Grayson's point of view-

Argons Wall was a beautiful place. Despite the winter season, the grass was still green and the bushes still bore fruit. The place was vast with markets making a profit by selling goods.
Most of the people there spoke Paganum, a foreign language I have yet to understand. There are some humans that live here that understand Paganum, which is great when you need a translator, but I don't need one. I don't want one. I can't let anyone know who I am.
It's become rare that I went into populated places such as this, but I had decided to come and some things such as books, and potions, and other things I needed.

"Thank you." I said to the Paganum, knowing that he didn't understand what I was saying.

I handed him a two sovereigns, one of the lowest forms of currency. I used to be quite wealthy, with lots of sovereign to spare, but I lost everything one day when my home was attacked by mercenaries. All I have now, is the very thing that put my name on the wanted list. Well, I did go back to the rubble a few weeks ago to salvage what I could, but mostly everything was burned.
I grabbed the fresh mutton from his hand. He smiled and bowed, which I bowed in response. You have to respect culture, even if it seems strange to you. My horse snorted. I pet it snout, with chestnut fur and a white blaze going up it's snout. I grabbed the lead, and walked through the market with my horse following behind me.
The place had many people around, yet there was enough room on the path to walk without bumping into anyone. Most of people around were male Paganum. The female gender in human and Paganum races were rare to come by, which was very unfortunate, and led to a lot of cases of rape.
Paganum are usually very nice, but their physical appearance and culture is quite different. The males are always bald, with the females usually having hair on the back of their heads in braids. They had unibrows, and had longer faces and noses. Even though I can't understand them, I do have respect for them. I took a bite of the mutton, ripping the fresh meat from the bone. I chewed and swallowed it.

"Why do I eat mutton for breakfast?" I asked myself.

I shrugged. "Old habits, I guess."

Looking up at the sky, missing being able to watch the sunrise. Everyday this month the clouds were overhead, and blocked out the sun. The cold wind blew, making my cape wave behind me. I moved the lead to my left hand, then grabbed my cape with my right hand, and pulled it to my chest, trying to keep the wind away and warm up, even if it would be only a little warmer. I could see my breath rising in the air making it obvious how cold it was.
I was making my way to the wall, ready to leave the town, when something caught my attention. A news board by the wall, with many signs hung on it, including my own name on a wanted poster. A man with a hammer hung a new sign to the board. He wore a cowboy hat, boots, and a duffle coat. A mercenary.
I gasped, and moved over to the closest food stand. I put my back on it, and pulled my hat down, trying to conceal my face. He had a friend to his left, leaning on the board. He put some extra nails into his pocket that didn't need to use. He wore a similar hat, boots and a capelet coat. I tried to tune out the talking and other noises around me so I could listen to them.

"Are you finished yet? These Paganum creep me out." He complained.

"Be patient, will you?" He finished hanging up the sign. "There, finished."

He put his hand on his side and turned to his partner. "Why are you so scared of Paganum anyways? They're practically harmless."

"I'm not scared! I'm just...look at them! They don't have very good hygiene!"

The other one rolled his eyes. "Whatever, you cry baby. Come on. Let's get out of here then."

They walked over to where their horses were tied to post, and untied the leads. They hopped up on the saddles, and got onto their tall steeds, and rode out of the town.

"Alright. They're gone." I looked back at the board. "Let's see what's new."

I walked over to it, growling when I saw my name on the sign next to the new one. I took a bite of the mutton, and started talking with my mouth full.

"Now what do we have..." I didn't finish. I had read in my mind mid-sentence, and was filled with fear and shock. My body tensed up and my blood ran cold.

"Wanted Enderman hybrid"

I started choking on the meat, dropping the mutton on the ground. I hit my cheats until I coughed up the piece and was able to breath. I instantly wasn't hungry anymore. It can't be talking about Drake.
What am I saying? Of course it is! Sure, I know he's wanted for treason, but why did they wait over a month to finally put a poster up? Did he do something stupid and get into more trouble? What about Mia? Why isn't her name up here? So many questions went through my head, but I knew it wasn't the time to try to answer anything.

"No... I have to find Drake!" I turned around sharply.

I got up on the saddle of my horse and pulled on the reins. It stood on it's hind legs and let out a cry like a roar.

"Come on. Let's go!"

We left the city. I knew I had to watch my back and keep the mercenaries away from me, but at that moment, I only cared for the well being of my best friend. I have been so busy trying to find the Drago' hatchery, and dodge the empire military that I completely disregarded the search for my friends, and for that, I'm ashamed. It should take me another day or two to get to Drake's house by horseback. I just hope he'll be there, and safe.

Mia's point of view-

I didn't think I would run into mercenaries down here, then again, I was ignorant for not listening to what I've been hearing. I've been trying my best to stay away from people, but I have heard that the empire doubled the amount of mercenaries in the south. I should've listened, or at least kept my guard up. Who would have known I'd be recognized? I was heading to the old remains of Mortem, in hopes that the rubble wasn't all picked through, but the next thing I know, there are four mercenaries chasing me.
The dark clouds were beginning to release the frozen water they held within them, causing it to begin to snow. I could hear their footsteps getting closer at a fast pace, as arrows flew past me. I hoped that running into the small forest would give me some cover, but they found me behind every tree I hid behind.
I was nearly shot in the head by an arrow multiple times doing that. A arrow grazed my arm, cutting it. I could feel the wound bleed, but I couldn't stop and mend to it. The snow was beginning to get into my eyes, temporarily blinding me. Being unable to see, my feet couldn't touch the ground properly, causing me to stumble and fall onto the dirt path, but my grip on my sword remained tight.
I panted as I got up to my knees, exhausted. I stood slowly, recovering from the fall. My eyes widened in fear when I hear crossbows being ready to fire.

"Drop your weapon! Now!" The captain of the group demanded.

I was surrounded. All hope began to slip from me. The thoughts of being dragged back to that wretched place to be used as a slave made me sick to my stomach. Mostly though, I was terrified of the tournament that was sure to come from that mad man of an emperor.
My sword began to slip from my hand. I began to reminisce my moments of freedom. The amazing things I had found in my career as an archeologist, the wonderful, and one of a kind people I had met. The things I had done and seen that people can only dream of. No longer would I have that again. No longer would I be able to find Drake and Grayson. Tears began to fill my eyes from my dreaded thoughts.
Out of nowhere, a speeding blur came out from the bushes of the forest. The captain of the group let out a cry of pain, as his back arched. I could see the specks of blood flying from his back. He fell down onto his knees in pain, the back of his coat becoming covered in his own blood.
The speeding blur came to halt, revealing a tall, and abnormal looking being in blue clothing. Half of his face, chest, and right shoulder were pitch black. His right ear was pointed like my own, but more diagonal, as my own was more straight, typical of an elf. His right eye was two different shades of purple, and his left eye was completely white.

"Drake?"

"It's the hybrid!" A mercenary call out.

Drake pointed behind me. "Mia, look out!"

I spun around, my pink sword meeting the iron blade of a mercenary. I felt strong, with my hope and will now replenished. I jumped back, making his sword swing forward from the sudden loss a object keeping his own at bay. With a short advantage, I hit him in the head with the hilt of my sword, knocking him unconscious. I turned around, seeing that the others had gone after Drake.
The captain stood, anger in his face, ready to fight even with his wound. Drake took out one of them to his right, then tried to stab the one to his left, but the mercenary blocked his attack. I reached into my bag and grabbed a bow and arrow, then put the arrow on the string, pulled back and fired. The arrow went into his side, making him fall down. We didn't bother to check if he was still alive.
I grabbed another arrow, my last one, and and shot it at the other mercenary. It pierced into his arm, making him fall down and hold it in pain as it bleed. The captain ran at Drake with his sword high, and rage in his eyes. Drake raised his sword and blocked him, but I could see him struggle to hold him back. I ran behind him, and lunged my sword into his back, then yanked it out as we watched his body fall.

"Um, thanks." He said, breathing heavily.

"I should be thanking you! Who knows what would have happened to me if you didn't show up like you did."

He looked to his right and a look of slight fear came on his face. I followed his gaze, seeing him staring at the mercenary that I had shot. He stood up, with his hand trying to cover his injury, but the arrow still remained in his arm. He looked at us and his fallen comrades, with fear in his face. He stood, and ran into the trees. I drew my sword ready to chase him down.

"Should we go after him?" I asked Drake.

He replied "No. It's not worth the chase."

I turned back to him, with a wide smile on my face. I was overjoyed to be free from capture, and to see one of my best friends once more.

"Wow. I didn't expect to find you here! I heard yelling so I debated whether to check it out or not. I'm so glad I did!"

"I'm glad to see you! How have you been?" I asked.

He scratched the back of his head. "Well, I've had better days. I've been sick a lot lately, and...things."

I looked at him in confusion. He seemed uncomfortable at the last part. I finally noticed that he seemed shaky on his legs, and his skin was pale.

I stepped back. "Well, don't get me sick, cause I swear..." He interrupted me.

"Don't worry, It's not contagious. I think."

I couldn't tell if he was joking with the last thing he said. Drake can be hard to figure out sometimes.

He changed the subject. "I was starting to doubt that I would find you or Grayson."

"You haven't seen him either, huh?"

"Nope. I've heard that he went into hiding. I wonder how he's doing with finding the Drago' hatchery."

"Me too." There was an awkward silence for a few seconds, before he spoke again.

"So, why did they attack you?"

I rolled my eyes. "Duh! I'm wanted for treason, and so are you."

"I know, just, curious. Where were you heading before they showed up?"

I pointed in the direction of the old village. "I was heading to Mortem to find more supplies. The place was destroyed by Him a few weeks or so before I met you and Grayson, so I was hoping there would be something there I could salvage."

Drake shook his head and replied "Don't bother. I've searched the rubble a few times. I was one of the first few to search it. There is nothing there that's of use anymore. Nothing but ashes of burned wood and decaying bodies."

I rubbed my arms to warm them up. It was seems strange that it would snow in a desert area like the badlands.

"So what was that back there, the running? Some kind of awesome magic spell?"

He chuckled and gave his usual smug smile. "Yeah. It's a new spell I mastered not to long after I got out of the portal. I've been able to learn a lot more spells since then." He turned around and started walking.

"When I left the portal, I ended up in a snowy forest somewhere in the east. I was surrounded by Endermen and a few wolves, but they didn't attack. The wolves just ran off, and the Endermen just...stared."

"The Enderman were probably like that because of your Enderman half. When I came out of the portal, I was in a jungle. I went back to the catacombs and got a ton of awesome stuff down there!"

"Aren't you worried you might get, I don't know, cursed maybe?" His head turned to me, but he continued to walk. The snow began to stop falling.

We made out of the forest, and into the open space. We walked on a gravel path that was covered in sand. The ground was covered in dead grass, and small trees were scattered about.

"No. It's my job to take those risks. Besides, it's totally worth it."

He laughed, it seemed sincere, but he didn't look right. It was like something was bothering him.

Drake's point of view-

The voices in my head were starting again. That dark voice that starts at the back of your mind, then slowly creeps to your vague thoughts. It's not mine, yet, it sounds like me. I felt like screaming at it, but I don't want to frighten Mia. Will she understand, or are the voices right?

She'll run from you. She'll fear you. Why would she want to be friends with someone who's such a hazard?

I'm worse than before, and I accept that, but is so bad now that she'll want nothing to do with me anymore? Am I just letting my paranoia get a hold on me yet again? What if something goes wrong and I end up hurting her? I want her to help me stop this...thing, in my head, but what can can we really do? We can't go back to the magic library to try and find an answer, not without Grayson at least. He has the map. Or was the map destroyed in the lava? I don't remember.
Mia snapped her fingers and waved her hand in front of my face, which got out of my trance-like thoughts.

"Hello! Earth to Drake?" She sounded irritated.

"Um, I-I'm sorry. I zoned out a bit. What were you saying?"

"I was saying maybe we should go to your house? I'd love to see all of the magic stuff you got there! Besides, you don't look too well."

I replied with sarcasm from her last remark, but I only mention it playfully. "Great. Thanks."

I looked at the mountain were my home was resting at the peak. I had to go there and make the health potions anyways. I got all of the ingredients before I found Mia.

"Yeah, I'll show you my home. It's not really a home, it's more like a temple that I sort of took over."

Her eyes shined. "A temple? Ooohhh. Sounds interesting."

I smiled. She had such a bright atmosphere around herself that cheered you up when you were down. My previous thoughts got pushed to the back of my mind. I continued walking on the gravel path, and Mia followed by my side. The clouds began to quickly move north, allowing rays of warm sunshine to beat down on us. She turned to me with her usual grin on her face and started walking backwards.

"Say, did you sell that chalice I gave you at the Magic library?"

I shook my head. "No, I haven't actually. It became something that I just couldn't let go of. Your chalice and the mark Grayson gave me. I mean, what if I never saw you again? I want something that will remind me why it's worth going through each day."

She turned back around, making me feel more comfortable that she was less likely to trip.

"You could have been rich if you sold it, but I understand. If you gave me something you wanted me to see, I honestly think I wouldn't have."

I looked up ahead, and spotted a bush. I could see the few red fruits that remained on it. I ran to it, forgetting about how fatigued my legs were beginning to feel. I fell onto my knees, not feeling like I could stand, but I remained in a good mood. I grabbed every raspberry I saw, and put them in the side pocket of my backpack.
Mia laughed as she jogged to catch up with me. I turned around to face her, putting a few berries in my mouth and eating them.

"Why did you do that? Are you really that hungry?"

"No. Berry bushes just remind me of Grayson. He used to grab as many berries as he could. I found it strange at first, but I don't hunt and I'm scared to go into populated towns to buy anything, so I understand why he did that now."

It was silent for awhile, as we thought about our friend. I stood up, but I became light headed and tumbled over my own feet. Mia gasped and ran to catch me before I hit the ground. Now that I was aware of my condition, I felt the fever get worse. I coughed into her back a few times, my eyes tearing up from not breathing. I gasped and caught my breath as I rubbed my eyes with my left arm, but remained relying on Mia for support.

"How about I help you walk?"

I wanted to do a simple thing, such as walking, on my own. Despite my wanting of independency, I knew that I needed the help.

"Sure. Thank you." My own breath, even though it froze in the cold air, burned when it left my mouth.

I put my arm around her shoulder, as I pushed myself up from her arms. She put her hand on my back, trying to support me so I wouldn't fall once more. We walked slowly, trying to match each other's footsteps so we would walk at the same pace.

"Hey, um, your eye. It's still white."

I looked down at her and replied "Yeah. What about it?"

"Well, isn't Herobrine dead?"

It was like saying his name triggered something in me, or something that someone put in me. I felt agitated, but the agony from the pain in my head drowned out my emotions. I yelped from the sudden increase of pressure in my head. It was like my brain was being crushed.

"Drake, are you okay? Are you getting another headache?"

I hissed then replied, "Yeah, but it's fine now. Anyways, as you were saying...I guess..."

I paused for a second, not really knowing what to say. Should I just take the risk and tell her my escalating problem? What's the use of hiding it if she'll find out sooner or later.

"Well, there are still two diamonds left. He has to still be out there." I didn't say the full truth.

I felt my stomach get worse when I tried to say that He was still in my head. That He wanted full control of my body and was willing to do anything he could to get it and continue his conquering of the rest of the lands. I couldn't get myself to say it at the time being.
We were almost to my home. The sand temple of Uldin that I had once searched with Grayson was starting to come into view. I barely even realized how far we had walked.

"Look at this! This is so cool!" Mia cheered, clapping her hands together and jumping up and down. I wasn't prepared for the sudden loss of support and almost fell again.

"Whoa!" Mia quickly grabbed my waist and pushed me back up. "Sorry! So sorry!"

I chuckled. "It's alright. It's fine." I looked back up at the temple.

It was almost completely covered in dirt and grass from the thousands of years of existence. Only two parts of it stuck out from the ground.

"Wow. How do we get inside?"

I remember where an entrance was located. "I've been here before with Grayson. The entrance is over here on the side."

I walked, still needing a bit of help, but my legs were starting to feel better, and I led her to the side of the first part of the building coming out of the ground. Behind it was a another part of the temple, where there was a small opening the shape of a door, that was covered in vines.

"There's an old abandoned base in there. Like a camp. There isn't anything of use in there, really."

"Are you sure?" She pouted.

"Well, I'm beginning to be able to stand on my own, so you can go in there and search it. Trust me though, we only found in a chest that had a few sovereigns and florian." She looked back and forth from me to inside the building. She tried to decide what to do.

She let out a long sigh. "Fine. You have to get home anyways. I'm starting to get tired of carrying your a**."

"Hey! You're not carrying me, just, helping. I'm sure I can walk on my own now though."

"Fine, just be careful." She let go of me and stepped away.

I stumbled, trying to get balance. My legs felt better, but my head still ached badly. She took a step forward, preparing to grab me, but stepped back, changing her mind. I stood straight, feeling confident again, as I usually did.

"See? I'm fine." I smiled. "Well, I can walk at least. I still need to make those potions to get back to proper health though."

Would the potions work though? Over and over I would use them, and for a day they would work, but the illness always returned, I guess as long as it does something then it's worth it. We walked away from the mostly buried structure, walking faster than we were before. We passed the bridge leading to the rest of the badlands. Up ahead was the mountain, with a stone arch with elegant carvings embedded within it. As we got closer, Mia gasped and ran to it. She stroked it, feeling the texture of the carvings.

"This is so cool! The carvings in it are so pretty!"

"Yeah. Grayson told me the Orcs used to live here before I inhabited it. I guess they are the ones that did the architecture."

"Your home is up there? It's surrounded by water though. I thought you hated water?"

I nodded. "I do, but... I was drawn here. It just felt like I had to stay." I won't tell her about the diamond. Not yet at least.

I walked past the archway, and began going up the steps, I looked behind me to see Mia following. She looked so excited. We continued up until we reached where a piece of the stone steps had broke and fell down into the sea.

"This is where things get a bit tricky." I was decent at parkour. I had jumped over it many times before in the past, but I still hate it.

I jumped over it, landing on my knees and hands on the other side. My arms ached as I pushed myself back up. The illness just makes everything in my body feel for fragile, and I hate that fact. I looked back at Mia, who seemed hesitant to jump across.

"It's alright. Just try not to fall."

"I know. I know. Hold on."

I got ready to catch her if she fell. She readied herself, then leaped across. She looked back behind herself, then looked back at me.

"That's kind of scary." She said, with a chuckle in her voice.

I shrugged. "I guess. I just hope I never fall into the water. That wouldn't be a very good experience."

I enjoyed the sounds of the waves hitting the mountain side, even if the sounds were faint to the ear. The wind began to pick up, making my cape wave, and hit Mia in the face. She pushed it away and shook her head.

"Your cape's in my face!"

"Oh! Sorry." I grabbed it and pulled it back to my side.

We got to the top, where my temple home was. There were multiple buildings to it, including a study and my own room. Mia gasped when she reached the top.

"This is amazing! It's so pretty!"

I smiled and began to walk in the direction of the teleportation circle, where the stairs to my room began.

"Yeah. The water here is actually very useful for sleeping magic, and magic artifacts and imbedded into the stone of the structures."

"This place is so cool."

I walked up to my bedroom, and walked around my bed, taking my backpack off. Mia examined the alter I had by the doorway. It was a stone table covered by a red cloth. On top of it was a candle, a skull from the infamous Wither beast, and a chalice.

"Is the this the one I gave you?" She asked, pointing at the chalice. "It looks cleaner."

"That's because it's not the one you gave me. I had that before I met you. The one you gave me is someplace special."

"Special? Hm." She then went to the table behind me, and examined my table of puppets.

"Um...What are these?" She poked at them.

"Those are puppets. They're used for mostly negative magic, but I tend to use my magic for more helpful things."

"Oh." She backed away from them, not liking how I told her that they were used for bad magic.

I grabbed the ingredients from my bag. It was a few bottles of water and a few herbs, but I did have something that I didn't need to go out and find. It was in the "basement". I looked at Mia and scratched the back of my head.

"There's an ingredient I need that's..stored away. I trust you. Come with me."

She tilted her head and gave me a confused expression. "Oh. Well, okay."

I went to the table, and pushed on the specific part of the wall where the hidden button was. I could hear the clicking sound.

"Push that.." I went to past the doorway to the other side of the wall. "And the door over here opens."

"Wow!" She gasped at the secret room. She ran into it, and looked down where the ladder lead down to.

She got down and began to climbed down. I followed behind. Half way down, her foot slipped. She quickly grabbed the ladder and hung on tightly.

"Whoa! Gotta watch your step." She laughed.

We made it down to the bottom, where I was met with Mia's puzzled look.
"What are you talking about? There doesn't seem to be anything down here."
I walked over to where the other secret door was. I placed my hand on it, but didn't open it.

"Yeah, not really. What I need doesn't seem to be in here, but...don't freak out over anything."

I pushed the secret door open. She squealed and ran inside.

"This is incredible! All this magic looking stuff and...that thing! What is that?" She pointed to the container holding the diamond.

"It's one of the last two diamonds. Herobrine's lifeline." I said his name, and my headache came back.

"It's one of the other reasons I stayed here. It was in this place to begin with."

"It's in that box? What are those rod things?" Mia said. I had almost forgotten that technology like electromagnets were rare in this time.

"They're called electromagnets. They're hiding the magic signature of the diamond so no one with magic, including myself, can feel the power in it."

"So this place was already here?"

I shook my head. "No. I used a pick axe to carve this room out. And a bit of magic."
She stared at the container for a while, until her eyes suddenly snapped away from it and she spoke to me.

"Say, if what you said earlier is right, the thing about Him still being alive, then aren't you worried at all that he might find it?"

I shook my head. "Like I said, no one with magic, or powers like He has, will be able to find it." I lied.

He already knows it's here. He has known for a long time now. I hate lying, but I'm doing this for her and my own good. Right?

Mia's point of view-

"So what is it that you needed?" My question seemed to snap him out of deep thought.

"Oh yeah. Right."

He walked over to the many shelves. With his height, he would be the only one that could reach the top shelf without needing anything to stand on. He reached up to it, and grabbed an old looking bottle.

"This is called "The breath of the goddess". It can be used for healing magic and other potions and spells."

"Is my chalice in here?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Yeah. It's over here." He walked to the south wall and reached up to the top shelf.
He grabbed the chalice, that had red rubies around the center of it.

"That is the one! I'm actually glad you kept it. Like you said, it's a great reminder."

He smiled and let out a small laugh. I jumped when he started coughing. I looked back up at him, seeing him gasping. His forehead and cheeks became more red and he was shaking slightly more violently.

"Let's get you back up there." I said, beginning to walk out of the room.

"Alright then." He put the chalice back up on the shelf.

We left the room, with Drake closing the door behind us. Going to the ladder, I waited for him to go up, but he just looked at me.

"What?" I said.

"I'm waiting for you to go up." He said.

I replied "Well I'm not going up until you do."

He looked like he was about continue with the argument, but he looked like he was beginning to sway on his legs and looked like he suddenly got dizzy.

He closed his eyes and breathed in and out. "F-fine."

He shook his head and blinked rapidly, then he went in front of me and began to climb up the ladder. He really starting to worry me. We got to the top and went back into the room. He looked around as he grabbed his backpack and his supplies and took them to a cauldron outside by the doorway.
The place was a bit small in width, but big in length. There were two stoves, his table with the puppets and spinning wheel, and a strange magical looking object next to the stoves.
I headed back to Drake outside. He put the supplies on the ground, then pulled a piece of flint and steel from his bag. He rubbed them together and lit a fire, then poured the three bottles of water into the cauldron. As he broke and ripped apart the herbs, I looked up at the sky, seeing that the sun was already beginning to set over the horizon. Drake started coughing again. I walked up to him and pat his back.

He smiled at me, them put all of the herbs into the cauldron. "I'm very thankful for you being here. I'm very glad I left my house today."

He looked back at what he was making. Reaching down and grabbing the bottle of "goddess breath", he opened it and poured it into the concoction. It was like a liquid mist as it fell. It actually had a scent to it that smelt like lavender. He began to stir again, then stopped and whispered something under his breath. He held his right hand to the fire, and the flames went out. It must have been a spell.

"I need to stop using my magic like that." He mumbled to himself, looking irritated.
He looked up at me with a weak smile.

I assumed that he was trying to get my attention away from his frail condition. Then he put the bottle that had the "breath of the goddess" into his bag. With the other bottles that once held water, he put into the cauldron and filled them with the healing potion that had become a light maroon color. There wasn't much in the cauldron, but it was enough for four bottles. The perfect amount. Drake drank the first bottle he filled, then filled it again, and the others. He put the filled bottles and the empty one into his backpack and used the button on the front to close it.

"I need to get to bed. Even if it is early. I'll feel better in the morning." He said, still not moving from where he sat.

"You can sleep in the study. It's the other building."

I felt bad for him. He seemed like he was feeling so weak. I put my hands on his shoulders, giving him a signal to stand. Once he stood, I couldn't help but stay next to him until he lifted the cover of his bed and rested underneath them.

"Good night." He said, before coughing into his arm.

"Good night." I said back.

I left the room, going outside. The sun was almost down; it's golden glow fading as the sun fell. The days always seem like they go by so quickly. I walked down the steps, then made my way to the building Drake called the "study". Vines were in the way of the door. I pushed them away, then opened the doors and walked inside, closing them behind me to get rid of the cold winter, evening air. The study had a bed on the east wall covered with a white sheet with a dreamcatcher hanging on the wall above it, and a table and stool on the south wall. The windows with no glass made it cold inside the room.

"I wish he would have put windows in here. Or something to keep it warm." I said, rubbing my cold arms that were covered in goosebumps.

There were racks that I could put my weapons on, but I felt more comfortable keeping them by my side overnight. I took off my backpack and put it met to the bed. I lifted the covered and got in, holding the blanket close to my body to warm it up. I was happy that I had reunited with Drake, happy that he was there at that moment when my whole life could have been torn to shreds by losing my freedom. I was grateful, but I was so worried. He's so sick. And his eye.
What if Herobrine is still around. I haven't heard of an attack from Him since we left the magic library. If Herobrine is still around, then what will happen to Drake? All of my thinking and laying completely still was beginning to drag me under. I closed my eyes and fell into a blissful sleep.

Drake's point of view-

I remember this place very well. This was Grayson's old home. I looked just the way it did before the mercenaries attacked it. The red stain glass windows that I envied him for having. The fireplace, that was even lit. I remember all of this, but why am I here? I heard a strange noise outside that sounded familiar, so I decided to investigate.
When I opened the door, I squinted my eyes from the sudden bright light of the sun. It was just as sunny as the day I first went to my best friends home. My eyes adjusted, allowing me to see the green grass, and the wall surrounding his old property. I looked at the tall bush, with bright red berries still on it, and looked at the creature that sat on the wall next to the bush.

"Slimey?"

The slime jumped, as living slime naturally do, and faced me. He was a small mass of light green slime, with three darker circles made of slime inside of him that formed his eyes and mouth.

"What are you doing here?" I said as he began to hop towards me. A squishing sound was made with every hop he took.

He got to my legs and rubbed on them, then hopped back once. He spun around in circles, then stopped and looked up at me.

"You're still cute." I said as I reached down to put him.

My hand made contact with the slime, but after a second, my hand began to burn like it was on fire. I let out a scream and pulled my arm away, grabbing my wrist. I looked down at the burned and bloodied hand. The skin was charted and black and red.

"What..?" My shaking voice let out.

I looked back down at Slimey. My eyes widened. The small slime was no longer it's adorable usual green color. It wasn't even slime anymore. The grass around it burned to nothing. It's eyes glowed a bright orange. Magma. It's form began to change. It grew bigger, and it looked like arms made of magma were coming out of it.
I backed up, trying to get back inside, but I looked behind me and saw that the door and windows had vanished, leaving behind nothing but a gray brick wall. I looked back at the monstrosity in front of me, and my fear increased. My heart raced faster as it seemed to take a human form. It's arm shot up at my neck, burning my neck, causing me to scream in anguish. I gritted my teeth and bit on my lip until it bled. I forced myself to open my eyes, or at least one of them, and look at the magma being.
It grew until it towered over me, and looked down at me with glowing orange eyes, that slowly shifted into white ones. I shut my eyes tight and let out another scream as I felt the flames seeping to my spine in the back of my neck. My eyes filled with tears from the agony. All I heard was laughing as I was unable to open my eyes anymore, but continued to feel the pain, that began to slowly fade.