[Aria POV]

I fight back my exaggerated sigh as I hear the horn blast. Of course he has the PILLAGERS on his side. I try to calm down, but I could feel anger and rage seeping in. The first place we find to rest and regain ourselves is now being attacked by a Pillager raid unprovoked! "I knew he'd go and mess with mechanics..." A voice mutters behind me. I turn and gaze at Mobius, who was standing to my left. One hand held a shield and his mechanical arm was a massive war hammer. I grunt in response, removing my sword from the sheath on my back. "Well, it's a good thing Claire was smart enough to keep the blacksmiths busy." Alexa walks up, decked out in enchanted iron armor. In her hand was a diamond sword, shining with enchantments that I could only assume included sharpness and knockback. Clanking sounds next to use, and the iron golem from before clomps ahead of us. He says nothing, but he slightly turns to look at me. I only growl and glare at the wall.

The jingle of more armor sounds off, and I hear him stop next to Mobius. I could see the orange glow of his sword without looking at him. "Hope they like their wounds cauterized as they get them." I can't help but smirk. Even in a time like this, he still has a chance to slip in a quirky one liner. I shake my head and stand. Unlike the others, I wear no armor. Not only did it no longer fit, but it felt.... suffocating. I knew it was risky, and it took a lot of convincing from Reginald and his Iron Golem friend. I still had yet gotten his name, but I shrug it off. That could be settled later. The ground was starting to rumble, and I could see the trees beyond the border wall shaking. I turn to my left, gazing past the others to Reginald. He locks eyes with me and nods. "Alright everyone. Don't move if you want your limbs to stay attached."

I close my eyes and focus. My energy slightly spikes, and I can feel Reginald focusing his around us as well. It was incredibly easier to teleport such a large group when you have a full enderman helping you. As I feel my own power circle around Mobius and Alexa, I can see Reginald focus in on his Golem friend and Anthony. Once we link up together, I take a deep breath.

'Teleport.'

Suddenly, we are standing atop the village wall. On either side of us were archers, armed with glistening bows. They were villagers, but definitely not ones you would simply walk in and steal their crops without having to put up a fight. I smile at that. It was the only thing I think he overlooked. Not all the NPC's of this world are on his side, and that's something you can't truly change. 'I hope...'

I shake my head and regain my focus. My eyes glare across the forest before us. The trees were shaking still, and the ground was rumbling with each footstep. I could hear the ravagers growling, and the only sound we were missing was-

BA-DUR BA-DUUUUURRRRR!

"And there it is..." I grumble. It was just as annoying in real life as it was when it was only a game. Slowly, the brush below us starts to shudder, and a massive cubed foot steps out. The large head follows next, then the rest of its massive body. On it's back was an Evoker. I feel my heart slightly skip a beat. 'I didn't realize they were that big!' Of course, I knew in game they were much taller than our avatars, but this... I steady my breathing and narrow my eyes. On the back of the first ravager to emerge was an Evoker. I could feel the dark magic flowing from him, and when our eyes meet, I can instantly tell this won't be an easy battle. He smirks, and it doesn't leave a warm feeling in my gut. As the horn blast echoes again, more ravagers emerge from the undergrowth around the lead, with other Pillagers and Vindicators. However, the weapons they wield are not the typical axes and crossbows. Everything was holding a dark mist, an unknown enchantment that I did not want to learn.

The ravagers stomp in anticipation, and I hear Reginald growl. I can't hold back my own growl, and Reginald's iron golem friend replies with his own stomp. Anthony swings his sword a bit, and I can see flames spark off of it. Alexa slashes her own before getting in a fighting stance, and Mobius steps forward with a grunt. We were in for the fight of our lives, and we had just narrowly escaped with them only a moment before. However, something was different. I move forward to the edge of the wall. "State your business!" I shout, honestly not knowing if this would work. 

To my surprise, I get a reply.

"Our business is not with you, player!" The Evoker shouts, slightly startling me. I slightly tilt my head, and the Evoker continues. "This village is ours, and we have no quarrel with you. We know why you are here, and we do not wish you further harm." I slightly take a step back to rejoin the others, and Anthony is by my side in a moment. "What's going on?" He asks, but I can only shake my head. 'So he has no part in this?' I am trying to process what's going on when the Evoker speaks again. "Should you leave, we will not hinder your progress to get to the End. In fact..."

I feel my eye suddenly burn in pain. I cover it up quickly with a hiss and turn to the side. I hear someone asking me if I'm alright, but whispers are starting to overpower my mind. I hadn't heard them in so long, and the only one I could actually hear through it all was Reginald. His cold blocky hand rests against my shoulder. I get slightly snapped back to reality, and I move to the edge of the wall again. My eyes don't even need to wander to find the source of the voices in my mind. An Eye of Ender was floating within the grasp of the Evoker, and I could feel it beckoning me, calling my name. Reginald's voice was barely breaking through to me, and I take in a deep breath. My gaze locks with the Evoker, and his eyes are narrow. The smirk is still on his face, and I return it with a snarl. He didn't need to finish what he was saying.

Reginald is still next to me, and I feel uncertainty start to sink in. My moral compass was telling me I couldn't let these kind villagers possibly die fighting these pillagers by themselves after everything they have let us do here. They have let us rest and taken care of our every need... But were we ready for a battle like this? Mobius was barely half height, Alexa was nearly completely a penguin now, and Anthony was still recovering. None of us were prepared for another fight...

"Aria..."

I turn my gaze and look deep into Reginald's blue eyes. His gaze holds understanding, but I can sense his concern. He wanted our help, but he also knew the risk it would put us in. It felt like he was telling us to leave, but I couldn't... I just couldn't do that... could I?

I turn to the others, and I see that they were all ready to fight, but the exhaustion was hiding behind their eyes. All of us imagined having a life like this, action book material, but to actually be living it was a different story. We weren't cut out for this. We just needed to get home...

I turn towards the walls edge, and I eye the Evoker. He hadn't moved, and the eye was still in his grasp. I huff and step closer, then launch myself off the edge despite the protests of the ones behind me. I land slightly painfully, a grunt escaping my lips. I push myself up and stand, gazing at the Evoker. He slightly huffs and dismounts his ride. "Wise choice.". He makes his way towards me, and I towards him until we meet halfway.

Typical.

He gives off another short laugh, slightly tossing the eye in the air a bit. He turns his gaze back to me, and I give no indication of being amused. He sneers and offers the eye. "Take this, and leave. We have no need to fight you, or your friends." I eye the eye, and feel Reginald trying to speak to me. I was ignoring him and the others. If I did this, we could leave without any trouble, and the villagers would fight the pillagers...

And lose.

I reach out, and grab the eye from the Evoker. He smiles and releases it to me completely. "Good. You've made the right choice..." He takes a step back, then clasps his hands behind his back. I simply stare at the eye, then put it behind me. It slips into my inventory. The Evoker speaks again. "You know, I half expected you to attack the moment you touched the eye. I am pleased that you-"

His words are cut short as my fist crashes against his face. The Illager flies backwards, crashing against the face of his beast. I straighten and shake my hand. "I appreciate the offer, and the item, but I'm afraid you have made the wrong choice." I feel my skin crawl, and the ground beneath me quakes as the rest of the gang lands around me. "Thank you for the item, but we cannot leave these people to fight alone.". I hear a warbled thanks next to me, but I don't turn to look at him. Instead, I gaze at my friends, spotting Mobius on the shoulder of the iron golem. They all nod at me. "Really had us there for a moment, Avia... Next time, tell us the plan, huh?" Anthony says, and I shake my head with a smile.

"What's the fun in that?"

"Enough!"

I whip my head back around to stare at the Evoker as he stands. "You had your chance to leave! Now, you will pay with your life!" I see the particles form just in time. Diving to the side, I narrowly dodge the fang attack as they erupt from the ground straight towards me. I knew he would focus his attacks on me, which meant the others would be safe from him for now. "Protect the village! Let none near the wall!" I shout, and the others nod before rushing forward. I hear a battle roar ring out, and I notice many armored villagers running with us as well. A few of them looked like players, but I knew better. Village-Up mods were in play, they were only warriors. 

Which is even better right now.

With a shout, I launch forward towards the Evoker, ducking as a vex suddenly dives towards my face. I roll across the ground, removing my sword from its sheath as I stand. It glistens, and I see his eyes fall on it in shock. The Evoker growls, and I barely dodge the fangs again. Apparently, he anticipates this, as a vex screeches before slicing at my back. I hiss in pain, and turn, slashing at the small creature. It howls when my blade hits it, killing it instantly. My back stings, and I regain my balance just as another dives towards me. I parry it's attack and block another from its other friend. I turn when I feel something advancing, only to have a grey fist crash against my face. I stumble backwards, and grunt as another hit lands on my gut. Doubling over, I swiftly raise my hands and block a knee. I drop down and sweep my leg out, taking down the Evoker. 

'Was not expecting hand-to-hand there!'

I straighten and grip my sword, feeling uneasy as the Evoker stands. His vexes float next to him, four in total. I growl, but he doesn't advance. The smirk on his face makes me fearful, and I realize why a bit too late. Reginald shouts, and I turn to my left just as the ravager busts into view. I raise my sword, partially blocking it, but it still barrels into me and sends my flying back until I come to a stop by crashing against the village wall. 

My vision begins to darken, but I slowly push myself up. The pain I was feeling was excruciating, but not the worst. I feel the blood starting to drip from my lip. No doubt my lungs took a beating, but I wasn't going down that easily. My hearts were shaking, that I could feel, and I was possibly down to my last.

But, like I said, I've had worse.

However, the Evoker just laughs. I spot him back on the back of his mount, glaring at me. "You were in no shape to fight! Why did you insist on it?" I turn to look at the iron golem, who was on my right. Mobius was still on his shoulder, firing something from his mechanical arm. Reginald appears on my left, and I hear Anthony and Alexa fighting somewhere over there as well. A smirk cuts across my features as I reach behind me and reveal a potion of strength. It was a splash potion, and I slam it down against the ground by my feet. 

Reginald grunts and straightens, and I huff. That felt amazing. I grip my sword again, feeling its power starting to pulse as well. The Evoker growls and tries to intimidate me once more. "We have you completely surrounded. It's four ravagers to one player and one enderman.".

I chuckle.

"I like those odds."