Hero's Bane

Chapter 17: His Rage

Edited 4/10/2022

Herobrine watched as the men walked further and further over the small hills at an intolerable pace, the miner practically had to carry the old man. He was furious, irritated that his little 'push' had only slowed them down even more and he clinched his fists tightly from his own foolish mistake.

Perhaps he should kill the old and weak one? He thought. It could speed up the process of the miner's travel and then he'll finally get down to the bottom of the human's reason of being here in the first place, or it could slow the man down even more considering that he somewhat cared for the elder and would probably waste time in grieving like most human's did. The fortress though- was the man's primary target and that he found out last night after listening in on part of the human's conversation. The hero couldn't be certain of why the miner wanted to get there in such a hurry, it also made him wonder if he- himself was a reason but he was going to find out and soon enough.

The powerful being descended the hillside with ease and made his way to where the miner had collapsed; the gravesite of Lionel. The young man had stared at the grave and Herobrine just couldn't stop that painful memory from bubbling up after gazing at the resting place of Lionel, especially since said human looked just like his friend and even himself. So it had seemed as though his very friend; figurative brother even, kneel at his own grave. So many decades alone had made the memories grow stale and distant, but that all seemed to change when 'that' human entered this land. Only when that man came here did old memories… refresh, return, and renew. The mortal was lucky to even get a glimpse of the hero in such a weak position from the powerful memory, it was however; the time he felt most useless and pathetic, being completely powerless to stop... Herobrine quickly pushed the thought away and folded his arms. He's seen Lionel's death already and he didn't need to imagine that wretched human take that man's life again.

It had been a while since he had seen his own reflection, a very long time. It had seem as though he had forgotten about the human that he had saved, his friend. Lionel was the one who found him, gave him a home, taught him the ways of being a human, found him a purpose when he had none coming into this world, and of course taught the painful lesson of sacrifice.

That human, Steve though? His purpose here or even existing made the immortal think deeply, but he couldn't think of any true reason for their mirroring image. There was more to this miner then he had ever thought before and maybe it was good that he hadn't killed the mortal just yet, something about the guy continued to pique his interest despite the insurmountable rage the miner continually generated. It seems as though he'll find out one way or another for his reason of being, even if he had to choke it out of the miner's fragile throat and get his answers.

…

"Steve, is there something wrong?" Nigel quietly asked as they walked up a large hill. He had noticed that the miner hadn't said a word since being at the gravesite and perhaps it had something to do with passing out on the grave that had his last name written upon it, but that had been a couple hours ago and they were nearing the small settlements that surrounded the fortress. It was also getting darker and the only light they had was from the fading sunlight, apparently they had taken much longer to traverse the hilly valley to get to the fortress with Nigel's setback and he felt guilt though it wasn't his fault.

"You don't have to tell me what's bothering you but just saying anything would be better than this silent spell that you've seemed to fall into, it's far too quiet out here and the setting sun is putting a damper on the mood to explore. I apologize. I feel as though I'm making this trip difficult and exhausting, I can say that practically packing me halfway isn't an easy task." He admitted with a guilty look.

Steve glanced at the man to right and blinked. It wasn't the small task of helping the adventurer that kept him in silence, it was everything he's recently learned just continuously stirring in his head and he spent the last few hours trying to make sense of it. He did feel bad though, he was too busy in his own little world to give the old man some friendly company despite literally being at his side, it's been hours now. "No, no no. I'm not upset or anything like that and it's nothing you did or partially carrying you over these hills that's making me quiet." He briefly closed his eyes and exhaled softly. "Honestly, it was something I saw. It was never anything bad from you if that is what you think. I was just thinking too much to myself is all, there's a reason but I don't know if I'm ready to say anything about it yet."

"Oh." Nigel painfully put his injured foot down and he felt his ankle shift uncomfortably, he lightly winced but continued to try and make the ascend up the steep hill a little easier. "Thank goodness, but I still seem blameworthy for wasting a precious amount of time hindering you like this."

"Don't blame yourself." Steve waved off the burden notion.

"No matter how many times you say that I'm still fifty percent responsible with myself being the physical burden so remember that."

"And you- you took care of me for nearly two days while I was out cold and on death's door, so just call this whole situation even alright?"

"Very well, but I'm glad to hear from you again, it's been a long quiet trip."

"I was lost in thought, nothing to worry about." Steve just couldn't get that visual image of Lionel and Herobrine out of his mind, he almost wanted to tell Nigel. The old man would of probably cracked over the idea of another Steve-look-alike but the miner couldn't bring himself to smile and say what was on his mind or retell his recent experiences with the hero. Lionel had saved Herobrine and called him a friend, but the grave… that is where he rested now. What had happened to cause all of this mess now was something he couldn't finish piecing together about the hero, other than the overwhelming hate from apparent torture and suffering.

Surely Herobrine wouldn't punish any innocent people who had nothing to do with his change, from a supposed savior to a heartless fiend. That was unless the suffering had been too great or the fact that those innocent people frowned upon him and began to fear him. But still, not every human had a part in his torment so why continue this wrath over those who had never been a part of it? He wouldn't unleash his rage on Lionel would he? The man was human but he was also Herobrine's only friend.

But what if a human could befriend Herobrine again? Steve couldn't help but wonder. Maybe having that trust could change everything that the powerful being was and possibly restore the softer heart that had once cared for and protected humans. But this idea was far from probability as it was for zombies walking around in plain daylight without burning, it just can't happen without a miracle.

"Look!" The old man pointed up and Steve moved his gaze from the ground to see many wooden houses and buildings just yards away. "We've made it! Well- not exactly the mighty stronghold, but it's shelter and not a moment too soon!" He added as he glanced back to see the sun disappearing behind some mountains in the distance.

"Yeah, lets search one of these buildings and take refuge in it. At least until tomorrow, that's when we'll finally get to look for that connection to Notch and hopefully answers."

"Any information on anything I haven't yet discovered would do me nicely, these dangerous few and far in between trips are always worth it." The older man smiled and patted Steve on the shoulder. "It's nice to have companionship though, every trip I made here; which was four times to be exact, have been cut short and too dangerous without other watchful eyes. Maybe now I can actually get to see more of this fortress then I ever had in my recent visits? Discover more answers and finally record the historic truths that have yet to be revealed, so much information and yet so little time. It's a shame."

Steve hot a raised brow at Nigel. "Well, I'd hate to ruin the mood but we should hurry and find a place to bunk before the monsters come out, the sun is practically gone now."

"Good idea." The older man pointed his index finger upwards. "Sometimes I just get into that fixated status and completely forget what's happening around me, overexcited if you will."

The two walked up and onto a path of cobblestone and gravel. There was patches of cobblestone missing in places but it was traversable, usually with grass and dirt filling in the holes. Steve stared wide eyed at all of the structures around him as they walked onwards through the ancient town. He saw small houses to larger ones, to blacksmiths, trader shops and merchant stalls, libraries, bakeries, butchers, forges, wool works, taverns, and so many more structures; they lined the street all the way down and out of sight. It was sad that some of the buildings looked burned down, damaged, or collapsed, but a good number of them stood strong despite the aged wood. This was all just the dwellings outside of the fortress, his mind raced to imagine what it looked like on the inside and how big it could be.

"Look at that! I remember that sculpture." Nigel pointed out to a cracked and chipped sculpted stone knight and the miner awed in it's glory despite missing an arm and being chipped in many places. "And over there!" He pointed again. "That's the old tavern, it's not too safe with some of the floorboards missing from the ceiling but it's a nice structure and it still looks intact from my last trek through here."

"How much of this place have you seen already? Maybe you know a place we can stay and quick?" The miner asked with apprehension, the sun was long gone and the stars and the bright moon was all that was left of their light source; there was simply no time to fish out his lantern from his chest pack as mobs were soon to be upon them.

"A lot, I mostly spent my time looking at the marvelous construction but I didn't spend too much time investigating darkened households that could or could not contain sheltering mobs. No. I was too busy focusing on my research. As long as we find a place with a door and four walls then we should be fine right?"

"I guess so?" Steve said with no confidence as he glanced from left to right, just wanting to find a place to shelter and as soon as possible but it was getting harder to see with his straining eyes. "But to be safe I'm just going to go ahead and light up my lantern." He said removing his cloak and slipping off his bag. He then dug through his backpack for the metal box and then he yelped when his hand landed on a tough prickly surface. "Ow! What was that?" He said as he lifted his hand and rubbed it on his thigh.

"What was what?"

"This?" He cautiously reached back in and pulled out a small square block, it smelled of smoke and something else that made the inside of Steve's nose itch. It was too dark to tell what it was but it was interesting and familiar no doubt. "Here, see if you can tell me what it is?" He handed the block up to the adventurer.

"What do we have here?" The old man pulled it up towards to the moon to get some light but he couldn't make out what it could be. "It smells like a campfire…" He took another sniff. "Or more of pure smoke and sulfur."

"Just hold onto it for now, let me get a my lantern." Steve reached in and grabbed his lantern and then he sighed and let it fall back into the chest pack. "Well-, looks like we won't have light tonight."

"Why is that?"

"I forgot. My last flint and steel were left back at the cave." He said with disappointment then shrugged. "Eh- they were almost out of uses anyways."

"Here." The old man fished into the side of his hug bag and plucked out some flint and steel. "Always come prepared!"

"Thanks!" He quickly took the lantern out and carefully let Nigel remove his arm over his shoulder that Steve could strike the flint and steel; he then struck the pieces together to light the wick in the lamp and it illuminated the area around them with a soft golden glow. The man took the pack and moved it back over his shoulders before wrapping the soft cloak around his freezing arms.

"You can keep them, I do have more."

"Thank you." He nodded and then tucked away the gift into his pocket before letting the old man hang over him again. "I'll definitely need it later, now how's about we get to finding that shelter?"

A sudden low groggily moan made the men jump and they spun around to see a few zombies only a few houses away, thankfully they weren't searching in the human's direction.

"How about that one!" Steve pointed to the nearest building with a door and both men scurried into it without second guessing each other. Steve immediately slammed the door shut as they made their way into the small one room house, the then proceed to brandish the lantern in all corners of the residence to make sure that it was uninhabited. He sighed in relief and slumped against the nearest wall in relief and exhaustion, letting himself relax. "We're safe… for now at least." He breathed and peeked out on of it's windows to see nothing thankfully.

"Yes, let's just hope we don't get any unwanted visitors. You know… old Briny?"

The miner nearly choked as he laughed about the nickname Nigel had made for Herobrine, it was kind of funny and so odd. "Briny? Now that's priceless!" He wiped away a tear of joy and leaned his head against the wall. He felt happy to of came so far but that happiness just couldn't last with the idea of 'old Briny' still lurking out there.

Nigel took a seat in front of an old and empty fireplace and he patted around the ashes in hopes of finding any remnants of wood but he found none to his hopes. He blew off the dust and wiped the remains off on his coat. "Looks like we won't have a fire, the lantern won't last us all night; that's not good. It gets cold in the winter season, especially with those awful drafts coming down from the mountains; but it seems that we'll just have to manage with the clothes on our backs."

"I have wood."

"I'd save it if I were you. You think it's chilly now? It'll be much colder in the fortress, all of the insulating stone to keep the cold in, it's completely understandable if you think about it. That's why I prefer wooden houses, I can make them nice and cozy a lot more easier than a cobblestone fort. I've had one in my old days, worst home sweet home ever." He got up from the floor and searched the house. "Ah, a bed!" The old man stiffly made his way to the corner of the room and laid down on the thin sheets. "Hope you don't mind if I take it? My foot just hurts and my back… don't get me started on it."

"It's okay," Steve batted a hand through the air. "I took your bed for three days so it's my turn to sleep uncomfortably, it's only fair. Besides, the wall isn't all that hard and splintery." He lightly traced his hand over it, it was rather smooth for old wood. He leaned forward and watched as Nigel moved back to the center of the room with the chunk of sharp rock.

"I'm not going to sleep just yet my dear friend, I'd like to check out this fancy rock you've found." The older man neared the lantern and took a seat on the floor and then began his inspection. He adjusted his glasses to get a better look, he blinked and turned his head at the resting mine with an expression of surprise. "Where did you get this?" He said with a serious tone before re-facing the block and scan over it's sides.

"I don't know? I didn't find it in there until we were outside. Why? Is it something bad?" Steve asked as he leaned up from the wall.

"It's Netherrack." He said firmly.

"Nether -what?" Steve crawled over to the man holding the block and looked down to see the red stone and he quickly backed away from it and into the corner after noticing the familiar textures. "That thing!" He pointed out while staring in horror.

"It's just as the old tales say. Hmm... there's only one way to prove if this rock is indeed- 'Netherrack.'" Nigel plucked another flint and steel from his coat pocket and placed the block down in front of him, he then carefully struck the tool and leaned back as the spark landed on the block and light filled the room. Instantly, the stone caught on fire and it burned brightly, illuminating the entire place. "My word! It is! It's the stone of the Nether!" Nigel happily laughed and got up to carefully walk around it to get a better look on each side. "How did you get this?" He asked with excitement and wonderment.

"I-I-I never.. NEVER had that thing put into my bag!" Steve barked in defense and shock. He just couldn't imagine how he got it, only that it brought up that horrible memory of running away from the purple mist and it's realm of fire and fumes. … But then the thought of a certain former Hero flooded his mind and he felt chills crawl down his spine. "Herobrine." He whispered to himself."

"Herobrine?" Nigel repeated, raising a brow. "You think he gave it to you?"

Then it hit Steve. He remembered waking up back in the cave after his dream to see one of his bags had been dug through, he didn't bother to look and see if he had anything missing or gathered something extra rocks or something but at some point between that time and now was when it had to of been slipped into his belongings. The purpose though, he didn't know, he was almost too afraid to think about it.

The old adventurer just watched as the miner continued to stare. "Hero is most generous! Now we have warmth." The old man beamed and rubbed his chilled hands together over the fire. "Whether it was given to you as a sign or just something for whatever reason; it's still a great source of heat no less. Netherrack will never stop burning the stone unless you put it out yourself, or that is according to legend. It is from a place of fire and brimstone and since Herobrine was supposedly cast out into that realm; it's not impossible to have it here in our world, we have it before us right now.

Tisk tisk, all of my old associates could never believe the Nether exists but the proof is right here! Now, time to get this fire into the fireplace! Otherwise the entire house would burn down to the ground." He chuckled. "All those times when I thought I saw the Nether under my feet? It really exists, I'm not crazy after all!" He then put a hand under his chin in thought. "Now it makes me wonder though? Does soulsand exist and does Herobrine collect souls with it? Just another mystery that needs to be solved from the book of legends. Oh, what a great day of solving the unknown! Right Steven?"

Steve sat silently while watching the old man carefully push the block with the tip of his shoe into the stone brick fireplace, he didn't know what to think anymore, especially about Herobrine stealing human souls and putting them into sand in that fire realm. The room had become a little warmer and more comfortable but he just couldn't get over the fact that Herobrine would give it to him. Why Netherrack? Maybe it was a warning sign about troubles to come or maybe the Nether was the last place he 'd ever see again before Herobrine steals his soul and tosses his body into lava. "That's… gr-great." Steve said lightly with sarcasm, words dripping with a sense of dread.

…

The white-eyed humanoid walked along the cobble path until he found light shining through the windows of a small structure, it was the humans. The intensity of the light had been created by the Nether-stone, a good way to keep tabs on their whereabouts.

He walked right on up to it and peered inside from the side to see the two men getting comfortable by the fire. He leaned more into the window frame and focused on what the humans were talking about. Maybe now he'll get answers to some of his questions.

…

"What's the matter? You seem so down then you were earlier, is something bothering you?"

Steve didn't remove his gaze from the Netherrack. "We have to stop him Nigel, all of these attacks and nightmares; plus the crazy occurrences, the possible crazy occurrences ahead?" He said upsettingly. "I fear that the only way to stop Herobrine is to summon Notch's power, but I'm not sure if we can make it."

"Don't have doubt now boy, we've made it so far."

"I know. But we have to do something, we have to do anything at this point to stop the attacks, the nightmares, especially for people living in that village. This has gone on long enough, even for me. I haven't had a goodnight's sleep in a long time now. This nightmare has to end."

Nigel got back up and limped over to the bed in the corner before pulling back the sheets and sitting on the edge of the mattress. "Well don't worry too much because I've seen a shrine with a rune in a specific part of the fortress, I believe that this may be the people's calling card to Notch. I can show you where it's at tomorrow, it's in a huge space adorned in emerald and diamond. Absolutely spectacular sight to behold!"

"Well good. Just as long as you can take me there and help me reach out to Notch, whatever way we have to. If the old summoning spot still works then maybe we can ask for him to stop Herobrine and all of this torment he creates."

…

Herobrine scowled and grind his teeth at the human's plan to remove him. So that was his purpose of coming here then? Not even the old man had those intentions and he's been here a couple times only going for pointless history and artifacts, but the miner? And to think that the mortal could actually be... different… but no. He was like all the other humans and it made the demi-god very furious, he's been letting the miner run around alive long enough. The immortal left the window, too infuriated to listen anymore. He'll show that miner his rage and makes sure that the human pays dearly.

…

"Do you really think that getting a hold of the creator is the best method? I mean, it may not even work. I'm not trying to crush your faith or anything but I can't only help but wonder… maybe there's another way? A way that doesn't involve the old hero into getting punished again, you know? He's been through enough as it is and things can go wrong if the plan doesn't work."

Steve sighed but nodded. "I know what you're saying. I'll try to find another way or possibly find a way to talk to him and not get killed, but the fallback plan will be the shrine. I still think taking a second to sit and chat will be impossible, but I will try to settle things peacefully if I can."

"Thank you. I would personally like to see the out worldly being find peace, people and Herobrine alike has suffered enough."

"Yeah." The miner softly agreed.

…

…

While setting in, Nigel had moved the bed closer to the fireplace and Steve had also moved closer but not without hesitation, the warmth was too alluring to ignore so he stayed close by but not too close to the sulfur smelling rock. He had removed his bags and used his cloak as a cover, he still remained against the wall but with eyes open. The old man had fallen asleep quickly and surprisingly with the disturbing moans and screeches of zombies and spiders just outside, but Steve was finding it even more difficult and the mobs weren't the cause. The mystery of Herobrine just continued to grow and grow and he didn't know what to truly believe anymore, Nigel says he's just misunderstood but everyone else at the lightless village seems to think otherwise. He felt as though he should of told Nigel more about his experiences and dreams, to see what the explorer could make of it; but he just found it too hard to share. Not enough factual information.

It took some time but Steve slowly began to drift to sleep. … He closed his eyes and two piercing white orbs burned right through his dream, he was filled with fear in seconds of seeing those eyes. He snapped his own eyes back open after a loud tap at the door immediately forced him wide awake. He looked out the window to see a something quickly move out of sight. Scared, the miner grabbed onto his scabbard and removed his stone blade and placed it next to the bedside should Nigel wake and need it. He quietly stood up and brushed the cloak off and crawled over to the door with his iron sword tightly gripped in hand.

He peered through the window with his weapon ready and nervously looked in both directions, he saw nothing but a spider climbing on the building in front of his, that was until a human-ish figure moved by his line of vision with the same fiercely glowing white eyes. A hand quickly pierced through the glass windowpane and grab his throat, unable to scream from the strong hold he felt himself being pulled through the wooden window frame and out onto the street; receiving small cts from the shattered glass bits of the windowpane. He bravely moved his gaze from the familiar feet of his captor and saw those bight eyes staring right through him. In fear he glanced back to see the old man still lying in bed asleep, probably trapped in one of Herobrine's dreams he assumed. He looked back at the Hero and the eyes were glowing brighter than ever before. Herobrine was mad.