From The Plains, To The Swamps [Ch. 12]

Midday. The sun's bright light beaming down upon the OverWorld. Steve and Alex, along with their newfound friend Eve are setting out on a quest. It would be a quest to find the answers and to seek out the author who wrote the book When Nora Arrived.

It wasn't going to be easy. Journeying through many different biomes. The three of them would need to venture through the Plains, Desert, and finally through treacherous Jungle biome. Annabeth had chosen to stay behind to help the others regain their strength.

This journey would take about three days. But if they persevered throughout the entire journey, it could end up only taking them about a day or so. The sooner the better, right? Steve and Alex were especially anxious. How could this author have known about them thirty-five years before they even existed? Unless...could it be? Is he a time-traveler? Furthermore, is that sort of thing even possible?

As they trekked further away from the safety of the village, they were now on their way to their destination. Eve was smart-minded. She had packed enough food, torches, beds for the three of them. Would resting and regenerating even be an option? Steve and Alex desired answers. But they wouldn't get them if they stopped to rest and eat.

The sun was moving. Daylight was running out and so was Steve and Alex's patience. Eve, in her hands, was holding a map. The map showed every known biome, river, and ocean. If you focused your eyesight well enough you could make out the villages, and Kingdoms located all around.

Of the many Kingdom's around the OverWorld, only two really stood out. First there was the Kingdom of Arendelle. That kingdom was located to the North in the Mountains biome. Then there was the Kingdom of the Oceans. Only one species could reside there...mermaids.

Don't ever get fooled by their Kingdom's beautiful appearance. That's just a tactic the mermaids use to lure their next victims in. No, they aren't friendly and nice. Quite the opposite to be honest.

While some blockheads call them mermaids, others call them Sirens. Other ways these hostile creatures lure you in is by singing harmonically. Long story short, just make sure to cover your ears.

Anyways. As Steve, Alex and Eve continued to walk the end of the Plains was in sight. Instead of vast and grassy fields, lots of tan-colored sand could be seen. Dark green cacti were also visible. The rabbits hopped, the donkey's brayed, and the tiny ocelots meowed.

Steve and Alex had no idea the desert was so quiet. They imagined it would be teaming with hostile entities. Oh boy were they wrong. As they began walking through the desert, the sand they walked on made crunching noises.

"Eve," Alex said.

Without looking up or away from her map, Eve acknowledged Alex.

"Who is Nora really?" Alex asked, "is she a witch? An evil Queen? Why does she assume the entire OverWorld is under her command?"

"Why do you ask?" Eve responded.

"Well for starters...if this prophecy is real and true, we need to know who we'll really be facing. We also need to know how powerful she is too. Is it even possible to defeat her?" Alex questioned.

Steve glanced over at Alex and silently nodded his head. The questions Alex had just asked, were the same questions that were on his mind too.

"The prophecy never lies," Eve answered, "it's never wrong. What's written in the book is what'll help you dethrone Nora. This world has suffered long enough. Her rule must come to an end."

Both Steve and Alex gulped. They didn't know how to respond, much less act on what the prophecy had told them to do. Whoever this Scott blockhead is, he must know more about Nora than anyone else.

Daylight was still being lost. The sun was now beginning its descent downward from the sky. Instead of blue skies, they were now beginning to transition over to nightfall. The color of the sky was a bright reddish-pink color. It's just amazing how fast the daylight passes by. One minute you're waking up, the next going back to bed. That's how quickly the days went by.

As nightfall approached, Steve, Alex and Eve were nearing the end of the desert biome. Already? How could this be? It had felt that only a second ago they just entered the desert biome. Aren't deserts supposed to be vast, dry and hot?

Just a moment before they crossed over into the Jungle biome, Eve had suddenly stopped walking. She was still looking down at her map. Steve and Alex had stopped walking too.

"What is it?" Steve asked Eve.

Eve scratched her head. She was still holding the map in one of her hands. Steve and Alex tried to peak over her shoulders, attempting to catch a glimpse down at the map.

"That's odd," Eve said, "just a moment ago there was nothing there. But now there is? That doesn't even make any sense."

"What is it?" Alex asked.

"I don't know," Eve said, "all I can say is, is that we're close to whatever it is."

"Maybe it's a house?" Steve questioned, "or maybe something else perhaps?"

"We should investigate it," Eve suggested, "I'm curious to know what it is."

After following the map, they suddenly came upon a small wooden cottage. It was brightly lit, signifying that someone was indeed home. But who could that blockhead be?

Steve, Alex and Eve all approached the small cottage in a cautious manner. The door was made of birch wood.

"Who do you think is inside?" Steve questioned, wondering who could possibly be inside.

Because his curiosity was peaked, Steve walked over to a window to get a quick glimpse at what was inside. There was a bookshelf and random other books lying around. Some were on the floor, while the other books were housed on the shelves. A fire was burning inside of the fireplace. Because Steve was being a bit nosey, he hadn't seen the blockhead staring directly back at him.

"Steve!" Alex whispered loudly, "get away from the window. We don't know if this blockhead is friendly or hostile. Heck, for all we know, he could be an evil warlock."

Immediately following thereafter, the birch wood door had been opened. There was an older blockhead standing in the doorway. He had grey hair and a long grey beard. He was balancing himself on the cane he had in his right hand.

"Is there something I can help you guys with?" The elder blockhead asked. "What's that you're holding in your hand there?"

Eve looked down at her hands. In one hand, she held the map. In the other, a book. This blockhead seemed particularly interested in that book.

"Oh this?" Eve said as she held the book up, "oh it's nothing."

"When Nora Arrived?" The Elder Blockhead questioned, "by Scott? Who's Nora?"

"It's a long story," Eve responded. "But to simplify it, she's not the friendly type. Total opposite really."

"Maybe it's best if you three come inside? It's dangerous out here at this time," the elder blockhead said as he stepped aside to allow Eve, Alex and Steve into his small home. Alex walked in first, with Eve right behind her. Steve was a tad bit annoyed.

He does recall saying not to stop and rest right? Did Eve and Alex somehow forget about that? Or did they simply just not care? Steve wanted to hurry along. Not only was he beginning to go crazy about the prophecy, but he desperately wanted to find out how to stop Nora. How hard could that be?

"The name's Benjamin. It's a pleasure to meet you all," Benjamin said as he closed the birch wood door behind him, "now where were we?"