Minecraft: Before The Player's Journey

Chapter XXVIII - Repeat

Stark then sighed at the king's request, "But, Sire, I can not do it again. I am afraid of what is going to happen if we build another portal." Alexander replied, "The Creator, Notch, said that we should build a portal to the Aether, not the Nether. The Nether is dangerous and a place of torment, but the Aether is heaven! Just imagine we are going to live in bliss forever instead of sleeping to access it!" Stark was silent for a while and said, "I... I am already happy with this life, Sire, I am okay if setbacks come to me, and life is more peaceful now than in the past."

"Just please... Let it go..." said Stark, desperately wanting him to let go of his past. "It's not easy to let go of the past, Stark. For you, it was simple, but for me, it was complicated. I couldn't let it go... I could not let go of the death of my wife, the death of my son, and the fall of Grozav. Do you think it's easy to run a kingdom, Stark? Do you think that being a king is an easy job?" Stark then looked away and silence filled the room.

Alexander sighed, "Notch has said that the Wither is going to come, and it will destroy everything that lives again!" He exclaimed. Stark shouted, "If Notch is the 'Creator', why he would not vanquish evil!? Why he would not destroy the Wither!?" His eyes started to tear and Alexander was dead silent.

"He is not the one who created it, we are, Stark. We are humans who have an evil nature within us, we are the disobedient children. No matter how the child is disobedient, the father will never forsake them. We are taking responsibility, and we have to follow his command. You heard me, Stark. I may not let go of my past but I want humanity to survive longer." "Alright, I do as you told. I'll send letters to every nation and I'll help you build the Aether portal that Notch commanded," said Stark who gave in.

Stark then started to write letters to the remaining standing kingdoms, Urwald the land of Giants and Humans, and Zauberhaft the land of Mages. While Stark is sending other letters to small villages and nations, he stumbled upon a cobblestone house and went to it because he needed a place to stay. He knocked on the door and someone responded, "May I know what is your request?" Then they froze and looked familiar to the person they were talking to. "Stein!? You survived!?" Stark was shocked that Stein was the man who lived in a cobblestone house. Stein replied, "Yes, it is me, I survived the ship attack from Evoke after the invasion of Hüter... Come in." Then, Stark went inside his house.

Stein asked, "So, what brings you here? Are you hungry? I'm baking a cake, and you interrupted my praying earlier." "Pardon me, Stein. I came here because I need a place to stay," Stark replied. "Oh... Then why are exploring on your own? The Overworld has become more dangerous if you are alone." Stark replied, "I am warning all nations from the Wither who's going to destroy everything. Back then, the Wither used to destroy anything in its path, now, it's going to destroy everything that lives." "Ah, The Great Wipeout, as mentioned in the enchanted table," Stein replied.

Stark asked, "By the way, why didn't you come back to Utmärkt? I haven't seen you for many months." To which Stein replied, "I didn't come back because it's my choice. Besides, everything that lives is going to be wiped out, and the Player comes after we all die." Then, he opened the furnace and took the cake out, "Want to have a snack?" "No thanks, I already have food in my inventory," Stark denied his offer and then asked, "Would you come with us to live in the Aether forever?" "No, as I've already said, everything that lives will die to the Wither. I've been through Aether, and sometimes I need that bittersweet setback just to give my life a purpose."

Stark realized something, "Shouldn't you be with Eren and Brennen?" "Eren left as a nomad and Brennen was lost at sea while my nation was destroyed," replied Stein. "Oh... That's quite shocking, Hüter was destroyed and I guess that your Hero's Party is just-" "A legend and myth? Ha, it is so painful to be the last member of the party," replied Stein then stressed eating.