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i,,, meant to upload this a while ago,,,, oop...

Olivia was bored again.

It was nighttime- at least, it seemed to be, as the hubbub of the city outside wasn't so loud right now. Her mother still slept, and Notch seemed to be out, as, though she called quietly for him, he didn't answer. Hero didn't respond either, but he was probably resting. So, she lay on the barely-cushioned flagstones and tried to go back to sleep.

She didn't succeed. Eventually, she figured it was about time she try to get up.

The girl braced her arms on the ground and managed to shove herself half-upright, despite the lash wounds on her back stinging terribly at the motion. She rubbed at her eyes, pausing to listen before staggering upright and getting her balance. Throwing out her arms to keep herself standing, she hesitated, listening again for any signs of someone else awake.

No one. So, instead, she steered herself towards Hero's signal.

It occurred to her, now, since she knew who he was, that his signal probably came from Brine. The smoke smell, too. Orion gave off a sort of presence as well, though his was much more chilling, and Notch had a warm signal that made him seem… trustworthy. Olivia wondered for a moment if other people could feel their signals, too. Probably. Notch had mentioned something about people being drawn to him for help. Did he know about his aura?

Hero's didn't feel good or evil, only… odd. At first, it had made her apprehensive, but she supposed that was more from the knowledge that a strange man was nearby. Now she was used to it, and it was calming to know that he was with her. Funny how things change.

If Orion had never attacked, she surmised, she and Hero probably would have never gotten so close. He probably would've annoyed her for a few days longer, then moved on, or continued bothering her until she sicced Isaac on him and he was chased off. Though it hurt her to think of now, he really didn't deserve to be chased away any longer, he had been a strange man who refused to leave her alone.

Isaac. Her heart hurt. She missed him.

She was getting very near to Hero now, so she slowed, extending one arm for when she inevitably hit the wall. Her fingertips brushed the stone surface a moment later, and her bare, cloth-wrapped foot touched a warm body. She sank down to her knees, feeling her way over to the wall beside him and sitting against it, the cool stone easing the sting of her wounds.

She sat there for a little while, listening to Hero's breathing as he slept. Eventually, she tentatively put a hand on his shoulder, but he didn't stir. She left it there - he was a wonderful source of warmth. She intended to wait for Notch to come back, or somebody to wake up, whatever - she was hungry, but didn't know where to find some food.

Her plans were somewhat dashed when an unfamiliar voice spoke just beside her.

"Good evening." She jumped, jerking her hand away, as a deep voice came from Hero's body. She didn't move for a second, wondering if she'd hallucinated in her hunger, before managing,

"Hello?"

"I'm sorry, I startled you." The voice came from him again, and something clicked.

"You're… are you Brine?"

"Indeed." The breath left her in an instant.

"S-so you are in him."

"I am."

"Is he awake?"

"No. I do not sleep, but my host rests." A shudder ran through her, and she grasped for words.

"…oh." Nice. "…hi, then."

"Good evening, again." There was a note of amusement in Brine's voice, but it only served to cause her to shiver again. She was silent for a few, tense minutes, wondering why she thought it was a good idea to come over here.

"Why do you do it?" She blurted out at last. Brine didn't answer for a moment, then shifted.

"Do what?"

"Chase Orion down. Reincarnate yourself only to go attack him again and die." Her words felt disrespectful as soon as they came out of her mouth, and she kind of regretted them. Brine, however, did not seem perturbed.

"For your good."

"M-mine?"

"Truly, for the good of all mankind." He shifted again, most likely into a more comfortable position. "Orion is a threat to your survival… yours, personally, especially. He thrives on sowing fear and chaos, and lording over creatures he deems inferior. This means murdering and pillaging without inhibition or remorse. So… I have taken up arms against him. Though this has cost the lives of my previous hosts, I will not stop, for the good of your race." Sudden tears suddenly sprung to Olivia's eyes, and she blinked them away.

"Th-that makes sense…" She swallowed miserably. Brine didn't seem to care about his hosts' lives, which mean that Hero's was likely to be thrown away just as carelessly.

"If I had but allies, perhaps I could take him out." Brine sighs. "But I have nearly as bad a reputation as he does. Perhaps this time, since he is being so bold, I can garner some leaders of mutual interest as allies."

"M-maybe." That gave her a bit more hope. "Notch wants to help."

"Ah, Notch, yes… I do not doubt he has a spirit living in him as well." Olivia tilted her head in surprise.

"Y-you do?"

"Indeed. No mere mortal has abilities such as his."

"W-well… does Orion have a spirit, or is he the spirit?"

"Orion is a being all his own. But creatures with his level of power have not been born naturally in many thousands of years." Olivia frowns.

"A-ah…"

"It is possible, I suppose, but it's more likely he is a reincarnated spirit."

"W-would you know which one?"

"No. His power signature is not familiar to me."

"Oh…" He had to be a good one, right…? Like Brine apparently was? Not only had Notch allegedly only ever used his powers for good, but he felt safe and inviting to be around. That would be proof of a good spirit, right?

Olivia rubbed at her forehead. Her head hurt.

"You should rest."

"I've been resting for hours." She grumbled. "I'm hungry."

"I'll help you. Come." A hand fit into hers, and Brine stood, tugging her up with him. She stood awkwardly, feeling uneasy at how much he felt like Hero. Understandably so, but, she was so accustomed to associating his signal with her dear, if grumpy, bodyguard. The smooth, cool-voiced Brine was completely unfamiliar to her.

Brine lead her across the room, where he dug some provisions out of a bag and offered them to her. She ate and drank fairly numbly, barely tasting the spices on the dried meat she consumed. Brine lead her back across the room once she was finished, sitting down and assuming a position where Hero had left him.

"I'm truly sorry for the turmoil I have brought into your life." Brine spoke lowly before she could wander away.

"Huh?" She managed faintly. "Oh, it… it's really Orion's fault."

"If not for the legends of my power and chaos, you would not have been blinded for sharing my eyes."

"O-oh, wh… you know about that?"

"I overheard."

"Oh." She scrubbed at her eyes. "Y-yeah, it… thanks."

"I will do my best to keep this host alive."

"Th-thank you." His words were probably meant to be comforting, but they really… were not. It just reminded her that, no matter how powerful, Herobrine was as vulnerable as she was.

She ended up falling asleep again there.