Gameknight opened his eyes, hoping to see Crafter’s village around him.
Success. Gameknight mentally congratulated himself on yet another successful use of the digitizer, and he was about to head over to the crafting chamber to talk to Crafter, but an NPC ran up to him.
“User-that-is-not-a-user!” The NPC panted, looking momentarily awed by Gameknight’s lack of a server string.
“Yes? What is your name?” Gameknight said.
“Messenger, sir.”
“Okay, Messenger. First off, there is no need for the sir, I’m just a user. Second, I presume you have a message for me?” Messenger nodded his head.
“I do. The light-crafters are waiting outside for you. . .the one with the sing-song voice? And that one who talks all funny and that none of us can understand?” He means Grassbrin and Treebrin. Gameknight realized.
“Alright. Thank you, Messenger.” Gameknight said. Messenger nodded his blonde head and ran back off through the village. Gameknight turned and went to the gate, seeing the welcome faces of Grassbrin and Treebrin.
“Gameknighttt!” Grassbrin said in his melodic voice.
“Hey Grassbrin.” Gameknight said. Treebrin grumbled something.
“He says hello.” Herder said, jogging up to the group. Gameknight smiled.
“Hi Herder, glad you could join us.” He said. “How are the animals?”
“They’re good.” Herder said, mirroring Gameknight’s smile. “There was a pig that escaped the pen, and it was hiding in with the chickens, but other than that, everything’s good.” Gameknight laughed. A pig living with chickens? What’s next? An NPC living with zombies? Treebrin grunted, jolting Gameknight from his thoughts.
“Oh, right, the message. Care to inform me?”
“The Council of light-crafters is tommmorowww.” Grassbrin said. Gameknight cocked his head.
“The Council of. . .light-crafters? What’s that?”
“It’s a gatheringgg of light-crafters every hundreddd yearsss.”
“Woah. . .you’re a hundred years old?! Minecraft hasn’t even been around that long!” Gameknight exclaimed. Grassbrin shrugged. Treebrin grunted something to him.
“Ah, yesss.” Grassbrin said. “Even I do not know how this is possibbble. I am no Creatorrr.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Gameknight said, thinking, “But why would you come to me with this information? I’m not a light-crafter.”
“Welll, we want you to come with usss to the Council.” Grassbrin said, smiling. Treebrin grunted assent. Gameknight was taken aback. Me? At a council full of light-crafters?
“Ahhh. . .I’d be honored!” He stammered. “But, under one condition.”
“Annnd what’s that?”
“I want to take my friends.” Gameknight said firmly. The smile flickered on Grassbrin’s face, and the light-crafter turned to Treebrin. They began speaking together in Treebrin’s strange, grunting language, and Gameknight looked at Herder for a translation.
“They’re figuring out whether they should let you come with your friends or not.” The lanky NPC explained. Gameknight nodded. Grassbrin turned back to Gameknight.
“You may takkke your friendsss.” He said. Yes!
“Thank you, Grassbrin! Let me go get them and I’ll meet you back here.”
“Hurry pleassse. We should gettt going before the night.” Gameknight nodded and ran off into the village, Herder hard on his heels.
“Gameknight!” Herder yelled. Gameknight stopped running about halfway through the village, and quick shoved a piece of bread down his throat to nullify the effects of the running. He looked at the dark-haired boy.
“Yes Herder?” Gameknight asked. Herder brushed some of his long black hair from his eyes.
“When you said ‘friends’, did you mean me?”
“Of course I meant you! I meant you, Hunter, Stitcher, Digger, and Crafter.” Gameknight said. Herder smiled.
“It still feels nice to hear you say that.” The young NPC said quietly. If Gameknight could blush, his entire face would be beet-red.
“Hey! Gameknight!” A voice yelled. Gameknight recognized it instantly as Hunter. He turned to see the red-haired NPC running up to him, her curls bouncing. “Took you long enough to actually show up again.” She smirked.
“Hi Hunter.” Gameknight said. “Where’s Stitcher?” Behind him, Herder nodded.
“She’s playing with Topper and Filler.”
“Go get her!” Gameknight exclaimed. Hunter’s face darkened.
“Why? Something wrong?”
“No, but I need you to get her over here. And Crafter and Digger, if you can.” Hunter nodded her blocky head and took off running down the village streets. Gameknight turned, about to say something to Herder, but the lanky NPC was gone. Gameknight shrugged. He probably went to go get a wolf or two, he thought, he’ll show up. Moments later, Hunter came running back with Crafter, Digger, and Stitcher. Crafter was trailing a bit behind because of his child-sized legs, and Hunter was about to tease him about it when Stitcher playfully punched her arm.
“Ugh, fine.” Hunter grumbled. “I won’t make the joke.” Stitcher laughed.
“Thanks Hunter.” Gameknight said. “Now, Grassbrin and Treebrin invited me to a Council of light-crafters.” Crafter made an incredulous noise.
“The light-crafters invited you to their Council?!” He exclaimed.
“You mean you’ve heard of it?” Gameknight asked. Crafter laughed.
“Gameknight, every crafter learns about the Council. If you’ve been asked to go, you must go.”
“I am going, but Grassbrin said I can bring you guys.” Gameknight said. Crafter almost fell over, causing a chuckle from Hunter, followed by a grunt of annoyance as Stitcher’s fist came her way once again.
“I’m going.” Stitcher said.
“Me too, light-crafters are awesome. You think they have, like, a Stringbrin or something?” Hunter said.
“I dunno, maybe.” Gameknight paused as he saw Crafter muttering to himself. “Crafter? Can you come?”
“I cannot.” Crafter said. He held up a hand to stop Gameknight’s flow of questions. “I need to stay here, to help our village recover. I’m sorry, but my responsibilities as a Crafter come before mine as the companion to the User-that-is-not-a-user.” Gameknight shut his mouth, knowing nothing he could say would change Crafter’s mind.
“I have no wish to come.” Digger said in his deep, rumbling voice. “I apologize, Gameknight, but my place is here with my family. I would rather not meddle in the magic of light-crafters.”
“Alright then, Digger, you don’t have to come. I’ll be fine with just Hunter, Herder, and Stitcher.”
“Herder’s coming too?!” Stitcher exclaimed, grinning. Hunter elbowed her.
“Not developing a crush, are we?” Stitcher blushed.
“No, it’s just that it’ll be nice having someone around my age at this Council. I mean, sure, Gameknight’s like, 12, in real life, but I can’t think of him as a kid. And you’re my sister, so even if you were about my age, it wouldn’t count.” Gameknight laughed at Hunter’s playful scowl.
“Alright, well, now that that’s all sorted out, let’s just go back to the gate. Herder will catch up in a second.” Gameknight said. He bid farewell to Crafter and Digger and jogged back to the gate, where Herder was waiting for them.
“Hi Herder!” Stitcher said, running up and hugging the lanky NPC. Herder’s face turned bright red, and Hunter coughed (it sounded more like a laugh to Gameknight’s ears). Stitcher pulled away with a muttered apology. Herder turned to Gameknight.
“Gameknight, Treebrin said I could bring a wolf!” To emphasize Herder’s point, a wolf popped out from behind the NPC’s legs. Gameknight recognized it.
“You’re Buck, aren’t you?” He said. Buck barked and licked Gameknight’s hand. He laughed.
“Look, Herder’s wolves are very cute, but we should be going.” Hunter said.
“She is righttt.” Grassbrin said. “Link handsss.” Gameknight looked a Grassbrin, confused, but the green-haired light-crafter offered only a mysterious smile in response. They all grabbed each other’s hands, forming a sort of blobby circle, with Grassbrin and Treebrin directly across from each other. Grassbrin began to sing, which, since he already had a naturally melodic voice, sounded angelic. Treebrin chanted some intelligible words, and as the light-crafters continued their song, Gameknight and his friends were wrapped in darkness.

“Did it work?” Hunter whispered as Gameknight waited for his eyes to adjust to the dimness of the cave.
“I think so.” Gameknight whispered back. He made out the forms of Grassbrin and Treebrin in front of him.
“Glowstonebrinnn, the lightsss.” Grassbrin said. There was a brilliant flash, and the cave was revealed to be a huge, domed cavern, lined with signs and banners, each marked with a color or a specific light-crafters’ name. There was a massive glowstone chandelier hanging from the roof. A blonde haired light-crafter walked up to the group, hands glowing. Gameknight shielded his eyes. The light from the light-crafter’s hands was doused.
“Oh. Sorry about that!” The light-crafter said. He looked young, maybe even Herder’s age, with glowing golden eyes–eyes that reminded Gameknight a little too much of Herobrine’s eyes, especially in the face of someone who was so young like Herder. Stop it. Gameknight scolded himself. He’s a light-crafter. “I’m Glowstonebrin!”
“Hello, Glowstonebrin.” Gameknight said. “So. . .this is the Council, huh?” He looked at the myriad of light-crafters in the cavern. He recognized Treebrin from his first fight with Herobrine, but no one else he knew was there.
“Yup!” Glowstonebrin said proudly.
“What do you guys do?” Stitcher asked.
“We just mill about and discuss what we’ve been doing to help Minecraft.” The light-crafter said. “Speaking of which, I’ve gotta meet with Quartzbrin and Goldbrin. See you later!” Glowstonebrin was gone without another word.
“Well, he’s very nice.” Stitcher said. Gameknight couldn’t agree more.
“Hey! Buck, where are you going?” Herder said, catching Gameknight’s attention. The boy’s wolf had run off into the crowd, obviously following a trail of some kind. Herder looked at Gameknight, as if he was asking for permission to follow his wolf.
“Go ahead, Herder, we’ll catch up.” The User-that-is-not-a-user said. Herder nodded and went after his wolf, muttering a few quick apologies as he repeatedly ran into light-crafters on his quest to follow Buck.
“Hey, Stitcher!” Hunter yelled. Stitcher ran over to her sister.
“What?”
“You think that’s Stringbrin?” Hunter asked, pointing to a female light-crafter with long white hair and a bow slung over her back.
“I dunno, let’s find out.” The sisters ran off towards the light-crafter, leaving Gameknight alone. Might as well figure out where Herder’s run off to. He thought. He began weaving through the light-crafters, looking for Herder’s lanky form in the crowd. As he passed, he heard small snippets of conversation, the majority of which sounded like it was aimed at him. A small furry white form caught Gameknight’s eye, about. . .ten blocks in front of him. He waited, and Herder was only a few steps behind, obviously trying to get his wolf to slow down. Gameknight trailed after them. He eventually reached where Herder had stopped running. Said NPC was now staring at an old light-crafter with a large furry beard. Wolfbrin? Gameknight wondered. Buck was jumping up and down and barking at the light-crafter. Herder quickly rushed forwards and picked up the wolf.
“I’m sorry. . .sorry.” Herder stammered. Gameknight had come to notice that Herder’s stutter came back when he was exceptionally nervous. The light-crafter laughed.
“It’s no big deal, young villager.” He said with a rough voice. “Wolves love me. Comes with being Wolfbrin, I suppose.” He laughed. Herder almost dropped Buck.
“You’re. . .you’re Wolfbrin? Well then I am. . .I am extra. . .extra sorry.” Herder turned to walk away, but Wolfbrin stopped him.
“There is no need to be sorry. What is your name?”
“My name? Ahhh, my. . .my name is Herder.”
“I should’ve guessed, with the way that wolf seems to trust you.”
“Thanks. . .thanks.” Herder said. Wolfbrin laughed again.
“Herder, there is no need to be so nervous! You’re not in trouble.” Gameknight watched some of the tension leave Herder’s face.
“I know, I just get really flustered sometimes.” The lanky NPC said. He absentmindedly scratched Buck’s ears. The wolf wagged his tail.
“Wolves don’t care, do they.” Wolfbrin said, obviously understanding what Herder was trying to say.
“No, they don’t. It’s one of the things I like about them.” Herder said. “So. . .if you’re Wolfbrin, what can you actually do?”
“Well, for one thing, wolves love me, but you already noticed that.” Wolfbrin said, smiling. Herder blushed. “I’m responsible for crafting the wolves, for making sure they’re both capable warriors and wonderful companions.”
“That’s awesome!” Herder said, his face lighting up.
“It is, quite ‘awesome’.” Wolfbrin said. He then looked straight at Gameknight, surprising the User-that-is-not-a-user, who hadn’t realized Wolfbrin knew he was there. “Who’s that, over there?” Wolfbrin asked Herder. Herder turned and looked to where Wolfbrin was pointing, at Gameknight.
“Oh! That’s Gameknight999, he’s the User-that-is-not-a-user.” Herder explained. Wolfbrin’s eyes went up to where Gameknight’s server thread would’ve been.
“Do you know him?”
“Yeah, he’s one of my friends!”
“Well then,” Wolfbrin raised his voice, “come over here!” Gameknight quickly obliged, not wanting to disappoint the kind light-crafter. He stood next to Herder, smiling when Buck licked his hand. “User-that-is-not-a-user! I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“You have?” Gameknight said.
“Of course I have! You’ve saved Minecraft from Herobrine. . .is it three times now?”
“I’ve lost track.” Gameknight answered honestly. Wolfbrin chuckled.
“It’s great to see you at the Council.” Wolfbrin said.
“Thanks, Grassbrin and Treebrin invited me and my friends.” Gameknight gestured to Herder and Buck.
“Ah. Well, I would like to officially welcome you to the Council of Light-crafters!” Wolfbrin shouted, dramatically bowing with his blocky arms out to the sides. Gameknight laughed.
“Thanks.”