The walk to the small gap between islands was rather peaceful and serene; I think at some point last night, a lot of stress and tension seemed to relieve itself. I doubted that the HoN Co. guards, or the figure would be prowling around this island, which allowed me to take in the scenery, whilst maintaining a fast pace. As for anyone from L7, I couldn’t be sure… Someone could be following me… Tracking me… Watching my every move… It was unsettling that someone could be doing that, even if they happened to be on my side. Without the need to think about the journey, I allowed my mind to wander, to the point where I lost track of time! I don’t know how long it took, but it seemed like only minutes from setting off to actually arriving at the passing! Before me was a small body of water that was considerably shallower than I had first imagined! There was also an island in the middle, and the passing was nowhere near as wide as I had initially thought. Looks like I’d be getting wet, but there would be no swimming involved! Not yet anyway…
I waded the short distance across to the small island in the middle, and then continued the rest of the trip to the other side of the island. From here, it was simply a case of finding the location of the previous portal, go down to the tunnel and follow it West until its end. As it was still hot, I dried off very quickly, which made life easier. The leather bag was waterproof as well, so it was a good job I had stashed the map away. I took it out though at this point, trying to recall the location of the flat, cobblestone pit. I was approaching it from a different direction this time, so there were no useful landmarks or noticeable features to use as guides. Also, because of the large tree density in the area, it was difficult determining how far inland I was on the map. I continued West, in the general direction of the red circle. I was being more cautious now about my surroundings due to the large amount of Creepers I had seen on this island before! Admittedly, I had managed to drive them into the portal – where they may have originated from in the first place – but I didn’t want to come across anymore! I was well equipped to take one down if it came to it, but I was hoping that the cost was all clear. I was also weary for guards as this would be one of the key locations that they would think I would use to get back to the portals. Well, if they had thought of that, they were right! However, I didn’t see anyone or anything, and within an hour of leaving the water behind, I had come across the pit! It was much easier to spot when I approached from the East as there was no cover for it. Usually it would hide under a small lip, but this time it was fully exposed!
Climbing down into the pit, I made my way towards the small arch that an overhang of dirt had created. A few weeks ago, a portal had hidden beneath this. I destroyed it, and found more than I had bargained for, when large chunks of dirt had slid aside to reveal a stairway leading down, and around a corner. Continuing to the still open doorway, I looked down towards the bottom. This next bit had creeped me out… I had followed the tunnel around to find it led to a small dungeon with a huge spider and a cage inside! I had killed the spider and then seemed to be stuck at a dead end. That was until I got a lucky break with the chest that was placed within the chamber. It had struck the wall a little too harshly when I had opened it, revealing a small gap behind it with a lever. From there, I had found the tunnel, followed it and found the dirt hovel. It had pretty much begun here… If I hadn’t found that lever, I would probably be able to safely return to my house… Getting to the bottom of the stairs, I became instinctively weary. I removed the bow from over my shoulder and readied an arrow. I wasn’t taking any chances; especially as the closer I got to the dirt hovel, the greater the chance of coming across a guard, or the figure! Coming to the end of the corridor, I edged into the small, brightly lit chamber to find no-one… The chest was in the exact same spot as I had left it after discovering the lever, and the hidden door was still open… Maybe there was no-one around…
The next three to four hours was very boring… Once again, travelling down the same tunnel I had passed down within the last few weeks… It had seemed like an eternity had passed since then! I had found more portals, been captured and held against my will, escaped and then hunted down, forced to retreat to the East to the house of a dead miner who had belonged to a group who were plotting to take down the very company I worked for! A LOT had happened since then… Despite the bow and arrow still in hand, I had relaxed slightly, and my mind had gone back to wandering again. I was still fascinated by this “L7” group that THEROS had become part of. Hopefully, soon I would be granted access into their inner workings, and help to take down a company who had committed so many acts of violence and evil! At times like these, I’m glad I never got married or had kids! They would more than likely have been taken for ransom and tortured, with the threat of death unless I turned myself in… I also started to think about where L7 might be based… For all I knew, they could be based right under my house and I would never know about it! I doubted it, but it was bound to be somewhere nearby if they were able to send rapid communications and keep an eye on me!
I had begun to tire from all of the walking. I needed a rest, but I knew I was close to the end, and I could rest sufficiently when I was waiting for the stone to recharge. I quickly checked inside my bag to make sure it was still there: it was! In the distance, I could see the end; it looked like a bare wall, as though the tunnel randomly ended, but I knew that it formed a brief staircase up to the dirt hovel. I was nearly there! Just a further ten minutes or so. Not able to take my mind off the current objective, my mind became overly paranoid, and I was back to holding the bow and arrow ready. Finally getting to the staircase, after what seemed like eternity, I slowly climbed up them, and carefully peered out: nothing, no-one! I couldn’t see or hear anything or anyone nearby, so I cautiously stepped out of the tunnel and onto the thin platform. I edged my way round, bow and arrow at the ready the whole time! I got round to the front, but still no-one… Opening the door, I edged in… I put the arrow away and lowered my bow… Maybe there was no-one! I walked over to the left of the room where the trapdoor had been, expecting it to have been filled in, but it was still open from when I had last been here. I lowered myself into the hole, and began to descend. As I did, the smell of rotting meat filled my nostrils, and I remembered why I hated this place! Trying not to gag, I got to the bottom, and turned to face the temple; there it was! Constructed from an odd stone, it contained two of the remaining three portals I had to destroy. The last time I had been here, the plan hadn’t followed through as well as I’d hoped. In fact it had gone badly wrong! This time, it was different. This time, I was prepared…
I entered the temple, and straight ahead I could see the shimmering purple of the portal. It had been awhile since I had seen one, and the sight of the iridescent purple rift made me shudder slightly… I began to advance towards it, careful not to make too much noise in case a guard or a Creeper was hiding somewhere. I entered the small chamber that the portal was contained in and got straight to work; taking the stone from the bag, I placed it onto the bottom of the frame and stood well back, in the archway.
The same process happened again after a few seconds; the rift began to change colour from a deep purple, to a sickly green, and the stone slowly faded from sight. The obsidian frame of the portal then began to warp and distort inwards towards the centre of the rift. This was it. I watched through the entire process, as the frame slowly began to crumble, and was pulled into the centre. The rift began to slow down, losing energy as more and more of the frame disappeared into the void! After a few moments, the last few fluttery purple particles disintegrated and disappeared. I waited a few moments more until the stone began to glow ever so slightly. It would take another hour or so before this stone was recharged and ready to destroy the last portal. Time to scout out the area!
I went back upstairs, noticing the putrid smell retreat slightly. Was there a link to the smell and the portals? It didn’t matter… Soon the last portal would be gone, and I could make the return journey. As I got to the top of the ladder, I felt a sickening feeling of déjà vu… I slowly entered into the room, and stared at the doorway. But there were no shadows, no faces or anything to suggest a presence. There were no noises either… Walking out of the door, I turned around and looked up at the staircase to see if there was anybody there… Nothing… I went back inside. I put the bag on the ground, and placed the stone on top of the table to watch it as it began to recharge. I began drinking some milk, looking around the room at the same time. Despite being here for the second time, I still didn’t know who this house belonged to! Was it one of all of the L7? I doubt it! It must be a miner who moved on after… Wait though… When I had first found this place, there was a bowl of hot soup still steaming on the stove! None of this added up! Whoever lived here must still live here! Surely…? Maybe they had ties to HoN Co. or the figure… I cast it from my mind, trying to keep it alert. I finished the milk and began on a chunk of bread. After finishing it, I took the stone in my hand and went back outside to hide. If I disappeared, maybe someone would come back. I couldn’t be entirely sure that no-one was watching over the house. I sat and hid in a location which overlooked the house and the stairway leading down to it. If anyone came up from the tunnel, they would pass me to get to the door, so I would see them!
I’m having a quick rest before I head back. The journey has been tiring, and I just need a few minutes to have something to eat, something to build up my energy before heading off. I’m not going to go to sleep as I’m in a precarious position as it is simply being here! I’ve finished the task the THEROS demanded of me, and hopefully I will be leading a whole new life as someone else within the next few days… I wonder if I’ll get a nickname…? Surely THEROS isn’t their real name?
Syeonyx signing off
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