Dystopia (BoD Book Three); A Camp Minecraft AU

Chapter Four; Nico

Nico winced as he sat on the cot. Fatigue was creeping up on him through his tired legs and his bleeding cuts. Alxton stood in the corner, out of the way of Zud, who was messing with vials and boxes lazily placed on the shelves.

Zud murmured something to himself. Alxton tilted his head and perked his ears. Zud cleared his throat, "So, we don't have access to anything outside of this valley. Meaning no nether, and no potions. So now we have me."
Nico tilted his head in confusion.

Zud smirked slightly, "Watch." He carefully took Nico's arm and turned it carefully to see a long gash down his forearm. Zud has already cleaned the wound, and now he carefully brushed his hand over it. Nico's arm cooled and tingled. When Zud moved his hand away, Nico's eyes widened. All that remained of the wound was a fully healed scar. The pain had completely subsided.

"Downside to healing magic; it leaves a scar every time," Zud smiled shyly.

"How did-," Nico asked, a small headache drumming behind his eyes, "How did you get that power?"

"A black dragon named...Death? She said she knew you." Zud replied with a shrug and turned to the shelf, rummaging around for something Nico couldn't see, "I don't really like her but I hardly know her, so."

"Death?" Nico echoed, his gut twisting, "Death is here? Like- in town?"

"Yeah, she kind of runs the place," Zud added with another shrug, "She's cryptic and strict."

Nico started to feel nauseous, "And she gave you those powers."

"Yeah," Zud nodded, turning back to Nico, "Woah, you went pale. Are you okay?"

Nico furrowed his eyebrows. Alxton jumped in, "His leg."

Zud and Nico both turned to his leg, which was soaked in blood. Zud's eyes lit up with alarm. He quickly grabbed a clean cloth from the shelf and tossed it to Alxton, "Soak that in the sink."

Alxton caught it and turned to the sink beside him. He twisted the faucet and thrust the fabric under the stream of water. He twisted it to wring out the water and handed it back to Zud.

Carefully, he pressed it to Nico's leg and started to gently wipe off the blood. Zud's face twisted as blood continued flowing. He pressed the rag to Nico's wound, "Alxton, can you get me the bandages? This wound is too big for me to heal."

Alxton complied, turning and grabbing a swatch of the cloth and giving it to Zud.

Nico spoke up while Zud worked, "I uh...I want to say something. A word of warning, I guess."

Alxton and Zud turned to Nico in confusion.

"Everything that happened back in the last world was because of Death." Nico admitted, casting his eyes to the ground in fear of anger.

"What?" Zud asked, eyes igniting.

Nico pressed his mouth into a thin line, then continued, "Death was the one who started everything. She was the one who killed Wilbur. Who destroyed the Chamber. The one who released the beast that killed the last of us," Nico turned to Alxton at the last statement. The fox folded his ears back.

"How do you know?" Alxton shot back- demanded.

Nico hesitated, and Alxton caught on. "Nico," Alxton hissed, "How do you know."

Zud had pulled back from Nico, leaving the bandage half unwrapped.

"I..." Nico tried, words lost, "I helped."

For a few seconds, the hut was dead silent.

"What?" Zud whispered, eyes hardening.

"You did this?" Alxton snarled, taking a dangerous step forward.

"Alxton- Alxton it was a mistake," Nico pleaded, pressing himself against the back corner, as far away from Alxton as possible.

"Alxton," Zud said carefully.

Alxton shook his head and turned away, "I need to go."

The fox turned briskly to the door and disappeared outside.

A/N: Bit of a shorter chapter but these next few are going to be packed with lore.