soren subconsciously knew that asking something of a suicide mission was a bit much to invite. âPleaseâŚ?â
âThis is my chance to be a hero.â
All of the seven others present, including Soren, instantaneously shot their head, some letting out small and to-be-expected exclamations, as they began to gawk at the individual who had courageously shattered the cowardice tendency that was circulating back and forth throughout proximity into fragments, accepting to conclude the journey that consisted of locating each and every member of the worldâs greatest band of heroes to ever existâthe Order of the Stone, one of which had never to have been accompanied by the light of day in years, appearing to be belatedly rescued from his insanity, a result of isolation. Not only that, but having a full-on adventure alongside Gabriel the Warrior. Not to mention generally evading and scheming to eliminate the Witherstorm: a monstrosity completely competent of tearing the entire world apart, corner to corner, whilst it unmercifully murders everything that moves, mindlessly destroying the environment, atmosphere breaking, every step that it takes. Or every air it flies, I mean. A teenage group of four, a blessed extension to a combatant, somehow accomplishes all that and much more, however, none of them dared to risk their life, all-so-fatally. After all, sure theyâd be honoured as a hero but would they want to be honoured as a deceased hero? Itâs a given that no one would be okay with that fate.Â
Besides Jesse, that is.
âThis is my chance to step up.â
Once everyone had comprehended the fact that Jesse was volunteering to risk their own life for a problem that wasnât his fault, several offered encouraging remarks whilst Soren presented a fake smile of good-luck and pleased approval as he stepped across to Jesse, giving custody to the Formidi-Bomb to the heroic soul, âVery well then...!â
Coughs echoing into the night sky, Gabriel bringing a hand to his mouth, a polite custom, before reminding his allies, the best engineer and rogue in the world: Magnus and Ellegaard. His tone being slightly angrily, âWe should be ashamed of ourselvesâŚ!â
Ellegaard silently bit her lip, Magnus wordlessly glancing at the night-shadowed terrain to his left, both in an embarrassment of their friendâs notification, although they both already knew that. Even if they didnât want to. At all. After maybe a second or two, eventually, both Magnus and Ellegaard shifted their attention towards one another, sharing shy, pitiful glimpses, supplied thoroughly with heavy regrets and laments, hearts quivering with sorrow. Remembering all that happened that dayâŚThe memories that happened that fatefulâŚterribleâŚdayâŚÂ Eyes closed, heads lowered in absolute disgrace, they had broken away from each otherâs pain-recalled expressions as if they could just shut out the recollections of the Order of the Stoneâs most recent mission that easily. Most recent in a several years span, I mean. Ellegaard cradling herself, holding the humerus portion of her arms, Magnus simply trying to evade eye-contact with anyone, the guilt crushed them. Have to fix it. Even if that means to die. Iâd be a hero, right? Die a hero.
âJesseâŚtake my armour,â Ellegaard offered, taking a small step up to Jesse who was now standing on the bridge ahead of the group next to Soren, âIt will help.â
âNahâŚâ Magnus advised. Perhaps he was copying Ellegaard. Perhaps he thought that was a good idea too, âTake mineâItâs gotten me out of a lotta jams!â
Ellegaard got a bit upset, a stern voice, âI insist.â
Magnus argued, âI double insist.â
âI triple insist.â
âIâŚinsist four times.â
âQuadruple.â
âBetcha donât know what the fifth one is though!â
âQuintupleâŚalternately pentuple.â
âKnow-it-all.â
âIâve never found that insulting.â
âUp to you, Jesse,â Magnus turned his eyes back to Jesse. âEither real armourâŚor nerd armour.â
Jesse sighed, laughing. It was kind of funny, really. Even when theyâre voluntarily placing their lives on the line, an abnormality ripping everything that theyâve ever loved apart, they persist to quarrel like five-year-olds. Both the engineer and rogue looked hopefully at JesseâJesse themself obviously wanting to make a conscious choice about whoâs armour to select for, what they all had hoped to be, the final battle against the WitherStorm. However, Jesse didnât want to take up a long amount of time. After all, wasnât there a blood-thirsty monstrosity, made with an unorthodox material, smashing everything in itâs path to tears and tatters, a million times their size, Jesse themself being expected to slaughter the abnormality? In fact, wouldnât the very solution to eliminate it would be to use an explosive that could vigorously detonate and fracture to fragments before itâs challenging, elusive production?Â
We donât have time to waste!Â
âJesse,â Ellegaard began, warmly smiling as Magnus bitterly pouted, âyou wonât regret this. The choice that youâre making means that-â Ellegaard suddenly jumped, looking overhead, head snapped back, arms fiercely pressed to her sides, eyes shut, âweârE ALL GONNA DIE!â
Magnus added, âWell, thatâs inspirational-â Magnus violently flinched upon noticing in the corner of his eye what Ellegaard shrieked about, instantaneously shifting himself around to have a clear view at it, a finger sternly pointed, âWELL, THATâS PANIC-INDUCING!â Alike to everyone else, he then shouted bloody murder, a drawn-out screech, spontaneously accelerating elsewhere. Anywhere elsewhere. The earsplitting outcries and heavy, fleeting footfalls pressed to the slightly damp grass, cause of the eight characters present; the noises echoed into the darkened twilight atmosphere, though it was blocked for the most part. A spine-chilling reality polished against all of their fingertips, cold, nervous sweat slipping drown their already stressed claws, a disturbing tune hallucinated in and out of their ears, filling the sky. None of them cared if they were sprinting into whatever was left of the monster-infested territories. None of them cared if they were running directly into a more open-area, monsters a higher chance of attacking them. None of them cared about producing a much of a loud racket, giving away their position. None of them cared if they had just up-ed and abandoned the rest of the groupâothers needing them. The didnât care if others would or were worrying about them. They didnât care about what was politely customed. They didnât care about anyone else besides themself at that moment. All that they cared about was to get at a gap from the WitherStorm.
- - -
âJesse!â Soren addressed trying to get Jesseâs attention, though the ginger bloke was running right next to them, alongside the rest of the group, âYouâre going to have to set down a crafting table out there and make that Formidi-Bomb! Everyone else, grab a buddy and spilt-up! We need to keep that WitherStorm on track, so build, build, build!â Suddenly, a purple, dangerous tractor beam appeared in front of the group. The beam would elevate whoever was unfortunate enough to be in harms-way of the monster off of the ground and to their tortuous death, a strange feeling to come into the recipientâs stomach, though that mayâve been the certain death giving them that sense, a red outcome. The group was forced to disband from one-another; not that the violet stream was anything of an inconvenience thoughâthey were going to scatter anyways. Jesseâs group disbanded to the left-hand side, the Order of the stone to the off route, the breeze of the cold especially pressing against Ellegaardâs chest, armour not defending her from the chill like it previously was; her armour being awarded to âJesse!â Soren reminded in a loud yell, âDonât forget! Super TNT in the middle and gunpower all around!âÂ
While the Order took the right-hand side, Jesseâs group the left, Jesse themself took the center, Formidi-Bomb materials in hand, eager to destroy that wretched creature, it being made by corrupt hands. A pursuit to a proximity of the unnatural creation felt like hoursâIt felt like the area where they had to approach was getting farther and farther away as they moved closer. The hurricane-like-wind, produced by the WitherStormâs general existence, strongly stormed into Jesseâs face as they were hastening to a nearness; the breeze also gradually fluttered away Jesseâs confidence to small fragments to detonate the explosive in such a vicinity to the killing monstrosity that they were running to; a near-fatal activityâŚnot that they really had a choice. Thisâll save the world. Greater good, yeah? The noise of the rapid, racket footfalls of their allies echoed into the twilight atmosphere. Jesse taking a glance behind them, they saw their friends and supporters constructing mini-structures, only for the WitherStorm to forcefully shred it apart, the creature growing stronger in the process. They continued doing that. Over and over. Loyally is one thing. Over-optimism is another. But stillâŚthanks, guys. Jesse finally reaching an appropriate distance, they set the crafting table onto the ground and, just as Soren informed, they located his unique TNT in the center, gunpower surrounding i-
Heart-drop.
Purple.
Purple.Â
Purple.
Jesseâs feet felt nothing.
Jesseâs hands felt nothing.
Jesseâs body felt nothing.
What was happening?
They were going to die.
They were going to die.
They were going to die.
They were going to die.
This was it.
They were going to die.
Entering god-knows-what.
Literally.
Their friends will grieve.
Over them.
Their fault.
This.
Was.
It.
âŚ
No.
Determined, Jesse swiftly swirled, propelling themself with one footâfoot jostled against the block which was pushed away, launching themself off of the crafting tableâcrafting table tumbling away, close to slipping out of the gravitation the Jesse and his materials were overpowered into, near to stumbling out of any possible arm-reach. Jesse whirling themself around, they frantically scanned their proximity as if their life depended on it. Which it did. Jesse striving to seek the ingredients of the Formidi-Bomb which had also elevated alongside them, they desperately glanced around. One. Jesse springing forward to quicky grab a single piece of gunpowder that had been lost, another coming into view, a natural result, out of the corner of their eye, they hurriedly snatched the second item out of the air. Well. Loose air. After all, Jesse was in the air, as a result of the tractor beam. Two. Jesse was barely able to feel as much as a small sense of satisfaction and self-achievement before they metaphorically collapsed into a panicked state. A very panicked state. Oh god, please noâŚÂ In their peripheral vision, they saw something that really, really alarmed and scared them. A lot. In peripheral vision, Jesse saw his friends and allies creating another structureâa pig-like structure. But what exactly caught their eye in a bad way?Â
âMagnus!â Soren warned in a shout, âEllegaard!â
From the womanâs perspective, thatâs when everything faded to black.
A dirt, dust, make-do kind of trail within what was suggested to be a near close-roofed forest, only to be guessed by the lighting, though. But in defence, that only made this scene all the most elegant yet calming. This home-like track was gently splattered and softy fluttered with a few, crisp, delicate leaves cross. The actual colours of this frame to be unknown at the first glance for a consequence of the gloaming and ghostly shading, signified it to be the nighttime of the current day, although only the pathway and lower portion of the stocks assuming to be rising, climbable trees appeared as visible. The elegant, content, natural scene with a soft yet very eerie chirp of birds throughout these seconds alongside a slight, home-like breeze was sufficient to cause one to feel nearly equivalent to a peace-filled standing. Of course, nothing can last forever. This calming and tranquillizing twinkling merely took place for nothing more than a few, valuable, fragile trices though. The reason that this pretty hum had been destroyed is that an unforeseen individual, weathering rust-coloured footwear casually scrolled through the soil trail in an imperceptible swifter velocity, producing clicks of a clean, stepping tick. The sound nor the kid beginning to enter into this frame, first into chapter, wasnât really any kind of intimidation worthy but enough to be accustomed to transfer your attention to the youthâs feet as a result of the minor moving about, a contrast from the still scene. Besides, the child came practically forthwith into this scene, the amicable atmosphere only taking place for about a moment, nothing more than a few secondsâŚbut the enigma isâŚwho is the kid? Â
Ivor?
Youâre still byside me, correct? Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
A confirmed child with now exposed, closefitting and beige leggings hurriedly yet carefully, shifted his feet about in a revolution, alike to turning around, gazing behind themself, exposing the outline of their brightly toned hair, orange around the brim and a blazing-bright torch in grasped in hand. The kid assumed to be Soren underwent a near motionless position, turned around as if he was either calmly anticipating or looking for something. Sorenâs statue-like stance occurred for a something of a second before a more pale-skinned boy who was assigned the appellation of âIvor,â emerged into outlook, his eyes especially standing out from the close to complete tenebrosity, though Ivorâs more clutz-like entrance didnât cooperate with his pride. The purple-eyed boy cautiously advanced to his rather ambitious associate in a more expeditious and guarded behaviour before the both of them walked onwards within the star-filled night, shadowing darker shades through the numerous trees, far overhead of any and all passersby in the beautiful purple-wooded and red-petaled forest that stretched out all the way toâŚwell, no one actually knew. Not the children anyways. The twilight lighting maintained a delicate and elegant shading. What you think would be a premade path within the woods was actually a normal, grassy area, pushed aside commonly enough by children, adventurous enough to wander into the danger-filled forest to accumulate a sort of dirt passageway that was polished upon by the moon which was reaching its zenith in the sky, it being rather close to that dayâs midnightâŚand within that midnight, Ivor and Soren came to yet another fork in the pathway of the forest, one on the left to seem to be leading upwards and presumably out of this woodlands, the opposing appearing to be directing even farther into that labyrinth that was the wilderness. Ivor for one, simply yearned to get at a gap from the forest, meaning that when Soren guided him to the route farther into the hinterland, that set off some solicitudes as Ivor looked a slight to the sky;
âSoren, I think that weâre astrayâŚâ
âNot to worry, Ivor!â Soren encouraged, enthusiastically turning around and walking backwards, eyes still on Ivor, âTrust me when I say that Iâm aware of where weâre going!â
âWe donât even have anything to fend ourselves withâŚâ
âI told you not to worry, Ivor!â Soren reminded, now walking byside of his purple-eyed friend, âEllegaard and Magnus said that theyâd bring wooden weaponry for us and that this other, given the name of âGabrielâ is astonishing when it comes to wielding a swordâŚ!â
âSee, Iâm all for safety in numbers, howeverâŚâ Ivor desisted in an angry sigh, not sure of what he wanted to say, âListen Soren, Iâm justâŚnot all that keen on going on a venture with two kids weâre just met and one that we havenâtâŚ!â Ivorâs tone took more power with the last few words.
âNo need to be paranoid, Ivor,â Soren reassured in a more subtly calming tone, âThese children are experienced.â
âExperienced?â Ivor questioned in a sharp, almost angry tone, âTheyâre not even as much as a year older than us!â Ivor hissed aloud, hastily shifting his head a bit more towards his ginger companion.
âThey said that theyâve gone exploring many times before, Ivor,â Soren mentioned, the tone of his voice rising with more enthusiasm, bringing his free arm up in a shrug swiftly, palm open, âOf course, theyâre experienced!
The moon and stars shimmed and glistened above with a shimmer throughout that night. The phosphorescence befell upon each and every citizen with a polished, gleaming sparkle and a more chilled breeze, releasing a blanket of mysteriosity in an eerie, creep yet swift as could beâthe covers would drop upon both oneâs whoâre awaken and oneâs whoâre resting in a soft, soothing glitter and gleam of reassurance; still in help of the gaze far, far aloft. All of the luna glittered within its beautiful, twilight atmosphere as its pure white hue illuminates the range surrounding the exquisite spheroid, unreachable even from the inexperienced. The bells from the moon scream and scream the names of victims that left their families and dearest friends that day, deliberately or other. A subtle memorial each and every night howled and hummed a tone of admiration and reassurance as you look upwards and towards the sphere up above. You notice a scintillate in the luna as you gaze to the skyâs twilight. Whatâs that? Did you spot a sparkle? Well, what that signifies is an alteration of perspective. Although youâre concentrated upon the moon, you can hear Ivor calling out a question quietly thatâs nothing more than one, single additional line from his viewpoint;
âSorenâŚ? Do you also have this strange feeling that something bad will happen?â
- - -
âMagnus, quit itâŚ!â
âAw câmon, Ellie!â A bird donning the shades of orangish-red and grey-like white hurriedly flies elsewhere in startlement and survival-instinct, as an outcome of something unclear being briskly tossed at the lifeform, âIâm just having funâŚ!â
Magnusâs tone was that of one that said to be an intentional pitch, trying to get under Ellegaardâs skin. The green jacket-wearing boy flipped a leftover wooden stick which turned out to be the object to cause the bird to panic, flying into the air, grabbing the branches before they proceeded to befall to the darkened, forest terrain in his left hand, a wooden sword in the other, turning to Ellegaard with a deliberately more ironic voice and an expression that was plainly intended to irritate the lass. It worked. Ellegaard couldnât help but pointlessly retaliate with him, futilely attempting to make him cease to be such a nuisance. Then again, Magnus wouldnât be Magnus without his astonishingly vexatious tendency. She brushed that thought off, grasping the wooden sword in her hand imperceptibly tighter, another two boarded blades secured through the belt around her waist, jacket beneath as she and Magnus sauntered through the forest, a nighttime atmosphere glowing, fainting onto the children and environment throughout.
âYour âfunâ is harmful to wildlife!â
âAnd your fun is looking at fancy lights as they burn up.â
âHey, speak for yourself, bastardâŚ! Itâs actually very interesting, thank you!â
âOh, I get it,â Magnus laughs that in a witty idea, âYouâre just scared of the dark,â Magnus teased, slightly elongating the last word.
âWhat?â Ellegaard sibilated, confused.
âDoesnât redstone give off a natural light?â Magnus jeers, somewhat lengthening the final term yet again, âI guess you just like it âcause you hate the darkâŚ!â He hissing âdarkâ with an extra taunting and edge-like tone.
âHey! A phobia of the dark is actually a sign of high survival-instinctâŚ!â
âSoâŚâ Magnus replied, still in a gibing pitch but now in a wise-guy tone, âYou are?â
âM-â A sharp snap of a twig cuts Ellegaard off, having her to reflexively, violently shove an arm to Magnusâs chest, a halting gesture. Her head snapped back to watch in front of herself, opposed to glaring at Magnus, âDid you hear that?â She asked in a firm and guarded pitch.
âOh, yeah,â Magnus barbed, âItâs just the sound of a nerd changing the topicâŚ!â
âNo, you idiot,â Ellegaard stared fiercely at her ally, âIt sounded like-!â A creeper carefully emerged from the brambles ahead of the duo, making a racket blatant enough for a warning to be said. The monster wasnât looking at them but it was looking and the right-bottom as if the abnormality was attempting to watch its step, afraid of tripping to the ground. Ellegaard and Magnus both noticed the menace at near the same time, however, the damsel was the one to take action, abruptly tackling Magnus to the bushes, the right of the kids in a hiding and panicked movement, a hand loosely over his mouth so he couldnât yelp out in startlement. As the pair duck into the hedges, glimpsing their heads out, anticipating to look at a single creeper, nothing else, they notice that somehow, a cluster of monsters surrounded the proximity. From skeletons, spiders, zombies, creepers, even an enderman or twoâŚthe monstrosities completely encircled the area. Completely. Not a foot was covered without a monster occupancy in the crepuscular shadows, a mysterious dim befell. Look at the monsters, eye-contact unnecessary, and the monstrosities would shoot in a gaze their frigid glare that perpetually intensified throughout nightfalls although it mightâve been a natural survival instinct, even if both of the human presence were children. Speaking of whichâŚthe kidsâŚthe poor, poor kidsâŚthey didnât even have to tell one another to comprehend the fact that if a monster saw them, meaning every one of themâŚalthough they both had weaponry and understood how to use themâŚtheyâd unquestionably be dead where they stand. Unnecessary and obvious to be said, the kids instantaneously ducked out of sight in a reflex and survival-instinct. In fear, they pressed their backs up against the shrubs, desperately striving to remain out of view, paralyzed in apprehension for a few, heavy seconds, hallucinating a spine-chilling tune banging hard in their ears alike to how Iâm positive that you would if your life was on the line, all so suddenly. The kids were scrambling through their minds for an plan to get out of the monster-infested area. Ellegaard tried the best she could to remain calm and keep her pride up but really the most logical plan she could think of underneath the panic that she was experiencing was to endure a sneaking escape as cunningly as they could be, tapping Magnusâs shoulder and motioning for him to follow her as they began to crawl to safety, Ellegaard with the lead. That was Ellegaardâs plan. Magnusâs? As the pair slithered past a slightly more vulnerable state, cause of the less poofy hedge, Magnus took out a small bundle of TNT, a mildly maniacal smile wore, him being presumably ready to inflame and toss it towards the monster-infested territory and he wouldâve had if Ellegaard didnât interfere and forcefully pull him by his sleeve, firmly directing him to follow her. Wordlessly, that is. Magnus though bitter, the kids proceed to creep their way past the monsters discreet as possible. As you move your eyes to the moon, far out of the forest, a close silhouette of another quickly fills the frame with a grey as they strive off.
- - -
âThere it is!â
Magnus and Ellegaard proclaimed that phrase in sync of each other upon locating the caveâs entrance, Ellegaard pointing an arm and finger, Magnus louder than the lass. Despite what has the possibility of sounding like, given their tones, even after maybe half-an-hour, the duo still wasnât at the opening of the hollow. The only reason the pair saw the cavern was because of the result of climbing higher, onto a more steeper kind of hill, the rise being more narrow and almost perpendicular than any kind of thick. Trees were to the left and right of the kids, so close that they had to clasp the plants to keep their balance; to look out at their destination. This moderate mountain was slightly off-trail and harder to escalate upon, however, both of the children were appreciative of a signal made of reassurance, confirming that they werenât astray from the correct direction. Nonetheless, despite the fact that eerie fog encompassed the cavern and the nightâs atmosphere generally, they had the ability to see two, clouded figures with blur. All that was visible was one form donning a light orange colour, more still than the other, the other with purple tints, nearly gleaming its violet hue, moving in circles. It has to be Soren and Ivor, yeah?
âMagnus, come on,â Ellegaard started, slipping down the hill, swiftly moving back to the trail before the moon sparks and shimmers, âDonât you think that itâs best that we hurry? Theyâve been waiting there for how long now?â Wonder what theyâre thinking. After all, we are late.
- - -
âSoren, I feel that we should just go home.â
âItâs barely midnight, Ivor. Theyâll come along.â
âYouâre getting tired, so am I. I really am starting to doubt that theyâre going to show up.â
âIvor, please. Have faith in them.â
âWeâve been here for a while, Soren.â
âHave some patience, Ivor.â
âThink about it, Soren: they have no reason to come.â
âIvorâŚâ
âWay to have confidence in us!â
An enigmatic, loud, male-associated voice echoed and cut throughout this one, particular, already eerie, nighttimeâs atmosphere, the sunless environment not encouraging to relieve or lessen the very brief, few flashes of panic, tension and dismay, cause of the abrupt sound. The duo was already guarded because of the fact that the nightfall caused monsters to generate, posing danger to; an obvious fact. The few footsteps, both before and after, disregarded, Ivor flitched in startlement of the sudden voice and took a step retrograde, a reasonable instinct, small portion of meadow beneath his near-black boots crushed to crippled. Soren instantaneously jumped up, onto his feet, his heart violently shifted alike to Ivorâs, startled of the call which pounded in and out of their ears, unforeseen and unexpected as could be. Though at a second thought, slightly familiar. Not that the pair had the ability to properly think about though because of the fact that at once, out of the twilight darkness, Ellegaard and Magnus emerged, both donning a confident still stance once they knew for a fact that they were visible to Ivor and Soren, judging by their expressions.
Ellegaard remarked, âThe levels of distrust you mustâve had in us to think that we werenât going to show upâŚ!â
Ivor shifted the topic, âYes well, what did take so long?â
âOh, you shouldâve seen it, Ivor!â Magnus over-exaggerated, âThe biggest cluster of mobs youâve ever seen jumped out at us, so we blew them up with a giant pile of TNT!â
Soren asked in a concerned tone while Ivor went silent, âW-what?â
âHeâs exaggerating in a plain lie,â Ellegaard reassured, âHe wanted to explode the monsters but I didnât let him.â
âWell,â Soren laughed in concern, closed-eyes, âIâm glad.â
Ivor slowly added, âBlow them upâŚ?â
âYeah, check this out!â Magnus revealed a small bundle of TNT, he was carrying around with him, a smile wore, âI stole it from my old man.â
âI keep telling him not to play around with that stuff anymoreâŚ!â Ellegaard continued, childishly trying to get the explosive in hand and away from Magnus with both arms, the boy insisting her away with only one elbow, ultimately giving her arms a gentle yet firm push, Ellegaard finally ceasing her snatches;
âYeah, but you never know when we might need it!â Magnus replied, tucking the item away and into his inventory yet again. That, of course, took place before Soren added a phrase ecstatically, a contrast to Ivor casting his opinion in, pessimistically.
âI feel thatâs going to be useful!â
âI feel that weâre going to die.â
- - -
Whist the meagre kind of crowd commenced setting foot into the cavern which they had formulated and planned to explore throughout, completely prepared, equipped and enthusiasticâŚwell, most of the children anyway. Ivor never failed to love the adventure aspect of things but never the whole: âwe-could-so-easily-dieâ part. Despite that, he wasnât really a coward. At least not visibly. He was just more cautious. Regardless, as I said, most of the children were excited to undergo and experience this thrilling adventure. They were prepared because of the fact that they planned in a more prolonged discussion several hours, beforehand. Beforehand in the sense that it was that dayâs evening and only two of the children ever went into a cave beyond dusk. Or well, at all. Ivor and Soren would sometimes wander into a hollow now and then, but would never go far enough into a dugout that monsters had a risk of jeopardizing them, performing as a menace or hazard to the pair. In fact, nor Ivor, nor Soren could remember exterminating a single monster. Directly, at least. Regardless of the eerie hums of breeze, the cavern echoing throughout the seconds and soft clicks of decaying spiderwebs, Soren glanced behind the group and out of the cave, noticing something wrong;
âI thought you said that your friend of âGabrielâ was coming? DidâŚhe cancel?â
âHere we go again with the again with the enthusiasmâŚâ Ellegaard sighed, âHeâll be a bit late. He needs to wait until his parents fall asleep and then heâd come running.â
âOh, alright,â Soren apologized his pride still up, âSorryâŚâ
âEh,â Magnus added, âI like your enthusiasm.â
âOhâŚâ Soren asked, genuinely a bit surprised, âReally?â
âYeah,â Magnus teased, âMakes me seem better by comparison.â
âMagnusâŚ!â Ellegaard objected whilst Ivor had a small and subtle case of laughter.
âRegardlessâŚâ Soren rolled his eyes, âShouldâŚwe not wait for him?â
âNo,â Ellegaard answered, âHe knows his way around this cave. Heâll find us.â
âWait, youâve come here before?â Ivor asked, bitterly, âItâs not really an adventure if itâs explored, after allâŚ!â
Although Ivor was comforted and relieved that his unfamiliar, new friends recognized and knew their way throughout this cavern which, even though theyâd merely presently penetrated, both Soren and Ivor already understood the fact that this particular dugout remained of rather great measurements and very open-ended as well. Regardless, the mental-map Magnus and Ellegaard possessed on the eerie location made Ivor consider him and Soren merely a little more protected. However, it also demolished and drained the enchanting adventure aspect of this unquestionably. After all, if it was thoroughly investigated and explored, theyâd be accomplishing nothing but watching cobwebs snap, at that point. What would be the purpose of sneaking out, endangering the fact of getting in trouble with their parents, only to take a few-hour walk? ThatâsâŚnot even anything that would be fun. Sure, playing around with friends is, butâŚthis? They had a discussion about going into this cavern, why wasnât the fact this place was already travelled throughout brought up? Ivor agreed to go on an adventure, not take a tour through a cave whilst it was nightfall. Ellegaard, Soren and Magnus all understood how Ivor only craved to come along to go on an adventureâŚ! Surely this could be considered a trick, no?
âNope!â Ellegaard explained with a bit of sass, âThatâs where youâre wrongâŚ! There are numerous spiralling paths farther through. We discovered a trail last time and didnât take it,â The lass spoke before turning her back and directing the few in a walking action, âWe can go down that way.â
The other three children followed their female friend towards a pathway in the particular cave, them naturally sauntering in something of a near cluster, obviously not the only sounds being of the to-be-expected clicks and cracks of the cave, though. That would clearly keep all of the kids both on-edge and creeped-out. Alternatively, the kids continuously conversated amongst one another regarding unimportant, frivolous topics in discussion. And while some of them wouldnât admit itâŚit was nice. Soren and Ivor barely knew the other two, same for Magnus and Ellegaard, so getting to know the opposite duo had all of the four kids feel pleasant. They got to know things regarding each otherâs interests, aspirations, general behaviour and personality, even learning some things about this unseen âGabrielâ kid--all such to-be-expected small-talk. Even if they werenât technically on the enterprise just yet, they remained to have a lot of fun regardless. After all, these children are what? In between the age ranges of ten and twelve? Were you anticipating a different activity throughout the span of twenty minutes? Although at that point, the children were all very much content doing nothing but prattling with each other, even if they were in a caveâŚwell, I say cave and, yesâthere was some ore, here and there, but it was closer to bland than exceptional, for sure. The hollow was repeating and reappearing the likewise minerals, over and over again: Iron, coal, the very sporadic redstone or lapis, but as I said, far from anything truly outstandingâŚNot that the kids took notice on that over something else unquestionably questionable: they hadnât been attacked or encountered anything aggressive since the children went down into the cavern. However, that didnât mean that the children couldnât overhear the noises of monsters crying out, occasionally interrupting the childrenâs conversations. It kept them all on-edge but the fact that the monsters were never visible, nearly made the children feel alike to the belief that they were going insane. In fact, the single actual indication of any kind of life that they saw was a bat purposelessly fluttering about. Other than each other, that is. I mean, not that they were complaining that they werenât being attacked, of course. They liked it, obviously. WellâŚnothing can last forever.
- - -
âJust think, IvorâŚ! Soren addressed, âSomeday, perhaps weâll find diamonds or something else terribly exciting! You could finally make that enchanting table that youâve always dreamed ofâŚ!â
âYes, thatâs trueâŚ.â Ivor said as he glanced away, slightly hushing his voice, âBut what I actually want is a brewing standâŚItâs just that I never got a blaze rod, thereforeâŚâ
Magnus perked up, offering his assistance, âDude, if a blaze rod is all that you need, Iâll just take one from my old manâŚ!â
âWell, donât steal from your father, MagnusâŚâ Ivor responded, âIf itâs stolen then I donât want itâŚâ
âDonât mind him,â Ellegaard shook her head, âHeâs a griefer at heart.â
âAnd Iâm proud of it!â
Magnusâs response prompted assorted reactions to the ragtag, three other children, amongst the byside of him. Despite their distinguished personalities, feedback towards his phrase matching, what they had in alike with one another concerning their responses was the laughs. Verbal-filler or unhidden audible, Magnus was simplyâŚMagnus and everybody knew that nobody in existence maintained the capability to prevent him. Him or his self-confidence, that is. In hindsight, itâs most beneficial that you perpetually acknowledge and appreciate any and all content and peaceful moments, displaying gratitude and being kind to your allies, even if it requires your pride to drain. You never know if that occurrence is going to be the final one youâll have for a while. That, or ever. I guess that the only way for some people to learn is the hard way, hm? Once the four got sauntering throughout again, torch in Sorenâs hand, a few flares provided to Magnus and Ellegaard, it didnât require a prolonged measure of time for the more diminutive type of party to arrive at a more open-ending portion of the cavern, two pathways, one on the left opposing to the right, developing as a fork in the hollow, all members of the assortment gazing curiously down both passageways. Most of the members, anyways. Magnus-being-Magnus, he swiftly steered himself into the center of the range, looking at his companions, hands on his hips;
âAlright, guys! Time to split-up!â
Everyone, even Soren, of all people, simultaneously chanted back with a; âWhat!?â Â
âYou canât seriously think that weâre going to scatter, can you?â Ellegaard asserted with a threating edge, Ivor joining the argument as he took a step forwards;
âAre you aware of the increased chances of disaster striking if we are separated?â
âItâs not like weâre completely scattering, IvorâŚ!â Magnus notified, âYouâll have Soren with you and Ellieâll be with meâŚ!â
âMagnus,â Ellegaard quarrelled, âOf all of your dumb ideasâŚdeath is on the horizon, you know!â
Magnus informed, âHey, if you guys wanna experience the *real* thrill of adventure then this is the only way!â
Ellegaard gibed, âYeah, the real thrill of death!â
âYou told me to stop exaggerating?â
âThat was genuine,â Ivor defended, âThis is just going to get us all killed.â
âOh, come on!â Magnus retaliated, âAll, you, Ellie and Soren, are completely incapable of defending yourselves! Youâre lucky that there are not four paths!â
âNot helping, Magnus.â
âDonât worry!â Soren said very quickly, nearly interrupting Ellegaardâs and Ivorâs simultaneous phrase, the three hauled the argument and looked at the ginger, âWe can do this!â
âCan we though?â Ellegaard mocked, turned back and glaring at Magnus.
âEllegaard,â Soren assured, âWe will all be fine. ReallyâŚ!â
Both Ellegaard and Ivor sighed a heavy exhalation of contemplation. Soren was respectable. Everyone respected him. Even if they were scarcely associated with him. Including Magnus and Ellegaard. Couldnât act against him. Nobody actually knew why. Perhaps it was how enthusiastic yet slightly native he could behaveâŚperhaps it was a simplicity that it was his general personality that was something that you could acknowledge and appreciateâŚperhaps it was the fact that it was evident that he was eternally trying the best that he could, even though, at several times, his best was never enoughâŚyou truthfully couldnât place your finger upon it. Couldnât. Genuinely, nobody recognized and understood why precisely Soren could easily be a favorite of someone. All that people understood was that Sorenâs personality was having himself to appear as a rather respectable character. Towards ones around Sorenâs age and within his friendship-group, that is. ActuallyâŚyou know something? Many years, hindsight thought, having an image of Soren that was donning the characteristic of ârespectableâ is actually rather funny.Â
Very funny.
âIf your path forks off, head back here,â Ellegaard explained, âWeâll meet hither in approximately an hour and then head back up, alright?â
Soren smiled, clapping his hands together whilst Ivor wordlessly nods, âUnderstood!â
âGood luck, guys!â Magnus encouraged, newly inflamed torch in grip as he vanished down the right-sided path, Ellegaard pausing for a few trices, giving her new friendâs bothered and worried expressions before she disappeared down the course with Magnus.
Ivorâs sighed yet again, âThis is a terrible ideaâŚâ
âNot to worry, Ivor,â Soren reassured, shortly before he commenced his way to the shaft on the left-hand side of the area, Ivor following. âIâm positive that weâll be fine!â
Ivor merely grumbled as he and his befriended companion progressed and ventured into the tunnel, the extremely plausible threats, menaces and dangers that of monstrosities that were more than certain to be prowling and lurking all throughout the unarguable darkness up ahead and onwards, oh-so-patiently anticipating to unforgivingly attack the incapable, anxious. Sneak. Scare. Slay. Straight ahead. Straight ahead to where he and Soren were directing themselves towards. The vibrations and faint but noticeable sounds, cracks and snaps of the unknown echoed all throughout, bouncing off the wall of both the tunnel and Ivorâs mind. Soren overlooked it. Soren overlooked a lot, didnât he? The abnormalities creeping in within the eerie cavern kept Ivor to safeguard himself but still as incompetent as he always was. Well, guess youâve changed in some ways, huh Ivor? Drastically. Thatâs apparent. That strange, tingling feeling and atmosphere compressed up against Ivorâs fingertips, polished off with his abhorrence of the fact that he knew that he was more than vulnerable and that he couldnât fight even if he needed to battle to shield his life. Foreshadowing. Chapter hindsight. The fear-filling authenticity of the situation was negatively sparking and overfilling Ivorâs mind. Overfilling his mind. Overfilling his mind.
âAnd Iâm positive that weâre going to die.â
- - -
Magnus alongside his companion âEllegaardâ proceeded to progress throughout the ominous, unexplored passage, their chosen footwear clicking and clacking in contact upon the decrepit stone damaging aloud underneath their adventure-driven heels, the atmosphere donning the sensation of eerie-ness and creep, most advisable is to endure as safeguarded and on-edge as possibly achievable, the mysterious environment to act of the cause of the children to advance onwards whilst they function themselves as the personality traits of both skepticism and prudence of the darkened section, though a smaller vicinity was illuminated, result of an inflamed torch that Magnus had a grasp upon. The inflamed a blazing, bright shade; almost appearing as a perfect golden chroma. The controlled flame radiated a warm, home-like heat under the circumstance that a particular vicinity was entered, though proceeding to an exceedingly nearby proximity would perform alike to a lingering, consistent, unmerciful injury and pain, however, Iâm sure that you already knew that. Not all about the beacon had acted of dangerous, however, for the flame would let the children take glances throughout the scratched walls as they sauntered into the darkness ahead.
âHey, MagnusâŚ?â Ellegaard suddenly asked, âAre you thinking about Ivor and Soren?â
âEllie,â Magnus replied, Magnus-being-Magnus, âI wasnât thinking about them four-and-a-half minutes ago and I was standing right next to them.â
âOh haha,â Ellegaard sarcastically remarked, taking a brief pause, ââŚDo you reckon that theyâre safe?â
âWhy are you so conce-â Magnus got cut off by Ellegaard who sprang to speak a bit fastly;
âDid you see how anxious Ivor seemed?â She resumed her regular dialogue pace, âAnd how desperate Soren acted?â
âUhâŚâ Magnus didnât really notice anything off about the two, meaning that he wasnât really sure what to say, so he decided the good-old-phrasing of âhonesty is the best policy,â âNo. Nope. Not one bit.â
âHm, âEllegaarrd took a very brief moment to think with her verbal-filler, âOkay. Well, regardless of what-â
âWas that a pun?â Magnus joked, a laughing tone.
âWhat?â
âRe-Elle-gaard-less?â
ââŚNo,â Ellegaard directly and quickly dismissed, her eyes sending off a slight sparkle, âAnyways, regardless of what you think, donât you wonder if theyâre okayâŚ?â
- - -
Soren and Ivor seized a leap upwards, onto a ledge naturally constructed of smooth, clean stone, estimated by the sound that it made once the duo, exclusively consisting of malesâin the futureâpounced and onto the edge meaning of which they now possessed an exceptional perspective of what they had discovered, Soren and Ivor a few feet, opposing sides of one another, although the likewise balcony that they had jumped onto, Ivor for one, very imperceptibly, unnoticeably struggling to recapture his equilibrium, instantaneously positioning himself with a single palm clasped against the left-hand-side of the hollow. Assumed, I mean. Their near-to-complete-sable silhouettes performing of visible from this, aforementioned viewpoint, it being so darkened to the point of where both of their afar characters thoroughly blended and merged within this specific, crazy-inducing, one-of-a-kind, open-ended location, the darkness portraying itself alike to the two children, waring the physical status of being unquestionably surrounded in blackness from each and every perspective. Encompassed in blackness from each and every perspective. Choked in darkness from each and every perspective. Both of the boys felt a cold breeze of wind pass by them. They overlooked it. After all, discovering a colossal ravine could distract you like that.
Ivorâs laughed with excitement, subsequent of them sliding their way down the ledge, âThis is amazing!â
âAnd I bet Magnus and Ellegaard are merely on some winding path getting nowhere!â Soren called out cheerfully as they walked towards the edge of the ravine, Ivor kneeling down and looking down the valley, numerous minerals radiating against the dim, stone background, Soren still standing, âThis is wonderful!â
Ivor smiled, âEvidently!â
âShould we go back and tell the other two?â
âSsssssssssâŚâ
It wasnât even necessary for the children to grasp as much as a glimpse behind them in order to know specifically what had soundlessly slithered and undesirably crept up behind them, sending shivers down both of their spines once they had been notified in the cause of the quiet yet very noticeable hissing, breaking the mere clicks of the cave, not cutting through the air though, the sound remaining so quiet. Although both of the children shared the characteristic of not possessing many occurrences with creepers, a cluster of several or other, adults had informed and would perpetually warn the children of monsters lurking throughout the world of terror, school educating kids concerning the distinctive varieties of abnormalities, signifying that both Ivor and Soren were both all-too-familiar with the hiss. Even if they werenât taught on the subject of monstersâa monstrosity that would explode, close to instantaneously upon entering its proximity, a painful detonation, especially towards characters with lower health points and protection, the after-effects of the eruption causing people to end up flying, would plausibly register the unique and formidable creature as notorious, would it not? Soren called Ivorâs name out shortly after he instantaneously shifted aside, out of view, though he didnât fully revolve his feet about to look aback at the creeper, respectively crept behind them. He didnât look behind himself. He merely turned and swifted himself to a distance wordlessly;
âIvor!â
An explosion sound echoed throughout the cave. A smokey output implied that the creeper had shattered. Presumably being the cause of Ivor being sent flying. Ivor had been aware of the abnormality at the back of him but flight-fight-or-freeze overwhelmed Ivor to cease himself and halt in a frightened status. Soren did endeavour himself to give a warning to Ivor but he informed him just as the monstrosity fragmented into oblivion, Ivor forcefully plunging over the ledge as result; The cold stone that he only barely and much more than fortunately grasped his fingers upon made his heart sense the sensation of chilled in a consequence of him being overpowered to hang overhead of the void that was the gapping ravine, Ivor respectively being incompetent to aid himself. The bottomless abyss separating the unvisible ground from Ivorâs being, stretched as faraway downhill as the eye had the ability to be seen. The aforementioned reality made Ivor feel as scared to death as could be, which is nothing short of entirely fair. After all, if he lost his clutch upon the chilled cliff, which was already into an unbound, unfixed status, he would unquestionably perish and thereâd be no alternative possibility to survive. Thatâs something thatâs set in stone;
The situation even panicked Soren and he was as much several feet away from Ivor who was at the edge of the ravine. The fact that Soren was the only one who was nearby and witnesses to Ivorâs downfallâIvor directly addressing him, made Soren feel like he had an obligation to rescue him. Which he did. However..he was so, so scared, indicating that he slowly made his way to Ivor but he was only able to start to creep over to Ivor for maybe a second or two because suddenly, something slim and fast darted in front of him, forcing Soren to let out a gasp and jump away, hurting himself somehow. He couldnât even process where he was before something else hastily shot the stone beside him, sounding a distinctive noise. The unexpected movement had Soren to look to the right of him, now being able to realize that he tripped onto the floor, near to a wall of the cavern after losing his balanceâŚand that what had blasted to the side of him was an arrow. An arrow from a skeleton. He got a sick feeling. He looked up. And almost screamed. Several skeletons were standing feet away from him, one of which was preparing to discharge another missile at him, another being rather close to the ginger boy, other few shooting their weaponry at Ivorâs fingertips, luckily missingâIvor letting out light yelps of panic every shot. Soren quickly slid away from the monsters while he was stooped down onto his feet, swiftly skimming his hands along the ground with him, making sure he didnât stumble, an arrow nearly hit him shortly before hastily getting into a standing position once he was apart from the corner and closer to the ledge they had initially come down from to the ravine from, though Soren still shook and slowly retreated aside in fear.
âS-Soren!â
Sorenâs heart collapsed into his stomach in a guilty sentiment of Ivor addressing his scarf-wearing friend to assist him. If Soren would help Ivor, that would be the single, possible way Ivor could chance-ly survive. Soren was shaking in a debate with himself about what to do. After all, a several-hundred-feet, lethal fall isnât exactly too much of a laughing matter. Soren couldnât really concentrate on his emotions though because before an oh-so-familiar hissing sound emanated from behind him, Sorenâs appearance visibly showing a panicked response upon noticing both the sibilance and sense of presence at the back of him. His nervous trembling solely intensified, though his expression changed quickly as another loud explosion thundered throughout the dust. All that Soren was capable to see in between the black and the reality swapping in and out was a loose figure of his hands. That was the good news. Bad one? Soren could see in his peripheral vision the feet of monsters immediately and quickly approaching him. It sent shivered down Sorenâs spine instantly, having him to second-naturally slide and dart to the north-right, far enough for the ginger to be at a position where he was at some sort of dirt tunnel that seemed to be explored, judging by dim torches among the walls via around the corner. Literally. Soren glanced into the hollow inâŚself-preservation. Thatâs what he'd like to say, anyway. Monsters were approaching both him and Ivor; Ivor being to left swinging overhead a fatal fallâŚEllegaard, Magnus and âGabrielâ were nowhere to be seenâŚIvorâs death was on the horizonâŚSoren did want to help Ivor but everything was going so, so terribly and his own life was in danger to such, such an extent⌠Â
Probably the first time that the group learned about Sorenâs coward tendencies.
Yet another case of âreally-havenât-changed-one-bit-have-you?â
I suppose that some people never learn, huh?
âS-SOREN!â Ivor yelled out, âY-YouâŚ!â
Ivorâs scrambling, motivation to reacquire his foothold did nothing more than solely intensifying. Now he was his single, only, exclusive hope. Not Soren. The ginger wasnât courageous enough to assist him. To help him. To prevent him from dying. Soren didnât reckon that he was competent to fleetingly and cautiously dash through-past the hollow and to the cliff-like ravine, purpose to aid Ivor without unwantedly getting himself lacerated, one way or another. He unquestionably understood the fact that Ivor was going to die if he was overpowered to take the deep plunge to the ground butâŚhe couldnât help him. Anymore, that is. Ivor was violently clambering his hands about, desperately attempting to hook himself back onto the platform, however, it was hopeless and he was eventually interrupted with chipping sound and vibration, somewhat complicating the more pale-skinned boy. Why on earth was there a chipping noise? He discovered the reason sooner than heâd prefer. Ivor collapsed into a soundless atmosphere, a slow-motioned climate crumbled into, in the terror of the much more than the horrific reality that he already knew would happen:
He was falling to his death.
Over.
Gone.
Dead.
A hard, dusty surface is all that Ivor could feel.
âQuick, go back through that tunnel!â
Ivor flitched in as a result of a loud, unexpected voice. Even in his death-frightened status, the specific personâs vocals impressed him. It verbalized as so confident and assurable, but assertive and commanding. An individual that already merited Ivorâs admiration obligated him into springing up onto his feet and thoughtlessly hastening over to a familiar dirt-and-stone-made tunnel, not even thinking about taking as much as a fleeting glimpse behind himself. It felt like a never-ending goose-chase to the cavern even though it took as much as a few seconds to dart over to the shaft, but he made it eventually. Thatâs when then and only then Ivor settled together what had happened. How he survived. He did feel a very brief pressure on his wrists before he mustâve been swiftly projected onto the stone platform; Last mystery being...who exactly saved him? The voice sounded nothing alike to Sorenâs. For that matter, not Ellegaardâs or Magnusâs; although the lass could already be ruled out as a result of the voice being of male-associated. Ivor was completely out-of-breathe. He kneeled down on one knee, attempting to take a halt on his hyperventilation. Before he even knew it, the boy who had presumably rescued him, came rushing into the dusty drift, barricading the route back up with dirt, him taking a breath of relief.
âThank youâŚâ Ivor quietly responded, âYou saved my lifeâŚâ
âItâs no problem...â The other replied, â...ThoughâŚI do have to ask why you werenât with Magnus and Ellegaard in the first place. Youâre either Ivor or Soren, and I take it that the other kid that went running is the latterâŚâ His voice lost interest as he said the final few words, him starting like he was talking to himself, thinking.
âHowâŚdo you know us?â
âI was supposed to come here and meet you all here but my folks took a long time to get to sleep, making it harder for me to sneak out of my house...â
âSoâŚâ Ivor had a small smile break across his face, âYouâre Gabriel thenâŚ!â
He nodded, âThatâs me. But the question still remains, how come you scattered with Magnus and Ellegaard?â
âIt was Magnusâs idea.â Ivor paused, talking even lower, ââŚNone of us really wanted toâŚâ
âMagnusâŚâ Gabriel glances away, sighing angrily, talking under his breath and to himself, barely being audible, âWhere does that boy get these ideasâŚâ
âYouâŚsaid that you saw Soren?â
âHe went running past me and when I tried to stop and talk to him, he kept runningâŚNot sure if he even noticed me,â Gabriel sighed, âSome friend that he isâŚDidnât even try to help you.â
âYes, wellâŚthat doesnât matter now.â
The darker-skinned boy disapprovingly sighed and shook his head left and right before beckoning his hand a gesture and walking off, indicating for Ivor to accompanyâto follow behind him. Notably, they didnât actually have anything of a conversation with one another. They did nothing more than simply advancing alongside each other in silence. Gabriel seemed to be thinking, so Ivor didnât want to try and start a conversation. It may or may notâve taken a while but eventually, Gabriel and Ivor perambulated into the original location of were Soren, Ivor, Ellegaard and Magnus, scattered cross two different routes. As soon as they got to the aforementioned area, Magnus and Ellegaard had already been anticipating and waiting for them, Ivor and Gabriel catching them to be sitting on the chilly, grey-stone ground. Unrelatedly, an interesting fact is that Gabriel and Ivor appeared to have entered from the pathway that Ellegaard and Magnus had been searching thoroughly, an adventurous atmosphere in tow. That detail was a bit more of a nitpick, though. After all, it could easily be resolved by simply saying that there was an alternation entrance to that path. Regardless, upon the boy and girl duo noticing their previously not-to-be-seen friendâs arrival, they both perked up, around the same time and smiled, providing themselves with their customary, friendly welcomings;
âGabe!â Ellegaard greeted, jokingly and playfully smiling, âTook long enough.â
âPff,â Magnus scoffed at his female comrade, âLeast theyâre here.â
Ellegaard laughed before her snicker fizzled out and turned a more earnest tone, âUh...speaking of people being hereâŚ.where is Soren?â
Gabrielâs expression turned from an unnoticed stern one to a genuinely surprised and confused one, âHe didnât come through here?â
Magnus went silent, looking somewhat troubled. Ellegaard took it upon herself to ask, âHeâs not with you?â
Ivor suggested, âI guess that means that he went back up to the surfaceâŚ?â
That was a reasonable conclusion. After all, that was the single alternative direction he couldâve proceeded through without travelling into an unfamiliar territory. Back at the entrance of the cave was their only indication and trance of where Soren couldâve advancedâdisappearing into. Although every one of the four children aspired to get back to the opening of the cavern and back to their individual addresses as quickly as they possibly couldâveâpossessing a half of a motivation to avoid getting in trouble with their guardians once they arrived at their home. It took them approximately twenty minutes or so of ascertaining their trail back to the sunlight. Or lack of it. The fact was because of the reality that by the time that the kids had reached a proximity of the surface, nearby enough to glimpse at the skyâit portraying a beautiful amalgam of colours with the varieties from a flushed, pink hue to pretty violet shadeâa chroma of a sunrise, the moon of inscrutability beginning to set among and past the distant horizon. As the children approached the threshold of the open-ended hollow, they took a notice upon a kid who looked rather sad; him being huddled near the entrance. A trice or two after attending a glace at the boy and looking at him, about to speak something to him, the ginger perked up upon quickly shifting to an aware state of their audience. Yup, itâs Soren.
The boy with a scarf stood up, swiftly rushing over to his pale-skinned friend and the rest of the group by default, âIvor!â Soren sort of cut Ivor offâhis purple-eyed comrade was about to speak before Soren confusedly asked a valid question, âIvor, how did youâŚâ
âI saved him,â Gabriel spoke up, âI saw you running away and tried to ask you what happened but you didnât stop.â
Soren underwent a heavy wave of guilt collapsing onto him. Drowning him. If Gabriel didnât happen to be in proximity, Ivor wouldâveâŚhe wouldâve...he wouldâve been gone. Be dead. Canât see him. Canât have interactions with him. Out of his life. Permanently. Because of him, âIvor, I am so sorryâŚâ Â
âS-SorenâŚ?!â Ivor noticed Sorenâs tremble in his voice, âThatâŚâ Ivor didnât know what he wanted to say, âSoren, that doesnât matter anymore,â He quickly reassured.
Soren let out a weak laugh, acting as a coping mechanism, âI just froze upâŚI was so scared,â Sorenâs voice hushed, âI wanted to help you, IvorâŚI really didâŚâ
âItâs alright, Soren. Iâm fine. Thatâs all that matters now,â Ivor returned, trying to shift the topic to something a bit more light-hearted, âBesidesâŚItâs thanks to Gabriel that Iâm even still here,â Soren recognized that Ivor was desperately trying to exchange the subjectâhe appreciated how his purple-eyed friend allowed him to move on from his more notorious moment. Soren briefly sighed, and turned to Gabriel, happily greeting;
âSoâŚI take it that youâre Gabriel then! Thank you for rescuing my friend!â
âItâs no problem,â Gabriel replied with a shaking his head with a satisfied smile. It was comforting. Although that didnât last for too long because he suddenly turned to his other two friends with a more serious glare;
âAnd Magnus, tell me, why in the world did you think itâd be a good idea to send these two off alone!?â
âI tried to tell him, Gabe!â Ellegaard informed, a tone, âI really did!â
âHmphâŚâ Magnus turned away, a bit angry though he tried to sound genuine, âSorry that I almost got you killed, Ivor.â
âUmâŚâ Ivor replied, also trying to sound sincere in his response, âThatâs alright.â
Ellegaard looked up to the skyâs shade because she unnoticedly wandered to the surface, a hand pressed against a wall of the cave entrance, âItâs almost morning. We should head back or else weâre going be in trouble.â
âWe all should hang out sometime again,â Soren suggested, âWe donât have to explore or do anything all that exciting. Summer is merely for being inactive, so letâs just have a lethargic dayâŚ!â
Magnus agreed, âIâm down with that.â
âYeah,â Ellegaard accepted,â No reason not to.â
Gabriel positively replied, âMm-hm!â
Ivor added, âI, for one, am a bit adventured out for one day, so relaxing would be niceâŚI guess.â
âSo itâs settled!â Soren loudly exclaimed, âWeâll all get together sometime and simply play!â
- - -
The four other children vocalized various remarks, not necessarily walking away immediately after; they were still having too much fun. As the sun proceeds to an apparent position, it lets out a flame-bright incandesce, a more dramatic sign-off. The gleaming star equalled theâquite literallyâbreathtaking day with an attention-grabbing spark. After all, lives had been endangered that day. Soren and Ivor were essentially peer-pressured into coming along with their new friends into the open-end hollow. In fact, the actual adventure itself was terrifying. Horrifying. Petrifying. Though Soren and Ivor both had a disastrous time, it was a matter of âthen again.â After all, at least Soren and Ivor wouldnât easily forget their first, genuine cave-adventure experienceâŚor âcavingâ as some termed them as. Well. I meanâŚIt would be remembered via a notorious memory. That doesnât matter now. In a reasonable desire, they plainly yearned to relax and take a bit of a break from any sort of life-risking adventure. Besides, death-frightening occurrence or not, Ivor and Sorenâs new friend of âGabrielâ did seem to be rather likeable. I mean, anybody who saves someoneâs life can seem to be rather likeable. Furthermore, the elements of the current day were actually rather peaceful at that particular, specific moment and whether some of the children would admit the fact which was shared between each and every member of their small group of misfits or not:
A ginger boy with the name of âSorenâ energetically sprang away from the schoolhouse, of the step of the establishmentâs staircase, his boots scraping the dirt beneath his soles as he turned around while one foot hit the ground, graceful as could be. In a movement of enthusiasm, his scarfâs loose end waved behind him slightly, cutting through the summerâs air in motion, the same for the drawstrings of his hoodie. It was summer at last! After numerous months of academy, he was remarkably thrilled to have time to sit back, relax and enjoy the stress-free glow! Hell, he was so excited the schoolbell didnât even ring yet, he ran out a second before the chime went off which would be the signal for the conclusion of class for the ensuing several weeks! He couldnât wait to play with his good, probably best, friend, âIvorââThe ironyâall throughout the holiday. The two had been good allies since around the beginning of the school-year and ever since then, the pair have always hanged out whenever possible. Because of that, Soren was eager to call out for him in exhilaration and he did just that, soon before the schoolbell rang;
âItâs finally summer vacation!â                          Â
- - -
The schoolhouse immediately filled to the brim with childrenâs cheers and exclamations as the bell fell out. The doors of the school were swinging open. Not a second went by without a younger running out of the building, shouting in glee. Students eagerly rushed down the few stairs onto the ground, some jumping, others running. The delight of the concept of this wonder-filled holiday commenced to the calls of names, footfalls and everything in-between to be let into the atmosphere of this play of an environment twice more than it usually would on any ordinary schoolday, same for the mirth and laughter of the children. In the background, Ivor wasnât a fan of Soren just running out ahead of him. It was something that happened every day though, so he was used to it. Besides, he knew Soren for a while and if he knew anything about him it was that he was a very energized and enthusiastic person and that nothing he could think of would be able to stop him from his passionate personality and nothing besides isolation ever did, did it, Sorie?
âSoren!â Ivor called out, running up to him, his longer, sable hair in the wind. âItâs not polite to make a friend run!âÂ
âYes well, the more time we spend in that school, the more time summer is gonna pass by us, Ivor and I for one, am not letting a second of this spectacular vacation pass by!â           Â
âWeâre going to be asleep for the majority of it, Soren.â                   Â
Ivor reminded his green-eyed friend of that in an eye roll, shortly before he turned to the dirt trail the both of them had always walked aside home, prompting Soren to follow him to the dusty path that led to their home village which they shared. The two accompanied each other on their saunter which wasnât a short distance from their school but not a long one either. It was good, however, for it gave them more than enough time for the pair to talk, mainly discussing their plans of the ventures and activities they would be doing throughout the season break, exclusively involving only the two of them, alike to how they always did. They werenât sad about that either. They never needed nor did they have anyone else to be getting in the way of their hang-outs with one another. Ainât that ironic? Â
âWe could always go to the beach, Ivor.âÂ
âIâve told you about a million times, Soren! I canât swim! What I would be doing would be making a laughing stock out of myself!âÂ
âVery well, forgetting the beachâŚwe couldâŚgo and explore a caveâŚ!âÂ
âWith kitchen knives? I prefer to live, thank you.â
âIvor, whereâs your sense of adventure? I recognize that you like to explore!â
âWell, yesâŚâ Ivor sighed, âListen Soren, I justâŚdonât want to get in trouble just as summer is starting, alright?â
âI understandâŚall that I wish is that youâd lighten up a bit. Itâs best we take chances and do thingsâŚ! Without taking chancesâŚwellâŚlife is pointââÂ
Arg!Â
Sorenâs vision took a blur briefly in distress as his eyes took a cross in startlement. He shook his head slightly, trying to clear his perception from blear. His hands felt a dirt trail, small pieces of dust clouded his arms throughout. Once his mind was freed from confused he gazed up and saw a boy and a girl before him, standing on the field ahead where the clay route had yet another fork of right and left, the greenery with an overhead carven, numerous feet behind the quad that truthfully looked like something that should be of a world-wonder. Ivor was knelt on one knee next to his gingered friend, though his robe didnât seem to help his action. The boy who Soren had fumbled into had a shaved head whist the lass had some shorter light brown hair, the blokeâs expression could be said to be unimpressed but a bit mad. The lass was more neutral than anything but clearly expecting someone to say something. You didnât change one bit, did you, Ellie?
âDo you mind looking where youâre going?â The boy asked with a slightly rude tone but not that he was screaming, the boy brings his hands open-palmed above his head in a sarcastic movement, âHere I am, innocently trying to talk with my friend and you have the nerve to bump into meâŚ!âÂ
The unnamed lass did nothing more than a facepalm at her friendâs play but she didnât say anything. Soren got to his feet and quickly dusted off any possible dirt that could have came onto his clothes when he fell onto the dusted track and quickly settled the loose end of his scarf back into the place around his neck, how it was beforehand. Ivor stood back up almost in sync of Soren who took a glance at him. Ivor didnât really seem to be offended or remarkably concerned about Sorenâs moderate injury. It was nothing more than a small fall, after all.Â
âI should have been looking where I was going and Iâm sorry I crashed into you,â Soren takes his arms down a bit which were previously at the same height as his head, a surrender-like stance, fingers loosely fixed and opens his eyes, slight sarcasm removed, âYouâre not hurt, are you?â
âYeah, I donât think a small bump would break my neck, if you didnât know.âÂ
âMagnus, hear yourself,â The girl stepped up, reaching an arm out, almost cutting off her bandana-wearing friend, âHe clearly didnât mean to.â The lass unpressed shrugs her arms, palms open, âDo you really think that theyâre out to get you or something?âÂ
The boy sighed a breath of sass because of his friendâs remark. Nevertheless, he turned gazed back at the ginger and black-haired, looking at a slight angle. The damsel in a dress, for the first time, in the thirty seconds that Soren and Ivor knew the lass, was the one to speak up instead of the bloke she had for an associate. She first did a sigh of the air regarding her dismissal of the event;
âIâm sorry about him.â The girl slightly waves her hands apart, around the same height as her chest, âHe can be friendlier but when he remembers that the world doesnât revolve around him, it starts to make him intolerable.âÂ
âEllie!â Magnus shouted forcefully to âEllie,â hands clenched and drawn to his heart. The scene causes Ivor and Soren to have a small laugh as âEllieâ rolled her eyes with a smile of backhand before loosely bringing a hand to just below her throat;
âThe nameâs Ellegaard, by the way. I habitually go by âEllie,â though. This is Magnus. AKA, the worldâs best rogue.â Ellegaard hastily nods her head down, clenched hand in sync.
âIâm taking that as a compliment!â Magnus announced proudly, both wrists on his hips.
This is yet another case of the kids having a cursory case of laughter while Ellegaard and Ivor shook their heads both donning unimpressed smiles. Honestly, none of them understood if they were laughing at Magnus or with him, though Magnus was wearing a proud beam, therefore, it was likely the ladder if anything. They did seem to have a sense of humour. Perhaps these two arenât so bad, after all. Given the fact that these two unfamiliar kids gave their names to the duo, Soren took it upon himself to provide him and Ivor their customary introductions, bringing a hand to his chest, talking a bit slowly at first;
âMy name is Soren and this is my friend Ivor. Do you two live around here? I have never seen either of you before.âÂ
âDonât answer, Ellie!â Magnus interrupted, hands hovered above his chest, âThey may be creepsâŚ!âÂ
âStop being so paranoid.âÂ
âThe worry can be understandable,â Ivor added quietly, close to interrupting Ellegaard, turning his head slightly aside, an out-of-character thing to say. Nowadays, at least.
Although Ivor spoke this one-liner nearly alike to inaudibly, a wave of hush befell upon each and every one of the kids in result, leaving the sound of a slight breeze and distant, unimportant voices all to the ears of the four. Ivor had single-handedly brought them all to an awkward silence, uncomfortable for all of the children for a few, thin seconds, though it felt like longer before Soren discontinued the inconvenient deadlock on any kind of known social cue with an apprehensive shrug, more to the right and a proposal which he said slowly;
âPerrrrrrhaps we could be friends? Ivor and I were planning some plans for the summer! If you want, you can join us.âÂ
âAll I was going to do this summer was study redstone techniques,â Ellegaard raised an arm swiftly as she said that, closing her eyes and raising her shoulders with slight sass, âSo, I wouldnât mind.âÂ
âYeahhhhhhh, I got nothing better to do either,â Magnus said glinting away with a shrug before turning back to Ellegaard addressing her, âEllie, we should include Gabe.âÂ
âThis will be excellent!â Soren exclaimed, clapping his hands together, âIvor and I were discussing how we were going to go and explore a cave later! You both could come too!âÂ
âI never agreed to that!â Ivor retaliated in a gasp, his hands bitterly closed and brought to his chest. You know something? Itâs kind of funny how some people never change even throughout the span of several years.
âWell, if purple-eyed is up to it, so are we,â Magnus asked casually, one hand on his hip, âWhere you two wanna meet?âÂ
- - -
The four children processed to discuss their plans to go on an adventure through a cave that same night which wasnât quite a ways from Ellegaardâs, Magnusâs and âGabrielâsâ village, though their village wasnât a very far venture from Sorenâs and Ivorâs town either, which was good. It might be a dangerous risk, lives might be put in jeopardy but that would mean nothing more than it also being an adventure. After talking it over with one another, Magnus promised to bring wooden swords for the group, Soren promised to bring torches for the four, Ellegaard promised to inform their unseen friend, Gabriel to come along and, most importantly, each kid promised not to tell their parents that evening and go with the other few at nightfall without their parentâs knowledge or consent. Who knew that an adventure could be sparked by a clumsy action? What would happen if Soren wasnât distracted? Maybe The Order Of The Stone wouldâve never existedâŚ! If only, huh?
This is the story of how The Order Of The Stone first began.
Their Origin.
This Is The Origin Of The Order.
