The sun had just begun to rise, bathing the landscape in golden hues. Azad trudged through the forest, exhausted but relieved, his body aching from the relentless battles of the night. The sounds of nature were calm again—birds chirping in the distance, the soft rustling of leaves underfoot, and the gentle breeze that carried the fresh scent of pine and earth. His iron sword, now chipped and stained, hung loosely by his side, and his clothes were tattered from the skirmishes with the mobs.
He could see the camp in the distance—the place where Ellie and Choco waited. A small smile tugged at his lips, the thought of seeing his companion Choco again giving him a burst of energy. As he neared the camp, the familiar sight of the tent and the cooking fire came into view, smoke lazily rising into the morning sky.
Before he could even take a step closer, Choco bolted toward him, tail wagging furiously. "Choco!" Azad called out, his voice hoarse but filled with warmth. The dog leaped onto him, almost knocking him over as it began licking his face enthusiastically. Azad laughed, kneeling down to rub his fur. "I missed you, buddy."
Choco barked happily, circling around him before nudging his leg with his snout as if to say, "Don't leave me again."
Ellie appeared not long after, standing with her arms crossed, a teasing smirk on her lips. "Well, well, well... look who's back. The crybaby survived," she said, but her tone had a hint of admiration in it. "You actually made it through the second trial. Congrats."
Azad groaned, standing up and shaking his head. "Crybaby? You have no idea what I've been through out there."
"Oh, I'm sure you had a rough time. You and your sword against a couple of zombies and skeletons," she teased, raising an eyebrow.
Azad shook his head in disbelief. "No, Ellie. I fought something... something weird. It was this tall, skinny, completely black creature. It had these glowing purple eyes, and it kept teleporting all over the place. I swear, it was impossible to hit."
Ellie's playful smirk faded instantly, her eyes widening. "Wait, what?" she asked, her tone turning serious. "You're telling me you fought an Enderman?"
Azad shrugged, wincing slightly from his sore muscles. "Enderman? Is that what it's called? I had no idea, but it attacked me after I accidentally looked at it. I barely survived..."
"You're lucky to be alive," Ellie said, the seriousness of her words cutting through the morning air like a blade. "Endermen don't attack unless you look them in the eyes. If you'd stared too long, it might've been the last thing you ever did. How did you even manage to fight it off?"
Azad scratched the back of his neck, feeling a bit sheepish. "Honestly? I just swung my sword around and hoped for the best. I thought I was done for."
Choco, sensing the tension in their conversation, nuzzled Azad's hand gently, as if to comfort him. Azad smiled, petting the dog's head. "Thanks, boy. I'm glad to be back too."
Ellie shook her head, a mix of disbelief and amusement crossing her face. "I can't believe you fought an Enderman on your second trial. Most experienced fighters have a tough time fighting those creatures. You're very lucky."
"If I was lucky I wouldn't have met it in the first place,," Azad replied.
Ellie sighed, folding her arms again but her expression softened. "Well, you survived, and that's what matters. You've passed the second trial, Azad. Take some pride in that. And judging by the state you're in, I'd say you need to rest. I'm giving you two days to recover. Then we'll move on to the final trial."
Azad's shoulders slumped with relief. "Two days of rest sounds like heaven right now."
Ellie gestured toward a small stream that flowed through the camp, the sound of the water soothing as it trickled over smooth stones. "Go clean yourself up, get some food, and rest. You've earned it. The last trial will be even harder."
Azad raised an eyebrow. "Harder than surviving three nights in the wild, fighting off zombies, skeletons, and an Enderman?"
Ellie's smirk returned. "Oh, much harder. But you'll find out soon enough. For now, rest."
Azad groaned as he made his way to the stream, Choco following close behind. The cool water felt refreshing as he splashed it on his face, washing away the grime from the last three days. The tension in his muscles began to ease, and he could already feel his body starting to recover.
As he sat by the water's edge, Choco curled up next to him, and the peaceful sounds of the forest filled the air. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves rustling softly above. Birds fluttered between the branches, chirping their morning songs, and the scent of pine and earth was calming after the chaos of the trial.
"I really made it, huh?" Azad muttered, staring at his reflection in the water. "That was no joke…" He leaned back on the grass, the sun warming his skin, and for the first time in days, he allowed himself to relax.
Choco rested his head on Azad's lap, and for a while, they just sat there in peaceful silence. The trials had been brutal, and the danger wasn't over yet, but in that moment, Azad felt a sense of accomplishment wash over him.
Ellie's voice cut through his thoughts. "You know, Azad," she called from a distance, "if you keep this up, you might actually stop being such a baby and become a real warrior."
Azad chuckled, not bothering to respond. He was too tired to get into another round of teasing with her.
"Two days," he whispered to Choco, scratching behind his ears. "Two days to prepare for whatever crazy thing she's got planned next."
Choco licked his hand in response, his tail thumping lazily on the grass. Azad smiled. "At least I'm not alone this time."
As the sun climbed higher in the sky and the sounds of the forest lulled him into a peaceful state, Azad closed his eyes, knowing that the toughest challenge was yet to come. But for now, recharging for the final trial was his utmost priority.