Hero's Bane

Chapter 13: With Eyes of White

Edited 4/10/2022

Steve couldn't see or hear anything, he felt as though he had been draped by warm soothing blackness that gave him reassurance of safety and comfort. It was… peaceful. There wasn't any pain or fear, just the soft darkness cradling him into a relaxing state. Everything seemed quiet and remained calm for quite some time until a barely audible voice wormed it's way through his consciousness, it seemed rather strange considering the accent was more different then he was used to hearing. The muffled words slowly grew louder and louder and the warm darkness began to fade, the pain started to flood his limbs and upper chest.

"Wow! This is absolutely stupendous!"

Steve's head tilted to the side where the voice came from and he partially opened his eyes to see an old man sitting at a desk with his back to him, the small table was lined with papers, scrolls, books and some strange fabric. The elderly man giddily examined the robe and adjusted his glasses, he had short silver hair that swept off to one side with Victorian style clothing, so old fashioned. Who was this guy the miner wondered as he watched the man stare in awe at the cloth.

"This is robe is quite peculiar, perhaps one from the royal family, yes?" He quietly asked himself while turning the fabric around to view the golden insignia.

That insignia… it was recognizable and the first thing that came to Steve's mind was the little boy named Connor; who had adorned the exact same symbol with the same colors of navy and yellow gold.

"Hmmmmhhhaaahhh." Steve lightly groaned as he moved to sit upright, his entire body ached greatly and he fell back onto the soft surface. He opened his eyes more to find himself on a bed with a couple of covers laying over him and a nice fluffy pillow supporting his sore neck. He tried to lift himself up again and hissed in pain once he sat straight up.

The old man quickly removed his attention from the mantle and shot up and out of his chair and rushed over to the pained guy, he held his hands out with an expression of caution. "Careful there, your not in any condition to strain yourself." He gently grabbed Steve's shoulders and lightly pressed the miner to lay in bed. "You need to rest."

"Where …am… I?" He muttered while glancing around carefully. He appeared to be in a dim one-room house about six blocks length and width wise and three blocks high at most. There was one bright wax candle sitting on top of the desk and only one illuminated lantern hanging from the ceiling by the only window near the door. There was only room for one bed and little space to move around in with the desk and a few bookshelves close to the exit. The shelter was small, but pleasantly warm too.

"No place safe, unfortunately." The elderly man walked back over his desk and searched through a chest on the side of it, he fiddled around with what sounded like glass bottles and pulled up a vile filled with a dark red liquid. He carefully lifted it up to read a small label then stepped back over to the miner, he popped the cap and held it out for Steve to take. "Here, drink this."

Steve wasn't sure if taking the fluid from a stranger was a good idea, but he reached for it anyways and gripped onto the glass bottle, he was almost too thirsty to care what it was. The old man seemed fairly kind and trusting, letting him use the guy's bed.

How was he even alive? How was the old geezer alive? Things weren't adding up.

"Drink it all, it will surely help you heal faster and it may even restore some strength. It's quite potent and the taste and smell might be acrid but it's really helpful, that I assure you. I've had some plenty of times myself over the years, it may taste a little tart- like an unripe melon."

The smell it had was indeed horrid but the miner decided to trust in the old man, he seemed friendly enough with good intentions. Though- he couldn't be sure if he was in a dream again, he thought no humans could live inside this land unless he was no longer in the ancient valley. Herobrine was supposed to secure that, or so he thought. Steve took a large swig and almost immediately spat it up, he fought his gag reflexes and managed to hold his mouth close and swallow down the revolting liquid. "It's extremely bitter." He choked while patting his chest, really wishing he didn't drink it. It left a nasty taste in his mouth and sort of burned on the way down."

"Awful, repulsive, utterly disgusting. It's worth the horrible taste though, you'll see." He took the bottle from Steve and then sat it down on the edge of the table. "It may take about an hour or so for the full effects, that big gulp you took should be enough for now."

"Who are you?" He looked back up to see the man move back over to his desk and whip the chair around and pull it closer up to the bed. With his vision slowly clearing up more the older man seemed to be wearing rather nice clothing. He wore glasses, light grey slacks with black suspenders, and a fancy long sleeve white shirt with thin vertical brown stripes and a nicely folded collar. He had short grey hair and perfectly trimmed beard and mustache to match. He almost reminded Steve of Warren, just more lavish in taste.

"I was just about to ask you the same stranger. In fact, I have so many questions for you. I mean… I cannot even begin to describe of the condition you had arrived to me in, and your 'appearance' it's strange indeed." The man said as he titled his head to the side while examining the miner; his eyes in particular. "You've been unconscious for nearly thirty-two hours, it's impressive that you survived in that state. I was glad to find you when I did."

"I was out that long? And what are you talking about? Arriving?" Steve raised a brow, confused since all he could remember was passing out in the icy wilderness.

The man lightly bit his lip and turned his head and nodded at the doorframe. "I was happily translating a few old scrolls that had I found on one of my recent adventures, you know just completely absolved in my tedious work and studies when I heard a knock at my door. It was bizarre, I have never had such a 'formal' knocking on my door here in the ancient lands."

'Well, I guess I'm still in this cursed land.' Steve thought to himself.

"It's usually loud clobbering from interloping zombies and spiders trying to get in, nothing more." The old man chuckled quietly to himself and shook his head. "I had almost wondered if it was 'him' visiting for a cup of tea. Unlikely, but it was a funny thought I couldn't ignore. But anyways, I looked out my window first for safety reasons and that is when I saw a crumpled up bundle lying outside of my little dugout cabin."

"But that couldn't be!" Steve shot up and winced from a tenderness pulling at his neck, he wrapped one hand over the sore spot and went stiff. " I know I that I didn't find any shelter, and are you implying that I was wearing that cloak?" He nodded to the fabric still lying on the man's desk.

"Why certainly, you were wrapped up and lying out in the snow looking so innocent and in so much pain. I first thought you were Herobrine, dead. But after seeing the old hero not too far away watching me; I knew then that you couldn't be him, then you started to look more lively when I pulled you into my humble abode." He blinked as the miner gave him a look of shock. "Your breathing was slow and you looked like you were turning a bluish color from the constricting cold from the snow outside I imagine. I have never seen another living human out in this territory before, only the long deceased kind. I thought I was the only one to live and have the ability to tell about it, though I had actually never told anyone, not even my friends."

"I don't get it?!" Steve clutched the sides of his head. "I should of died out there." His voice lowered and he shook his head back in forth in perplexity. "Why would that monster… no he couldn't of. Why would he do it again?"

"Do what exactly… again?" The man leaned in closer and adjusted his glasses in curiosity.

"I don't know." Steve gestured. "Spare me? At first I was trapped in a dark cave and he tried to kill me and I thought I was going to die but I didn't, then I ended up having this weird dream about a young boy with a cloak that looks exactly as that one; same insignia and color!" Steve pointed at the dark blue robe with a golden intricate design lying on the desk.

"Really now?" The elder glanced back behind him then back to the befuddled miner. "That is interesting, after examination it turns out to be a very rare piece. That piece of fabric is in topnotch condition, like it's only been worn a few times. These in theory, aren't even supposed to exist anymore, it's made of cloth that should have been eroded out of existence after all these years. They should of perished out of history along with the ancient people and the fortress. Clothing back then in their time would of faded out many years ago, yet you come to me with one with precise detail and so new.

It's no copy that's for sure, the fabric is made from Vailian sheep's wool, an extremely soft and fine fleece unlike any wild or tamed sheep you'd find today. Vailian sheep were a species of smaller sheep that went extinct centuries ago from disease, I find it rather odd that other types were immune. You were wearing the pristine mantle when I found you though."

"But that's not all." Steve continued, staring down at his fidgeting hands now in his lap. "After that dream I climbed up a large wall that would lead me to the surface and I fell and didn't die like any normal human would. It felt like I landed onto of a bed of moss or something like that but I couldn't stay conscious enough to find out. Then- I found myself on the surface the when I awoke and as I began to travel he followed me and gave me another terrible nightmare, then I kept moving when I knew it wasn't a good idea. I looked around at one random point in time to see Herobrine staring at me and then I tried to run but fell shortly after.

After that- nothing. I fell asleep because I was so tired and here I am. Still alive. Why he hasn't killed me yet is confusing, I think he just wants to make me suffer first. But I can't be sure, why keep me alive when he's killed everyone else as soon as they took one step into the land? Why show me those dreams and bring me up out of the cave? It doesn't make sense. And just how are you here? I don't understand."

"That sounds dreadful. But you are alive, thankfully. Why he chose to preserve you and bring you to me is one question I find myself trying to answer as well, and that strange dream you speak of? I've had my fair share of them and some I wish to never recall, others though- still boggle my brain. But I've never had any about the people. Why Hero wants to keep you alive? I'm not sure. Perhaps you entertain him like no other, Herobrine does like to play with some of his victims. It's just a thought, the more they fight back the better the game I surmise. As for possible history briefing? No clue for that reason."

"Yeah, I came here and chose to stand against him in my dreams despite how scared I got and now it's like he wants to keep doing it. I tried to fight him off and yell back at him but I always fail to win in the end. But here I am, still breathing, still withstanding against him, and having my life prolonged for his wicked games." Steve removed his gaze from his hands then looked up to see the old man listening in intently. "How are you here? I heard that Herobrine killed anyone who tracked out into this land, by all accounts you shouldn't be alive."

The old man nodded. "You are correct friend, I- like you- have somehow come across the mythical Herobrine and had survived his encounters. However, this seems to be your first time here while I have been here and out multiple times."

"What?" Steve blinked in disbelief.

"That's correct. I don't live in this contemptible land but I have been coming here for my research of Antecedent Element and the legend behind it's curse and history for a couple years now. I do have several small shelters built in here that I visit in like twice a year, each spread out amongst the land to hide away from him. I may have to abandon this one though since he now knows it's location; but then again he probably knows about all of my small huts."

"You came here over and over again, even after the attacks you came back? And you've been doing this for years?!" The miner gaped.

The elderly man lightly chuckled. "This would be my forth year here and I only stay for about two weeks before returning the next year, have to be a bit dodgy though. I do it in the name of discovery and history, reckless though it may be; I'm still kicking and digging up information, no matter how knackered I may be. I survived most of the encounters with a little special potion I brew up, it's an invisibility concoction. Other methods didn't work so well and I can admit to nearly perishing on his blade a few times. That one time- it was a close call so now I never go anywhere without a potion.

That's the only reason why I feel as though I'm still alive today, I have never had any strange dreams of the fortress nor it's people, just horrible nightmares of old Hero in pursuit of me; sometimes roughing me up a bit. I only know about the people and the land's history through tiny segments of research. Other than that- I survive alone with powerful mobs and even Herobrine, all because I make those potions and use them decisively."

"You can make invisibility potions? Is that even possible uh..?"

The aged man sighed and held out his hand. "Ah, where are my manners? The name is Winston Nigel Benrad Woodwork. Nigel would do for short and simple for name presentation. That is what my friends call me anyways."

Steve though confused from the sudden change of topic took the hand and felt a strong grip on the other end. "My name is Steven Stonewall. Everybody calls me Steve."

"Well Steve, yes it is possible to make such potions. It's not cheap and some of the materials used for potent ones are extremely rare. As an Explorer, it's come in use plenty of times. All of the dangerous explorations anyways."

"Why would you want to explore this land? It's cursed!"

Nigel briefly looked away from the miner. "Not cursed, no. Well, somewhat haunted, but certainly not cursed. There's nothing wrong with the land itself, just the humanoid that watches over it. I first came here as an skeptic just glancing at it through my ever growing curiosity. But upon finding limited history of the ancient land, it was too hard to overlook as a dedicated explorer such as myself, so I decided to go there and refine the research for future studies and it was then when I found out the hard way that some legends indeed exist. Thankfully, I've been on many treacherous explorations beforehand that prepared me for such trials. I almost always carry those potions of health and invisibility, so I escaped once I caught my first glimpse of that man and that is when I got into Mythology and Anthropology as well. Which reminds me… why do you look like Hero? I've noticed you share a lot of key features… minus the eyes of white, the mustache and goatee combo, muteness, and nicely shaped hair of course."

The miner lightly sighed. "That's actually one of the few reasons why I'm out here. Though I just really want to put an end to this mystery, to put an end to his torment over so many innocent people. To find out why we look so much alike is just an added bonus, but I'm starting to think that it's just coincidence. I mean teal and blue look rather nice together, but why our faces look so similar is a complete mystery. Maybe one in a million."

"Well, I may be able to help you yet on your quest friend. I too wish for Herobrine's wrath to cease, and for him to stop harming the innocent. I am researching in the fortress here for more information about it's people and the dark history that had nearly wiped them all out. It's been a risky travel each and every time and it would be nice to have someone to watch my back, someone that's not Herobrine. I'm currently visiting the stronghold to-"

"Hey! I'm looking for that fortress!" Steve abruptly interrupted. "You know where it's at?"

"Oh, well yes. It's a few miles out from here on a large plateau, it looks marvelous despite being split in two and having some of it's walls chipped and missing."

Steve grabbed the hem of the man's fancy long-sleeve and pulled himself closer to the elder with a pleading expression. "Can you take me? I mean…, if you're going there to study or look for something then I can watch your back and fight mobs."

Nigel had the strangest feeling that the traveler was wanting more than to go there for sight seeing. He pulled Steve's hand off and gently led it back to the mattress. "Hmmm? I'm curious, are you an explorer?"

"No, but I've been looking for a way to get rid of that evil and I think I may have a way."

Nigel raised a brow. "You don't mean ...Herobrine do you?"

"Well yes, he's tormenting me and some of my friends. I'm trying to find a way to purge him out of this world and stop his terrorizing hold over innocent people, he's a demon."

"Demon? Evil? No, he actually nothing of the sort." Nigel replied.

"What? Yes he is!" Steve's voice raised and his eyes narrowed. "If he's attacking us like this then he's wicked, you should know that considering your own experiences! That is unless- I'm dreaming up all of this and you too?"

Nigel shook his head in disagreement. "This is no dream Steven, I know of the nightmare realm and experienced it many of times. 'We'… or 'you' are not a part of it at this moment, his dream intrusions are easy for me to distinguish. After all, I've had plenty for the past few years."

"Yeah, but that's you, not me. He makes all of the dreams feel and seem so real then just as tragedy strikes- I just wake up in pain and fear. He's evil."

"That is where you are mistaken Steven. Herobrine is not evil, only misunderstood." Nigel leaned back in his wooden chair, lightening his tone to calm the man. "A tormented soul who wants nothing more then to get revenge on the creatures that put him into such a compromising condition. He just has a vendetta against humanity, one that I'm afraid won't cease to end. But it doesn't necessarily make him 'evil'."

"No, you're wrong." Steve countered.

"Just where do you get the idea that he's evil? Is it because of his attacks and nightmares? Have you ever stepped into his shoes and see what humans had done to him?"

"No." Steve shook his head, was it even possible? "But why would I and what could they possibly do to him other then fail to stop him and fuel his rage? He's killed an innocent child of the sovereign for one, then killed many others in their retaliation. Conner was his name if I remember correctly, I can't be sure if he was the royal one in my dream but he told me his name and wore that exact same cloak and I've never seen or heard anything about this land or it's fortress ever until I came here. I was told that Herobrine killed him in cold blood and the humans turned on him for that murder and that they killed him for his deed but couldn't ensnare his soul."

"But he's no ghos-."

"I know! I've experienced that first hand and I don't know why?" He tried to push away the memory of Conner bubbling up. "I had that dream of Conner and that boy acted as though Herobrine was his best friend, guardian even. But that's just a strange nightmare given to me for a reason I can't understand. Maybe to just confuse me."

"The young lad you speak of, I may be able to fill you in with more information about him. I'm not sure of his name but I have delved into studies of his death. You are right about one thing, that I'll give you. He did kill the child, the only son and heir of Antecedent Element."

Steve looked back at the old man with wide eyes, he just knew that Herobrine betrayed the young and kind boy.

"But- it wasn't intentional if that is what you believe. There is several eyewitness accounts that had saw the half deity strike the young boy down but none of them seem to add up and fit to the same situation. One account read that he stabbed the child to death while another said he shot him with an arrow, and many more said this and that but they just don't add up to fit the crime scene.

However- there's only one account that declared it as an accident, from one that had not seen the act himself but had vouched on behalf of his dearest friend and faced all odds to get his say in Herobrine's trials. He said that Herobrine would never do such a thing and the Hero agreed but then Herobrine went and took the blame at the end of the case anyways and accepted his judgment and whatever punishment they would give. He never killed anyone beyond that boy. Well, only after he became filled with hate and decided to get revenge."

"That doesn't make any sense!" He stared at the edge of the bed. "He had to of killed more people and that has to be before haunting this land, that is what I was told! If he killed the child anyways then why accept judgment? Why even trail? He's this powerful demon that could do whatever he wants!"

The older man's expression sank into a somber one with his frown deepening. "You've obviously have been told an old tale that has long since warped out into an terrifying ghost story, frightened and scarred people would do that over centuries of time so it's understandable that the story would somewhat change. Though, that isn't how it happened. I want you to tell me who and what story they told you, cause I've got a feeling that you've been told wrong."

Steve moved his gaze up the old man and two piercing dots of white shown by the dark window caught his immediate attention.

White eyes beamed brightly through the window and then swiftly vanished to the side as the older man turned his head back. Sudden loud thuds came from the door and the two men inside held their breath as the loud knocks continued, each thud becoming increasingly stronger and the door began to bow inwards a little.

"This isn't good." Nigel calmly pointed out. "I hope the wooden door holds out, and if it does… I'm getting an iron one after this."

Steve was too shocked, too stunned in fear to remove his gaze from the only exit in the room. It was surprising that Nigel wasn't freaking out, but not as near as surprising as that beast trying to barge in. If 'He' did make his way in then both the miner and explorer would be done for.

The loud bangs against the door finally ceased and the two men stared at that one spot for a minute or so more before finally looking away.

"Alright then, now that he is finished with that… I hope. We should be off to sleep now."

"Sleep after that?" Steve's eyes stayed wide open.

"Well yes, it's… uh." Nigel pulled a small pocket watch and flipped it open to see the time before closing it back and tucking it away. "Ten O'clock. Passed my bedtime anyways. I was just too excited about the fine cloak that I lost track of time. Oh and don't worry, you can stay in my bed. This chair isn't as uncomfortable as it seems, I did fall asleep on it many times before while compiling research. Too many times before."

"But he'll…"

"What? Invade your dreams? Yes, very likely. I'm used to it. As for you? If you want to go to the fortress with me then you need to rest up and deal with whatever Herobrine throws at you, it's all you can do for now. If he comes back and breaks in then... well i don't know what will go down, nothing good obviously."

Steve ran a hand through his hair and then leaned back. Most of the pain in his arms and legs were fading but no potion could cure the fear he felt. "Hey Nigel?"

"Yes?"

"Before I sleep can you block out the window?"

"Why absolutely, a great idea indeed." He nodded.