To Learn To Live [A Hermitcraft AU]

~Chapter Six~

"Aither..? Grian, where did you hear that." Mumbo looked at me with a confused expression.

I shook my head.
"Never-mind.. It's not important."

He only smiled and nodded.

"Actually, I'd stay longer, but I have something I need to take care of. Thank you for helping me out mate." I tried to leave off with a good note, before standing up and walking to the door.

"Alright then, just give me a call if you need something." he said just before I saluted and walked out of sight.

This is all so strange... That's the Mumbo I know, not the one from my nightmares. I- I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to my old place.
I was kinda getting tired of it, sure, but was I ready to say goodbye?

I walked past Mumbo's house going a little further behind, before reaching a thick and heavy jungle. It seemed like a good enough place to stay and build a shelter, so I trudged on through the thick shrubbery till I found a small clearing with a lake.

Perfect...

I quickly punched down the nearest tree, and made a crafting table along with some sticks.

Let's see.. I can make a sword..

Putting the required pieces together, I built my weapon.

Now.. somewhere to store everything..

Using the few remaining pieces of wood, I built a chest and placed it just beyond the small body of water, surrounded by trees and huge forests of bamboo.

"Strange.. but I guess I can make this work?" I said aloud as I studied a giant mound of dirt that also lay before me. It was in a.. cliff form almost. Perfect for hollowing out and turning into some sort of cave like Mumbo.

"Guess I'll start build-"

"Grian!!!"

A loud, yet familiar voice called through the forest, cutting off my train of thought.

"Xisuma?" I called back.

Without another word, the man swooped down from a tree and landed gracefully in front of me. He took off his helmet, revealing soft brown hair and a warm smile. The small constellation-like freckles splattered over the bridge of his nose twinkling brightly.

"Hey G! How've you been?"

"I'm fine I guess...? What are you doing here?"

His expression immediately turned grim as he shook his head. The freckles dimming.

"We have a lot to talk about. Can we go somewhere secret?"
He said gesturing with his head toward the direction he came.

I nodded.

"Great! Follow me." He motioned with his hand, and took off in a sprint.

Surprised by his sudden get-away, I took off after him, running as fast my legs would allow.

How he was even going that fast was beyond me. He practically flew on the wind, barely touching the ground as he glided from step to step.

Suddenly, he vanished.

"Xisuma!" I shouted, confused by his sudden disappearance.

"Down here G!" He shouted back, and sure enough, I spotted a small hole into the ground from which he slid into.

I immediately jumped in after him.

And oh how I wish I had had taken more time to prepare.

The dirt around me scraped and scratched against my skin. It was so claustrophobic, I wanted to pass out. I was going way too far, way too fast. Unless I landed in water, I probably wouldn't survive.

"X!!!! HELPP!" I shouted below me.

My calls were returned with the sounds of echoing laughter. He didn't seem phased in the slightest.

"X WHERE ARE WE GOING?"

"Just shut your eyes!" he shouted calmly, a hint of excitement could be read on his tone. The words rolling off his tongue almost like a song without a melody.

I did as I was told.

At first, all I could see was darkness. I was about to open my eyes again, before something sudden caught me off guard. I was no longer falling. I didn't feel like I was anywhere solid, yet.. I wasn't moving.

"You can open them now Grian."

I slowly uncovered my face.
We were in some sort of bunker. The walls were made of obsidian, and there was water trickling from the ceiling made of black concrete.

We must be under the lake...

"Why didn't I feel the landing?" i said suspiciously.

"Don't worry about it," he smiled. "Come sit down."

He pulled up to chairs from one of the corners, and took a seat down in front of me.

"Grian... have you been hearing voices?" he said solemnly.

The sudden question caught me off guard, but I responded truthfully.

"Yes.. how did you know?"

"I could hear them to. Constantly.. Agonizingly.. They kept telling me things in strange letters and writing, and were-.. taunting me."

Finally. Nothing more than utter relief washed over me knowing that someone else understood me. Understood what I went through, and what happened to me.

"Is any of this normal?" I asked worried.

"Not by the looks of it.. Only you and me can hear them. For everyone else it was a normal season change. I'm telling you Grian.. By the voices tones, there's something coming. And I dont think it's anything good."

I was shook. I didn't think what I saw was normal, but I definitely wasn't expecting anything like this. Will I be ok? Will everyone else be ok?

"H-how do we stop them?" I asked quietly. He gave a comforting smile, obviously reading my concern.

"Take this. Don't tell anyone because they'll all think I'm crazy, but if you crush it between your fingers, it will make you immune to their calls. I can't stay with you too much longer, but feel free to drop in whenever you need help."

I nodded, before he put his hand on my shoulder. Reaching into his pocket, he grabbed something extraordinary. It glowed a bright sky blue, and gave off a soft aura.

"Take this,"
I did.
"And close your eyes."
I did that too.
"Be careful, G."
In the next moment, the world seemed to evaporate from existence.
I felt like I was flying, it was amazing.

Can I open my eyes yet?

I did regardless, realising I was floating on top of the lake from earlier, and smiled.

"See? Not crazy, just misunderstood."

I felt the blue object from earlier in my palm, and closed my fist around it. Not enough to break it, but just enough to grip it tightly.

"This is going to be extraordinary."