The Odyssey Begins

   The day has come when the chief mission was to be executed. As it was expected and as how it should be, Sonn and Simoun were both perfectly prepared, primed everything, and set themselves fixed. They are eminently confident, and their hearts knew very well the intent - and for whom the intent is. Their body was tuned, and their cerebral aspect was modulated.

   It was 7 in the morning and the party got up from the ground - as the two of them (Stacia and Noel) yet had to sleep on the carpet.

   "Good-Morning." Stacia initiated the greetings, observing around conscious. She was in evident preoccupation for their role is to be commenced, yet she was also affected by Alexandrovna's departure.

   As everyone was active but not that animated, Simoun immediately picked the sack (where ample of foods, guides, and weapons are bound to settle) and attached his scabbard from his bodily clothing. He did not dare to bring the books with him, as he has the experience of losing two of his imperial books there.

   Sonn did the same thing, running to and fro the house, keeping everything that he found useful. Stacia and Noel were startled by their unusual haste in movement.

   "Be calm! Ha-Ha!" Noel laughed, trying to observe the scene.

   "I will help to prepare the morning food." Stacia offered in her modest tone, walking to the kitchen and thinking what to do.

   "It is not to be bothered, Stacia. We have to go. Now." Simoun declared as he stood from his seat after writing something. Sonn was still busy, running around as if he was in panic - 'Must we bring this? Must we bring that?'. And at last, ere the rays of the sun had fully conquered the land, they wore their diamond armor on.

   Sonn's attitude towards this mission may be puzzling, for he himself has explored the Nether enough to overcome the usual fear. Why does he seem so worried entering the Nether? We may, however, view this situation as something that aims for a distinct object - and that is the cure. . . The cure for zombification would be a predominant, orthodox procurement - as which is unknown since this world has pronounced to be existing.

   As they were fully formulated and fulfilled in guidance, they went out the door, leaving Noel and Stacia startled. . .

   "Hey! Hey! You won't eat? What would become of you if you have n-" Noel was silenced for the two were in haste!

   "Thank you!" Simoun cried as he and Sonn ran towards the elevator, heading down underground - For the Nether portal was already transferred before this day. So they ran with celerity, went down underground, and there they were - down the ground. A wooden rod as a torch, of course, would not be forgotten. They lit it, walked to the laboratory, passed by the scalar lobby, and then, at last, standing in front of the tall portal which was installed in the middle of the wall.

   "Here we are..." Simoun jeered, "Are you ready?" The purple light coming from the portal was flashing on their faces.

   "Always have been, brother." Sonn smiled, saying, "I always have been."

   They slipped into the portal. . . It is not new to them... To be in the Nether is what made them flourish. They did it before, and what is new if they would do it again?

   What captivating about this adventure is the intent. It is their object of intent that makes the adventure far enthralling - It is for Jane, she who ate her husband. Not only for her, but for the entire village.

* * *

   As always, the Nether is crimson in color and strange in appearance - It is a physical hell where the oceanic magma is laid upon the surface and many hostile creatures live. They make you be nearly subjected to mortality. The hot atmosphere might not kill you, but falling into deep, exceedingly hot magma may instantly turn you into air.

   They were pressed into the portal, and they passed through it - and at last, out from the portal, they were standing in this under-proportional abyss, existing in another dimension.

   Their portal was relatively spawned on a random coast near the lava. Behind them is a stiff cliff that connects many geological links. Unlike the overworld, the Nether has no infinite space (Nothing as the heaven - for it is hell) as the geological vault is oftentimes clearly perceptible.

   "So, brother... I know that you know our course of action." Sonn expressed, perusing the devilish environment.

   "As we have already discussed, we must find the fortress. That is the only place where we can find the vicious blaze - he's built of the rod that we are going to use to make a brewing stand. Afterwards, we are going to pulverize the surplus of blaze rods and use it as fuel." Simoun explained in detail. As they were trying to decide whether they will go here or there, a great, white ghast appeared, raging in amok! Ghasts are creatures that float around, spitting explosive fireballs - they are massive in appearance.

   "Sonn! Run!" Simoun cried as he saw the fireball rapidly traveling through the air, going to hit Sonn. Sonn veered and ran towards Simoun. They moved in quickness and hid under the cave-like hole which is attached to the said cliff. They both sighed, laughing, but their fright was blatantly present.

   "This is why I would not go here. . . He-he!" Simoun said, though he did not express any despair nor a single reluctance to continue. As they tried to rest and reduce the tension inside the cave, Simoun decided to peek in a tranquil manner. Creeping at the hole, a pigman appeared! But it did not scare him, for he is not that ignorant about them - as pigmen never attack someone unless it is provoked. He observed the atmosphere and saw no ghasts floating around.

   "Come!" He said, preceding before Sonn.

   Sonn followed Simoun as he led him up the cliff. From there, they happened to get a wide view - wide enough to see the vast sea of magma. Over there (at north) was the bastion remnant, in which they collected most of the materials for the bastion-themed-project. They, Simoun and Sonn, had already raided the remnant as soon as they found it - it gave them ample amounts of riches which helped them thrive.

   "Where are we going to explore, brother?" Sonn inquired.

   "Maybe... Over there! We have not gotten there yet!" Simoun said, pointing at the west.

  "Won't it be very dangerous? That is in proximity of magma! It could touch our feet!" Sonn exclaimed while Simoun was rapidly walking. He was headless, walking in haste as if he was pursuing something. "Wait!"

   "We will creep." Simoun declared at last! The notion of creeping scared him! They needed to go down to the coast where the hot magma is laid upon! "Sonn, we can't do but to creep on this coast. Walk as if it is an indifferent coast." He added. The cliff before them is so tall that it is not possible to climb on it - So they decided to do it anyway.

   It was, indeed, tranquil. . . Not until three ghasts appeared! They were blasting excessive fireballs everywhere! [Boooooom]

   They needed to run rapidly, but Sonn was alarmed. . . He stopped in sudden, fetched a bow that he happened to bring, and shot one of the ghast dead - It turned into white gas, evaporating.

   "Sonn! Come!" Simoun said, hiding under the cliff, as there were many mini-caves under it. However, Sonn was enraged - He aimed and killed the three ghast dead. At last, he was standing proud. Simoun went out from the cave and walked behind Sonn.

   "That was... impressive." Said he, smiling.

   "He-he-he." Sonn laughed.

    They continued to roam and walk on the coast until they reached the end of it. That was when they needed to climb the cliff, making them discover a broad, flat plateau. From the very end of the flat plateau where they stood observing, they saw strange looking trees which are remarkably blue in color, while the surrounding grass is also blue!

   "Let's head there!" Simoun said.

   It is called 'The Warped Forest'. How vibrant is the greenish-blue color of the leaves and grass. It is oddly fascinating to see. . .