The village was on the edge of the woods. We opened up to a stretch of plains next. 

The horses were happy to be set free and away from the woods, and so was everyone else.

I rode ahead, balancing myself while holding onto a map. We were quite close now, yet trees were nowhere in sight. 

"Hey, Amythest! Look!" Kisha laughed. I turned my head around, and she was doing a handstand on a moving horse- a horse moving at full speed.

"You're going to fall!" I warned. 

"Nope! I got the hang of it!"

It seemed so too. The horse seemed frisky just like Kisha, bouncing around, nickering, but always mindful of the person on her back.

My horse was simply fast, and very mature, focusing only on the path I directed it on.

Ethan was slightly pale- he hated riding, Matthew and Theo where having a good time.

"Amythest! Race me!" Matthew smiled, and I smirked, and took off. 

"Hey!" Theo shouted "WAAAAAIIIITTTT!!"

I was too busy riding to care.

We did stop at one point. It only took up two nights to get to the mansion, on the afternoon of the third day, we finally stopped at the door of the mansion.

I stopped the horses, and hopped off. I held the leash, waited for someone to come out.
I held tightly to the identification card the general gave out- it ensured that we would not be killed on sight.

A villager- surprise surprise stepped out. A normal clothed villager, not one of those gray ones.

He looked in surprise and said something to someone behind him.

One of those gray villagers showed up, but he was wearing a short gray coat and blue pants, a ax hung on its side.

"Good day. You are?" He said with no accent.

"Junior leader of group 9, Amythest," I replied, holding up the card, he nodded.

"Commander Samuel of 11 told me you would come. Didn't expect you to come so soon."

"We took a faster way."

"Would you like to get settled down? The Evoker would see you as soon as he can."

We all nodded. We handed the horses to another man in the same clothes, and the person we were following led us up two flights of stairs. 

"There are three floors. But do not go to the third unless you are directed to. Up there is the private chambers." He warned us and pointed to a large room. "You may stay there for as long as you need."

We thanked him and began to put our stuff down.

"This place is huge!" Ethan sighed. "I'm going to get lost."

"Then stick with someone and remember where you are," Kisha said smugly. 

Matthew stuck his head out the window and ran his hand along the cobblestone pillars "It's very well built." 

"How long would we be staying?" Theo asked me, I shrugged.

"As long as we need to, Theo. I don't want to be stuck in a room with boys for too long." Kisha grinned.

"Hey!" The three boys frowned.

"Alright, alright. I don't want to stay for very long either, this place gives me the creeps." I shuddered. Despite the small fireplace in the corner, it was cold; unsettling even.

we spent the rest of the day exploring. They seemed to be very loyal to their leader, statues of it in several rooms in the second floor. Once, I caught them training in this large room.

I took note of their fighting style, how they swung their axe, their moves and attack patterns. The evoker stood in the corner, summoning flying gray things that the blue clothed people jumped and dodged. Jaws and teeth came up from the ground and snapped at anyone who came close.

"Amythest!"

I jumped and whirled around.

Kisha smiled, pleased that she scared me a little.

"Oh, just you." I sighed.

"MmmHmmm, I just sent a message to the general to tell him we're here. He's really impressed that we got here so early."

"Of course, this was to test us, obiously."

"And, he said that this was  rankings test, every group but the last 6 groups have a choice to go to the next charge to the nether. Those six groups have to go, poor them. Should we go?"

I was quick with my answer, and she grinned. 

"I knew you were going to say yes."

"Well what else can I say?"

*Later, at night.*

I heard the soft snores of my teamates behind me, but I was alone with my thoughts. If I stay here, I can act a a agent for my father, finding out things and relay it to him so he has his forces ready to intercept his attack. But already, I can hear his voice telling me to go back to him, safe and sound.

But, it is my duty to protect the nether, after all, it's the closest thing i've ever had to a home.

I turned around onto my side, and Kisha's slow rise and fall of her breathing made me smile.

Perhaps I have another home, in here.

But what place does a daughter of the nether have in the overworld?
Not anywhere I know.

"A daughter of the Nether stays in the nether"

*The Next morning*

We all stayed and practiced fighting them the next morning.

And oh boy, I have never been so tired. 

It was a combination of air and ground, and meele attacks. My eyes darted all around, trying to keep track of everythig that was going on. Occasionally if I'll lose track of where those little gray flying things, they'll attack my out of no where. 

I slid onto the hard wodden floor after their axe knocked my stone sword onto the floor- not by a trick, but rather by brute force.

I think I know what to tell my father now.

"Well you lasted a lot longer than the rest of us." Kisha grinned.

"Well no duh, she's the best in the class" Ethan laughed in response.

I picked up my sword, and they shut up.

"Did General William tell us when are going back?" I asked.

"As soon as we're ready." Theo responded, his bandana dark with sweat. 

"Then the next morning then."

"What?!" They all said in unison

"This early?" Kisha asked.

"Yes. We have completed our mission, we should head back and show the, we can handle ourselfs." 

They didn't argue.

"Alright, since none of you guys are talking, the matter is decided."