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Dark waves lapped softly at the gray rocks of the island shore. Fragments of sand ebbed and flowed in the perpetual pattern of the tide. The black water of the icy sea was calm and motionless. Mist rose up from it and hung over the land like a gray shroud.

The trees on the island were all covered in frost, and the ground was blanketed in a thick layer of white snow. A fierce wind swept through the air, the frozen herald of a coming winter. A wolf howled somewhere off in the distance. A clouded field of stars covered the night sky. A storm was brewing. For an instant, the clouds parted, and a single ray of ivory moonlight shone down. And then it was gone, swallowed once more by the darkness.

The sound of movement in the water echoed from the lake. As it drew closer, a bright orange light illuminated the black water. The light came from a torch, which was being held by a figure hidden in the shadows. As he came forward, it was apparent he was sailing on a small boat of some kind.

He rode slowly towards the shore. The light revealed his boat was made of brown oak wood, and about the size of a raft. He sat on it, but didn't row. In fact, the boat appeared to be propelling itself. It glided along the water at a very fast speed, helped by some invisible force.

He finally reached the edge of the shore, and stepped off his boat. He didn't moor it to the shore, instead letting it simply bob up and down in the water. It could not leave without his command anyway.

The man wore a black cloak, with a hood over his head. He pulled it back, and took a look at the dark sky. He was about thirty, and had silver hair. His eyes were a bright purple, and he carried at his waist a hilted sword. His cloak flowed out behind him in the wind.

He threw his torch in the water, where it was immediately snuffed out and the charred piece of wood sank to the bottom of the lake. Light was not needed here. He walked along the snow-covered ground slowly. The dark silhouette of the forest loomed up ahead of him. Before he had made it halfway to the trees, though, a shape suddenly lunged at him out of the darkness.

He drew his sword and sliced through it in midair. The attacker fell to the ground dead. He saw it was a white wolf. Probably a predator that had been attracted by the scent. He was about to move on when another thought occurred to him.

He extended his sword to it again, but did not cut it. There were several black symbols engraved into the silver blade. As the point drew nearer to the corpse of the animal, they began to glow with a faint purple light. This light grew brighter and brighter until it had become almost blinding to look at. Wisps of energy evaporated off the blade, and purple sparks appeared from the end. He touched the sharpened tip to the wolf's head, and there was a loud spark.

The sword became dim and stopped glowing entirely. But the wolf's body filled with an electric energy. Its skin began to decompose at an extraordinary rate, and its claws and fangs turned from white to silver. Then, its bones and sinews began to move, and slowly reassemble themselves. The creature rose up and moved its head, alive once more.

Half of the skin on its ribcage was missing, exposing silver ribs and several rotted sinews. Its tail became cartilage at the tip. The entire left side of its head was a skull. And a bright purple light blazed from its eye sockets. The man continued walking into the forest, and the dead wolf followed.

After a few minutes he reached the end of the forest. As he walked past the pine trees, he looked up to see his destination. Rising up into the dark sky was the great stone fortress of Maltair.

The Citadel of Shadows had been built long before the establishment of the Seven Kingdoms, when ancient and powerful forces ruled the earth. It had no particular style of architecture, but seemed gothic in nature. It had one massive spire which extended straight up into the sky. Several smaller spires rose from each edge of the fortress, and its gray stone walls cast large shadows over the land. It had long ago fallen, and now stood as a ruined pile of stone bricks. Snow covered it's roof, and icicles hung down from its spires.

The man walked up the gray stone stairs of the gate, and stood in front of it. The gate was covered with black spikes and crowned with a stone dragon's head. As snow began to fall around him, he looked up at the dragon's head. "I have come." he said. His voice was silky and soft. The dragon's eyes glowed.

"Enter." The voice seemed to come from the gate itself. Then its eyes went black again. The massive gates opened slowly. The man walked inside. As soon as he had entered the gates swung shut behind him. He stood in a dimly lit room.

He walked forward, and opened another set of smaller doors into a grand chamber. It was the size of several large fields, and stretched high up into the air in a spiral pattern. It was evident the man was inside the central spire of the fortress. Several chandeliers hung from the ceiling. The torches on it blazed a dark purple light. Ornate patterns were engraved on the walls. In the center of the room, on an elevated platform, was a massive black throne.

"My lord." he said. "I have arrived." There was no sound. Something moved in the shadows of the throne. A tall figure rose from it, and stepped forward into the light.

The figure was a man, who stood two feet taller than the man in the cloak. He wore a similar cloak, but his was edged with silver thread and torn in several places. He wore silver armor as well. It was thin but looked sturdy. He wore steel boots on his feet. On his head he wore a silver circlet, resembling a metal ivy crown. It was simple and unadorned, but somehow looked regal.

The man's face was of an undeterminable age. He looked to be between the ages of thirty and fifty, but one could not be sure. His hair was black with streaks of silver. Two white fangs extended from his mouth hungrily. His eyes were purple, like the man's own. But in contrast to the man's cunning, narrowed pupils, his were wide and malicious. He stepped closer to the man.

In his left hand he carried a long silver mace. Its point was tipped with a sphere, which in turn was covered in jagged spikes. In his right hand he held a curved silver sickle. The mace seemed to radiate a powerful energy not unlike that of the man's sword. He suddenly stopped walking, and stabbed the mace into the ground, embedding it in the stone floor. Purple energy flowed from it into the ground.

"You have come, as I expected, Lothas." said the man with the mace. His voice was deep and commanding. "What news do you have?"

"Everything is proceeding as planned, Lord Arakon. The Great Forge has nearly completed the airships you ordered. The army continues to grow, and are ready to fight at your command. The Seven Kingdoms suspect nothing. So far as I know they are in their own Civil War, and will never expect your attack."

"This is good. You have served me well Lothas. When the age of men is over and I am back in power you can expect a reward."

"My thanks, my lord. But there is something even more important I have to tell you." said Lothas. "It may have been found."

"What may have been found?" asked Arakon, uninterested.

"The other half of the Eye. We think we may have located it. It is within the Seven Kingdoms." The man with the mace turned his head sharply and looked Lothas in the eyes. His face bore an expression of stupefaction.

"I am curious how that is possible. How do you claim to know this?" he asked.

"Its aura suddenly appeared only a few days ago. My mages have reported they can feel it from miles away. I must confess even I have felt something . . . odd . . . in the air. They say it is near the mountains. Of course it may not be the Eye, but whatever it is it has a powerful, powerful aura."

"Then you shall go, and investigate this aura immediately." said the man. His stunned expression was slowly turning into a cunning smile. "With the power of half the Eye, I can rule the Seven Kingdoms. But with all of it . . ." He paused, his hand crossing over to the amulet under his silver armor. It was a silver indented circle, hanging on a metal chain. Half of the circle was filled with the cracked half of a purple jewel. The other half was empty. He let go of it and looked back at Lothas. "Go at once." Lothas bowed and left the room, followed by an undead wolf. After he had left the room, the man suddenly stabbed his mace into the stone floor. Its tip cracked the floor, and purple wisps traveled into the tiles. He placed his sickle next to the throne.

From the skylight above, moonlight poured in. The man's eyes glowed with a bestial quality. He suddenly got down on his hands and knees, a transformation coming over him. His limbs shook, and his armor and cloak dissolved into his skin. His skin became black, and his arms and legs elongated. A cloak of shadows formed around him as he grew larger and his features became more and more animalistic.

When it was all over, the creature who now dug its claws into the floor around the throne didn't look like any ordinary animal. Its skin was the color of ash, and it was nearly the size of a house. It had four claws, tipped with sharp silver claws as big as swords. Two large bat-like wings extended from its back, and flapped up and down in the air. It had powerful hind legs, and a large reptilian snout. Two even larger silver fangs protruded from its mouth, and two cold purple eyes stared up at the moon.

Oh, how freeing it was to not be constrained in his mortal form. The last of the Ender Dragons stretched his claws, and flew up into the air. He flew all the way to the skylight, and into the brisk night air. He sank his claws into the top of the stone spire, and perched himself on the highest point in his fortress.

Arakon saw the massive sea around the island, and, beyond that, land, and the lights of civilization. He tipped back his head and gave a deep, fearsome roar. Soon, all of this and all beyond it would be his. He would come out of the shadows and take what was rightfully his.

As snow fell outside, Willhelm Adaron sat in his dormitory, intently studying a piece of paper on a table.

His dormitory was well-furnished, as all the dormitories were in Aradell University. It had brown wood walls, and was lit by a candle lamp on the table. Aside from his table, it contained a bed, a shelf, a wooden chair and an armchair. A large stone fireplace blazed with a bright orange light on the far wall.

Aradell was a fairly small and quiet village in the outer reaches of the Muralon Kingdom. It rarely got travelers, and had maybe two thousand occupants in total. Will had grown up there, and it was the only place he had ever known.

Willhelm, or Will, as his friends called him, looked up from the paper and looked out the window. He saw his reflection in the dark glass. He looked about twenty-two. He wore a gray shirt, emblazoned below the right shoulder with the symbol of a silver dragon: the emblem of the university, and of the Muralon Kingdom, to which Aradell belonged. He wore black pants, and black shoes. His hair was black, and unkempt. His eyes were brown, and bright.

To his dismay he also saw that it was late at night. He sighed, and turned back to the paper. He had been working on it for nearly three hours now. It was a brown piece of paper, marked with a precise grid in ink. Next to it lay a ruler and an inkpot with a quill inside.

The paper was his assignment for Redstone Circuitry II. And so far, he was failing miserably at it. He was supposed to design a blueprint for a Nine-Gate Redstone Circuit. Currently, the circuits in actual machinery only had up to four gates. But theoretically a circuit could contain up to twelve.

At least that was what his professor had said. But drowsiness and frustration were starting to change Will's opinion of his professor's statements. Looking at the paper again, he saw he had failed for what must now have been the eighth or ninth time. He crumpled up the paper and threw it into the fireplace, where it caught fire and burned into ash.

He was usually very good at Redstone Circuitry. He was one of the best students in his class, and was studying to become a Redstone Engineer. But for some reason he simply couldn't think today. He reached for another sheet of paper, but stopped. The assignment was due at the end of the week. He'd do it later.

He got up from his chair and walked over to his armchair. He slumped down tiredly into it, and soaked in the warmth of the dying fire. He looked out the window, at the falling snow. It really was late. He ought to get to sleep. He had class tomorrow. He rose slowly to go to his bed, but was simply too tired. He slid into his armchair and drifted off to sleep.

* * *

Will opened his eyes again. He was lying on something flat and rocky. He lifted his hand, and felt grains of sand in his palm. The sun shone down on his face. He got up. He was on a beach somewhere. He saw trees in the distance, and a blue ocean stretching out for miles ahead of him. There was no one else around. He heard nothing, save for the soft sound of waves crashing on the shore.

He had seen several beaches in his life, but this didn't look like any of them. Something made him feel safe here, though. The scene was innately comforting. He felt like he could stay here forever and be content.

Suddenly, he felt a cold breeze in his face. This was unusual, as the sun was still high in the sky and it appeared to be the middle of summer. Then he felt another.

In an instant the warm, happy he feeling he had felt just moments before was gone, replaced by icy chills. As he watched, the water froze before his eyes, turning to ice. The ground became gray, and all color drained from his surroundings. The sun sank beneath the clouds, and the moon replaced it. Night fell, and darkness seemed to appear all around him. It obscured more and more of his vision, until he could see nothing and the shadows swallowed him whole.

* * *

Will woke with a start in his armchair. He looked around him for a moment, startled, before he relaxed. The dream had been so vivid . . . He looked at the clock hanging on his wall. It was still midnight. But he wasn't sure he wanted to go back to sleep after that. He was wide awake now. He stood up and walked over to his desk. He picked up another piece of paper, and began to draw the same grid of black lines on it. Perhaps he could give it one more try.

Will arrived to Redstone II about an hour after the sun came up. When he entered the classroom, he took a seat in the front, next to his friend Mark.

The classroom was fairly standard for Aradell University: The walls and floor were made of brown oak and two large glass windows on the right wall looked out over the snowy city landscape below. A large blackboard hung on the wall at the front of the room. The professor's desk stood on the top right side of the room. Twelve smaller desks were lined up symmetrically in two rows around the room.

Mark looked up at Will's approach, and raised his hand in greeting. "Hi Will." he said affably. "You finish the Nine-Gate assignment yet?" Mark Walden was about five and a half feet
tall, with brown hair and eyes. Will had known him since childhood, as the villagers in Aradell were fairly tight-knit. The two were well suited to each other. Will was smart and clever, whereas Mark was not as skilled but still knowledgeable and funny.

Will sat down on the chair next to him. He was still somewhat worried about the dream he had had last night. What had it meant? Realizing Mark was still looking at him expectantly, he tried to forget his thoughts and replied. "No. I tried to get it done last night but I couldn't think clearly. You?"

"No." said Mark, sounding relieved that someone besides him had slacked off on the assignment. Their conversation ended as the last few students walked into the room and took their seats, followed by the professor.

Professor Karl Laurum had been professor of Redstone for nearly fourteen years. he was slightly over forty, with brown hair and eyes and a height of almost six feet. He wore a pair of small spectacles on his nose. He was tall and thin, and wore a black suit and tie. He had a degree in Redstone Mechanics from Muralon University, which he had originally been a student in, and Redstone wasn't just his career. It was his passion.

He walked up to the board as he usually did, and picked up one of his two pieces of chalk. The first was white in color. The second, as one might have guessed, was red. "Hello class." he said. "As I recall, we left off yesterday at the blueprint for a Nine-Gate Redstone Circuit. I'd like to explain again how one is to construct such a thing. You see . . ."

Professor Laurum's voice faded off as Will became lost in his own thoughts. The dream had been especially troubling. He had had bad dreams before, but none as real as this. And the feeling of fear and hopelessness lingered even after he had woken up.

As he watched, Professor Laurum drew a white circle on the board. Extending from it were nine red lines. " . . . so I place each Gate here in a symmetrical fashion . . ." He looked out the window. The city was coated in frost and snow. Winter had come. Somehow the thought of the cold made him sick.

It was even starting to feel cold in here. Will knew the classrooms were heated in the Winter by ventilation ducts. But perhaps they had turned them off today. Because the room was feeling colder and colder by the second. He was starting to sweat in the chill. It felt like he had a severe cold. His forehead was becoming warm, and his vision was starting to blur-

"Will." Will looked up, startled, as the class stared at him. Professor Laurum said his name again. "Will. Would you care to stop daydreaming and answer my question?"

"S-sorry Professor Laurum. Could you repeat the question?" he asked.

"Could you please draw where the Ninth Gate goes on the Circuit?" asked Professor Laurum. Will stood up and drew a mark on the circle in red chalk.

Professor Laurum smiled. "It's alright everyone," he said to the class with a laugh. "Our star student is with us again. Alright then, as I was saying . . ." The rest of the class was passed quickly. Will paid attention to the entire lecture, and the nauseous feeling he had had earlier didn't come back.

After class had been dismissed, and the students had started to leave the classroom, Will started gathering his things. He was stopped by Professor Laurum. "Will, would you mind staying after class a minute?" he asked.

"Of course not Professor." Will replied, as the last of the students walked out the door.

"Thanks." Professor Laurum replied. "You see, I wanted to tell you something." Will waited. "Now, I know you're probably the brightest student in this class, and you'll almost certainly get a career in Redstone Circuitry. I was wondering if you'd be interested in an extra assignment?"

"What extra assignment?" asked Will.

"Well, a few days ago the history department sent me this. It's apparently from about a hundred years ago/ They didn't want it, because apparently such things are very common and they have a surplus of them, and they asked if I'd be interested in looking at the Redstone of it." He reached into his desk and pulled out a small wooden chest. He opened it, and slid it across the table to Will.

Will looked at. It was a small silver cube. It appeared to be made of many small parts joined together in a pattern. On the top was a small metal circle indented into the cube, with several smaller circles carved into it. Will recognized it. He had played with more modern versions as a child. "It's a Redstone Puzzle." The cubes were toys for children. They consisted of pieces held together by Redstone codes that, when solved, opened the cube. Will used to be very good at solving them

"Exactly. It's an old one though. And it's hard. Much harder than any one I've ever tried. I gave up on it, but I thought maybe you'd be interested in it." Will was actually fairly interested. "The reason it's strange is that it doesn't work by modern Redstone mechanics. It has circuits I've never seen before. I honestly don't see why it works at all."

"Well, thanks Professor Laurum. Do you need it back soon?" he asked, picking up the chest.

"You can keep it if you want. But be warned, it's hard to solve. The thing has frustrated me for hours." said Professor Laurum.

"Well I'll try my best Professor Laurum. Thanks again." said Will as he left the room.

"Oh it's no problem Will", said Professor Laurum as he walked out the door.

Will sat in his dormitory's armchair, bathed in the flickering light of the dying fire in his fireplace. In his hands were the Redstone Puzzle, glowing a metallic silver in the light. The Redstone Gate on the front was still unlit. He had not solved it.

Normally Will would have given up on the object long ago. He had assignments to finish, and he was tired. But this was different. Every time he came even a little bit close to solving it, his strength and determination was renewed. It was like it had some kind of magical effect on him. And when he put it down and tried to forget about, he started to feel like he had during the dream, and in Professor Laurum's classroom. That same wave of cold and darkness washed over to him, and he would rush to the safety and warmth of the Puzzle.

But it was unsolvable. He had spent maybe four hours on it, and had barely accomplished anything. He had completed about a tenth of the Outer Gate, but the Median and Inner Gates still remained shut. Considering his experience with methodical Redstone work, this was surprising.

He could not place it, but some subtle quality of the Puzzle was not normal. The way it worked was against the traditional mechanics of Redstone. If he followed his usual steps with any other Puzzle, it would have been solved long before, but this one resisted. It was like it worked by some other set of mechanics. But there were no mechanics besides those of Redstone, were there?

It was simple really. The Redstone in the outside produced a current, blocked by several layers of switches. One had to carefully switch these switches in such a way that they allowed a current to pass through and did not block other switches. This continued until one current had reached the center, when the Gate would light up with the electric power of charged Redstone, and the Puzzle would pop open.

As his eyelids became heavier, he continued to flick the switches, watching the current travel back and forth, back and forth, his vision fading until he could only see the small red sparks of Redstone, and then nothing.

* * *

Lothas raced across the frozen tundra, a fiery look in his bright purple eyes. His black cloak trailed behind him like a living shadow. In his left hand was a torch that blazed orange. In his right were the reins of his steed. He rode what appeared to be a giant cat. On closer inspection, it was revealed to be more canine than anything else, with a long fanged snout and jet black fur all across it's body. It had a silver saddle, and a long tail that flicked in the air. It's eyes were completely black and pupil-less.

It was a Wulfon. The large wolf-like creatures roamed the tundra, eyeless. But that didn't mean they couldn't see. Wulfon were extremely attuned to magical energy. They could sense objects of minor power from hundreds of miles away. They used magical currents to see. The greatest mage could hope to see maybe half of what a Wulfon sensed without even trying.

Lothas was pleased with it. He had managed to tame one some years before, and had been skeptical of the creature's mythic power. But it was greater than he could ever have imagined. The beast was a compass straight to the Eye.

If the beast's speed was as great as its senses, he would possess the Eye before the sun had risen the day after tomorrow. Two nights at most, and it would be his.

Lothas' thoughts shifted as the Wulfon slowed to a halt. It had reached the edge of a cliff. It was indicating the Eye was in the valley below. Through the dense mist, Lothas attempted to make out what was down there. There were lights, many of them, which twinkled faintly. It was a village of some sort. It was small, but that was to be expected here on the outskirts of the Muralon Kingdom.

It's name was unimportant. What was important was that this was the source of the power, and therefore, his destination.

Will's head shot up. He looked around, startled. He shook his head wearily, and relaxed. He must have fallen asleep while trying to solve the Puzzle. I have to stop doing this, he thought. He had been awakened by another nightmare. He couldn't remember the details of it, but he knew it wasn't good and he didn't want to think about it right now.

Speaking of the Puzzle, where was it? It wasn't in his hand anymore. He looked around, until his eyes finally settled on the fireplace. The fire had died. The Puzzle must have rolled out of his hand while he was sleeping and fallen into the fire.

He reached down and pulled it out of the ashes. Strangely, it appeared to be completely unburned. Usually iron became at least somewhat charred from exposure to fire. It was however covered in black ash. He shook it, watching as the ash fell off and piled onto his floor. He'd have to clean that later.

He looked at the Puzzle again, as though he expected the fire to magically solve it. But it was exactly how he had left it. However, looking at the edges of the ring, he noticed something different. Around the Redstone Gate on the front of the Puzzle, there was a small circular ring. Engraved on the ring were a series of symbols. He hadn't even noticed them before, but he now saw they were all around the Redstone Gate. Embedded as they now were with ash, they were clearly visible.

What was more, he recognized these symbols. He had taken a class on them long ago, when he had first enrolled in Adarell University. They were part of a language. If his memory was correct, he still had the textbook. He stood up, and walked over to his bookshelf. He looked through several books before coming upon the one he wanted.

He looked at the cover, blowing dust off it. Imprinted on the black surface, in large silver print, were the words: "Dark Tongues : A Comprehensive Guide to the Ender Language". He flipped through it. The symbols matched those on the Puzzle. He sat back down on his armchair and looked inquisitively at the Puzzle.

Why would a toy made for children have words from a dead language on it? Sure, Professor Laurum had said the thing was old. But he had said it dated back about a hundred years. The Ender Age was millennia ago. And yet, here were the symbols, copied as if right out of the book.

He turned to the Ender - Minecraftian dictionary in the back of the book. He spitefully remembered the hours he had spent looking through it, translating ancient texts. He looked back at the symbols.

He grabbed a quill and paper, and wrote down all the symbols as accurately as he could.
There were thirty to forty in all, with no spaces in between. Minecraftian had twenty-six letters, but Ender had thirty. Some of the symbols meant the same thing, others simply could not be interpreted fully, but the dictionary could translate as accurately as any other device known to modern technology.

When he had finished, he looked through the book, and started to write down the translated symbols. It took him the better part of an hour, and when he had finished, he had a simple message on the paper in front of him. He read it once, then added spaces where it looked appropriate.

In the light of the White-Eyed One’s sphere, all will be revealed.

Will didn’t know what to say. It was clearly a message of some sort, but what did it mean? It sounded like a riddle. What was “the White-Eyed One’s sphere”? He assumed the “White-Eyed One” was a person.

He could think of only one obvious “White-Eyed One”, in history or otherwise. That would be the Dark Lord Herobrine of course. Herobrine was said to have ruled the world millennia ago. He and his eleven Ender Dragons had spread darkness over the land. Herobrine's eyes were pure white. It was unclear, however, how much of this was myth and how much of it was fact. But it was clear, whatever the truth of his power and magic, Herobrine had been real.

So that much was settled. But what would Herobrine’s sphere be? His eyes? But there were two of those. Will thought for several minutes on this. Eventually he remembered that the name for the sun was “Notch’s orb” (Notch of course being the polar opposite to Herobrine in the aforementioned mythology). It followed logically that Herobrine’s sphere was the moon.

Perhaps he wasn’t such a bad detective after all. So, by the light of the moon, all would be revealed. What did that mean? Was it a metaphor, or was it literal? Whatever it was, Will had come too far in unraveling this mystery to give up now. His first guess was that some hidden part of the Puzzle would reveal itself under moonlight.

Will looked out the window. The sun was low in the sky, and the moon would come up soon. In a few hours he could go out and test his theory. He sat excitedly in his armchair. He could barely wait.

From his seat near the gates of Adarell, the night watchman of the village lounged sleepily. He was a middle-aged fellow by the name of Dave, and rather bored with his job. He sat in a wooden chair, elevated so he could look out over the ground near the gate. The gate itself was not particularly elegant, merely two wooden doors crossed with parallel bands of steel at set intervals.

Two bright orange torches stood on either side of the gate, casting a flickering light out on the ground. The rest of the land was dark. Dave wished his shifts didn’t have to be in the winter. The cold night air brushed against his face, and a few frozen snowflakes landed on his face.

He was beginning to contemplate simply going to sleep when he heard the sound of hoof beats. He looked up, and saw several men on horses riding towards him. There were six in all, one riding slightly ahead of the others. They wore black cloaks. Their horses were also black. Well, the horses of the last five. The first one didn’t seem to be riding a horse. His steed looked like a giant dog or wolf. Dave wondered if he was seeing things.

“Hey! Who are you?” he called out into the darkness. There was no answer. The riders continued to come closer. “You can’t come in without telling me your names and purpose!” he said. He was starting to feel uncomfortable. These people didn’t look friendly, and it didn’t seem like they cared whether or not he was allowing them to go in. He stepped out of his chair and climbed down to the ground. He stepped in front of the doors and spread out his arms.

“Now listen,” he said, his voice quivering. “You can’t get in without telling me your names and purposes.” He was trying to sound courageous, and from the looks of it he was failing. The lead rider looked to his companions, and then turned his gaze to Dave. Dave saw two bright purple eyes watching him from underneath his black hood.

Then, faster than lightning, the lead rider pulled a black-hilted knife out of his cloak and hurled it at Dave. He didn’t even have to time to realize what had happened before he fell to the ground, dead. Crimson blood pooled around his corpse. The lead rider rode forward a little, picked up the knife, and washed it on his sleeve. Then he slipped it back into his cloak.

The six riders dismounted their horses, and the leader rider turned to the other five. They all took off their hoods. The lead rider was Lothas. The other five were strange creatures, with ash-colored skin and bright purple eyes. Servants of the shadows. Endermen.

Lothas grabbed the torches off the side of the gates. He tossed them to the Endermen. “You know what to do,” he said in his silky voice. “Find the Eye and bring it to me. Kill anyone who tries to get in your way.” The creatures all nodded simultaneously.

Lothas turned to the gate, and pushed it open. The Endermen followed him. He kicked Dave’s corpse out of the way and stepped into the village.

* * *

Will felt like an idiot. He was standing on the stone roof of Aradell Univeraity Beneath him the buildings of the village stretched out, their lights bright and shining in the darkness, like stars. The cold night air battered his face fiercely. He clutched his cloak tightly around him.

In his right hand he held the Redstone Puzzle. The moon shone down from the sky, obscured completely by clouds.

He had been waiting there for at least two hours, by the count of his silver pocket watch. He had been there since sunset, waiting eagerly. But the cold and boredom had changed his opinion of the logic of this venture.

Why he had decided to do this, he didn’t know. It was sheer lunacy (no pun intended). What had he been expecting? Some magical being to come down from the sky and open the Puzzle for him? The riddle was obviously a riddle and nothing more. His overactive imagination had foiled him again.

But at the same time, he didn’t want to leave either. He had already been here two hours. If he left now, it was all for nothing. And so he waited. And waited. And waited. The Puzzle showed no visible changes, and was as closed as ever.

At one point he thought he heard a noise behind him, but when he turned around there was nothing there. He must have been having hallucinations, he thought. He stood there, his face getting stiff and his hands getting numb. He fumbled with his pocket watch for almost a minute before his icy fingers could get a grip on it.

Three hours now. He tried to put the pocket watch back in his pocket, but dropped it instead. As he bent down to pick it up, he realized there was a dent in its silver edge. That was his favorite pocket watch. That was the last straw! He stood up and raised his arm. He had half a mind to throw the infernal Puzzle right off the edge of the building. Maybe it would shatter into pieces down below, and finally open!

He moved towards the balcony of the rooftop, no clear intention in mind. But before he could make a decision on the Puzzle’s fate, he slipped on a frozen puddle. He fell face first onto the hard stone ground. The Puzzle rolled out of his grip and tumbled onto the floor beside him.

He stood up, even angrier now, when he noticed something. The surface of the Puzzle was glowing. He walked over and picked it up. The symbols on the front and the Redstone Gate were illuminated in a bright white light. Looking up, he saw that the clouds were passing, and the moon was shining clearly down on him.

He was puzzled at first. And then he realized: This wasn’t magic! The Puzzle was inlaid with Lunium. The white stone was found in the mountains, and glowed when moonlight shone on it. The stone was commonly used in the village for night-lamps.

He realized what the riddle had meant by: “all will be revealed.” There in front of him, the Redstone Gates were outlined in Lunium. The correct ones shone, and the wrong ones were dim. He had solved it within a few minutes. The Puzzle sprang open with a satisfying click!

Will began to smile in disbelief. When he had gathered his wits about him, he smiled even wider. Now this was a story to tell Professor Laurum! He lifted off the top of the Puzzle. Strangely, there was a brown paper parcel inside. He hadn’t expected there to be anything inside. The Puzzles usually had hollow cores, but were rarely used for storage.

He opened the parcel slowly. Inside was what appeared to be a piece of jewelry. It was a large amulet. The chain was made of silver, and inlaid in it was part of a bright purple gem. Half of the gem was there, but a long jagged crack cut it, and the other half of the amulet was empty. Will turned the amulet over in his hands, looking at in the moonlight.

He did this for several seconds before his thoughts were shattered by a sound behind him. He turned around abruptly, and saw a dark figure walking slowly over to him. As he drew closer the figure took off his hood. Will saw he was clapping his hands slowly.

“Well done. Well done.” said the figure. Will saw his eyes were a piercing purple, and two silver fangs were grinning at him from his mouth. He outstretched his hand. “Now hand it over.”

Will stared at the man in shock. “W-who are you?” he asked. The man laughed.

“My name is unimportant,” said the man with a smirk. “But if you must know, I am Lothas, the greatest necromancer in the Seven Kingdoms.” The man gave a mockingly illustrious bow. “Perhaps you’ve heard of me?”

Will said nothing. The man continued smirking. “Well, even if you haven’t,” he said as he walked forward. “You have now. To be honest I really don’t care to know your name. But enough talk. If you’ll be so kind as to hand me the Eye.” He motioned to the amulet.

Will looked down at the object in his hand. He assumed this was what the man had meant by “the Eye”. Logically there was no reason he shouldn’t just surrender the amulet to this dangerous-looking man. He had no connections to it. He had just found it four minutes earlier. But something in the back of his mind told him he shouldn’t.

Will slowly backed away to the edge of the building. He dropped the Puzzle on the ground, and picked up a handful of snow. The man advanced. “How did you know I had . . . whatever it is you’re looking for?” asked Will. He was stalling, and a plan was starting to take shape in his mind.

The man laughed again. His laughter was cold and arrogant. “Why, the power radiated from that box you have is like a beacon for magical energy. Of course, I don’t suppose you know what that is, or, for that matter, what that amulet is.”

“No. I don’t.” said Will.

“Well, then maybe it’s in everyone’s best interests you just give it to me so I can be on my way.” said the man. He held out his hand again. Will nodded, feigning agreement. As the man came closer, he opened his hand as though he were offering it to him. However, when the man had come within a foot of him, he suddenly switched hands and threw the handful of snow into his face.

The man cried out in surprise, giving Will his chance. He sprinted to the door to the building, and swung it open. As he descended the spiral stone staircase, he heard a cry of rage and footsteps behind him. He ignored them, simply running faster down the staircase until he arrived at the lobby. From there he ran out the door and into the street.

* * *

Lothas was angry. Not only was the Eye gone, he had been outsmarted by a boy. But he knew he wouldn’t get far. He leaped off the side of the building, scaling down it with an animalistic speed. He landed on the brick street with a muffled crash, his legs buried up to his ankles in the thick white snow. He snapped his fingers, and all around him the Endermen materialized in the shadows.

“The Eye is here. I’ve seen it. A boy has run off with it. But he won’t escape. You, seal the gates.” One of the Endermen ran towards the gates, and began to close them, sealing off the main entrance to the village. Lothas was going to make quite sure the Eye didn’t slip out of his fingers again.

“If he will not show himself, we will smoke him out. Raze the village to the ground!” said Lothas. He raised his torch, and touched it to the side of the University building. The orange light stayed there for a second before spreading slowly to the wood of the building. It expanded quickly, and soon the entire building was engulfed in orange flames. Smoke billowed high into the sky. Nearby, the Endermen were doing the same.

Within minutes the once-quiet village was immersed in a roaring inferno. All around, families ran out of their burning houses. Women and children ran for safety, while men tried in vain to find water to put out the blaze.

Lothas stood amidst the rubble, a cold smirk on his fanged face. The firelight reflected in his narrowed purple eyes. As he admired the chaos, a small black raven flew past him. It had been set on fire, and shrieking in pain from the flames. It fell to the ground, and twitched for a few seconds before going limp.

Lothas walked over to the bird's charred corpse, and looked down on it. A small sphere of purple light formed in his hand. The bird began to move, and rose up into the air, it's skin glowing with the purple sparks of a being resurrected by necromancy.

The undead raven perched on Lothas' shoulder and gave a small squawk. Lothas smiled, amused, and slowly walked away.

* * *

Will crouched on the porch of the village store, trying not to make any sound. He had managed to run there from the door of Adarell University without being noticed. He didn’t see Lothas anywhere in sight, but he couldn’t be sure. He clutched the amulet close to his chest. He hid there for several minutes before he saw the light from the buildings in the distance.

They were beginning to glow orange. The light was bright, and hurt Will's eyes to look at. Will briefly wondered if one of his neighbors was having a party. And then he realized: The buildings were on fire. Massive jets of flame were sailing out of the windows of the houses, and blackened bits of wood were falling to the ground.

He ran into the street, looking around himself in fear. The flames were spreading at an alarming rate from both sides of the street. Black smoke clouded the air. He coughed as the thick fog got into his lungs. He could barely breathe. He saw people running in panic out of the corner of his eyes. He wanted to scream for help, but he couldn’t form any words.

His vision was almost entirely orange, the bright light of the flames blinding him. He stumbled back. The glass windows of the store reflected the light. He watched in terror as the flames spread to its sturdy wooden foundation. Within a minute it was being devoured by the flames. Will stepped back as the entire building collapsed, sending up a shower of sparks and smoke. He was quickly running out of space even to move. He could see no escape in sight, and the smoke and light were overwhelming his senses. He had power enough to register only one grim thought: There was no way he could escape. He would die here.

He stood in the heart of the inferno, the flames inches from him. Just as he was about to be burned alive by them, he was suddenly grabbed from behind. Before he knew what was happening, he was lifted up onto the back of a white horse. In front of him, a figure in a silver cloak held the reins.

The rider turned to him. He could barely see his face because a silver hood was covering most of it. He was too stunned to speak. “W-who are you?” he finally managed to say. “There’s no time to explain right now.” said the rider. “Just hold on.” The horse suddenly leaped into the air, over another burning beam of wood.

Will wondered if he was dreaming. This was all too fantastical to be real. He looked behind him, and screamed. Lothas had seen him, and was giving chase. He appeared to be riding some kind of giant wolf. Behind him, five more riders followed. The rider in the silver cloak heard his scream and turned around. When he saw Lothas, he cursed under his breath. He cracked the reins, spurring his horse on faster.

They were almost at the gates of the village, but Lothas was quickly catching up to them. He would catch them before they escaped. He was soon only feet behind them. He reached out his hand, trying to grab the amulet Will still had pressed to his chest. Will could see the anger and determination in his eyes. Will could also see with alarm that in his other hand he carried a sharp and deadly-looking sword.

“There’s no way we can outrun him!” said the rider. "Put on the Eye!” Will looked at the Eye, puzzled. Why was he supposed to put it on? It was just an amulet. The rider yelled again for him to put it on. Frightened, he fumbled with it. Lothas was right behind him. His face was inches from Will’s. He slipped it over his head.

The cold metal surface of the amulet touched Will's chest. Everything was silent for a moment, and then the Eye exploded. A burst of light like the implosion of a small star came from the amulet’s glassy surface. The greatest necromancer in the Seven Kingdoms was sent flying, his dark cloak tumbling over him as he spiralled through the air and landed on the hard stone ground. The riders that had been following him simply faded away, their essences incinerated by the power of the Eye. Will looked at the amulet, wide-eyed. What had just happened?

He looked forward. They had reached the gates. But they were closed and locked. How were they going to get through without- Without waiting for the end of his train of thought, the horse leaped straight at the gates and crashed through them, sending shards of splintered wood flying everywhere. Will took the well-timed opportunity to faint, as the white horse ran out of the village and into the snowy darkness.

When Will opened his eyes, all he could see was a bright white light. He wondered if he was dead. His eyes took some time to adjust to the intensity of the light, but once they had, he was able to look around.

He saw he was no longer on the horse. He was lying on a soft white bed. The room he was in was fairly large, and filled with beds like his, though none but his were occupied. The light, he saw, came from a large lamp built into the ceiling.

He slowly pulled back the white blanket on the bed, and looked at himself. He was wearing the same clothes, but they were torn and somewhat burned. His hand went to his chest. He still felt the cold circular shape of the amulet against his skin.

He got up slowly. He felt weak, but not in pain. He had no wounds that were visible, but his head was throbbing. He had a blinding headache. He sat back down on the bed, holding his head in his hand. He tried to remember what had happened last night.

He remembered opening the Redstone Puzzle . . . being chased by a man in black cloak . . . riding a horse . . . and the rest was darkness. It took some effort to remember even that. After a few minutes he decided to stop worrying about what had happened last night and focus on where he was.

He had woken up here, but it wasn’t his dormitory. He had never seen a place like this before. Obviously someone had taken him here, but who? And why? He wondered if he was being held in some luxurious prison.

He saw a small table next to his bed. He got up, and walked over to it. The floor was marble tile, and felt cool underneath his feet. The table was made of oak wood, and stood on four sturdy legs. On it was a shirt, a pair of pants, a piece of folded black fabric, and a pair of black shoes. Will guessed the clothes had been put there for him.

He took off his old clothes, setting them down by his bed. He put on the shirt and pants. They were both black, and lined with silver thread. In the top right corner of his shirt was an embroidered silver eye. He had never seen that emblem before.

He picked up the fabric and unfolded it. It was a hooded black cloak. It was also lined with silver, and very good quality. From the looks of it, it and the rest of the clothes had been made in Taron. The craftsmen and fur-workers there were renowned for their skill with silk.

Will had had a cloak before, but it was gray and torn. This one was shiny and new. If he was right and he truly was in a prison, then his captors had certainly spared no expense in providing him clothes.

He put on the cloak. He also slipped on the shoes, which were comfortable on his feet. He saw a small mirror next to the wall, and walked over to it. Looking at his own reflection in the clear glass, he felt like a hero, with his shiny cloak and black clothes. He struck a few heroic poses, memories of his childhood pretending to be an adventurer coming back to him.

He grabbed a candlestick from his bedside table, and lifted it up like a sword. He slashed through the air with it, arcing it over his head. He sliced it in elaborate patterns, weaving a tapestry of cuts across the air. Just as he was about to plunge it into the heart of an invisible dragon, there was a knock at the door.
He dropped the candlestick in surprise, where it clattered to the ground and made a great deal of noise. His face turned red and he became very embarrassed. "Coming!" he called to the door. He managed to pick up the fallen candlestick and put it in its proper place on the bedside table, and ran quickly to the door.

When he opened it, he was surprised to see a girl standing in the doorway. He had intended to demand where he was and why he was here from whoever answered the door, but all that was forgotten when he saw her.

Though he didn't know much about such things, she was actually quite attractive. She looked about twenty-four. Her hair was an oak-colored dark brown, and flowed to her shoulders. Her skin was pale and fair, and her lips were a cherry red, though she didn't appear to be wearing lipstick. She wore a black shirt and pants, with the same emblem as his own, though her cloak was as white as snow. She was about as tall as him.

Despite all of her other features, however, Will was most intrigued by her eyes. They were a bright gray color, and shone with a luminescent intensity. There was a knowledge and power in them that seemed beyond her age. "Um, hello?" she said. He snapped back to reality. He realized he had been standing there, staring at her face for several minutes.

"Oh, hi! Yes, hi! Sorry, I just . . . drifted off there." She laughed, but Will turned his face away. His cheeks were red. He had just met her and he was already screwing this up! Vowing to be more suave, he turned back to her. "So, yeah, hi. I'm Will." He said this in the best nonchalant voice he could muster as he leaned on the door frame. He was trying his best to seem relaxed and laid-back, but in reality it looked like he had a sprained ankle and was struggling to stand.

The girl looked puzzled at his attempt to seem relaxed, but introduced herself anyway. "Safira. Apprentice White Mage of the Order Illumina. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Will dropped his debonair smile in place of a puzzled expression.

"Really?" said Will, looking into her eyes and paying attention to absolutely none of what she had said. "Well, I'm from Aradell . . ." He found himself at a loss of things to say. Luckily Safira picked up the conversation.

"Well, I'd love to hear some more about that later, but we need to go." she said. Will was puzzled.

"Go where?" he asked.

"To the Grand Chamber," she replied. "Master Ardiax is waiting for you. He's requested your presence as soon as you are able. I came to check on you, but since it seems like you're ready, let's go." she said.

"What? What's the Grand Chamber, and who's Ardiax?" he asked. His plan of nonchalance and flirtation was gone, and replaced with his usual curious mood.

"There'll be an explanation when you get there." replied Safira. "Maybe I can tell you some of it on the way. But we need to hurry. We don't want to keep the entire Council waiting."

Before Will could ask what the "Council" was, she grabbed his hand, and pulled him out the door, shutting it behind them.

“You have failed me Lothas.” The necromancer stood on one knee, his back arched in a deep bow. Drops of water fell from the long, jagged stalactites jutting from the ceiling of the cold stone chamber in the heart of the ebon fortress of Maltair. The gray brick floor was shrouded in darkness, save for the cold light of the ivory moon high above.

Lothas looked uncomfortable. His hair was uncombed, and his breaths were heavy. His silver fangs bit into his lips, drawing small red spots of blood in their wake. His tongue flicked nervously. His shining purple eyes were pointed straight at the ground, as though he were afraid to look up. At some level, he was.

Arakon, last of the Ender Dragons, sat on his metal throne, looking imperiously down at Lothas. He wore his human form, complete with his silver armor and weapons. The Eye hung around his neck, though it felt less like a symbol of power and more like an object of frustration now.

He spoke again, his voice deep and ominous. “The Eye is in the hands of my enemies, and my presence announced to the whole world in flaming letters across the sky. And who do I have to thank for it? My ‘loyal servant’, Lothas.” The dragon had been alive for eons, and had learned how to hide his emotions. But even he couldn’t help some anger seeping into his voice.

“Lord Arakon, there were circumstances beyond my control-” The dragon silenced him with a wave of his hand.

“Beyond your control? Was the razing of a village by your own orders beyond your control? Your anger and rashness in a moment’s decision have jeopardized a plan that has been thousands of years in the making! I should incinerate you now and throw your ashes to the Nether!” The dragon’s purple eyes blazed brightly with fury.

He regained his composure quickly, and sat back in his seat, staring at Lothas coldly."But you are still a powerful asset to me. So I will let you live." Lothas breathed a sigh of relief. "But I have a new task for you."

Arakon held up the purple gem of the Eye. "Touch it." he said. Lothas looked up, and slowly touched the shining surface of the amulet. His mind was flooded with unfamiliar memories. "The other half of the Eye has chosen a guardian. He is a boy." Arakon continued.

Lothas looked through the pictures that now filled his mind. He saw a boy, yes . . . the boy from the village! A searing anger burned through his mind. The boy that had outsmarted him. "I know this boy. He stole the Eye."

Arakon nodded. "So it would seem. I can see his mind through the Eye that I have. I have hidden my presence from him so far. You are to find this boy, and bring him back to me. As the Chosen of the Eye, he is required if the two halves are to be made one."

Lothas stood, and bowed again. "I will not fail you, my lord."

"So we should hope." said Arakon. "Consider yourself lucky, Lothas. The next time you fail, you will not escape with your life." With that, the dragon snapped his fingers, and Lothas was gone in a flash of purple light.

He sat back in his throne, and looked up at the stars through the skylight of the spire high above him. He disliked having to rely on the aptitude of mortals. But these preparations were a necessary part of his plan. All of his manipulation and plotting would soon pay off.

Lothas was merely a pawn in this game. His part was small, and he would play it well before all was over. He was only a single gear in the vast and elaborate machine that was destiny. He was a momentary thought. Once the Eye was made whole again, he wouldn't matter. Nor would anyone else.

He looked up again. The moon gazed down at him, its pale white crystal surface high in the sky, casting light on the heavens. How many times he had seen it set, he knew not. He had plans, as he did for all things, for the moon. In his reign, it would be watchmen, eye and sovereign. He would extinguish the sun. The moon would be eternal.

Others dared not defy the might of the sun. But it was for the weak to rely on the hand of the gods to spell their fate. The strong seized it for themselves. And Arakon was strong. He would take what he wanted, be it in this world or any other. That was his fate. That was his destiny.

After about fifteen minutes of walking through the gray stone hallways of the building, Will and Safira finally arrived at a large silver door. Along the way Safira had dismissed most of his questions, saying that Ardiax would explain everything. She seemed to know her way around the place very well, which was good, seeing as Will didn’t.

She stopped just outside the doors. They were nearly twenty feet high, and each gilded with elaborate patterns. On both were large silver knocking-rings, held in the mouths of gilded lions. Will noticed that when both doors contained half of a large eye, the same emblem that had been on his and Safira’s shirt.

“Now listen,” said Safira. “The White Council is in there. That’s their Grand Chamber. Its a great honor to gain an audience with them. Just . . . be polite. I promise you won’t be confused for much longer.” With that, she opened the door, and stepped inside, followed by a very confused Will.

The chamber was one of the grandest rooms Will had ever seen. The walls and ceiling were made of carved marble, and held up by large, elegant pillars. There was a large circular oak table in the middle, with six large stone chairs around it. In the chairs sat men.

Each of them were old, with white beards and hair. Each also wore a white cloak. They all looked exceptionally wise, but Will was most intrigued by the one in the head chair. He had a white beard as well, and his eyes were a deep gray. There was an aura of power surrounding him, and the air flickered with sparks behind him. This, Will assumed, was Ardiax.

The men appeared to be in a discussion of some sort, but their talk ceased as soon as Will and Safira entered the room. Safira immediately bowed, and Will, taking her cue, did the same. Safira stood up, and looked at the man in the head chair. “I’ve brought the one you requested Master Ardiax.” she said.

“Thank you Safira. You can go.” said the man in the head chair. She bowed quickly again, and hurried out of the room. Will was left alone. The man looked at him, and smiled. “Hello. I am given to understand your name is Willhelm.” he said.

“Yes.” said Will. “How did you know?” That probably wasn’t the right question to ask, but his curiosity had gotten the better of him. The man smiled again.

“Our spies have been . . . keeping tabs . . . on you, since the Eye fell into your hands. A necessary measure, I am afraid. And one prepared in thought of just this event: you would be the Chosen of the Eye.” said Ardiax.

“I don’t understand,” said Will. “I’ve heard a lot about this “Eye”, but no one’s told me what it is, or what it means.” He was starting to get annoyed at the lack of explanation. “Why am I here to begin with? What happened to my village that I can’t remember?”

“Ah, yes. I forgot that you are not one of us. You must be extremely confused right now.” He laughed. His laughter was light and comforting. “But you have a right to hear the tale from its beginning. It is the least we owe you, considering the terrible journey you have ahead of you.” Will didn’t like the sound of a “terrible journey”, but he remained silent.

“Come, sit down. It all begins with a story. The tale I have to tell is long and fantastic, but it is true. When I am finished you will understand why you are here. Come, sit down.” Will didn’t see where he would sit, seeing as all the chairs were taken. But he approached anyway, and as he walked forward, a chair simply materialized in the air in front of him. He blinked, not believing his eyes.

It appeared to be made out of . . . light. Ardiax smiled at his amazement. “One of my more useful powers, I suppose. I am, after all, a White Mage. But don’t think too much on it. What matters is my story. So, I gather you are familiar with the Dark Lord Herobrine?” Will nodded, and sat down. The chair, however spectral looking, was quite solid.

"Good." said Ardiax. He cleared his throat, and began his tale.

“So you see. That amulet you have around your neck is the other half of the Eye. After it was hidden, an organization was created to protect it. It was named the Order Illumina, after its vow to fight all of the darkness in Minecraftia. The Order was comprised of White Mages, sorcerers skilled in the magic of light. For millennia we have existed in secret. It is only now that the time has come for us to reveal ourselves.” said Ardiax.

“I know Herobrine was real, but why should I believe that this amulet was made by him?” asked Will, incredulously.

“You have seen the power of the Eye for yourself. And you have seen what men are willing to do to get their hands on it. The Eye is hiding the memories from you, but if you look further, you will remember.” replied Ardiax.

Will did what he said, and tried hard to remember. Suddenly, the shroud in his mind lifted, and he remembered. “My village was burned down! By a man in a black cloak. And I was saved by a man in a white cloak. So that was one of you?” Ardiax nodded. Will’s thoughts suddenly filled with sorrow, as he thought about what must have happened to the villagers in the town.

Seeing the worried look on his face, Ardiax spoke again. “I wouldn’t worry about the villagers at Aradell, Willhelm. Our agents are taking care of rebuilding the village.” Will was still concerned, but he managed to put his thoughts aside for now.

“If you still do not believe me,” continued Ardiax. “The Eye will show you.” Will’s hand went to the amulet around his neck. He felt a warm pulse from it, and suddenly he knew Ardiax was telling the truth. He didn't know how or why, he just knew. What other feats was this thing capable of?

“Okay, I believe you, at least partially,” said Will. “But where do I fit into all of this?”

“Though Herobrine was defeated, he could be resurrected if the Eye was ever made whole again. Indeed, a prophecy predicted another dark power would one day return to seek it. We knew that one day, a hero like the prince would be required again.” He looked at Will. Will looked dumbfounded, and then shook his head.

“What? You can’t mean me.” he said.

“We released the Eye into the world, hidden so that it would look like a parcel. By its own power of manipulation, it made its way from hand to hand for centuries, always moving as we watched. But it never allowed itself to be opened. Until now. Whoever gave you the Eye got it from someone else, who got it from the hands of a thousand other people. It could easily have simply bypassed you as well. But it didn’t.” said Ardiax.

“There must be a mistake here. Even if everything you say is true, I’m not a hero. I’m just a boy from a village! I never chose this!” said Will. He was becoming red in the face.

“We don’t choose our destinies Willhelm. They come to us. I have mine, and you have yours. We must do what we can to follow them.” said Ardiax, wisely.

“Okay,” said Will. He breathed in and out for a minute, before regaining his composure and continuing. “If I am the one you want, what do I have to do.”

“There is a perilous path ahead of you.” said Ardiax. “The Chosen of the Eye is the one who must destroy it. You will take it to the Great Forge in the Nether, and throw it into the fires from which it was forged. If it is destroyed, Herobrine can never return to this realm.”

“The Nether?! You want me to go to hell?” said Will. Will was all too familiar with the fiery dimension of the Nether. It was said to be Herobrine’s realm, and filled with demons

“The journey will be long and dangerous, but you are the only one who can take it. You will have allies, however. The White Council has faith in you. We initially had doubts. We have put it to a vote, and decided you must take the journey. If the Eye chose you, then you are the only one who can go.” said Ardiax.

“I need more time to think about this.” said Will.

“We can give you two days time. I know it is a hard decision. Inform Safira when you have made your choice. She has already volunteered to accompany you.” Will was impressed. Safira had volunteered immediately to go on such a dangerous journey.

Will got up to leave, his mind still confused and puzzled. When he was at the door, he heard Ardiax’s voice behind him. He turned around. “I know it is a heavy burden Will. But Herobrine cannot be resurrected. The choice is yours. But the fate of the world may depend on your decision.”

* * *

Will sat in his room, thinking. He had spent several hours just sitting on his bed, thinking.

Just two days ago he had been a student at Adarell University. Now he was the Chosen of perhaps the most powerful artifact in Minecraftia. And everyone expected him to be a hero and destroy it.

Will wasn’t a hero. Mark would have known what to do in this situation. Mark was an adventurer. But Mark wasn’t Chosen. You were. A voice spoke in his head.

“But I’m not ready for this!” he said aloud, even though he was alone in the room. “I need training, and time and knowledge! I can’t do this!” His hand went to the Eye again. He felt its presence in his mind. It was comforting, somehow.

Will remembered what Ardiax had said when he spoke with him. We don’t choose our destinies Willhelm. They come to us. I have mine, and you have yours. We must do what we can to follow them. He thought about it. After a long time, he sat up. He took a deep breath, and stood. He had made his decision.

* * *

Will found Safira in the hall outside. He walked swiftly up to her and stood in front of her. Before she could even open her mouth to say a greeting, he spoke. “I’ll do it.”

She looked confused. “What?”

“The Eye. I’ll do it. I’ll go on this quest.” he said. He spoke quickly. He wanted to say it all fast so he didn’t have time to change his mind. Safira took a few seconds to register what he had said, but when she understood she broke into a small grin.

She put a hand on his shoulder. “You’re doing the world a great service Will. I’m proud of you. For now its best you get some rest. I still have a few preparations to make.” Will nodded, and headed back to his room.

What have I gotten myself into? he wondered.

Will woke up early the next morning. He dressed hurriedly, filled with anticipation and excitement at the events to come. He wasn’t entirely sure what he would take on the journey. The Order had left him a small satchel to store his things, which he had just now noticed.

Will emptied the pockets of his old clothes, but found little of value. He did however find a small bag next to his clothes, which he had been carrying with him when he was rescued by the Order. It contained a small pouch of Redstone dust, a Redstone II textbook, a quill and his silver pocket watch. He placed the pocket watch in his cloak.

He wasn’t sure if any of the other things he had found would come in handy, but they reminded him of old life and he didn’t want to just discard them. So he packed them in his new satchel, along with a few pairs of clothes. He picked up the satchel, and quickly checked the room to make sure he hadn’t left anything behind. Once he was ready, he hurried out the door.

In the hallway he was met by Safira. She had also prepared to the journey. She wore her white cloak, and carried a satchel. “Hi,” she said. “Do you have everything you need?”

“Yeah.” said Will, though he wasn’t sure.

“Good. Our ship is waiting outside. Follow me. I’ll introduce you to the Company.” she said, walking down the hallway.

“What?” asked Will, following shortly behind her.

“The Company of the Chosen. Historically the Chosen has always had allies. Well, in theory, anyway. There has never been an actual Chosen before. You didn’t really think you were going on this journey alone, did you?” she asked with a laugh.

To tell the truth, Will hadn’t really thought about it. He hadn’t really thought about any of this.

“This is a difficult journey, Will.” said Safira, in a more serious tone. “We’ll need all the help we can get. According to the prophecy, the Seven Kingdoms could be persuaded to lend us their greatest warriors. But the Civil War and our lack of proof of Herobrine’s return limits our options. But I gathered a few friends yesterday. I think they’ll be of help to us.”

They arrived at a large brown oak door. Safira pushed it open, shedding bright sunlit on the gray tiles of the floor. They stepped outside. Will saw that the Order Illumina’s headquarters was built somewhere in the mountains. On either side he could see a wide expanse of green timber trees. The ground ahead was covered in thick white frost, and in the distance he saw the snow-capped summits of the Western Peaks. He stepped out onto the stone path leading out of the fortress.

“Where are we going?” he asked Safira as they walked along the path down the mountain. The road was small, and made of small stone tiles fitted together into an odd pattern. His shoes slipped several times on the slick rocks, but he managed to keep his footing.

“To our vessel. I’ve managed, by luck and a little bargaining, to procure an airship to take on our journey. Umbron is a long way away.” she replied.Will had learned earlier that their goal lay in the shadow lands of Umbron, ruins of Herobrine's kingdom. There the last remaining Nether Portal was said to exist.

But Will was most intrigued by the other things Safira had said. An airship? WIll had ridden on a total of maybe four airships in his life. In Muralon they rode ferries all the time for public transportation. But Aradell was a modest city, and its people preferred simply walking or riding horses wherever they wanted to go. But an airship! A boyish sense of excitement welled up in him. He put his concerns out of his mind for the moment.

He followed Safira down the path for several minutes before they came to a wooded clearing. “The fortress’ docks.” she explained, walking through the thick trees into a large circular stone platform. It was structured somewhat like a water dock, with various rectangular ports extending from a large central circle.

As Will stepped onto the docks himself, he felt a sudden sense of vertigo. The docks were built right into the side of the mountain, and jutted out from it like the massive stone limb of a giant. He swallowed hard as he saw that beyond the edge there was nothing. He could see the valley, miles below. It was a sheer drop to the bottom.

Safira did not seem to notice his fear, and walked onward. After some hesitation, WIll followed her. None of the docks seemed to be in use, except for one. Will had not even noticed the airship before now, being preoccupied with his fear.

But his other thoughts were all expelled from his mind when he saw the airship on the stone platform. He stopped walking, staring in awe at the majestic oak creature in front of him. It was about a hundred feet long, and nearly forty feet tall. The body was built like a sailing ship, with a large pointed mast and a thick hull. The entire ship was made of a reddish-brown oak wood. Will could see glass windows built into the side at set intervals.

High above the ship, attached to it by thick brown ropes, was a massive white wool balloon. It was reinforced by steel bands, and Will noticed with a start that it was lifting the entire airship several feet off the ground. A small red flag was flying on the mast. Will couldn’t make out the symbol on it at first. As he looked closer, he saw that it was the face of one of the most feared creatures in Minecraftia: a creeper.

“Well, there it is.” said Safira. “The Crimson Creeper. It’s quite a beauty, isn’t it?” Will nodded. It was a fitting name for such a fearsome beast. As if in a trance, he followed her up the steps onto the deck of the airship. Once he was aboard, Will looked away from the airship long enough to see there were three people assembled on the deck.


“Everyone, this is Willhelm Adaron.” Safira announced to the people. They all looked over to her. “Will, this is the Company of the Chosen. I’ve handpicked them for this journey.”

Three individuals were assembled in front of him. Two were male and one was female, and all looked to be around their mid-twenties. The first wore leather clothes and carried a small steel saber in a hilt on his belt and a book in his hand. The second wore two sharp steel daggers at her waist and a black hooded cloak. The third wore a thick fur cloak and red goggles above his eyes.

“I suppose you can all introduce yourselves.” said Safira. She had evidently gathered all of these people in the past week, seeing as she hadn’t known they were even going on this journey before then.

Will stepped up to the first figure. He smiled, and stuck out his hand. “I’m Darius.” he said. His voice was deep but smooth. His hair was black and straightened. His eyes were brown and bright. His face was smooth, and his eyes had wisdom in them. He wore a brown leather tunic and leather pants. Will noticed his hands were rough and his face tanned. He could already tell Darius was a traveler.

“Darius is a scholar at Muralon University, in the city.” said Safira. “He’s traveled to far off lands before. As a good friend of mine, I know he’s a leading authority in the field of ancient ruins. He has an extensive knowledge of the geography and history of the Seven Kingdoms. He’ll be our navigator and guide.”

Darius nodded. “ I’m not sure if you’re aware of this Will, but this is possibly the greatest research opportunity in the last thousand years. An expedition to the Forgotten Kingdom, has as far as I know, never successfully been completed before.”

“Well, this isn’t exactly an expedition.” said Will. “There might be danger.” He wanted everyone who joined him to understand the danger this journey entitled. Darius nodded.

“I’m aware.” he said. “I’ve been in my fair share of old tombs in dangerous places. I understand the risks.” Will nodded. Darius looked like a knowledgeable person. And he’d need all the expertise he could get in the Forgotten Kingdom.

“Well thanks for joining us.” said Will. He moved on to the next person.

She was a girl about his height. She wore a black hooded cloak and her steel daggers reflected the shining sun. Her hair was black and her eyes were brown. They were sharp. Will held out his hand, and she shook it.

“I’m Karia.” she said.

“Karia is, for lack of a better word, a master thief. She’s worked as a spy before, and is extremely good at stealth. She’ll do any scouting we need, and is also good at combat.” said Safira.

The girl smiled at him. “Couldn’t have said it better myself.” she said. "I am a thief, but a more honest one than most, if I can say so. I've always wanted to go to the Forgotten Lands myself. Well that, and Safira's paying a good sum for my services." She looked to Safira.

"She's a professional assassin. They don't work without pay. But she's a good person Will. I can promise you that. And she's not half bad at her job either." said Safira. Karia smirked.

“Well, again, thanks for coming with us.” said Will. A stealthy person was going to be invaluable for this journey. She wasn't unattractive either . . . But that was a thought for another time.

He walked to the final member of their party. He stuck out his hand, but instead of shaking it, the figure in front of him gave a short bow.

“Vex, at your service.” He wore a fur cloak, edged with gray and silver. His shirt was white and his pants were black. Both appeared to be made of silk. He wore red pilots goggles above his eyes. His hair was black and slicked back, and his eyes were sharp and reddish-black. He gave Will a fanged smile.

“Vex is an inventor, and an airship pilot. He owns this airship, and has generously agreed to help us.” said Safira. She was frowning. It appeared she had her own opinions of Vex. But whatever they were, she didn’t show them, remaining silent.

“In exchange for a reward.” said Vex, still smiling. “I was promised a share of any treasure we find. And there will be treasure.”

“How do you know?” asked Will. Vex laughed.

“The Forgotten Kingdom is filled with the tombs of ancient kings. All that gold, sealed away beneath the earth, just waiting for someone to find it.” said Vex. “In exchange for my fair share of the treasure, I’ll take you to Umbron.”

Will really wasn’t sure this journey was the place for a treasure hunter, but he wasn’t parting with this airship. “Very well.” he said to Vex.

Will looked at all three of the men, and then back to Safira. “So are these all of our companions?” he asked.

“Yes.” she replied.

“Well then,” said Will. “Thank you all for joining us.” They all looked at him, as if they expected some kind of a speech. “Well, onward then, I guess.”

On his cue Safira started talking. “Vex, start the airship. You know where to go. The rest of you, I can show you to your cabins.” She headed towards the door, followed by Darius, Will and Karia. At the door to the cabins she stopped, allowing Will to go forward. He opened the brown oak door, beginning a journey whose magnitude and importance he could scarcely imagine.

Will opened his eyes. He blinked a few times. He couldn’t see anything. His limbs were heavy, and he felt an unseen force all around him. He fumbled blindly for several moments before remembering the Eye hanging around his neck. He reached for it, and as soon as he touched it it flared to life, casting a bright white light on him and his surroundings.

He was underwater. Deep blue shadows enveloped him. He was floating in the water. Beneath him he could see a bed of fine white sand. It was littered with coral and rocks. High above him he saw a faint light shining through the murky water. He assumed it was the surface. He kept his mouth closed, and began to swim upward.

Within minutes he was almost there. He felt the sun shining down on him. He thought he could see blue clouds, and hear the chirping of birds. He swam slowly upward. In just a few moments, he would breathe fresh air again.

But just as his fingertips were at the water’s edge,, he felt something weighing him down. He struggled, but it wouldn’t let him rise. He realized with horror that it was the Eye. The amulet had begun to glow a sickly black, and was dragging him down.

He grabbed at the silver chain that hung around his neck, desperately trying to rip it off. His breath was running out. But as much as he tried, he couldn’t get it off. As he struggled with it, he heard a cry from far below.

From the white sand on the sea’s floor, a shadow was rising. It began to take a more definite shape, its dark essence writhing and twisting. As it rose higher, Will saw it had transformed into a man.

No, not a man. A corpse. It wore a long black cloak, that covered it like a shroud. Two skeletal hands extended from its sleeves. Two bright white eyes glowed from within its hood. It began to fly through the water towards him.

He tried to move away, but the Eye anchored him in place. He could barely hold his breath. As he spluttered and choked, the dark shroud grabbed his ankle. Its other hand was outstretched, and Will saw it was reaching for the Eye.

It began to drag him down. He opened his mouth to scream, but it filled with water. It dragged him farther and farther into the murky water. He could feel his lungs gasping for air. The last thing he saw was the hooded figure’s white eyes, before his vision went black and he fell unconscious to the bottom of the sea.

* * *

Will woke up with a start in his bed on the airship, He was breathing heavily, and his brow was coated with cold sweat. He could hear the soft thump of his heart beating rapidly in his chest. He sat up, rubbing the moisture off his forehead. His eyes were wide with fear.

It had only been a nightmare. He waited a few minutes before his heart became still. He got up, and put on his cloak. He definitely wasn’t getting back to sleep. He was going to go outside, and get a bit of fresh air.

When he stepped outside the cabin, the cold night air swept past his face.He looked around. Vex had apparently gone to sleep while the airship continued on course. He walked across the brown wood floor,

When he reached the mast, he saw that Safira was leaning on the railing, looking down to look at the lights of the villages below. She turned when she heard him. “Couldn’t sleep, either, huh?” She smiled, but her expression became serious when she saw his tired face.

“What happened?” she asked.

“I had a nightmare. It was nothing. I’m fine.” said Will, hearing the concern in her voice. But she continued to ask him questions, and he eventually repeated the dream to her. She listened patiently, and a grave expression emerged on her face once he was done.

“That’s not good.” she said. Really? Sounds great to me! thought Will sarcastically. But he could tell she knew something else about this. “I didn’t think it would take effect so soon . . .” She turned and looked off into the distance. Will could tell she didn’t want to meet his eyes.

“The Order has spent a great deal of time studying the Eye, Will. I read a few of the older texts on it when I was preparing for this journey. I thought maybe if you didn’t use it anymore I wouldn’t need to inform you. But I can see I was wrong.”

“What are you talking about?” asked Will.

“Its hard to explain. The Eye is not just a tool of Herobrine. It . . . is Herobrine. A fragment of his soul still lives within it. And as long as it exists that fragment will be actively trying to return to its master.” she said.

“After the prince died, and the Eye passed out of his hands, it had other masters. But they were not Chosen. All were either turned insane or killed by its influence. That was why the Order hid it, until another Chosen emerged to hold it again.”

“But even you are not immune to its power. Herobrine will try to corrupt you through it, to make you his minion. The nightmares are a sign of that. Through fear and promises of power he will try to coerce you into serving him.”

“What?” asked Will, his eyes wide with fear. “Isn’t there some way I can stop it?”

“Herobrine's soul will not rest until the Eye is his again.” said Safira. “But he cannot do it unless you allow it. As long as you resist his corruption, he cannot harm you with any greater power than nightmares”

“But you’re a mage! Can’t you do something? Can’t you take it yourself?” asked Will, desperately. Sweat had begun to gather on his brow, and he had taken several unconscious steps back.

“No.” said Safira, her expression still grave. “It would easily corrupt me. But not you. The Chosen is the only one that has a chance of resisting it. The only advice I can give you is never to use it again, except in the direst of circumstances.”

She turned again to the stars shining brightly in the night sky. “I’m sorry Will, but the Eye is your burden. You are the only one who can possess it without being entirely consumed by it. You must be strong. Your fate, and that of the rest of us, depends on it.”

Will and Safira stood there, in silence for several minutes. Will didn’t know what to say.“Get some rest Will.” said Safira eventually, sighing. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you any of this sooner. I wish I could help you more, but I can’t. Its best you just try and sleep for now.”

She walked down the wooden steps and into the airship, leaving Will standing in the cold night air, unsure of what to think.

When Will awoke the next day, he felt much better. His head was clear, and the events of the night before were less prevalent in his mind. He had not forgotten what Safira had told him about the Eye, but he had managed to put the thoughts in the back of his mind. He would deal with them, and everything else that had been hanging over his mind, later.

He put on his clothes and walked onto the deck. The sun was shining and it was about midday. He realized the airship was docked. He saw Karia leaning against the wall of the airship, and walked up to her. He didn’t see anyone else. The thief looked up as he approached and smiled.

"So you're finally up." she said.

“Where is everyone?” asked Will.

“Safira, Vex and Daron all went out earlier to get supplies. Safira said we should just let you rest. I stayed behind to watch the ship and give you the message when you woke up.” said Karia.

“They went out to get supplies? Where are we?” asked Will. He couldn’t see any of the surrounding land. Karia gestured to the mast.

“See for yourself.” Will walked up to the mast, and looked out out over the landscape. What he saw took his breath away. Sprawling beneath him, its spires and parapets gleaming in the sun, was the massive metropolis that was Muralon City.

He had seen sketches of the city before, but he had never seen it in person. It was more magnificent than he could ever have imagined. Large metal airships were flying through the air, and he saw the small shapes of people walking through the streets. In the center of the city the sun was shimmering on the golden tower of the Royal Palace, and the purple and gold flag of the Muralon Kingdom was flying high in the air. The scene was in sharp contrast to the quiet stillness of Aradell. It seemed that everywhere he looked, there was a fierce bustle of activity. He felt a strange feeling of vertigo just observing it.

“It’s . . . incredible.” said Will, almost to himself. He turned back to Karia. “So you’re staying here?” Karia nodded.

“Well then.” said Will. “I think I’ll take a look around.”

* * *

Will walked slowly through the gray stone streets of Muralon City’s market district. Along the sides of the road, stalls crowded the sidewalks. They were covered in brightly-decorated banners of all colors, and merchants cried out their wares from them.. The scent of fresh food was in the air, and all around him people walked by, rushing to attend to their own business.

Will was enchanted by the surrealness of the scene. Safira had left him a small fur pouch of gold coins back at the airship. They numbered some hundred in all, a larger sum of money than Will had ever seen. She had probably intended for him to use it to buy anything he needed for the remainder of the journey.

He had taken twenty-five of the coins and put them in his pocket, while he left the rest in the purse back in his cabin. Though there were a thousand things to buy, Will was still having a hard time deciding what to get. He realized he was getting hungry, and stepped up to a purple and blue bannered stall.

The man in the stall was selling fresh sugar cakes for a gold coin each. Will bought two of the palm-sized treats, and devoured the first one hungrily. The sun was falling, but there were still many hours until nightfall. He had plenty of time. For the first time since he had received the Eye, he was actually enjoying himself.

He munched on the second fruit cake, and bought a bottle of apple cordial from another stand with a bright green-striped banner. He opened the cork and took a few sips as he walked. A warm feeling began to swell up within him. His fears and concerns began to melt away, and he wondered if apple had been the only thing in that cordial.

The street opened up into a large park. The ground was covered in a thin layer of snow, and he could see children in the distance building forts and throwing snowballs. A faint breeze was stirring in the air, and playfully whipping his hair around on his head.

He continued walking, his thoughts completely unfocused. One day in a city like Muralon City had made him question his lifetime in Aradell. There was no doubt, when he came back from this journey, he was going to find a house here. It was a shame he only had a few hours here. It wasn’t nearly enough to see everything he wanted to see.

As he walked absentmindedly through the streets, he suddenly took an unconscious detour into an alleyway. It was only when he was halfway down the dark and silent street that he realized where he was. The sounds of the city were fading away, and the warmth of the park was replaced by a bitter chill.

He turned around, intending to go back the way he came, when he suddenly walked right into something. He looked up, confused, and his eyes widened when he saw what it was. Two tall black enderman had appeared behind him. Their bright purple eyes were narrowed, and they didn’t seem to like the idea of him going anywhere.

“Finally.” said a voice behind him. “I thought I was going to have to wait all day for you to wander away from all those people.” Will turned abruptly, and his mouth dropped open when he saw the speaker. It was the man who had burned down Aradell. Lothas.

A sudden spark of rage filled him, and he leapt forward, intent on strangling the man. The memories of the village burning became fresh in his mind. But as soon as he stepped forward, the endermen grabbed each of his arms, restraining him. They were far stronger than he, and all he could do was struggle weakly against their iron grips.

Lothas brushed back his own black hair casually, as though this were an everyday occurrence. “I can see you remember me.” he said with a laugh.

Will didn’t reply. He wanted so badly to wipe that sneer of his face. Lothas laughed again at his angry growl, and continued straightening his hair. “So is this your idea of saving the world, then? Wasting time and eating cakes in Muralon City? I’m amazed the Order chose you for this at all.” Will was surprised that he knew about the Order, but didn’t say so.

“How did you find me?” he managed to say in his most restrained tone. He wanted to say many other things, but he knew that wouldn’t get him anywhere.

“The Eye may no longer be giving off a constant magical beacon, but unless its user actively dims its aura it can still be tracked. And that is a skill I suppose you haven’t learned. Not that it matters now. I simply followed you until you walked somewhere away from everyone else.” said Lothas.

“So what? You found me, and now you kill me and take the Eye?” asked Will. His voice was bitter. His anger was beginning to fade into resignation.

“No, the Eye has chosen you, so your presence is needed if it is to be reforged. But don’t worry. You’ll die soon enough.” Lothas sneered again, and Will’s heart leaped in his chest in anger.

“But enough talk.” said Lothas. He said a few quick words in a language Will recognized from Adarell University as Ender to the Endermen.

Will looked around weakly, willing something to happen. But he knew in his heart it was done. He couldn’t believe this was happening. He had let Safira down. He had let everyone down. He wasn’t a hero. Lothas noticed him looking around, and laughed again, a sound Will was by now sick of.

“What are you looking for? No knight in shining armor is coming to save you this time. Its over.” Will wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of admitting that he’d given up. Lothas continued to smirk at him, when suddenly a cry came from the rooftops high above them.

“What the-” Lothas began, when a black shadow suddenly leaped from the rafters and came down right behind him. The endermen were momentarily confused and released Will, who was stunned himself.

He saw that the shadow was not in fact a shadow, it was a man. Will didn’t have much time to look at him, but he made out a black cloak and a hood. He elbowed Lothas in the head, knocking him to the ground. Before he could rise he kicked him in the face, stunning him.

The enderman stepped forward, their fangs bared, forgetting Will entirely. The man pulled a small object from his cloak, and threw it on the ground. As soon as it touched the gray stone of the alleyway it exploded in a flash of bright white light. The endermen fell to the ground, clutching their blinded eyes.

The man ran towards him and grabbed his hand. “Hold on!” he heard a voice say from within his hood. He tightened his grip, and before he knew what was happening the man climbed up the side of the alleyway and lifted him onto the rooftop.

He looked at the man, not knowing what to say. He was stunned. “We have to hurry. They won’t be blinded for long.” Will looked down, and saw that the Endermen and a battered Lothas were rising to their feet. They would know where they had gone, and come after them. But Will's feet were rooted to the ground, and he couldn't bring himself to move.

“What was that?” asked Will.

“Glowstone dust.” said the man. Will couldn’t see much of his face, but he made out two bright purple eyes within his hood.

“Who-who are you?” he asked. The man looked at him, his eyes meeting Will’s.

“You can call me Drake.” he said. "There's no tie to explain now. We have to run. Follow me." Without another word, he began to run along the rooftop. Will hesitated briefly, then began to run after him.

They had not made it to the edge of the rooftop before the two Endermen had scaled the wall of the alleyway and reached the top. Lothas emerged behind them, a noticeable bruise beginning to swell up on his face and his expression of sarcastic calmness replaced by one of sheer fury.

Drake looked behind at them for a moment, then shouted at Will to run. Lothas motioned to the two Endermen, and they pursued. Drake and Will reached the edge of the rooftop quickly, but there was nowhere to go. “What do I do now?” asked Will.

“Jump!” said Drake, before taking a few steps back and leaping over the gap between the two buildings. He landed on the snow-covered roof of the other building, and stopped, waiting for Will to follow. Will stood there, frozen. He saw that the ground was at least two stories below him. A fall from that height could break a hand, or an ankle, or any number of things.

He turned, and saw the Endermen catching up to him. It would reach him in a matter of seconds. He took a deep breath. You owe me for this one, Safira, he thought. He took a few steps back, and leaped over the gap. He landed on the other side seconds before the Endermen reached the edge of the rooftop.

Without even looking, he ran, and kept running. A blizzard was beginning, and snow was falling thicker and thicker all around him. Eventually he couldn’t see anywhere besides straight ahead. He didn’t stop to turn around and see if the Endermen had followed, or even if Drake was still at his side.

He jumped whenever he saw a gap, and ran. The rooftops were slick with ice, but he didn’t lose his footing. He heard Drake’s voice to his right, and ran in it’s direction. Stinging bolts of hail pelted his face. Suddenly, the black-claoked figrue of Drake appeared ahead of him.

He stopped himself just in time to avoid running into him and knocking them both down. “Why did you stop?” asked Will. His breaths were heavy and his face was numb from the cold. He dusted snow off his cloak.

“This is the end of the city district. The river cuts it off from the rest of the city. We can’t go any farther.” said Drake. Will looked over the rooftop, and saw he was right. It was a sheer drop straight down to the frozen river.

Muralon City was built around the the River Kios. It flowed through irrigated channels built around the Royal Palace, and divided the City into Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western quarters. They were on the edge of the Market District, in the Western Quarter. The Imperial District was on the opposite bank. There was nowhere to go.

“This is it.” said Drake, as though he had read his thoughts. He reached to a hilt by his side, and drew a long silver saber. It shone in the sun, and its tip was polished and sharp. “Now we fight.”

Will didn’t like that idea. He had no weapons, and the Endermen were far stronger than him. But he didn’t have time for doubts. A few moments after Drake drew his sword, the black shape of an Enderman came flying out of the mist. It was charging forward on four legs, and its black claws were sharp and extended.

Drake stepped forward and swung his sword, catching it in midair. It swiped at him fiercely with its claws, but he deflected them narrowly every time. He was a skilled swordsman, but the Enderman’s fury seemed limitless.

As Will watched the scene, a second black shape emerged from the snowstorm and flew into him, knocking the breath out of his lungs and sending them both tumbling to the ground. He opened his eyes in shock and found himself staring into the cold, fanged face of an Enderman. He tried to scream but couldn’t.

It slashed at him with an ebon claw, but he dodged to the right just in time, as the claw struck the gray stone of the roof. He tried to get up but the Enderman tackled him. They grappled with each other, rolling sideways. Will dodged the Enderman’s claws while desperately trying to find a way to save himself. He saw Drake still fighting the other Enderman to his left. He was on his own.

Suddenly, he felt himself falling. A feeling of vertigo came over him, and he grabbed at the air. He managed to hold onto the edge of the roof. He had nearly fallen off. The Enderman had lost its grip and fallen into the river. He breathed a sigh of relief.

As he was beginning to climb up onto the roof, he heard a sharp cry from below. He looked down, and his heart went cold. The Enderman had not fallen into the river. It had dug its claws into the side of the building, and was clawing its way back up. It grabbed onto his leg, and began to pull. He realized with fear that it was trying to pull him down into the river.

He knew that the instant he fell into the icy waters he’s sink to the bottom and drown. His swimming skills were out of use, and the current of the River Kios was too strong for any but the best swimmers to resist. It would sweep him to the depths in seconds, and it would be all over. He kicked at the Enderman, but it would not release its grip.

He swung in the air, and his left hand lost its grip. He dangled by one hand, whose fingers were quickly slipping. He had only a few moments left to hold on. Suddenly, the silver jewel of the Eye tumbled out of his shirt. It dangled and caught the sunlight. Wil had completely forgotten about it.

Will knew Safira had said to only use it in the direst of circumstances. But he thought this qualified. With his shaking left hand, he grabbed at the amulet. He turned its glowing purple jewel towards the angry face of the Enderman below him. He concentrated hard, willing it to work again.

Without warning, the Eye began to glow. The familiar blast of searing white light expanded from it, and the Enderman had only time to give a single cry before it was incinerated by it. Nothing was left. In the silence that followed Will could hear his own heart beating quickly.

Drake’s hand clasped his from above, and he felt himself being dragged up onto the rooftop. He collapsed, breathless onto the gray stone bricks, and breathed out slowly. Drake looked at him with a strange expression. They stood in silence for several minutes, before he spoke. “So its true.”

“What’s true?” asked Will.

“You really are the Chosen of the Eye of Herobrine. I followed you out of suspicion, not really believing it to be true. But there it is. I never thought I’d live to see this day.” said Drake.

“How do you know all that?” asked Will, suddenly suspicious of even him. “I think its time you explained all of this.”

“It is a long story. I followed you throughout the city because I thought I sensed something strange about you. Something dark accompanying you. But I scarcely thought you would actually be the Chosen. I’ve been waiting a long time for this day.” said Drake. He was looking off in the other direction, towards the setting sun. He seemed lost in thought.

“As for who I am, you can call me Drake, as I said before. I am a wanderer. I have traveled across the Seven Kingdoms for years. I learned a long time ago the history if the Eye of Herobrine. I long ago made it my life’s goal to find it, and destroy it. And I know that if you have it now, you are either a servant of Herobrine or the Chosen on your way to destroy it. I think I can safely say it is the latter.”

“You’re right. But how do I know I can trust you?” asked Will. He knew he should by all rights be suspicious of this strange character, but something about him inspired trust.

“If I were your enemy I would have simply let the Enderman kill you, slay it, and take the Eye for myself.” said Drake, bluntly. Will hadn’t expected him to be so forward, but he had a point.

“Fine.” said Will. A part of his mind was saying not to trust him, but he didn’t listen. After all, Drake had saved his life twice now. There must be something trustworthy about him. “So I trust you, at least for the time being. What do you want?”

“I would be honored, to accompany you on your journey. I cannot tell you much more about myself, but I will swear my loyalty to you.I am a skilled fighter, as you have already seen. And I know a great deal about Umbral, and the location of the Dark Portal. I know of the rumors of Herobrine's return, and I will do whatever it takes to stop it.”. Will raised his eyebrows in surprise. Drake knew as much about his journey as he did.

“Now hold on.” said Will. “Its not just my decision. My other companions will need a say in this too. But I suppose I could introduce you.”

“You have my gratitude, Chosen.” said Drake, giving a short bow.

“Call me Will.” said Will. “Follow me.” he said, and began to walk to the edge of the roof towards the airship docks.

It was night when Will and Drake arrived at the airship. The blizzard had died down to a mild snowdrift, and it coated Will’s black cloak. He shook it out of his hair and stepped up the brown gangplank of the airship. He walked to the meeting room and opened the door.

On the brown wood table of the meeting room, a single bright orange candle flame bathed the room in light. Safira, Darius, Vex and Karia were all seated at it. They looked to be in the middle of a heated discussion. At Will’s entrance they all looked up, startled. Safira was dumbfounded for an instant, and then broke into a broad grin.

“I knew you’d find your way back.” she said. “We were arguing over how long to wait before we went out to search for you. What took you so long?” Despite her calm behavior, she seemed tremendously relieved.

“I almost got captured.” said Will. The eyes of everyone at the table went wide. Will paused for effect.

“Well go on.” said Darius after a few moments. “Tell us the story.” Will told them everything that had happened since he left the airship in the morning, detailing his carefree walk through the market, his capture by Lothas, and his rescue by Drake. When he mentioned Drake he motioned behind him, and the black-cloaked figure stepped into the light.

He finished by explaining who he was, or claimed to be, and that he wanted to join them on their journey. Safira listened to the tale cynically. When he was done she spoke. “I should have expected this. Somehow it slipped my mind that there were others who wanted the Eye as much as we do. Next time we’ll be prepared.” She stopped talking and turned to Drake. “And this is your rescuer, then?” Will nodded.

“I followed the Chosen throughout the city. I could sense a powerful talisman on him. I intervened in his capture out of curiosity, and some suspicion. It was only after that that I realized he was the Chosen.” said Drake.

“How do you know so much about the Eye? No ordinary traveler, no matter how versed, could know so much about its existence. If you were with the Order, I would know you. And since you aren’t, you could be anyone. I think you should give us an explanation before you ask to join us.”

“You are not familiar with me, but you may be familiar with my great ancestor.” said Drake. Will was puzzled. “Or rather, with his signet.” Drake pulled a small satchel out of his cloak and rummaged through it for a minute. Finally he withdrew a small object. He held it out to Safira. When she saw it her mouth fell open.

It was a small, worn ring. Its silver metal was blackened and dented, but its jewel was pristine. It was a brilliant amethyst, and it glowed purple in the candlelight. Carved into the jewel was a small symbol, a scepter.

Safira took the ring, and marveled at it for several minutes. Will and the others watched her in confused silence. Finally, she turned back to Drake. “This is the signet ring of Alturan the Violet.” Drake nodded.

“Who’s that?” asked Will. By the way Safira looked at the ring its owner must have been legendary.

“He was a member of the very first Company of the Chosen.” said Safira, not taking her eyes of the ring. “They were six, lead by the very first Chosen, the prince. Each carried a signet, or a ring, engraved with their own symbol on a jewel of their color. Alturan’s was amethyst, as he was the Violet. They carried them as badges of their service. After the end of Herobrine’s reign, five of them formed the Order Illumina. Alturan went on his own path. And with him went his signet, lost to time forever. So for you to have it now . . .”

“It was given to me by my father.” said Drake. “The lineage of Alturan has wandered the Seven Kingdoms for ages. As you know, Alturan did not trust your order, nor anyone else save the Chosen himself. All my life I’ve followed in his footsteps, waiting for the next Chosen. I might never have imagined I would be the one to see them for myself.”

“Wait a minute.” said Darius. He had been listening silently for several minutes. “I have nothing against him. But how do you know he didn’t simply steal the signet? He could be a common thief, or a spy.”

“No.” said Safira. “The signets were not ordinary rings. They were forged by power, not steel. They could not be stolen, without bringing a curse upon their thief. They were passed down only by consent from their previous bearer. Five of them still rest on the fingers of the White Council today. He is telling the truth.”

“I would be honored to join you on your journey.” said Drake. “This has been my dream, and my father’s dream, and his before him, since the son of Alturan himself. I ask you only for one chance, to prove I can help you.”

Safira simply turned the ring over in her hands. After a long time she turned to the others. “What do you all say?” They all agreed.

“If he saved Will, and you believe him, he must be at least somewhat trustworthy.” said Darius. “We can give him a chance.”

“Alright.” said Safira. “One chance. If you can be useful to us then you can accompany us.” Drake bowed.

“I will not let you down.” he said.

“Darius, show him to the spare cabin. I think its about time we all got some sleep.” said Safira. She handed him back the signet. Slowly everyone left the meeting room to go to their cabins, until Safira and Will were alone in the meeting room. She said nothing, staring into the candlelight for a long time.

Finally she looked up. “Do you trust him Will?” she said. Her eyes were bright and lost in thought. Her voice was unsure. The signet had had a profound effect on her.

“I do.” said Will.

She breathed deeply, then exhaled. “It all adds up, but somehow I just can’t bring myself to believe it. But if you trust him, then fine. We’ll give him his chance. Good night.”

Will left the meeting room. The snow was still falling, and it was almost midnight. He wasn’t sure how he felt about Safira’s strange reaction to the signet. It made him uneasy that she was having doubts. But cynicism wasn’t going to solve anything. Right now all he needed was a good night’s sleep.

As he was walking to the door to the cabins he heard a sharp cry from the east. It was familiar, but distorted somehow. Something about this particular cry chilled him to bone. He tried to remember where he had heard it before. Finally, he realized: it was a raven’s cry.

Lord Arakon leaned over the silver railing again, and looked down, into the abyss. He stood on a large circular steel scaffold that rimmed the mouth of a large pit. He stood in a massive cavern of blue-white ice. Large, jagged icicles hung from the ceiling. Thick white snow coated the ground, and frost was gathering on his silver boots.

Arakon wore a black cloak over his usual silver armor. His polished silver circlet rested on his black hair, and his sickle hung at his waist. His cloak was edged with fur, and he drew it tighter around him. The Ender Dragon thought little of cold, but there was a chill in this place that had nothing to do with the temperature.

He was in the large arctic that extended miles below the fortress of Maltair. He stood at the edge of its darkest depths. All Arakon could see at the bottom was a writhing, twisting darkness. It would have driven any lesser mind to madness and suicide. Even Arakon, strong-willed as he was, was becoming uneasy looking at it. The pit was nameless, but the massive icicles that jutted from the sides had earned it the chilling epitaph “The Maw of the Void.”

Arakon turned away from it, and reached into his cloak. He pulled out a jagged piece of metal, and held it up to the light. It glinted in the faint blue light. It was a sword. The hilt was ebon, and the blade was silver. It was edged with frost, as though it had been frozen in ice for a long time. A silver skull had been engraved into the center of the hilt.

The sword was not an ordinary sword. It radiated a dark, ancient power. It seemed to slowly be draining all the life around. Before Arakon’s eyes it created a thin layer of frost on the steel bars of the railing. It had had many names in its time. The Devourer of Souls. The Black Blade. The Fang of the Dark Lord.

Arakon was aware of the blade’s dark history, having played a large role in it. It had brought fear to the human armies, in a time long before. Wielded by Herobrine, the blade had been a symbol of his dominion over men. But after his fall, it had been shattered by his vanquisher, and the pieces scattered to the wind. Much time and effort had been spent gathering the shards, and reforging them. Now it was whole once more. And it would be the key to its masters return.

It pulsed in his hand, eager to serve the darkness once more. It whispered its true name in Arakon’s mind. Umbra Astora. Darkfrost.

He took a deep breath, then raised the sword. With a sharp thrust he pointed it down at the abyss. It stayed dim for a moment, then began to glow a faint purple. Runes began to appear along the hilt, glowing in the same color of purple. Within second the entire sword was glowing purple, and a loud hum had begun to fill the cavern. The sword was calling out to the Maw.

And the Maw answered. The cavern began to rumble. Icicles began to shake on its roof. A deep growl was beginning to rise from the bottom of the pit. As Arakon watched, the darkness began to part at the bottom, and a shade of purple the same color as the sword. A tremor went to the ground, and Arakon nearly lost his footing.

He regained his footing just in time to see a massive glacier rising from the pit. It was the size of a small mountain, and made of the same blue-white ice as the cavern. Its tip glowed purple. Within a few moments it had risen to Arakon’s height, and stopped.

It stopped glowing, and Arakon stepped forward to look at the glacier. It was large, and thick white sprays of mist were drifting off its white surface. The tip was jagged and thick. Arakon leaned over the railing, and put his hand on its surface. He felt a presence within it. It was powerful, much more powerful than Arakon or anyone else in Minecraftia. It slept now, dormant within the ice, but it would sleep no longer.

He stepped back, and looked at it for a final time. He could see a faint black wisp moving around inside it. He held up the sword again. It began to hum with purple energy once more. He pointed it straight at the glacier and thrust it again.

A spark of purple lightning flew from the blade and struck the glacier. It shattered into a thousand shards and sent them flying all over the cavern. Arakon ducked. After the ice had stopped flying, he looked up. The top of the glacier was gone, and the empty space that remained there was shrouded in white mist. He parted it with his hands, and stepped forward.

He stepped beyond the wall of mist, and looked at the glacier. He dropped to one knee, and outstretched the sword. Floating several inches above the glacier was a figure in a black cloak. Two skeletal hands extended form its sleeves. It stretched its limbs, stiff from ten thousand years of slumber. Its body looked strangely ethereal. A long black hood covered its face. It turned to Arakon, and looked at him. From the depths of its hood shone two bright white eyes.