Julia and Lucy didn’t have to travel very far to investigate the explosion. Brad ran over to them, and in one breath he said, “The dining hall. Someone blew up the dining hall.”
Henry sprinted over. “Brad, we don’t know if someone blew it up. It might have been struck by lightning and caught fire.”
Lucy took a deep breath. “I am going to hope this storm was just a natural occurrence in the Overworld and that the school is not under another attack.”
“We should go investigate the dining hall. I didn’t find any TNT, but we have to be sure there wasn’t something else that caused the fire,” Henry said.
Julia looked up at the sunny sky as she walked across the campus. It was shocking to see how much of a difference the sun made. When clouds obscured the sun or it was nighttime, you were incredibly vulnerable in the Overworld. As the sun’s rays beat down on Julia, she felt a sense of calm, but this inner peace was quickly shattered when Emma and Mia raced toward them. “We found another chest,” Emma called out.
“What?” Lucy asked. “Where?”
Emma reached them. “It was on the floor of the dining hall.”
“Is the dining hall badly damaged?” Henry asked.
“No, not too bad,” Mia said. “It was a small explosion. I couldn’t find any TNT, so I’m not sure how it was started.”
“I couldn’t find any either,” Brad said.
Emma led the gang toward the empty chest. Julia looked at the gaping hole on the side of the dining hall. “That isn’t too hard to repair. I can fix it if you’d like,” she offered.
“Yes.” Lucy was happy to have the help. “That would be fantastic.”
“I’d also like to help,” Brad added.
“Of course,” Lucy said. “We want this repaired as quickly as possible.”
The empty chest sat on the floor underneath one of the cafeteria tables. Julia leaned down and peered inside. “It’s completely looted.”
Lucy looked at the empty chest. “I guess this is what caused the storm.”
“But why did the storm stop? Nobody replaced the items,” Julia said.
“I don’t know,” Lucy replied as she stared at the empty chest, hoping to find an answer.
Cayla called out to them. “Guys, over here.”
They sprinted toward Cayla, who stood by a table near the kitchen. As they reached Cayla, they spotted a chest by her feet.
“Another chest,” Henry said as he reached over and opened it. The chest was overflowing with diamonds and emeralds.
“I wonder if someone placed the loot from the empty chest into this one, and that stopped the storm,” Julia theorized.
“I’m not sure.” Lucy looked through the chest and picked up a diamond, which instantly set off a thunderous sound.
“Put it back,” Emma begged.
Lucy quickly replaced the diamond, and the storm ended before it even began. Lucy looked up at Cayla. “I think you’re going to have to return home. We need to know what information your family has about these chests.”
“But it could just be some crazy tale,” Cayla said.
“Sometimes there is truth in those stories. Also, we have no other leads.” Lucy instructed Cayla, “I think you should bring Julia, Mia, Emma, and Brad with you. With all that is happening on campus, I think it’s safer if you travel with a group.”
“When do you want us to leave?” Cayla asked.
“As soon as possible.”
“Where do you live?” Brad asked.
“Mushroom Island,” Cayla said.
“I’ve never been there,” Brad said. “I hear it’s gorgeous.”
“Brad, this isn’t a vacation,” Lucy reminded him. “We need you to travel there and get any information you can to help us solve this problem.”
“We understand,” Cayla said. “We’ll report back on everything we find.”
Henry instructed them to search through their inventories to make sure they had everything they needed for their trip.
“I can probably use a few more potions,” Cayla said.
Mia said, “Don’t worry. I have enough for everyone.”
As the gang exited the campus, Julia could see the three girls in berets standing on the great lawn. They stared at her. Julia wanted to call out, letting them know she wasn’t a criminal. She wanted to let them know that she was hopefully going to save the campus.
Chapter 9
JOURNEY TO MUSHROOM ISLAND
“How much further?” Mia questioned.
Cayla pulled out a map and showed it to the group. “We have to go through the cold biome and over a mountain until we reach the shore, where we’ll have to construct boats to get us to Mushroom Island,” she explained.
“The cold biome,” Julia repeated, excited to get there. It had been too long since she’d been in the familiar icy biome. She missed snow and building igloos.
“Yes,” said Cayla. “Maybe you can construct an igloo for us.”
“That would be great. I’d love to do that,” Julia exclaimed.
Julia could see the white snow in the distance and her heart raced with excitement. This wasn’t the cold biome that she had grown up in, but it was still extremely familiar. She raced toward the snowy landscape with her friends following her. Even though Julia knew the trip wasn’t a vacation, she was still happy to be traveling alongside her friends. Julia was the first person to reach the cold biome. As she stepped on the ice, she reached over and picked up a patch of snow, slowly and carefully crafting a snowball.
“Watch out!” She giggled as she threw the snowball at her friends.
Emma, Mia, Cayla, and Brad quickly grabbed snow and made their own snowballs. Soon the group was laughing as snowballs shot through the air. Julia loved feeling the fresh cold snow against her skin. The wet snow fell down her cheek, and Julia laughed as she ducked from the sea of snowballs that were flying at her.
“Time out,” she hollered as she looked up at the sky. “It’s getting dark. I should build the igloo now. We don’t want to waste our time fighting hostile mobs. We need to get some sleep before our trip tomorrow.”
“You’re only saying that because you’re being pelted with snowballs,” Brad said as he threw another snowball at Julia.
“No.” Julia smiled. “I wish we could have a longer snowball fight, but I think we have to stay focused.”
“I know what you mean,” Cayla said. “There is something fun about this trip. It feels like a vacation.”
The rest of the gang agreed this was a fun trip, but there was also a purpose to the trip. If they could get information about the chests, they could help the school. Julia thought about the explosion in the dining hall as she crafted the foundation for igloo.
Brad worked alongside Julia. “When I worked on the igloo this summer, I stayed in another one that had a trapdoor underneath the carpet.”
“Yes, that is usually found in naturally generated igloos. I’d put one in here, but since we’re only staying here for the night, our igloo is going to be a bit simpler.” Julia placed a brick of snow to build the side of the igloo. “What did you find in the trapdoor?”
“It was super cool. I found a chest with golden apples.”
“Wow, that’s cool.” Julia worked with Brad to complete the igloo.
Cayla breathlessly rushed over to them. “I saw something.” She tried to catch her breath.
“What?” Julia asked.
Emma also sprinted over and caught her breath. “Guys, I saw a polar bear.”
“If you stay away from the polar bear, it won’t bother you,” Julia explained. “Is that what you saw, Cayla?”
“No,” Cayla said. “I saw a person.”
“Where?” asked Brad.
Cayla pointed toward a snow-covered mountain. “I could swear I saw a man in a purple jacket. When he saw me, he sprinted over the mountain.”
Julia looked at the mountain. She didn’t see any man wearing a purple jacket. “I think we should all keep
a close eye on our surroundings. You never know who we’ll encounter in this snowy biome.”
Brad said, “I just finished the igloo. Do you guys want to help construct beds?”
“Yes,” Julia said. “We have to get ready for the night. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
As they entered the igloo, Cayla marveled at what a great job they had done. “You guys created such a homey igloo.”
Emma added, “I can’t believe you built this so quickly.”
Mia agreed and then asked, “Can I craft my bed by the window?”
“Yes,” Julia said.
The gang worked on their beds as night was setting in. Mia gasped as a polar bear walked past the window. “I know they aren’t going to hurt me, but they are scary, right? I mean, they’re enormous.”
“They do take some getting used to,” Julia said.
The group got into their beds. Cayla called out, “Tomorrow we head to the shore. We just have to get over that mountain.”
“I’m afraid of heights,” Brad confessed.
“We will be with you,” Julia said. “You’ll be okay. We’ll take it very slowly.”
Mia sat up in bed and shrieked.
“Is there another polar bear walking past your window?” Julia asked.
“No.” Mia quivered. “I think there’s someone outside.”
Chapter 10
SNOWBALLS AND SHELTER
Emma lit her torch, opened the door, and slipped on the icy ground.
Julia rushed over to her side. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” Emma stood up. “I didn’t realize it would be that slippery.”
“Do you see anybody?” asked Mia.
“I don’t see anyone.” Julia placed a torch on the side of the igloo and looked out at the snowy mountainous biome covered with fern trees and snow-capped mountains.
“What did the person look like?” Cayla asked.
“I’m not sure. He was too fast,” Mia said as she stood by the entrance to the igloo.
“Watch out,” Brad hollered to Emma as a zombie walked toward her. Its arms extended in front of the undead creature as it reached for her.
Emma struck the zombie with her sword until it was destroyed. She picked up a piece of rotten flesh from the ground and placed it in her inventory. “Maybe you just saw a zombie,” she said to Mia.
“No,” Mia declared. “I know what I saw and it was a person. I think he was wearing a purple coat.”
“A purple coat?” Cayla questioned. “I saw someone with a purple coat climbing up the mountain.”
“We have to find him,” Mia said as she readjusted her armor and prepared for battle.
“I don’t think searching for someone in the middle of the night is the best idea,” Brad said. “I think we should get some sleep.”
“I agree,” said Julia. “We don’t know if this person is evil. It could just be someone who lives in the biome.”
The group was torn. Mia and Cayla wanted to find out who was lurking by their house in the middle of the night, but Emma, Julia, and Brad wanted to sleep. They decided to take a vote, and since it was three to two, they wound up heading back into the igloo for the night.
Mia looked out the window before she went to bed, but there was nothing there, not even a polar bear. She quietly said, “Good night.”
* * * *
Julia was the first to wake up in the morning, and she spotted a polar bear walking past the window. She opened the door, ready to spend some quiet time alone in the snowy biome. Julia wanted to watch the polar bear peacefully walk through the snow-filled landscape. She sprinted out the door and fell over something, letting out a cry.
“Julia?” Emma called out.
“Are you hurt?” Brad asked.
“No, I’m fine,” Julia said as she brushed snow off her leg. “But you guys should come out here and see what I’ve found.”
The gang rushed toward the door. Emma looked down. “A chest?”
Mia said, “I told you someone was outside the window last night. I bet they left the chest here.”
Julia opened the chest. “Wow, golden apples.” She looked at the chest filled with enchanted, glistening apples.
Mia leaned over and pulled one out. Julia screamed, “What are you doing?”
“This is an experiment,” she said as she clutched the apple.
“Nothing is happening,” Julia said. “I guess that’s a good sign.”
Snow started to fall. “You spoke too soon,” Mia said as she placed the golden apple back in the chest and the snow stopped.
“Pick it up again,” Julia instructed.
Mia grabbed a golden apple. As she pulled it from the chest, a brisk wind was felt in the air and snow fell hard against the icy ground. Mia quickly put it back, and the storm ended.
“I think this is some kind of message. They want us to leave them alone,” Mia said.
“It could be,” Julia said, “but this isn’t going to stop us from finding out who is behind all of this.”
Cayla cried out, “Look!”
A man in a purple jacket sprinted away in the distance. His colorful jacket stuck out against the stark white snow as he started to climb the mountain.
“We have to follow him,” Julia said.
The gang put on their armor as they sprinted toward the man. Julia sipped a potion of swiftness to help her speed up. “Stop,” she called out.
The man ran faster, but Julia caught up to him. She splashed a potion of weakness on him, and he stopped.
“What do you want from me?” he asked, his voice very weak.
“I have the same question for you,” Julia said as her friends surrounded the man in the purple jacket.
“Who are you?” Brad asked.
“Did you leave that chest?” Mia asked.
“Are you the one who planted chests on Minecrafters Academy?” Cayla asked.
“What’s your problem?” Emma asked.
“So many questions,” the man replied. “And I’m not answering any of them.” He disappeared.
“He must have TPed somewhere and to someone,” Brad said.
“But where?” Julia asked. She looked around the snowy biome, but he was nowhere to be found.
Chapter 11
DEEP BELOW THE SEA
“I’m sure we’ll find him,” Emma said as the group made their way up the mountain.
“I agree. I bet that’s not the last we’ll see of him,” said Brad, looking down as he took each step. Julia stood by him, making sure he wasn’t scared.
Cayla stopped at the top of the mountain, but Julia urged her to keep going. “No,” Cayla insisted. “Brad, I know you’re scared, but I just want you to see this view. It’s incredible.”
Emma gawked at the view. In the distance they could see the shoreline. “Cayla’s right. You shouldn’t miss out on this view because you’re scared. When I started school, I was afraid to battle.”
“Really?” Brad asked.
“Yes,” Emma confessed. “After losing the Minecrafters Academic Olympics, I thought I’d never be able to battle again.”
“How did you get back to fighting?” Brad asked as he stood close to Julia and away from the mountain’s peak.
“With the help of my friends.” Emma smiled at Julia. “And I want to help you. Just walk over to me. Once you do, you’ll see the most stunning sight ever.”
Brad reluctantly walked over to Emma as Julia stayed close to his side. He looked out at the panoramic view of the Overworld. He could see the ocean and the forest. “Wow, this is gorgeous. I’ve never seen such a beautiful view.”
“See? I told you it was worth it,” Emma said as she helped Brad make his way down the mountain and toward the grassy biome.
Cayla studied the map. “We’re almost at the shoreline.”
“I can build the boats,” Brad said.
“I can help you,” Julia said.
“Great,” Cayla said, and then paused.
“What’s the matter?” Julia asked.
“I thought I saw that man again.” She stared at trees ahead, but she didn’t see him.
“I wonder who he is,” Emma said.
“I have a bad feeling about him,” Julia told them.
“We can’t focus on that man,” Cayla said. “We have to get to the shore and craft the boats.”
The group hurried toward the shore. Once they reached the beach, everyone gathered wooden planks from their inventories and handed them to Brad and Julia. The duo diligently crafted the boats.
“Wow, these are really nice,” Cayla said as she eyed the first boat. It was simple and small in design, but sturdy and compact. Cayla pulled the boat onto the calm blue water.
Julia constructed the last boat and as she placed it in the water, she noticed an icy patch in the distance. “I worry the icy conditions of the water might crash the boat.”
Cayla reassured her, “We can break the ice with the boat. We’ll be fine. When you grow up on an island, you become an expert on boating. If I didn’t know how to navigate the seas, I’d never get off the island.”
The boat ride wasn’t very long, and within a few minutes of floating on the peaceful sea, Emma spotted land. “I see a large mushroom. It’s prettier than I imagined. I can’t wait to see Mushroom Island. I want a bowl of Mooshroom Stew.”
“Remember,” Cayla told her, “we have a job to do.”
“I know,” Emma said, “but Mooshroom Stew is so good and really hard to come by in the Overworld. Besides, if we don’t eat, we won’t have any energy.”
The conversation was cut short as the current grew stronger and the boats picked up speed. The rough waters challenged the boaters as each of them grasped onto the side of boat, hoping they wouldn’t be tossed overboard by the extremely forceful current.
“Hang on,” Cayla said. “We’re almost there.”
“I’m trying,” Mia said as she clutched the side of the boat.
Julia’s boat shook violently, and hit a rock. The boat was demolished and Julia was alone in the deep blue water. “Help!” Julia cried as she was dragged underneath the sea. Julia swam to the surface as her friends tried to lead their boats toward her, but the current was too powerful, and her friends drifted further away. Julia grabbed a potion of water breathing and took a large gulp as she was pulled underneath the deep blue ocean.
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