Time Skip

About an hour after breakfast (which was absolutely amazing I can't even explain) Syl and I walked through the streets of the Jeweled Verdant village. We were told back in the dining room by Alli that there was a booth that sells maps somewhere in the heart of the village. He explained there still may be a couple leading to the different portals of various dimensions, but he hasn't seen one leading to the Aether lately. I had assured him it was none of his concern, but he said he would meet us there a couple minutes after we left. Syl had also agreed to come with me so I wouldn't get lost (which I highly doubt would happen anyway, but company was nice to have).

"So how do you think of the palace?" Syl asked as my eyes kept switching to all the colourful buildings around us.

"As breathtaking as the village." I replied without looking at the red head for a moment. I was in such awe at all the vibrant colours, I never noticed how dull the Aether looked compared to this. Everything there is greyish blue, white, pale green, and a couple vibrant blues and greens which are only spotted in the castle. But this place had all the primary colours, secondary, and..... Well, whatever comes after that.

Suddenly, Syl stopped walking and her head jerked to her left which was the opposite side of me. I stopped as well and leaned in to catch her expression. She was grinning wildly and staring at a nearby book booth.

"You stay here for a sec I gotta see if they have the book I want." Almost immediately, Syl scurried away without saying another word.

I shrugged and leaned up against a nearby building. The cold, bumpy surface felt uncomfortable against my back, but I eventually forgot about it. I looked down and fiddled with my necklace. I closed my eyes as traced the edge of my finger across the various engravings on the glistening, metallic surface, and thought about home. Even though its colours were boring and dull, it was still where I belonged. I missed Skyewood. I missed all my annoying siblings. I missed my mother's sweet, voice as she hummed miscellaneous tunes. It was all so familiar to me, and just being in the Overworld in the most magnificent kingdom I had ever seen begged me to return home. And I had to before Nashira or anyone else destroyed it. Who knew what she was going to do now that I was gone. Though she may not make a difference at all. Just getting rid of me, and thinking I was dead was the only thing she had the advantage to do. What if she was locked up in prison this very moment? What if she couldn't get a hold of anyone precious but me? It could be possible, but I had a feeling that it wasn't the case. I'm pretty sure it'll be hard to get rid of her. Especially if there's more than her that set all this up.

Before even knew what I was doing, I had managed to walk away from the wall and into the middle of the street. My eyes were still closed, but I yelped as a bunch of weight piled onto me and shoved me over. I landed on the ground and opened my eyes. I came face to face with the same girl I saw yesterday glaring at me. And dear Notch did she ever look so infuriated.

"WHAT THE NETHER IS WRONG WITH?!? GET OUT OF THE WAY THIS IS THE STREET!!!" She screamed at me as her violet eyes pierced into my irises.

"I-I--" I began, but was interrupted once again.

"Don't. Even. Start." The girl attempted to get up, but ended up elbowing me in the thigh. Her black and violet wings outstretched and flapped continuously until she got off me.

I rolled my eyes out of her sight. "Dear Notch! You don't have to be so dramatic. You should've been the one who was looking where they were going." I muttered under my breath.

The girl's face whipped over to me, and I saw her right hand reach up to take her bow off her back. "What did you just say?!" She glared at me so hard, I could just picture her eyes forming into dark purple daggers slicing open my skull.

Oh great! So not only does this girl have a short temper, she's got good hearing too! I groaned mentally. This day was definitely not starting out the way I wished.

I sighed and put my hand underneath me to steady myself to get up off the ground.
"I told you you should watch out where you're going. Or maybe you have terrible eyesight but great hearing.

As I rose up off the ground, with all her strength the girl ran at me and shoved me to the ground. Everyone walking around us stopped suddenly, and a couple women and kids gasped. I felt my head hit the tough, steel-like pavement, and pain exploded in my skull. I bit my tongue so I wouldn't scream out loud, but felt a miniature metallic taste in my mouth from biting so hard. This day just keeps getting better and better!

I lifted my head and rubbed it continuously until the pain subsided to flakes of stinging, but as I did so I realized a large group of people had crowded around us like it was a wrestling match. Well, looks like I can't back out of this one!
Once my hands and feet felt like they were sturdy enough to hold my shaking self, I jumped up off the ground, and outstretched my wings. The girl moved her feet continuously and had her hands balled up into fists right by her face like she was just waiting for a fight to break out.

"You can't back outta this one now kid!" She said as her violet eyes didn't falter brightness for a second.

"Yeah well neither can you!" I smirked at her as more anger seemed to pulse through her irises.

Before I could even move a muscle, I felt the air being viciously pushed out of my chest, and I gasped in shock and pain. Fortunately I was able to regain my footing before I fell over again.

"So.. You... Think this'll... Make me.. Never stand.. up to you... again?" I asked as I briskly heaved in huge gulps of air. I was not in good shape for this.

"Well now that you mention it," the girl paused as she swung another fist at me. I luckily ducked and skidded across the ground before I got hit. "It could be a possibility. But," she paused again as she thrust her foot forward trying to kick me down, but I jumped around her and elbowed her in the back, "I could just snap your neck or crack your skull."

I scoffed as I spun around trying to dodge her fist again. "Like that's gonna happen. I'm kinda trying to get home, and killing a royal Aether being is not in the cards at the moment."

And just at the moment I said "Aether being", the girl hesitated her punch and her eyes widened. It gave me just the right amount of time to double punch her in the stomach and send her tumbling onto her back. But just as it happened, a blue flash struck across my hands and I felt my eyes glow. But only for a split second. The girl yelped in surprise, and with a sudden smack, she smashed her head onto the pavement. She didn't open her eyes. She didn't move at all.

About a half of the crowd that was encircled around us gasped, and a couple muttered things to their neighbours. I didn't know what I did. How did I do that? I had never done that before! Not ever!

"Aella!!" A voice called from the back of the crowd. A very familiar one.

Syl burst through everyone and ran to me, but as soon as her eyes darted over to the girl that lay unconscious right beside me her mouth fell open in shock. She dropped down and pressed her fingers up by the girl's throat, and sighed a breath of relief.
Syl looked at me and I felt my face get hot from embarrassment.

"Come on. The maps are just in that direction." She pointed to my right and I nodded. I had to get out of here before the girl woke up.

We both stood up as the crowd of people slowly went their separate ways. But just as I brushed off some gravel that was stuck to my shirt, the same tall black creature with glowing green eyes puffed up in a flurry of green particles. He knelt down and shook the girl, but Syl approached him.

"Don't worry Phil. Jax is gonna wake up in a few minutes." She spoke heartily and motherly towards the black mob, but it didn't falter his furiously glowing toxic green eyes the slightest.

Syl and I walked away from the two, and I stuffed my hands in my pockets uncomfortably.

"So......." I looked down at my feet, "who was that girl and..... 'Thing' that appeared beside her? I saw her when we were just arriving yesterday and she doesn't look and act so nice."

Syl sighed. "Her name's Jacqueline, but don't ever call her that. She normally goes by Jax and is one of the very few glitches in the village. Also one of the cruelest. And that thing is called an Enderman (who is also a glitch) I'd consider Jax being pretty rough around the new people, but can sometimes be quite a softy to specific ones."

I scoffed. "Her being soft? That's like saying I have wings but can't fly! How can she be soft?"

"Specific people Aella. I'm guessing you won't be one of those for quite some time. Maybe not ever."

"Yeah that figures." I muttered under my breath.

I looked up from the ground and gasped as I saw Alli about twenty blocks away. He was talking to the manager of a stand that looked like it sold rolled up pieces of paper, but I assumed they were maps.

"Come on Aella! Let's find what you're looking for!" Syl said, and she shot into a sprint. I followed right after her.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

I apologize for the short chapter. I had to get something out after working so hard on my other book Dragons, Enders, Attack! Which by the way is completed and the sequel is finally up.
Also, thank you so much SirCutieKiyu for entering your two characters Phil and Jax for my book. I think they both fit quite well into the story, and Jax's personality is just giving me goosebumps I love it so much.
Oh one more thing, if a lot of you love this book so much, I was thinking of writing up a sequel. I'm not quite sure what is it'd be called just yet, but I've got a pretty good storyline to fit around at the moment. Comment if you'd read a sequel and I just might do so.

Baii