Wither

Chapter 5-The Aftermath

*Ember's POV*
Seto's eyes flashed, likely for the last time. He mouthed something indistinct and I saw one single tear fall down his face and trickle onto the ground. I saw the hope that was glimmering so strongly in my friend's eyes fade. I saw fierceness I hadn't spotted before blaze for a second and die, glossing over.

His struggled breathing died. His grip on my hand loosened. I felt tears well up in my eyes and stood up. Thunder crackled in the distance and I blinked back the tears. His body exploded into code, and I raced off, leaving Ms. Kanrachi to walk back alone.

Just until I reach Jet's, I held back the tears threatening to overcome me. I finally reached his dorm and slammed open the door. Jet snapped his head up. I closed the door and flicked the lights on. I tried to talk but my throat was closed up. "E-everything alright?" He asked, concerned. He looked at the blood on my uniform. I burst into tears. Jet got up and walked over to me. "What's wrong?"

"Se-Seto," I tried to say more but couldn't muster the words.

"What did he do to you?" Jet glared.

"N-nothing," I rubbed my eyes and tried to calm down. "A skeleton shot him and...Jet, I couldn't save him!"

Jet's eyes widened. "Oh my flipping Notch...he's dead?" I nodded. He wiped a tear from my eyes and said, "We'll sort this out tomorrow. Just...go to your dorm and sleep." I nodded again and blindly walked out the door. I stumbled to my room and fell into bed sobbing.

***

I awoke promptly at five. I put my uniform on and got ready. At 6, the staff sent breakfast in. I munched on it halfheartedly, leaving it on the floor. I walked to first period and sat there, giving answers in a monotone. The same dull behavior continued throughout the day.

"Ms. Burnne, where is your friend, Mr. Endear?" Mr. Oriffizer asked in fifth period. I shrugged, subdued. "He's usually here."

"I don't know. It's not like I track him."

Mr. Oriffizer frowned. "Please, ah, notify me if you learn." I nodded. He was blissfully unaware of what had happened to dear Mr. Endear.

By the end of the day, when I finished my homework, I went to see my friends. "Hey, Ember," Poof grinned. Sora greeted me quietly. "She's working on some illusion thing. Anyways, take a seat!" Poof gestured to the couch cheerily.

"Whenever you have time, Sora, I need to talk to you guys," I said solemnly.

Sora nodded. Beads of perspiration appeared on her forehead. She suddenly gasped, coming out of whatever trance she was in. "Sorry. What was it you needed to talk about?" She asked, smiling.

"Where do I begin?" I asked-rhetorically.

Poof raised her hand. "Uh, the beginning."

"Great idea," I rolled my eyes. I didn't really want to tell them about the whole Jet thing, so I cleared my throat and started. "Seto and I were in the woods. Jet had just left and we were braving the storm when a bunch of mobs came. He told me to run, so I went snd hid behind a tree. He killed the frontal mobs, but there were some skeletons in the back, hidden from view. He got shot straight through the stomach. I killed one and I think I killed the other, but I'm not sure. Anyways, I ran to get help from the healer here, Ms. Kanrachi.

"We raced back to Seto in his puddle of blood and rain on the forest floor. He was getting operated on when the healer said he wasn't going to make it. Then he started trying to heal himself, but it was so desperate, it was all wrong. Si I stopped him. The point is...he's dead."

Poof literally fell off of the seat wailing, being the kindhearted person she was. Sora just stared at me, flabbergasted. "First Toboe, and then Seto..." She murmured. We both tried to calm Poof down, who was at this point lying on the floor bawling.

***

"Guys," Sora said, five minutes after we had calmed Poof down. "We've probably permanently lost one friend, so let's not make that two. How about we go to rescue Toboe from the Nether?"

"Wait, how do we know she's in the Nether?" I asked. Before she could respond, I facepalmed. "Oh, duh, Herobrine's mansion."

"When?" Poof sniffed, rubbing at her nose.

"Well, my dad said that he has an adopted son in the Nether-a ghast. What if, on break, which is, like, next week, we went there with him and got the ghast to help us break in?" I suggested. They nodded.

"Then it's set. Probably tell your parents about you coming to my place, too," I said, feeling almost cheerful.

*Seto's POV*

The Aether was a really nice place, actually. Steve ruled the heaven, since he was finally reverted from the chicken form he was supposedly cursed into for eternity. "My lord," I kneeled in front of Steve. "I am...newly, dead, I suppose. What are the rules for this place?"

With brown hair, sparkling brown eyes, and a kind yet mischievous smile, he somehow resembled Toboe. "Seto Endear, heir to the Endizimo throne, eh? Don't usually get many Endizimos here, do we!" Laughed Steve, a booming, jolly sound. "Ah, yes, let me view your passing." He looked at a tablet, watching my death on a screen. "I'm sorry, son. Sucks to have to die like that, eh?"

"Uh, yes, sir." I replied, chuckling nervously.

"Your quarters are-," Steve was cut off by a huge bang. "Eh, come with me, Seto!" He got off of his throne and ran in the direction of the clamor. "Herobrine. My old friend."

Herobrine gazed at the rival king. "Hello, Steve," he sneered, leaning on the obsidian post of the portal. He looked at me and adopted an odd look. "Seto Endear, one of Toboe's little friends! Didn't think you'd be the first to die, but life is full of surprises, eh?"

"What are you doing here, Herobrine?" I snarled.

"Just bribing Steve...again."

I looked around to see a nearby Aether village in flames. Screaming people ran around, looking for water. "You are disturbing the peace of the Aether!" Steve roared, drawing a long, glimmering iron sword, adorned with diamonds on the hilt.

I held out my hands and two purple rapiers appeared, their flames hungrily licking at the air. I glared defiantly at Herobrine.

"You are brave, my friend," Steve muttered to me. "Make it past Herobrine and into the portal, and I will allow you to live. But be warned, it will lead to the Nether, and you may not survive. I will give you food and water to last a year. But it will take longer than that to get out alive." He handed me a little tiny bad that I shoved into my pocket.

I tried to hide my grin. "It's been an honor for the past five minutes of knowing you." With that I charged at Herobrine. He summonded a diamond sword with an emerald hilt and swung at me. I blocked, ducking and sliding under his legs. I flipped around behind him and tried to thrust at his back, but he whizzed around and parried. I growled.

"Go for the portal, Seto! I'll take care of Herobrine!" Steve yelled. My rapiers dissipated as I followed his orders thoughtlessly, diving into the portal. I felt myself waver and disappear. Goodbye Aether, hello word.