As Nikita approached the village she realized just how big it was. It stretched beyond what she could see in the fog, and the buildings were all big. All of the houses had gardens out front and a birch tree next to their door.
The village even looked like it had its own school, and maybe even a church. Nikita marveled at the buildings as she came into the village.
"Who are you?" Asked a deep, commanding voice.
Nikita watched as a figure stepped out of the mist, sword raised. It was a man in iron armor
"A traveler." She answered simply.
"Do you come for rest and supplies?" The strange man asked.
"Yes." Answered Nikita.
"Dismount and follow me." He said.
Nikita did as she was told, putting the map into her inventory so she wouldn't lose it. Blaze neighed nervously, mirroring exactly how Nikita felt.
As they made their way to wherever they were going, she got a better look at houses. They were made of birch wood planks, and either sea lanterns, red stone lamps, daylight sensors or lanterns lit the houses.
They all also had their own kitchen area and bedrooms.
How do they make all this out here? She wondered as she looked at the houses.
"The stables are here." Said the guard.
Nikita turned to Blaze and detached her chest from his saddle before she led him inside and allowed the stablehand to close the stall door and tentatively feed Blaze an apple, which he took gratefully.
"Cole will take good care of him." Said the guard.
Nikita stroked Blaze's muzzle once before turning to Cole, the stablehand.
"Make sure that he is well fed and comfortable. He has come a long way." She said.
"Yes ma'am." Said Cole as he turned to go get hay for Blaze.
"You can follow me. We have a couple houses set aside just for travelers."
Nikita could see from his eyes that he didn't completely trust her.
Good. Thought Nikita.
You shouldn't.
"What's your name?" Asked Nikita as she walked up beside the guard.
"Elijah." He said, looking at her with suspicious brown eyes.
"I work with the Guard, the people who protect this place from monsters and looters." He said.
"How did you build this place out here in the middle of this forest?" She asked Elijah.
"We harvested the birch trees around the village, built the houses, mine cobblestone, iron, coal, and gold from the cliffs around us and got the sea lanterns, red stone and other materials from nearby villages or other traders." He said.
"We replanted the trees that we cut down and hunt and fish in the forest and the rivers and lakes around the village."
Like Quarterstone. Thought Nikita.
"Here it is." Said Elijah, standing in front of a large birch wood plank house.
"You can sleep here until you head out again." He said.
"You can trade at the trading post by the bakery and butcher. Feel free to buy any food or supplies that you may need."
"Thank you." Said Nikita.
Elijah didn't answer, but instead walked away towards where she had come into the village.
Friendly. Thought Nikita bitterly as she watched him go.
She then turned to the house and went inside. As Nikita opened the door she was hit with the sudden feeling of homesickness. The room inside looked like hers, even the bed was the same purple that hers had been, and there were book shelves next to the bed. She set her chest down and sat in the bed.
I miss it. She thought.
I miss it a lot, and Thomas, to. Blake and Kennedy... but I have to do this. I'll make sure they aren't hurt. Nikita thought.
She went into the kitchen and found that food had already been prepared. She took it and ate, hungry after her long journey. She then took out the book that the Librarian had given her.
Enchanting and Potion Brewing was the name. She opened the leather bound book and looked through it. Nikita then spent the next hour reading it, transfixed by what it held.
It told her how to make healing potions and fire resistance potions, all of it. All of the enchantments for tools and enchantments with descriptions were in the book to.
I'll need to make healing potions at some point, just in case... she thought.
Maybe I can trade for the ingredients for one or two at the Trading Post. She thought, reading over the list of things she needed.
A water bottle... I think I have that in my chest... one nether wart... and a glistening melon.
She got up and checked her chest. She had two water bottles.
If I can get two nether wart and two glistening melons I can make two healing potions. Two ghast tears and two more nether wart will give me two potions of regeneration. She thought.
Let's go for those two.
She grabbed the satchel that Gabriel had given her and headed out. The Trading Post was huge. When Nikita walked in she was filled with wonder. Everything from leads to a Totem of the Undying was here. She went over to the counter where a friendly looking shopkeeper stood waiting for her.
"Hi, what can I get you?" She asked.
"Four nether wart, two ghast tears and two glistening melons." Said Nikita.
The shopkeeper nodded and went to one of the display cases. She came back with what Nikita wanted in a small satchel.
"Oh, I almost forgot. I need two Awkward Potions, blaze powder, another nether wart and a blaze rod." Said Nikita.
"Are brewing a potion?" Asked the shopkeeper.
"Yes. A healing potion to bring with me when I return to the road." Nikita said.
"Where are you going?" Asked the woman.
"Redstone Isle. I have a friend there." She lied.
"I've heard that it's a well-guarded." She said.
"They know me there. I've been there before to visit." Said Nikita as the shopkeeper placed her final items in the bag.
"That will be 30 emeralds." She said.
Nikita gave them to her and took the satchel. When she got back to her house she quickly crafted a potion stand and began to brew her potions.