I lay on my back in bed, my sunglasses on my stomach. The Ghast girl is curled up at my side, taking a surprising liking to me. For now I've settled to calling her Gal, like a mix between Ghast and Girl. I'll think of a name eventually.

I did end up catching some sleep. But not much. Dreams of my home in the nether constantly plagued me. I've only been gone a few hours, but the idea that I'll never see it again only makes my chest ache with longing.

I never thought I'd miss red walls and lava. At least Gal is here, adding a little memorabilia of the nether to my life. I hope she isn't missing it too much, like I have been these past two weeks since the... incident with father... Erm... Herobrine. Just Herobrine now.

"Dood!" A voice shouts, while a fist pounds on the door. "Breakfast is up! You actually gonna eat with us today?"

It sounds like Jerome. Sighing, I don't think I can avoid it any longer. For two weeks I've eaten magma cream in my room with just Gal, hinging to something my stomach is used to. Something that has no chance of making my stomach hurt.

"Um... I have a letter to write!?" I call back, using the same excuse I used last week.

"I don't know what you're doing in there, but no excuses this time! You can write your letter later!" Another voice, Jason's, calls.

He still hasn't outright told me he's the king, and I've had no way of finding out naturally. I already know, but I try my hardest not to treat him any differently. He seems to be enjoying the anonymity.

"O-Okay..." I sigh dejectedly, slipping on my sunglasses and amulet. "Just... Gah! I'm coming!"

I haven't needed the amulet lately, since I've been enjoying such a peaceful and joking environment, alone in my room with Gal. The sunglasses have been very useful though. I haven't yet confronted Ian about his own, but I have a few ideas. Obviously I can't just walk up to him. 'Yo, I can sense a darkness surrounding you! You haven't told anyone yet, have you.' That wouldn't go over well.

I rub Gal's head, waking her up. "I'll be right back." I whisper. Then I switch to english, to give her more practice. "You know what to do."

She takes a moment to decipher my words, and then nods. She floats over the the secret niche under the bed. I placed a blanket and some magma cream inside, so it's like a small bedroom for such a small creature.

Standing up, I open my door. Before me stands Jerome and Jason, sharing stern and confused glances. "You're... Coming today?" They ask.

I nod, rubbing the back of my neck. No going back now. "Uh... ya. Sorry for um... being a loner?"

Their terms are weird, but I'm getting the hang of using them. Like "buns" is just another word for butt, which I found entertaining.

"Hey, that's okay man." Jason says. "We're basically strangers still."

"That reminds me." Jerome mutters. "Do you plan on... Staying? Got anywhere else to be?" He asks hesitantly.

I shake my head. "If it's no trouble, staying would be nice."

Jason nods. "Then that's fine. Come on, Quentin was on breakfast, and he made French toast!"

I tilt my head curiously, but follow after the excited pair. I can already tell this is going to be a rough meal. I don't even know what we're having. French toast? What's that?

I walk along the empty hallway, peeking out a few towering windows. Apparently this is the second floor, where all of the generals stay. Jason wouldn't say that is room isn't here, But I know it's by the throne room, which I learned is on the top floor, the seventh floor.

Soon we walk up a flight of stairs, leading us directly into a kitchen. There are many things I don't recognize, like a circle of iron with a handle like a sword. But there are also a few I do recognize, like the tables, chairs, and simple things of similar nature.

Something in the ceiling is glowing white. At first I flinch, worried as to what-or who- it may be. But when the strange object doesn't move or blink, I take a closer look at it.

It's like someone took a piece of the sun and stuck it behind a panel of glass. It glows brightly, illuminating the space without help from anyone's glowing eyes. Usually I light up rooms by myself, or send balls of raw magic in other directions. It seems like I don't need to do that here.

Scrunching my eyebrows in confusion, I prod at a smaller version sitting above the counter. It is hot to the touch, which makes sense. Most things that glow are got to the touch.

"Um... will I look like an idiot if I ask what this is?" I question hesitantly, prodding at the light.

"Um... What?" The sorcerer man, Seto, asks, looking confused. He wears purple robes, with what appears to be a creeper insignia on the front. Not from the creeper army, but more of a representation.

"I'll take that as a yes." I sigh in defeat.

"That's um... that's a light." Jerome replies slowly.

I roll my eyes, but they obviously can't see them. "Well I know that. I mean how."

Ian nudges Jason. "You explain it, your good with techno stuff." He murmurs, thinking I can't hear.

"Okay." Jason coughs. "That's erm... powered by electricity. It's made when something can generates a certain type of energy, like lightning."

A realization dawns on me. Considering I conjure it during battles, I know the ins and outs of the physics of lightning. Nodding, I show that I understand. "Cool." I mutter, taking a seat in an extra pull out chair.

"Anyway..." Quentin sighs. "Welcome to Breakfast with Team Crafted!"

Everyone laughs, giving Quentin enthusiastic, mocking claps. I can't help but chuckle, watching this family.

"Let us eat cake! Erm... French toast!" Ian yells with delight.

A series of men and women dart into the room, taking me by surprise. Before I can even get a good look at them they disappear through the door again, after dropping plates onto the table.

"Cool, right?" Another boy, Mitch, grins, waving to the retreating people. "The recruits around here are awesome."

"Recruits?" I question, pondering the meaning of that word here. Hopefully it means the same thing as it does in the nether.

"Yup! Soldiers of the Sky army!" Mitch replies.

I smirk. "Sky army, huh? That's pretty ironic."

Mitch rubs the back of his neck. "Huh." He chuckles. "Didn't notice that. But ya, there's a story behind it."

"Tell it!" I exclaim, paying no attention to the plate slid in front if me.

"Erm, another time Mitch!" Jason calls from across the table. Mitch sighs, but picks up a pronged piece of metal and stabs it into the mushy object on his plate.

That finally pushes me to look down. A regular plate is in front of me, but what's on it isn't something I'm used to. It's brown, like magma cream if it cooled off. But magma cream never tastes good cool, so I become apprehensive.

The object is mushy, with a tougher crust around the edges. Their is a yellow tint to it, and a liquid that's cold and sticky is poured on top of it. There is a series of objects to the side, of which only one is known to me. The spoon.

The others I have no idea. One is like a knife, which is slightly alarming. These people eat casually with knives on the table?

The other also seems like a weapon. There are four spikes on the end, and a handle pointed towards me. I observe as the others use it to stab into the meal. The meal that I have no idea what to do with.

I stare down at it a moment, before picking up the utensil I actually know how to use. Gripping to spoon tightly, I tune out the table conversation and make an effort to divide a piece of the strange food. More of the sticky liquid come out, as if the food is a sponge. It creeps me out a little.

Finally I'm successful, and begin to notice the table conversation puttering off. Ignoring it, I study the food on the spoon carefully. It's not liquidy in the slightest, and only a little warm to the touch. This won't burn my throat going down like magma does.

I glance up, to see how the others are doing it. But they've all stopped eating, and are staring at me like I grew another two heads. The Wither would think this is funny.

"Um... What?" I speak up. Taking my free hand to rub the back of my neck in embarrassment.

"Have you..." Seto trails off.

"Have you never had toast? Or French toast?" Jerome finishes for him, abandoning manners.

"Erm... no?" I reply. "Is it safe to assume that's not normal?"

"Erm... yes?" Quentin murmurs, fiddling with the fins by his ears.

My face goes red, so I "bite the bullet" as Ian has said before. I shive the strange substance I to my mouth, and wait for some revolting taste to assault my tongue.

I get just the opposite.

My eyes widen, and a smile covers my entire face. The mush is sweet, and melts on my tongue in the best way possible. There's a hint of something else, some taste that I associate with the yellow stuff on top of the "French Toast." The brown part is crunchy, and tastes quite similar to cooled magma, but not bad.

I hum in satisfaction, my eyes closed with joy. The people around me laugh, so I join in. We laugh like we've known each other for years, over the strange man in sunglasses who tried French Toast for the first time.

My amulet tingles against my chest, a feeling of slight magic fiddling through me. Later on, I'm going to enchant it better. Make it so that It makes my wings smaller, and my eyes dimmer. I can't stop the wings or the glow, but I can make them less noticeable.

I'll be a friend.

I'm a traitor.

But I'll have friends.

Sighing with content, I finish my meal quickly. Those around me point out things I don't know, without asking why or how I don't know them. Their respect of my past makes me warm up inside, stretching a smile across my face.

I think this traitor made the right choice.

"Okay Sky, I've got some questions for ya." A voice interrupts, as more people clear the plates from the table.

"Oh? I ask, leaning back. "Go ahead." I'm in too good of a mood to be nervous.

"You want to stay here?"

I nod, glancing around at the smiling faces.

"Okay, cool, cool. This is a castle, and this is a kingdom, so I want to know." Jason says seriously, leaning forward. "Do you have what it takes to be a recruit?"

I smirk, thinking back to all the training I've done in my life. Strategy, fighting, magic, intimidation. I'm feeling quite confident in myself, in the presence of this new group of friends.

"Not a recruit." I smile. "A general!"

Jason frowns playfully. "Oh really?"

I nod, puffing out my chest. The other laugh, looking me up and down. "I think he's totally got what I takes." Jerome interject, wiping a tear from his eye.

"Test him!" Mitch chants, others joining in.

Jason smiles.

"Alright Sky." Jason smirks. "Is Sly a nickname, or full name? We'll need a full name for the testing roster."

The table erupts into cheers, giving me time to think. A real name? What kind of real name?

Well there's Ian, that's a pretty normal name. There's Mitch, and Jason, and Ty. Those are all normal names.

Then there's Jerome, and Quentin, and Seto, and me. We have unique names. I'm unique, despite how much I want to be normal.

I want a normal name. A name that you see everyday. A name for a normal person, a name for a normal world. I think I've had enough standing out.

"Adam." I say. Yes, that's a normal name. "Put Adam down please!"

Jason nods, waving to a person standing by the door. They scribble Adam down, and then rush away. "No need for last names, we have people here who want away from family." Jason sighs, sitting back down.

"Now." Ty grins. "Testing's tomorrow at eight, don't be late!"

Jerome makes a "pft" sound. "That rhymed!" He exclaims, giving me a thumbs up. "You have good luck!"

Hm. So if it rhymes, I have good luck? Not sure I need luck, but I'll take it.

I'm getting more and more like these people every day. More and more normal. I like it.

"I'll be there!" I say, standing up. My stomach growls, and not in a good way either. I groan.

"After you use the bathroom?" Quentin laughs.

================
Hey there Martians! My schedule slipped a bit, as I wanted to update yesterday, but here you go!

The P.O.V will always be Adam unless specified, and there will be a gigantic time skip soon. Next chapter is the testing, and then we jump ahead a while.

For now, Sky- now Adam- is free of Herobrine. But how long will that last?

Keep enjoying my Martians! We need OC submissions! We have one, which will be added in after the large time skip. Of course the owner of the OC will be credited, so keep an eye out!

See ya later!

Snickers out.