Senn and Igneous walked down the country path. The noon sun was climbing to its perch high in the sky. The birds all hid away in the sweltering heat and Senn wiped beads of sweat from his forehead. Igneous walked beside him. After that ordeal at Sendaria and Hogstown, Senn was glad to have Igneous as company. The orange little man chattered nonstop.
"Did you know," he said as they passed a sign pointing back to the town, "The word 'Hog' actually means 'pig'?" Senn did see a lot of pigs around back there, but it probably didn't refer to the animal population. "Fitting name." He remarked. Both chuckled.
"It's really convenient that we don't need to eat or sleep," Igneous chimed on as they strolled along. "but our life goes by so quickly!" He turned to gaze at Senn on Timber "I'm fourteen, so even though I'm still a child by most standards I'm already about half way through my life!" Senn wasn't listening anymore. He was brooding about all the people he had lost in that day.
"I'd love to experience everything I can, but being a Magnorite born outside of K'arthen is tough." Igneous continued, unaware that Senn's thoughts had left them. "Oh, that reminds me. Where are you from Senn?" He asked.
"What's that?" It took a moment for Senn to return to the present.
"Where are you from? Why aren't you with the rest of your family?" Igneous repeated.
"My family is" Senn let his nose fall into Timber's neck hair. "no longer around, Igneous." He finished with a small voice.
"Oh," Igneous realized he has touched upon Senn's sad spot. "I'm sorry." He said.
"Well," he brightened up immediately and put on a cheery voice. "There's nothing you can do to alter the past, so it's best not to dwell on it." He sounded so philosophical that Senn wondered if Magnorites really had as short a lifespan as he claimed. "What's important is moving forward and making the most of your current situation." He turned around to walk backwards and smiled at Senn. The young Ardoni made his facial muscles move to smile back. Perhaps he's got a point.
"But I don't need to tell you!" Igneous seemed to return to his prattling. "Here we are journeying to…"
But his words were cut short by a black figure jumping out of the bushes beside the roads. It knocked Senn off Timber and grabbed the reigns. The Ardoni fell on the ground with a big "Oof" and stood up to make sense what happened. Timber reared up and whinnied loudly, kicking his front legs.
"Give me the horse, now!" Jalkar demanded. He had been stuck in this backwater town all morning, and was looking for the fastest way to the Legion. Seeing Timber, he charged out of his hiding spot.
"Excuse me sir." Igneous said in a polite voice. Though he is full of wisdom, Senn thought, he's really naive. "but this horse belongs to my friend Senn over here."
Jalkar pulled out his weapon and stabbed it into Igneous's chest. "Clang!" The blade hit the rock-hard skin of the Magnorite. Jalkar looked up. What kind of armor is this man wearing?
Igneous's face changed. His polite smile vanished. For a moment, it seemed as if he released his inner Magnorite. Arching his brown brows and narrowing his eyes, he swung his right fist and knocked Jalkar off his feet. The thief flew a few meters and landed with a heavy thud on the ground. He climbed up and felt his bruises, his ears ringing. He picked up the Egg from the bushes and ran away.
"W-wait!" Igneous shouted after him. "I didn't mean to hurt you!" Jalkar rounded a corner in the trees and disappeared out of sight. "I really don't know what came over me." Igneous mumbled to himself.
He turned back to Senn, who was staring with eyes wide in awe. He had never seen such a thing. The books said Magnorites were strong, but they said nothing about them being invincible to knives. He looked at his own stone-grey skin. Ardoni also have a stony skin, but when a blade makes contact, it just goes through.
"I hope I didn't hurt him too much." Igneous's words brought Senn back from his reverie. Senn walked to Timber and patted his pelt. He seemed quite unnerved by the incident.
"Oh look!" Igneous shouted. We've arrived at Biggerton!" Senn followed his gaze and saw a small town up ahead. "Come on Senn!" Igneous beckoned and marched into the street. Senn chuckled and led Timber after the orange man. Igneous really is a cheery fellow. Senn was liking him more and more.
The two entered the town and found a tavern. It is always the best place for newcomers. People tend to talk a lot when they are having a drink. A person swaggered out and dropped down on the porch. His eyes phased out of consciousness.
"Maybe we can locate a map in here." Igneous said, pushing the door open.
The people looked up at the sound of heavy footsteps at the door. Seeing Igneous, they all bent back to their drinks. A guard standing at the door half drew his sword at the sight of the orange man. He clearly didn't know that Magnorites were impervious to blades. Senn approached the bar, where the bartender was chatting merrily with his customers.
"Back in the old days," One man bragged over his beer, "taverns were filled with tales of heroes and villains. People sang songs of war, adventure, and magic."
The bartender refilled his glass, and turned back to the counter behind. "And those same people used to worry about legends such as Herobrine." He said casually over his shoulder.
The man choked on his beer. "Don't say his name! It's bad luck." He yelled after the coughing fit was over. "Jeez, can't people have a normal conversation nowadays?"
They stopped talking as Igneous approached. "Sorry to interrupt," He interjected politely, "but do you know where we might find a map?"
The bartender pointed outside. "Marshall's map shop is across the street. You should find what yer' lookin' for there."
There was a small commotion at the door as several guards entered, fully armed and loaded. It was common for soldiers to come to the tavern, but not at this time dressed like this. Senn noticed people began peeking at him from over their glasses. His stomach rumbled.
"I haven't eaten anything since yesterday," He muttered to Igneous. "Can we stop here and eat first?"
The orange man laughed. "Oh Magnorites don't eat, remember when I told you that?"
Senn forced a chuckle. "Ah… yes." He scratched his head. "I must have… missed that part." He approached the bar.
"I'll just take some bread please." He said.
"Got money to pay for it?" The bartender replied. Senn just realized that he didn't have a single piece of gold on him. He felt desperately around his pockets for anything valuable, but nothing.
"Stupid Ardoni." The person who scolded the mention of Herobrine muttered under his breath. He said it just loud enough that Senn, who stood nearby, heard him clearly.
The bartender saw his awkwardness, and crossed his arms. "No money, no service." He said.
The guards have now finished their brief on the situation and are now watching the bar closely. Hands on their hilts, they sat down. A waitress approached them, but they waved her away.
"Here Senn," Igneous came to the Ardoni's rescue. "I have some gold you can borrow. Let's get your food and go." He handed him some gold nuggets.
"That's right you better leave." The man said darkly. Senn gave the money to the bartender and got a loaf of bread. They walked towards the gate. He could feel the guards' eyes follow them as they stepped outside.
"What was that all about?" He asked Igneous and bit into the bread.
"No one really trusts Magnorites." Igneous said, waving his arms. "Most of us tend to be aggressive," He gave a sigh, "and the whole "attacking our neighbor" fiasco hasn't helped our reputation." He suddenly brightened and led Senn away. "But now is not the time to digress, let's go find that map!" Senn wolfed down his bread and followed Igneous into Marshall's Map shop.
The bell on the door chimed happily as they walked in. "Welcome!" The man at the counter answered warmly. "What can I help you with today?"
"Hi," Senn greeted him. "We'd like to purchase a map of Ardonia."
"Alright," said the man. He disappeared into the back room and came out with a map. "That'll be 50 gold." He placed the parchment on the counter.
Senn looked at its title, "This is a map of Conchord." He said, confused.
"If you want all of Ardonia," said the man, getting business-like, "it's going to cost you double."
"Yes we want all of Ardonia, that's what we asked for." Senn replied. A map couldn't be this expensive. Although he had not much of a notion of money, surely they could get more for 100 gold.
The man disappeared again and reappeared with a larger piece of parchment. "Alright, that'll be 200 gold." He said as he placed it over the counter.
Senn was outraged, but he kept his manner. "I thought you said it'd be double?" This man is stacking prices like a lunatic.
"It's 200 gold, pal." The man replied, crossing his arms.
The bell on the door chimed again as someone else walked into the shop. "Welcome to Marshall's Map Shop," The man greeted the new comer, who did not seem to be put off by Igneous's presence. "we've got maps of Ardonia for the price of 50 gold." The man finished.
Now Senn is really angry. "Wait I thought you just said it was 200…"
But the man interrupted him. "For you and your friend it's 200." He pointed at Senn and Igneous. His voice was on the verge of a roar. "Now do you want to buy it or not?!"
Senn turned and stormed out of the shop. The bell shuddered as he slammed the door.
"Well, Senn, I'm truly sorry about that." Igneous apologized once they were both outside. "It might have been better if you'd gone in without me. People tend to act like that once they see a Magnorite."
"This is ridiculous." Senn said, pointing his thumb back at the map shop. "And how are we ever going to get to Ataraxia without a map?" He exclaimed to the sky, waving his hands in the air.
"You can borrow mine for a moment." A girl's voice rang out. Senn and Igneous turned to see a peculiar setup. It was indeed a girl, but she was dressed in farmer's overalls and carried a sword on her belt. A bow and a quiver of arrows were strapped to her back. Her dark eyes sparkled as she walked out into the bright sun from the map shop. She held out the piece of large parchment the man just offered them.
"Really? Thank you!" Igneous reached out for the map. "We appreciate it." He began surveying the map, looking for their destination.
"Merchants like to take advantage of young travelers." Abbigail observed. She had seen Mr. Finch do that to countless people passing by their farm. That old man always charged double for the apples and triple for the bread because he knew he was the only farmer for acres around.
Sam waddled up to Senn's legs and wagged his tail. Senn bent down and scratched him behind the ears. "Are you a traveler?" He asked.
"For the moment." Abbigail answered. "I'm tracking someone. He stole an Ender Dragon egg from Etherea."
Igneous looked up from the map. "An Ender Dragon egg?" He thought back to earlier, when the man jumped out of the bushes and knocked Senn from Timber's back. "Was the egg big and purple?" He asked.
"Well, yes." Abbigail replied. "And he was wearing all black with tattoos on his arm."
"Huh, I believe we ran into someone earlier today just like that." Igneous commented as he searched the map.
"You did?" Abbigail was delighted to find a lead again. "Where?!"
"Not far. Just northeast of Biggerton." Igneous pointed in Hogstown's direction with his free hand. "He tried to steal our horse."
"That's him!" Abbigail knew Jalkar's behavior by now. If anyone who has an egg and tries to steal a horse, it has to be that thief. "Thanks!" She started down the road, then stopped. "Oh," Abbigail turned around. "Sorry, but I'll need my map back." She informed Igneous. "Did you find the place you were looking for?"
"I did." The orange man replied. "Fortunately, it's close by." He handed the map back to Abbigail.
"Thanks for your help." She took the map and folded it neatly into her pack.
"You as well." Igneous replied. Abbigail hurried down the road, Sam followed her.
"What a nice person." Igneous observed to Senn. "Shame we didn't even catch her name." He turned around and walked towards the edge of the town. "Oh well! Off to Ataraxia!" Senn followed him, wondering where this city is.