The Realm of Alagir

Mind Games

(Braxton's POV)

"You couldn't have warned us that Mianite was about to attack? Or helped us? That's a lie!" I shouted at Jacob. As soon as he had arrived in this new realm, he told me that he had known that Mianite was coming for me. That comment had spiraled into another heated argument about Mianite's plans and Jacob's unwillingness to directly help us.
"Hate me if you want to, but I'm just doing what you are. Serving my god." He sighed tiredly.

"Whatever." I said, slinking away angrily. Even though what he had said was true, I was still mad at him. We were supposed to be friends.

"So how goes it?" Tyler asked, snapping me out of my skulking.

"Not bad, how was your trip?" I asked.

Tyler pretended to think about his answer, then smiled and said, "Awful." I laughed.

"Let me guess, still no pretty girls for you to seduce?" He grinned.

"You guessed it." He replied with a wink......

(Case's POV)

I woke up as the sun was just beginning to peek above the horizon. I started down the dilapidated staircase. Once at the bottom, I began scanning the ruins for clues about their past. The walls were made of a black stone, possibly basalt. "Looks like a Dwarven settlement."
I spun around and saw Bryce standing a bit behind me, studying the ruins near me.

"How do you know?" I asked. He grinned.

"Are you seriously asking me that question. You don't think I can recognize my people's architecture?" Bryce stood about four feet tall, and had semi-long red hair. I raised my hands in surrender.

"My bad." I said.

"Speaking of old stuff," Bryce began. "I haven't seen you without your robe in a long time. Nice to see your old outfit." He was referring to my all-black clothing. The only exception was on my back, where the likeness of a Wither skull was sewn. I was also wearing a gold amulet that had a purple gem inlaid in it.

"Thanks." I replied.
"What do we do now?" Bryce asked after a couple seconds of silence.

"We wait. Until Ianite is back to full strength, we can't let Mianite know where we are." I explained. Bryce looked slightly disappointed.

"Okay then. I'll go dig a hole." He looked much happier at that thought, and began walking away.

"Don't dig too deep!" I shouted jokingly at him.

"Whatever." He joked, beginning down the steps off the mountain. I grinned, enjoying the humorous remarks we had just exchanged.
"That was entertaining." A female voice said behind me. I started and turned around. Ianite was leaning against a pillar next to the tower. Her clothing had changed back to her normal purple dress, probably because of some god magic.

"M-m'lady! What are you doing standing? You should be resting!" I stuttered. She raised one hand feebly.

"I will manage. Being mortal again is, odd." She said.

"Are you feeling stronger?" I asked. "Not really. I won't begin to heal for several days, and I won't be back to full strength for a week or two." She replied tiredly.

"What'll we do?" I asked her.

"Hide. Soon, I will try to retreat to the End. Once there, I will seal it off and regain my strength." She told me.

"What about us?"
Ianite smiled apologetically.

"You would most likely stay here or jump back to Alagir, the End is no place for mortals. I truly wish I could help you more..." Ianite looked wistful. I shook my head vigorously.