The Survivors [Volume 1]

Strong as Obsidian

          It didn't take long for them to reach the citadel, thanks to the guard's access to pretty much everything around, which included override access to the highspeed trains that traversed the city. In no time they had entered the towering structure, and made their way to the very top, where the throne room was located. The guards offered to continue to accompany him, but Rainer did his best to assure he was fine and could go in alone. He watched them go, still not used to having anyone care about his wellbeing. He turned back to the large door, wincing as he lifted his arm to place his hands on it, and entered the large, long room. As he stepped inside, the sound of the other's voices reached his ears, and he felt a twinge of relief knowing they were back, and fine. They seemed to just be talking, and as he made his way closer, they seemed to be untouched. Up the stairs at the end of the hall sat Notch, sitting on his throne, glasses on his face and a book in his hand. He wasn't surprised it took anyone a moment to notice him, seeing as how slowly he had opened the door, and he no longer had boots to thud against the flower. Although, after maybe six or so seconds of making my way down the long golden carpet, Felix caught sight of him. Based on his reaction, he assumed he looked as bad as he felt.

          "Oh my gosh, Rainer!" He exclaimed, sprinting towards him, his voice clearly full of concern. And probably some shock mixed in. The sudden movement, as well as the loud scream, caught everyone's attention at once. As the other kids began to run towards him, Notch lifted his head and looked his way. He snapped the book closed in his hand, pushed himself off the throne with his free arm, and then... for lack of better words, appeared right in front of him. Rainer jumped, nearly falling back as his eyes widened, then winced at his own sudden jerking. 

          "What happened out there, Rainer?" Notch asked, his words firm and serious, it almost sounding more like a statement then a question. And while his voice didn't show it, Rainer wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but there did seem to be some concern in his eyes. He looked past him as he struggled to put the words together, seeing the others reach the two of them. Now they really did look concerned as they came up beside him. He shook his head a bit, the pain throughout his whole being really not helping his ability to explain; he was already not that great at talking about himself in any way.

          "There were these... four, large monsters." He finally got out, still quite worried this would be seen as some sort of failure. "They... resembled, creatures we have studied in past weeks... a Zombie, a Skeleton, a Creeper, and an Enderman. Maybe... around five blocks tall, each. They seemed more skillful... and intelligent." He wasn't sure if that was enough. Did he want an explanation of the fight he had had? Honestly, he wasn't fully certain he could describe what he had done. It seemed to all blur together, looking back just to that moment hours ago. Looking to his friends faces, they had a range of emotions visible. Felix still looked concerned, Dan and Landon looked shocked, and James looked maybe just a tad excited. Rainer didn't take it personally, seeing as James had really enjoyed the studies on the monsters they may encounter. 

          "Before we deal with that, eat this." Notch said, holding something out. At first Rainer was fixated on his lack of, for better term, surprise. Did he know about these things- wait, that was a stupid question. He was the king; it was highly unlikely that he didn't know of these creatures. His attention was quickly captured though, by the item that he was being offered. It was an apple, although it wasn't red, or green, or even the metallic-gold coloring of a Golden Apple. It was a shimmering blue color; the same shine and hue as the near fully destroyed diamond armor on his torso and legs. He lifted his arm, feeling the sting from the onslaught of attacks he had endured, taking it from his hand. At first, he felt the need to question Notch about what it was exactly, and what it was supposed to do, before he put it in his mouth. But he saw no reason as to why the king would try and make him, or the others intake anything that would have negative effects. He lifted it to his face, taking a small note that his four friends seemed to share his confusion of the diamond-colored fruit, and took a bite out of it. It had an odd, crystal-like coating, sort of like some of the sweets Felix and the others had gotten him to try a few days ago. The apple itself was sweet, more so than the golden ones were. The moment he swallowed the first bite, a strong tingling sensation shot through his whole body, making him shake involuntarily. The others took a step back, while Notch stayed where he was. Just as fast as the odd feeling had begun, it dispersed, leaving Rainer to blink a few times. 

          "Whoa... what did..." He began, lifting his hands and looking at them. They looked fine, with not so much as a scuff on his skin. He then became aware that he didn't feel any sort of pain or ache, and looking over himself the best he could, other than the partially torn and stained clothing, he looked perfectly fine. James even reached out, sort of tapping my arm, as if he was seeing if it were some sort of illusion. Her felt the touch, but no searing pain from the contact. He seemed to have been fully healed. 

          "That, was a Diamond Apple." Notch said, now crossing his arms behind his back, his gaze going across all five of them now. "It's a step up from a Golden Apple, offering full healing from most kinds of physical, external damage. As you can see, even a bite was enough to heal you." He explained, his eyes falling back to Rainer. Not knowing what to do with the bitten into apple, he simply ate the rest, and yet another jolt went through his body, and he looked himself over again. "You're probably feeling the effects that it can give you, as well. After fully consuming one, you gain regeneration, swiftness, jump boost, and haste." That sounded and felt incredible! He wasn't quite sure what haste was, but the other three seemed easy enough to put together! He took a step, the pushed off the ground to jump. He ended up higher up then he expected, reaching over the other's heights, landing back down with a stumble. The others, especially James, seemed to get excited about this, and began to ask him more questions about how he was feeling, as well as what had gone down in full. "Before you all get to that," Notch said, causing them all to look to him and be quiet. He didn't speak with annoyance, or impatience. There was just something about his tone that always grabbed the rooms attention. Rainer had seen it work with grown adults as well, not just them. "Rainer, I need to know where these mutant creatures are, so Hayden and the guard can go intercept them. They have been well trained to deal with these Mutant Creatures that you speak of." So, they were mutants? He didn't really know what that implied, or what "mutant" was supposed to mean, but it made him feel better that, if the guard had been trained for them, they were no big threat.

          "They're dead." Rainer replied, not seeing a reason to beat around the bush, which was apparently a saying people used. He was pretty sure he was thinking about it correctly. He focused back on Notch and the others, and yet again saw a range of emotions. Notch, with what seemed to be just a hint of surprise, James with a face of awe, and the others pretty much straight up shock. "I... well, I'm not fully sure what I did... it involved all the Enderpearls and Golden Apples I had, and the destruction of pretty much everything else I had." He pulled out his fishing rod, even it being pretty much done for, its string gone and the wooden part cracking at its center. Looking back to the others faces, his friends really looked like they wanted to talk, or more accurately freak out. But Notch had requested them to be quiet, for the moment. It was impressive they were staying silent. Staying still on the other hand was being lest successful, varying from slightly bouncing to shaking arms and looking around from one person to the next.

          "Good job, Rainer." Notch said, breaking the silence. Rainer blinked, it now being his turn to have surprise written over his face. "But I can't help but assume that there was much luck in your victory. Tell me, were they openly attacking you at full force?" He added, the question striking Rainer as off. How could he have known, or more of assumed that these so-called Mutants hadn't been rushing at him, but rather seeming overly watchful?

          "No, sir- your majesty." He replied, shaking his head. He had to admit, calling Notch your majesty was still a new concept, as was the whole kingdom thing. "They mostly seemed to wait for me to move first, after the Mutant Zombie's initial attack. It happened twice, and the second time they could have easily killed me, if they had kept on attacking... but they gave me time to eat a golden apple and regain my balance, and then waited for me to attack again..." He had seen it as odd in the moment but looking back... it was scary. He could have, maybe even should have died back there. And yet he hadn't, because the creatures seemingly didn't go all out. 

          "Hmm... interesting." Was all that Notch said at first, turning away and pacing a few steps. The others moved to stand next to Rainer, looking from him, and then Back to Notch. Rainer himself was confused on what was going on. He was faintly aware of the tingling sensation still moving all throughout his body. "This is not the first instance I've heard of mobs taking precautions, almost as if studying their opponents. Before now they have always acted rash, simply lashing out with brute strength in an attempt to wipe out their opponent quickly. But now..." Notch went silent again, and Rainer could somehow feel the unease in the other four next to him. To him, this didn't mean much, seeing as he was new to this world. But for them, they probably had been taught about these monsters all their lives, at least the one's Notch had been telling him about the past couple of weeks. Learning that they were changing... that probably didn't bode well for them. "You all's training shall be changed, to include our best tactics in taking down these, and the other mutant creatures." Notch continued, snapping Rainer out of his thoughts.