Jafar

Time here is strange. You’d think the days would be faster, like when you play Minecraft normally, but no. The sun rises, crawls across the sky, and sets in real-time. Trust me I setup a redstone circuit to count it. It’s almost unnerving how long it lasts. We’ve been out here for what feels like forever, chasing shadows and trails left by an AI that may or may not exist. It’s been about three weeks since that first hunt with Colette, and we’ve settled into an odd rhythm.

I lean back against the stone wall of my makeshift forge, wiping the sweat from my forehead. The sun’s just starting to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the camp. We’d given up on the constant searching after a week; we scouted every perimeter about five hours out in each direction. Any further, and we’d have to build a temporary settlement. I didn’t fancy that. Neither did Colette, judging by how she’d started muttering under her breath each time we came back empty-handed.

It’s not like we’re giving up, exactly. More like... regrouping. We haven’t seen any sign of Ivan since the tracks at the bear encounter. It’s like he’s vanished, or worse, watching us from a distance, calculating our next move. I hate the feeling of being watched, and sometimes I catch Colette glancing over her shoulder too, her expression tense. We both know there’s a chance he’s out there, but for now, we’ve agreed to hunker down, gather resources, and try to get a sense of control back.

The camp has evolved since that first night. It’s not just my little hut anymore; it’s turned into a proper base. Colette’s been busy, crafting her own custom gear. She’s got a knack for it, stitching together leather into a lightweight vest and a pair of boots that look oddly stylish, even for this blocky world. She prefers the bow and arrow—says she likes the distance it gives her. I can’t argue with that; she’s got a killer aim. I’ve seen her take down skeletons from across a clearing, barely missing a shot.

I prefer swords. There’s something about the weight of the blade in my hand that feels right. I crafted my own from iron, sharpened it until it gleamed, but I’ll admit, the armour’s a hassle. It’s heavy, cumbersome. I only wear it when we’re heading into a fight. The rest of the time, I stick to light clothing, just enough to protect me without slowing me down. I’ve made a few modifications to my gear too—a reinforced leather belt for holding potions, a small dagger strapped to my leg for emergencies.

Colette’s changed a lot in these past few weeks. She’s quieter now, less defensive. We don’t bicker as much as we used to; instead, there’s this... unspoken understanding. We’re stuck here together, like it or not, and we’ve become a team by necessity. She’s started experimenting more, making her own dyes from flowers she finds along the riverbank. Her vest is a deep shade of red now, and I teased her about it the other day, calling her ‘Little Red Riding Hood.’ She smacked me with the back of her hand, but there was a smile on her lips.

Stolen novel; please report.

The sun dips lower, casting a golden light across the camp. I watch her as she sharpens her arrows, her brow furrowed in concentration. It’s a small moment, but it strikes me how natural she looks here, like she belongs in this world more than the one outside. It’s strange how time passes here, and it’s stranger still how much we’ve adapted. In the real world, I’m used to feeling restless, always looking for the next distraction. Here, everything feels... slower, but not in a bad way. It’s like I have time to actually breathe, to think.

I lean back, closing my eyes for a moment, listening to the sound of the river flowing nearby. It’s peaceful, almost serene. A far cry from the frantic searches and the constant tension of that first week. We’ve settled into a kind of routine—fishing in the mornings, gathering supplies in the afternoon, and hunting together in the evenings if we need more food. Colette’s better with the animals than I am; she knows how to lure them without spooking them. I’m better at clearing out the mobs, taking down creepers and zombies before they get too close.

“Hey,” Colette’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. I open my eyes to see her standing there, a smirk on her lips. “Daydreaming again, are we?”

“Just resting,” I say, shrugging. “It’s been a long day.”

She sits down beside me, stretching out her legs. “Tell me about it. I thought I’d never get that dye right.”

I chuckle, nodding towards her vest. “You did a good job. It suits you.”

She looks down, almost bashful, then shrugs. “Figured I might as well customise something if we’re stuck here.”

“Yeah,” I say, glancing down at my own gear. “I’ve been doing the same. You should see what I’ve done to my sword—sharpened the edge, reinforced the handle.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Oh, so you do know how to customise things. I was beginning to think you were just a ‘basic Steve’ kind of guy.”

I smirk, leaning back on my elbows. “Says the girl rocking the default Alex skin.”

We fall into an easy silence, the kind that’s become more common between us. It’s funny how we’ve ended up here, two strangers thrown together by circumstance, learning to trust each other in this bizarre, pixelated world.

I glance over at her, watching as she fiddles with one of her arrows, testing the fletching. “You know,” I say, my voice softer now, “it’s not so bad here. Not as bad as I thought it would be.”

She looks up, meeting my gaze. There’s a flicker of something in her eyes—understanding, maybe. Or agreement. “Yeah,” she says quietly. “It’s not so bad.”

I nod, feeling a strange sense of contentment settle over me. “Time moves slower here. Makes you realise how fast everything is in the real world.”

Colette nods, her expression thoughtful. “Yeah. I mean, I don't think time actually moves slower, but it feels like it. It’s almost like we have time to actually... exist.”

I shake my head. “Leave it to you to get all philosophical on me.”

She grins playfully. “Hey, it’s the truth. Now shut up and help me with these arrows. I want to be ready for tomorrow."