...

STRINGS OF FATE

Part I: Odds and Ends

...

Almost everyone has a red string of fate. A little crimson string tied around their finger only a few inches long before it fades into thin air. Many don't meet their destined fates within a lifetime, rather choosing to unwind the string and weave a new destiny for themselves. Nothing is ever set in stone, that's for sure. But whether it was a curse or morbid curiosity, Steven couldn't decide.

Everyone around him, that openly displayed their strings, always pointed towards the horizon or even within their area. Some aimed up to the mountains, some gestured down into the deep caverns below. But Steven's was an odd case. His went directly down, no matter the orientation, no matter how deep he was in a cave, it always pointed down. As in, straight down.

He hid it well after the questions got annoying.

He used a set of gloves commissioned from a person who honed their skill just for such a predicament: to suppress the magic of the red string of fate and tuck it away hiding it from view. The other string on his hand was left loud and open, that one was normal. It's faded end always gesturing towards the horizon.

Steven ambled through the market. His pick bouncing on his side with every step and backpack light as he paid a visit to one of the blacksmiths. His emerald purse was heavier though. Strings of red, blue, green, pink, yellow, and many others trailing after people's hands as he was subconsciously attentive to their presence. Making note that many displayed the red most extravagantly as he passed.

The strings of fate don't always point to romantic love. There are hundreds of links for platonic, familial, poly... you name it. This greenish teal string, thick and healthy, jolted constantly. Mainly from the vicinity of his best friend, Alex, who was probably doing an obstacle course at the moment. That's where she said she was. Always jumping at the chance of exercising at the local training area, that one.

Stalls filled with curios and goods. One filled to the brim with painted clay pots of varying sizes. Another stocked with summer vegetables. Flies gathered and swarmed near livestock, harassing the people nearby with their buzzing. Children squealed in glee as the snow-cone man handed out the icy-sugar treat.

Large drooping cloth panels stretched across the walkway of the bazaar-like street market. Shielding many of the personnel from the sun as they bartered or wares and dug through produce. People with aprons smudged with grime and dirt as they showed off tools and metals, the farmer in her straw hat weighing her harvest. Animals were led through the bustling crowd, chickens and children weaving between legs. The edges of dresses and pants dusted with the patted dirt of the path.

The miner had his eyes caught on the wares of an explorer, selling her findings to anyone who approached and asked for the daring history and adventure of a particular item.

Swords old and worn, polished for decoration, old treasure maps framed and set, vases and vessels, possibly the most jarring part of the selection was the vibrant color-changing Jeb sheep pelt that hung on the back wall of the stall. The godly magic still ran strong in the fibers as it filtered through the rainbow of colors.

A flash of gold had redirected his attention as he drew near. It wasn't the gold as it was the small pendant, it's edges worn but polished to a shine. Steven approached this pendant with acute interest. It was strung on an equally weathered leather cord and tiny engravings covered the gold piece. The size of the pendant was no bigger than four centimeters in diameter.

"Interesting little thing, eh?"

Steven jerked up at the voice. A redheaded woman with a single eyepatch on her left eye and a cord of braided red upon her finger that linked to another woman behind her, sifting through boxes of artifacts.

"Excuse me?"

The woman laughed as she crossed her arms, "Interested in it?" She gestured at the pendant with her shoulder.

"It's quite eye-catching," Steven commented, though unsure if he should reach out for it.

"Battled an ancient golem for it. Must be a charm or something, it's got that buzz of enchantments, a weak one at that."

"Oh."

"She was enamored with it until the golem awoke when she set off the trap." The other woman added as she sauntered up to look at the pendant.

"Oh, hush,"

They shared a laugh.

The braided crimson cord dangled playfully and tauntingly as the two women bantered. A pang of longing hit Steven square in the face. The miner adjusted the enchanted fingerless gloves on his hands subconsciously as he averted his eyes back down to the pendant.

There was a crude figure in the center surrounded by a halo of fire or was that the sun? There was little to describe the face other than the eyes being prominent. But that probably had to be the weathering. Around the rim were etchings of words long rubbed off, some symbols of standard galactic Steven was able to make out, but not much at this distance. Though the iridescent sheen of an enchantment glittered across its surface excellently.

"How much?"

The woman with an eyepatch pondered for a moment, "For a fellow adventurer, I'd say a single emerald. Take it as a good luck charm, something tells me you'll need it sooner or later." She said with a smile.

Steven exchanged good words with the fellow adventurer as he paid for the pendant and slipped it over his neck. Thanking them for their time as he turned towards the exit of the market, thinking about the figure etched. He slipped the pendant beneath his shirt.

He paid no mind as he sauntered closer to the exit, the path widening just that small bit. He enjoyed the sounds of musicians to his left and the scent of the baker's pastries to his right for that short moment before passing through the gates back into the town.

…

"Hup, Hiya!" A woman with wild curly hair bounded over a wall, under a beam, and swung from a rope until she landed right on the sandy path. She wasted no time in rocketing forward, using her moment to leap over a set of hurdles and climb over another ten-foot wall. A bunch of logs stuck out of the earth and she hopped along, not once losing her balance or misstepping and slipping off the narrow surfaces of the logs.

"Hurah!"

She hopped over a long ditch and dropped to her belly, army crawling beneath barbed-wire and sprinting to the end of the course where a sandy patch and a small triangle flag signaled where the obstacle course ended. A light film of sweat covered her body as he grinned up into the sky, relishing the feeling of the breeze across her features. Her heart thumping in her chest as she breathed heavily.

She shuffled off to the side and did a few cool-down stretches as she let her heart pace slow just a little bit. Enjoying the breeze for that few seconds longer.

Alex glanced over her shoulder to see guard recruits struggle to keep up, stumbling over their feet and kicking up much dust in the dirt. Many were wearing heavy packs, almost the same weight as the armor and weapons they will be carrying after they graduate.

She wasn't a guard, far from it, she just liked the equipment the local training area offered. The zombies and skeletons in the forest aren't very good sparring partners. Not to mention she liked to show off from time to time like she just did.

She skipped over to the bench only a bit away sitting beneath the shade of the building and overhang. Her bag tossed next to it, sagging, and a towel draped over it. She grabbed the towel, wiping down her face and draping it over her shoulders, taking a swig from her canteen too. It sure was a hot day. But summer is like that here.

Alex felt the teal string tied to her index finger tug playfully. A short rhythm. Then that all too familiar sound of tools clinking and heavy steps followed.

"Sup Stevie." Alex turned to Steven, arms crossed, and a grin on her face.

"Yo." Steven mimicked her expression as he sauntered up to the bench and plopped himself down, watching as Alex tidied up her belongings, "Obstacle course again?"

"Yeah." Alex wiped the sweat from around her exposed skin and glanced up at the clock sitting nearby, "Huh… it's already four?"

Steven followed her gaze, "Yup. Someone was looking for you at the tavern we're staying at, said they wanted to speak to you about some work."

"Was it Raina?"

"Maybe, meet me there and you'll see."

Alex snickered as she shook her head, "Alright, I'll hit the showers right now and see you there. Later dude."

"Later." Steven gave a half-hearted salute as he walked away from her and disappeared through the doors to the training grounds.

Alex shrugged her pack over her shoulders and took a different turn to the showers. And a little thought came on her mind. She had a strong suspicion on a job offer, maybe mercenary work. Probably to escort or guard something. It's been a while since someone asked for her by name. Well if it's Raina it might as well be that she needs the two of them to round up some bees or just wanted to say hello.

Alex sighed as she disappeared into the showers.

...

Alex followed where the teal string led, quickly coming upon a familiar pub bustling with patrons. A wooden exterior painted a weathered black as green ferns and eye-catching purple petunias sat as a trim above the pub. Cascading down from their potting. And a hanging sign swinging idly by.

"The White Horse"

A few more stories sat on top of the pub. An inn that they were staying at in the meantime made up the rest of the building. Her back ached for the feeling of a soft bed. But she'll survive just a little longer without it.

She entered the homely pub, a few redstone fans making an artificial breeze within the establishment, keeping the patrons cool as they chattered away. A welcome Alex had embraced as an escape from the summer heat.

A man sat polishing glasses at the bar as another drifted from table to table, delivering finger snacks and drinks. Patrons enjoyed the relief of the fans as they chattered about daily happenings. It was a short scan before she caught the sight of a cyan shirt and a mess of brown hair.

She approached the booth and slipped into the seat right next to the miner. Steven gave her a playful nudge as she saw who sat across from him. A younger woman with reddish-brown hair styled into two buns and deep brown eyes. A red, yellow, and pink string openly displayed and tied to her finger

"Raina! It's good to see you." Alex waved.

"Hiya Alex!" The young builder grinned as she slid a paper towards Alex, "So uh… Stevie told you anything?"

Alex shook her head after a glance at Steven's face, "Nope."

"Ok ok, so uh… I need materials from the nether, but I need help with that."

Alex cocked her head to the side, "Why do you need to go there?"

"Oh, I don't plan on going. You see," Raina pointed to the paper, "I need glowstone and quartz for a high-paying project I'm working on and...I'm out of both. Plus I need to oversee that the structure is set up correctly before I actually need those materials."

Alex glanced down at the invoice, "Hm."

"I'd normally go and buy stone and wood from suppliers but the last people I had that did nether stuff said they encountered some… complications." The builder hesitated. She leaned in and continued in a whisper, "He is getting antsy again. They said they got too close to this strange fortress and were attacked by the demon himself. They barely made it out alive."

The three of them shuddered at the name.

"It's been quiet for nearly a decade." Steven added, "Why now?"

Alex rolled her eyes, "Has to be a prank by some piglins or ballsy explorers. None of them should have made it out if it was the real thing."

Raina opened her mouth to speak but shut it when she couldn't find the words.

"Alex, I've encountered him many times and always got away with most of my hide." Steven leaned an elbow on the table and settled his chin in his hand.

"We've both encountered him, and he's nearly killed us every time."

"I backed off, you kept egging him on for a fight."

"I was trying to protect us."

"Guys," Raina said exasperated, "You two can bicker about it later. I need to know if you two are interested."

"I'm in." Alex tilted her head urging her friend to continue, "So what's the catch since you aren't going?"

"I wanted to commission Steven to go and mine it for me, I'll give him a good chunk of pay from this job on top of what he usually charges. But he'll need help so I was asking if you'd accompany him."

Steven piped in, "I was going to drag you along anyways for the record."

The three of them had a good snort before Raina followed up with, "So are you two up for it?"

Alex and Steven shared side glances before focusing back on Raina.

"Yes." The duo said in unison.

"Wait really? Awesome!" Raina cheered as she swiped up the invoice and tucked it into her satchel. "Anyways, I need to get going, just wanted to know if you'd do it. So uh...bye!" Raina hopped out of the booth with a final wave goodbye and skipped out of the pub.

Alex took her spot across from Steven. "A nether expedition… I wasn't expecting that-"

"Did you believe anything about...him?"

Alex paused, then rolled her eyes. Steven was looking down at the table. His indigo eyes were trapped on the grain pattern of the table, lost in thought. A cord of leather tucked beneath his shirt. He was picking at the enchanted glove again.

"Stevie, we're going to be fine. It's just an in and out job. Glowstone and quartz are like the most common ore in there."

Steven sat up looking down at his hands, "Yeah, okay. How about we head out in a few days?"

"Sounds like a plan. I'll meet you upstairs in a bit, I'll need to chase Raina down for an actual list of what she needs."

"Gotcha."

Alex got up and left the pub leaving Steven alone to watch as their teal string stretched for a few feet and then vanished into two trailing ends. An expedition into the nether, simple enough. What's the worst that could happen.

…

The portal was set up near the duo's house.

They had made a small shack near their house with a ladder going down into a small bunker a long while ago. It was originally in their basement, but once a group of zombie piglins wandered through and got inside their house, not to mention the sounds it would make when one of the roommates was out exploring. It would fill up the house with a distorted, distant, howling wind and whispers that kept them up at night.

Raina had given a list of what she needed. A stack of glowstone and a stack of quartz. It was going to be an easy job, almost child's play for the things Steven has hauled up previously.

The two adventures donned fire-resistant enchanted iron armor and golden helmets and jewelry. Yet, they sat confused as they stared through the empty frame. A few days ago it was up and running. A swirling purple veil glittering with magic as the outline of the world beyond was faded through that misty purple fog. Now it was silent and they could see their basement wall through the frame.

Alex turned to Steven, "Did you close the portal last time?"

Steven shook his head, "Nope. Left it open like I normally do." He said as he approached, flint and steel in hand.

He clicked the pieces together, letting sparks fly onto the dark purple stone. The sparks caught quickly and a purple fire rose and encircled the rim. With a single swoop, the portal materialized and that flowing veil of purple magic was back. Specks of dust sprouting from thin air and sucked into the invisible vortex of the portal.

Through the foggy glass of the portal was a landscape foreign to the two adventurers. They no longer saw the iron bars and the planks of their nether house but a stretch of netherrack and warped nylium where the cliff's edge dropped to oversee a large warped forest and a giant sea of lava faintly seen through the tops of the large mushroom trees.

It was a single nod and a deep breath as they jumped through the portal.

Vertigo slammed into them as the world spun. Their vision was blinded by purple particles and a sheet of magic. Nausea threatened to overtake them and suddenly they were spat out on the other side. Hardly a fraction of a second had passed as they drank in their surroundings.

The heat wasn't as bad as they thought. The warped forest below also spread around the portal. A cyan blue that clashed with the oranges and reds of the fire realm. The duo made quick work on felling the strange trees, replanting, and making a temporary house to protect the portal.

Proud of their work, they moved on to the actual objective.

Steven set to get the quartz first and to collect netherrack to reach the glowstone that hung from the outcroppings and ceilings of the realm. He went to a wall nearby and made a two-by-two entrance marked with warped doors and set about mining down to a good spot.

Alex trailed close behind. Leaving soul torches to dissuade any piglins from roaming near, though the nether's neutral denizens were mainly wary of the biome and avoided it at all costs.

It was a few hours of work as Alex also chimed in with the strip mine, they found pockets of caves that held glowstone and found plenty of quartz. By the third hour, they had filled up the requisition for quartz and only needed a few more chunks to have the glowstone ready to go. Steven hummed tunes to himself, quite pleased at the richness of the area.

They took their haul back up to the surface and chucked in a chest next to the portal as they sat around, regaining their breath before setting out to find the rest of the glowstone.

Alex built a balcony that hung slightly over the cliff's edge. So Steven sat at the unfenced ledge and let his legs dangle. It wasn't a deadly fall, but even with the mushrooms to catch him, it would still hurt. But that's beside the point.

"Hey Stevie, I'm gonna put what we got back at home and grab some extra food and some emergency slave. Do you want me to bring anything?"

Steven twisted around, "Oh… uh… maybe some extra water bottles would be cool."

Alex gave a thumbs up, "Gotcha" She disappeared through the portal. The warped frame of her body walking out of view from the other side of the portal. The teal string that bound the two of them severed and pointed directly up.

Steven looked down at his own hands. He played with the teal string, watching it waver before returning to that upright position. The dark leather fingerless gloves were unchanging. One couldn't even see the shimmer of the enchantment.

Steven pulled the golden pendant charm from his neck, hardly a buzz of magic was on it. But it gleamed beautifully in the blue light of the soul lanterns. With the way the rest of the face had worn off compared to the eyes, the eyes slightly bulged out catching the soul lantern's light differently. Giving it a strange effect as it shined. He looked at the galactic written on the rim, even turning it around.

It was the same with how he played with it before, the letters unreadable. But on the back was a motif of a sword surrounded by fire

But curiosity got him. He's never taken them off in the nether. Never needed too. He added a fire resistance to deal with magma and just extra protection. He's never stayed so long he needed to leave.

Steven pulled the glove off and the red string materialized.

His heart lurched into his throat.

It was pointing somewhere.

Pointing out beyond the warped forest and across the massive ocean of lava. He… he could feel it. It was a ghost of a feeling, something he imagined as a placeholder, but no. With the enchantment of the glove gone, he could feel the string around his finger.

He swallowed the shock and gave a small tug. Anxiety built up in his belly as the string remained motionless.

It tugged back.

Steven nearly fainted.

It had to be one of those insane people that lived at the public nether outposts or someone that assimilated to piglin culture. Maybe a researcher? Whoever was at the opposite end filled Steven's mind rather with hope, but with unease. There was a gut feeling that something was deeply wrong with it.

"Yo, got an idea of what we should do next?" Alex suddenly appeared behind him. He hadn't heard her portal back in.

Steven quickly slipped the glove back over his hand as he scooted back and rose to his feet.

He found a facade instantly and matched Alex's relaxed poise. With a cheeky grin, he looked far beyond the forest and towards the ocean of lava. But the words spilled from his mouth, they didn't even feel like they were his.

"Yeah. I have a feeling."

...

The two adventures managed to coerce a pair of striders to roam near with the thought of munching on warped mushrooms. Saddled and ready to go, they set off across the ocean, the agonizing heat of the lava merely inches away from their feet. They, unlike most others, were immune to the fumes and heat, the fire resistance thrumming across their armor aiding with that fact.

The striders chased after the dangling mushrooms, chirping and gurgling as they focused solely on it.

Alex and Steven had passed through a nether wastes region, a short fortress in the distance. But Steven felt something large calling to him further across the ocean. Alex watched with amusement and curiosity as Steven led further.

The screams and wails of a soul sand valley echoed nearby but faded into the distance as Steven urged the striders faster in their gait.

Hanging tendrils of red fauna swayed and rippled above the bubbling lava. Cliffs and shores with crimson fungi fauna spilling over them. The shroomlights gave an eerie and alien glow as figures of hulking hoglins tore through the forests and pursuing piglins squealing after them.

Alex and Steven led the striders off to the side and continued on foot, also taking the saddles with them just in case.

Alex looked on with curiosity as Steven sped ahead, he was acting a little strange. Maybe the fumes of the nether were getting to his head. Though after a moment of looking at his feet, he picked up his pace and started to climb through the crimson forest.

They jumped over crevices and heaved their bodies over edges and climbed up.

The ceiling dipped in this one area creating a wall between this area and the next. Allowing shelves were narrow paths where thin mushroom trees settled. The ocean continues through this one natural arch.

Steven found a cave hidden by a set of thick hanging vines. Alex skipped up to his side as he waited for her to catch up. He swallowed as he pushed through the heavy curtain of vines and the two of them stood slack-jawed at the scene that unfolded before them.

There was a large mass of netherrack that overhung over the ocean of lava. Stilts supposed the outcropping as a large fortress, styled, unlike anything the two adventurers had ever seen. On the left were a long hall and black dots for windows. The main body was this large wall with windows and balconies. In the center near the left was a tower with a prominent balcony, overseeing this colossal cavern.

Alex's eyes glittered as she shook Steven's shoulders. Steven still was frozen as the stared at the fortress, or was castle a better name for it? There were tall and narrow arches akin to gothic architecture and pillars that looked nothing like the simple and squares of typical fortresses.

Alex, feeling ballsy, brought Steven out of his stupor, "You think that's the demon's castle?"

Steven nodded meekly, "Wouldn't be surprised."

"Want to explore it?" Alex nudged his shoulder.

Steven looked at her bewildered. But blinked at that excited grin upon her face. She was buzzing with anticipation at the mere thought of treading upon the demon's own territory.

With a sigh, he relented, "There's a ledge over on the right, that should get us near what looked to be a bridge and most likely a gate on the far right."

"Already beating you to it," Alex said right before she sprinted down the little edge they were currently on.

...

They fell into a trap.

That's the best way to put it.

Alex got to ahead of herself and set off a trap, letting a whole swarm of wither skeletons know of their position. They fought the majority of them, letting their withered bodies clattered into heaps of bones. Though they were still overwhelmed.

They ran.

And then found another trap, or maybe unstable flooring.

Alex had set off this trap as well but nimble enough to jump, Steven was not so lucky. He fell to a floor beneath them. That's the most of it. Alex didn't return any of his calls as he yelled up the story above him.

He set about exploring, maybe finding a staircase. But he fiddled with the teal string on his finger, and it fiddled back. She's probably okay. Hopefully.

Steven wandered through a maze of dark halls. Floors of blackstone and walls of netherbrick. Dark and menacing. Steven avoided the gazes of piglins and sprinting away when he saw skeletons. It had to be an hour of wandering by himself. Going up and down stairs, avoiding traps, and just ignoring basically everything in this area.

He finally found a larger hall. Glass windows had lava light spilling into the room. Along with soul lanterns near some doors and not others, probably to ward off piglins?

He continued down this hall when his arm was yanked. Well, not yanked but forcefully jerked.

Maybe Alex was nearby and was in trouble! But as he glanced down at her line, it was lax. Then he felt it again nearly taking him off balance, the teal string did not move. A lump was caught in his throat as he slipped the glove off and let the red strong spill out.

It was stretched. Almost trying to pull him towards the other end. There was an uncertainty, no, a fear of what lied on the other end. The logic in his head said to run and find Alex as soon as possible, but that little voice of morbid curiosity yearned to find out.

He wondered if it was a piglin. It's been unheard of as of late, but the theory still stands. There have been piglins seen with strings connected to each other, though they had a good sense of suppressing the links without the need for enchants. Though everyone knows piglins are highly susceptible to the zombie plague and every single one has turned into zombified piglins, so figuring that one out would be awkward.

Steven ignored the equal tugs as he slipped the glove back on and suppressed the feeling of the string. He wanted to find Alex first.

The miner wandered through the halls of the giant fortress-castle-thing, passing ornate doors and idling piglins, his sword firmly in his grasp the entire time. His armor should be at peak performance, enchanted, and at full health. He shouldn't have to worry that much. He's hardly seen any other creature than the occasional piglin and zombified piglin.

He discovered that this one passage took him to a much larger room. He stepped out onto the red carpet and did a full three-sixty as he admired the architecture. A single pointed arched ceiling was found in ancient churches. A nearly gothic style. It was a longish hallway with a variety of paths. Well, not really long just really big.

He came in from one of the long sides as either of the short sides were made of stained glass art depicting what looked to be fire behind a unique netherite sword lined with gold. The glass had ornaments on either side, things to show precision.

It looked familiar.

The long side in front of him, opposite of where he came from, hosted a large door, larger than any of the others he had encountered in this strange place. It was made of dark oak wood lined with gold filigree and redstone accents. It was ornate yet not gaudy. Tasteful yet imposing and almost...regal.

This definitely wasn't a normal ruined fortress, it couldn't have been a piglin structure either. How would they have gotten dark oak of all woods? Not to mention the filigree looked nothing like the patterns typically seen on piglin craftsmanship.

From the side he entered, there was a much smaller arch.

He cautiously made his way to it and found a clone of an imperial staircase. Two sets of stairs that curved and conjoined at the top. Another arch was at the top and that and what Steven guessed that is also to somewhere else. But in the space between the two stairs was a hallway and a light. A warm light

Steven urged his feet forward as he was greeted with the scent of aged paper, old wood, and bound leather. He found himself in the middle of the library with a large chandelier of wrought iron and soul lanterns hung in the center as towering cases of books surrounded him.

Normal torches were at the very edges to deter mobs, but the sheer size of this library was insane. Steven snooped around, disregarding how the red string started to yank harder. He had the glove on, how was he even feeling it. Though the thought was quickly thrown out as he reached for a book.

It was bound in green-dyed leather and covered in fine silver engravings. Swirls of vines and leaves covered it. The pages were filled with diagrams of plants and foliage. All written in standard galactic. He could read it, but it must have been in a different language as the entire thing was jargon in his head.

He placed it back and reached for another. And another. And another. Even one in galactic, but an older dialect of common.

As Steven placed the last book in its spot, a shiver ran down his spine. As if he was being watched. Steven unsheathed his sword and glanced on either side. He made his breathing shallow as he listened for anything. The faint sound of shuffling was nearby.

"Creak."

Steven felt his blood turn to ice as the shuffling stopped. He swallowed as he peeked around the bookcase.

"Squeal!" A piglin child squealed and jumped away.

Steven tried to hold back his laughter as the tiny piglin held it's red wooden sword at him. Making a threatening display, even though it was more humorous to the miner. Steven sheathed his sword and squatted down to be face to face with the tiny piglin. It lowered it's sword as it cocked its head.

Steven waved and nodded his head in greeting. The piglin meekly did the same but its gaze was trained on his chest. It was staring at the pendant that had jostled and slipped from beneath with his shirt. It was enamored with the golden gleam.

The tiny being cautiously stepped forward as it reached for the piece. Steven stood as still as a statue as the piglin plucked the pendant and inspected it. It gave a honk in question as it dropped the pendant and hopped away.

Steven cocked his head to the side as the baby piglin did the same before scampering away and down a different hall. The sound of other piglins growling in relief following after it disappeared.

Cute.

Steven figured it was time to try and get out. But as he approached the exit and found himself staring at the large dark oak door. It was enchanting as he slowly crept towards it. The intricate details of the gold as they wound and braided together. Branching off here and merging there. Braids of gold as trims and pieces of redstone cut and refined into large gemstones that dotted the filigree.

Steven tried the handle, and it opened with little force, though creaking as he slipped inside.

Steven's jaw dropped as he stood at the foot of a giant cathedral-like chamber. It had to be about thirty meters wide and nearly fifty meters long. The main area looked to be about thirty to forty meters tall as it was a single arch of smoothed nether-brick that ran down the length of the chamber, large pillars connecting to support ridges in the arched ceiling. Two parallel rows of thick cylinder blackstone columns sat on either side of the long-running carpet. Gold formed the square edges of the blackstone pillar foundation and the top along with lining the edges of the arch's ridges in the main ceiling.

Beyond the pillars on either side looked to be small and narrow wings, that part of the ceiling was shorter and vaulted. Yet still tall enough for giant windows that on one side overlooked a massive ocean of lava and gorgeous cliffs of crimson forests and on the other an expanse of a warped forest with a soulsand valley in the far smokey distance.

But the main statement piece lied at the very end of this cathedral. Below possibly the most intricate stained glass window he's ever seen and upon a tall pedestal of stairs was a large gaudy throne.

Steven wandered closer in awe, it was made entirely of netherite and solid gold. The cushion was made of dark blood red velvet. Two streams of lava sat on either side like bright banners that flowed to the foot of the pedestal and ran down a channel to the door.

The miner ignored all other senses as he approached the first step of the throne. It was calling to him. At the foot of either leg of the throne were two braziers alight with blue fire. Steven took a step up, almost reaching for the throne.

A growl rumbled from behind him.

Steven whirled around to see two large orbs of light glaring right at him. All attached to a large hulking figure.

A figure sporting a mantel of tanned hoglin hide with a trim of cream fur. A deep maroon cape that's length trailed on the floor. A teal tunic and navy slacks that led down to grey dress boots. And a head of long brown hair, with two locks on whether side framing the man's face and a beard that was trimmed to a soft point at the chin. A broad seven-foot-six giant nearly a foot and a half taller than the miner himself.

There was only one name that came to mind as he gawked at the figure. One he had encountered many times before, standing poised and threateningly at the miner.

The Demon Overlord of the Nether.

Herobrine.

Steven quickly unsheathed his diamond sword and stood at the ready. Calculating every single possible outcome and movement the demon could take.

His frantic heart was thumping in his ears as fear made his grip shaky. His throat was dry and the heat of the nether wasn't helping in the slightest.

The demon, sensing the challenge, summoned a sword of netherite and stood there observing the miner's form. He looked like he was thinking, almost a confused look before it all fell away to apathy as he readied his blade.

Steven stood shocked for that split moment. The demon showed emotion. The last few times the miner had encountered the being, there was his dead look. An unbreaking poise, a facade.

Herobrine lunged at him.

Steven ducked and raised his diamond blade to meet the demon's.

There were swings and ducks, parries, and evades. Steven worked around the demon until his back was to the door. Waiting for the opportunity to turn tails and run.

Steven jumped back but felt the blade knick his chest. The stinging of the very shallow cut had Steven tripping and landed on his back. He had a single heartbeat then the demon teleported directly upon him, pinning him to the floor from the waist down.

The demon held the edge of the blade at Steven's throat and the other hand next to the miner's head, hesitating as he was searching for something. Till his gaze was distracted. Steven gingerly turned his head, avoiding the razor edge of the sword as the red tattered string on the demon's finger pointed straight at something.

The demon let up on his pressure and shifted his weight off of the miner. Steven took his chance and scrambled to his feet. Panting with quickly evaporating sweat running down his face. The demon mirrored his movement, also bringing himself to his feet.

Those glowing eyes left the miner's face as the demon rose his hand, and the string followed a straight path.

A cruel thought had Steven slipping the glove off his hand and lifting it near his chest.

Steven felt his heart stop as the red string strung to his finger was tied directly to the demon's.

His heart struggled to beat as adrenaline flushed into his system. His breaths quickened as his eyesight began to have black dots and tunneled.

Steven blacked out.

...