Bound to Darkness

Split (Chapter 3)

The next morning, waking up in Mumbo's base once more, I realized how utterly cramped everything was. We were in the same room in a very small treehouse. It was time to make some space.

"Oh, that's right!" Mumbo was leaning against the tree trunk outside when I went to go talk about the whole treehouse thing. "I'm planning a much bigger base; that one's just to start me off. I also have a cave underground, but even that's a bit small."

"Well, I think that's nice, but..." I looked out over the water, the light breeze ruffling my hair. "I was wondering if I could make my own base?"

I could feel Mumbo's posture stiffen up, and a quick glance showed he had indeed tensed up. "Well-"

"I won't be far!" I held my hands out, hoping he wouldn't completely flip out. "Just over the water. I kinda just want my own space, no offense to you Mumbo."

"Oh, no, I completely get that." Mumbo smiled, the tension vanishing. "It's okay if you wanna go, just... be cautious around some of the other Hermits."

"Got it." I was so freaking excited to have my own space. "I just... need some help resource-grabbing."

~~

A day later, and I was ready to at least make a starter base under the area meant for my final, proper base. I loaded my small wood boat with the last shulker box I had been given by Mumbo, and hopped in myself.

"Grian?"

I looked back to the moustached man, frowning at his troubled expression.

"Just... let me know if there's anything I can help you with." He smiled a bit, hands shoved deep into his dress pants pockets. "I'm gonna miss you as my roommate, even if it wasn't by choice."

I smiled back at him, nodding. "Definitely. Don't think you're safe from me, though. I mean, we're still neighbors!"

Before he could ponder my words too much, I was pushing off and into the ocean. I headed towards the small shipwreck I had scouted a few days before, and began my work on setting up the glass dome I had planned.

Needless to say, it went horribly. I managed to get the platform set up, but completely forgot that drowned lived in this area... and I had no armor. A stone sword only did so much before I felt the horrific darkness of death.

It was only a moment before I was awake in Mumbo's treehouse once more, diving in the water to swim out and grab everything that had fallen from my pockets during death.

Another 15 deaths later, and I had a glass dome on top of the shipwreck, and could breathe the limited oxygen within.

I recalled Mumbo talking about the new things this world had to offer, one of them being an item that would allow you to breathe underwater.

I thought about one person that might be able to help me out. And though I regretted the decision to ask him - considering the last time we met up I nearly died - but it was the only route I could see working out.

~~

"So I heard you need a conduit."

I shoved my hands deeper into my hoodie pockets, avoiding looking directly into the purple visor before me.

"Yeah. I also need dark prismarine, I believe you call it. As much as you can get me."

Xisuma hummed thoughtfully, glancing at a blue shulker box. "I could help you with that I suppose. I raided a glitched Water Temple earlier, found a ton of resources. Take what you need."

I opened up the shulker box, mindlessly pulling out prismarine. Wait. "Glitched?"

"It was the weirdest thing," I heard X wander around behind my back, "There were two entrances, four sponge rooms, maybe more. I might set up a farm there at some point..."