Hero's Bane

Chapter 24: Must Be Great

Editing 4/16/2022

"Alright, time to light this place up!" Nigel said in excitement. He quickly took his blazing torch and walked along the edge of the room lighting several unlit torches sticking to the walls, he then walked up a set of stairs to the miner's right and eventually came out upon a wooden balcony that circled the room above. He walked through several doorframes on the second floor, illuminating the separate rooms that additionally created more light. "Hey Steven, up here! Get a glimpse at this!" The old man waved before pointing upwards and setting a couple more torches ablaze.

"Whoa?" Steve's eyes widened as he proceeded to walk further into the enormous library. It was almost like the corridors, long and expansive. It's walls stretched outwards in shelves and a few scattered dusty display cases with scrolls. It wasn't any ordinary library he's ever seen before no, it was massive and books lined shelves that climbed all the way up to the ceiling which was a good twenty blocks high or so. Visually, it was just slightly smaller then the hallway by height and had walls and rooms attached but no arches. His gaze moved from the high shelves down to the aging wooden balcony that visibly seemed sturdy and in good condition. "Just how big is this place?" Steve raised a brow before moving into the center of the room near a few low and dust covered bookshelves. He made a glance at the old books and many of them definitely appeared to be old and worn down along the edges.

"This is the archives of your ancestors, from the beginning to the very end!" The elder began with a thrilled tone. "Though this place is now devoid of life; it just holds so much memories and experiences, a lot of them in personal memoirs or some made into fictional tales. From the arrival of miracles and hopes down to tragedies and disastrous events. All historical trials of this land are stored here along with stories of people's dreams of the future of the empire. Many other types of documents lie here as well, like in this room to my left-." Nigel pointed.

"This room holds specific pieces of literature regarding laws and past crime cases, it's also where I found most of my information on Herobrine's case. Then we have the room to my right that holds bundles of discoveries and sciences of the world! It's a vast collection of knowledge! It's very fascinating and it's all in ancient manuscript!" The adventure said as he held his arms out with great elation for a moment before grabbing the wooden handrail. "Right now though, I'll have my search up on the higher shelves in this area. Didn't have that opportunity the last time, I still hope to find more information on this 'Lionel', so I'll start my look here and make my way around. I'll uh- … I'll try not to take too much time." Nigel chuckled to himself and pulled out his pocket watch to check the time. "We have plenty of time so far." He then removed his bag and coat and laid them on the floor, then grabbed onto a tall ladder close by and carefully began to climb up it.

Steve watched as the elderly man bravely moved up the aged ladder made of decaying wood, it even creaked with each step taken. He was sort of concerned for the guy but he knew that the old man would want to risk anything for these books.

Feeling exhausted from his previous fights, Steve kneeled down next to a bookcase and leaned against it. He curiously eyed one of books within reach, it stood out among the rest with a brighter color and it even had a golden symbol painted on it's spine. He moved a hand forward to take the book off of the shelf and felt his nose crinkle up after wiping the dust away from it's surface. "How has Herobrine not burned down this place?" He wondered, wouldn't the guy have something against the written works by humans?. Peeling the book binding back he found the first page to be written with strange symbols. He tilted the book several ways to see if he could make out any letters, but it didn't look like any kind of writing he was familiar with. "Just a bunch of mumbo jumbo." He says quietly to himself with a raised brow of curiosity that was quick to fall flat.

He turned the page to find hundreds of more tiny neatly inked signs all written neatly along an invisible line, the writer was definitely skilled. Steve almost wished he could read it, just to see what it all meant. He started to skim the page after page but there was nothing he could read, just tons of squiggles and lines he couldn't understand.

"Sorry Steven."

The miner looked up and saw Nigel clinging to the ladder, barely visible with a bookcase blocking out most of the line of vision.

"I'm afraid that you will be unable to read any of these books or scrolls."

"Why? Is all of this written in hieroglyphs?" He heard his voice echo off of the interior's large walls.

"Not necessarily hieroglyphs, but words. Ancient text to be more precise. It means that everything here has been scribed by hand and in a very old version of our now modern text. I have studied the ancient writings and I can decipher it. Unfortunately, you cannot. Maybe one day I could teach you?"

"I'm good." The miner quickly replied to avoid a long drawn out conversation, he truly wasn't interested in history lessons nor learning something he may never use again after this adventure. He placed the book back into it's place and moved around to take off the cloak he wore so that he could wrap it up into a soft bundle and lean against it like a pillow. He did just that and wedged himself in the corner of a couple of bookcases. He didn't want to fall asleep again with Herobrine luring about, but at the same time he did; he was still feeling so drained from fighting mobs not too long ago. He was afraid of the nightmares and the real dangers they possessed, however; his body wasn't going to let him argue. As soon as he shut his eyes he was fast asleep.

…

Nigel folded a red book closed and cautiously moved down the ladder. He stopped and leaned over after having a long period of silence to see the miner now wedged into a few bookshelves appearing asleep. The old man smiled and continued downward. "Get some rest friend, you may just need it again soon." He whispered quietly as he stepped off that ladder and placed the book into a pile and made another trip up the wood steps.

…

The man found himself out in an open field again, one that seemed recognizable but slightly different. It was unusual seeing it without the dense fog that once concealed it. There was fog again, it wasn't heavy but it was there and it brought a slight chill to the air. Steve looked to his left and then to his right too see nothing but lightly hazed grasslands and a few scattered trees out in the distance. He felt as though someone was there with him, nearby and watching him.

"You're still here?"

Steve sprung forward and spun on his heels after hearing a sudden voice from behind and he gaped at the man that now stood before him. "Lionel? Geeze, don't scare me like that."

"You got lucky you know that?" The silver-plated man said with his arms crossed. "You should have been dead by now, but here you are; still alive and kicking. You really are something if you can last this long in his cage of wrath?" Lionel said with a deadpan look.

Steve blinked over and over and rubbed his eyes. "Is this happening again?"

Lionel unfolded his arms and sighed. "Don't tell me you've already forgotten my last visit already? Just like last time; I'm back to give you another warning, but this time; your final warning."

"Final warning?" The miner mimicked as he stood there with a questioning look.

"Yes." Lionel turned away and started walking across the grassy plains.

"Hey? Wait up!" Steve started after the guy and walked slowly by his side when he caught up. He could tell that Lionel wasn't happy to be here and even seemed to be lost in deep thought, Steve almost wanted to push this warning conversation aside and question the man for information that he could give to Nigel. The old man would of loved it, but he knew that asking might have been a bad idea with the sentinel looking to be in such a troubled mood.

"Herobrine had let you slip away from his grasp." The man began. "The first time was because of his own … faltering in his pursuit, his own lack of judgment and focus on his surroundings. The second time he had actually had you but let you go was because you somehow managed to force him into a memory of his past and chose to do something about his suffering instead of letting it persist."

"I- forced him into that memory… Dream thing?" The miner asked, surprised with his brows furrowing.

Lionel nodded lightly. "Indeed. He tried to kill you but you dragged him back to relive that dreadful day, he allowed you to live afterwards in return for suffering in the memory, risking your own safety, and even your own life for his wellbeing." The sentinel stopped in his amble and faced Steve, he tilted his head and raised a brow amusingly. "You are a- 'strange one'."

"Strange one?" Steve stopped and huffed.

"If going out of your way and risking your life to save the one trying to kill you, then that makes you either strange or foolish. You don't owe Herobrine anything, let alone protect him when he's done nothing but trying to run you down cause you suffering and end your life. So why even try?"

Steve shook his head back and forth. "Memory or not, what those people were doing out there was sick and twisted; it wasn't justice, just torture." The miner softly exhaled as he looked up to the hazy skies for a long quiet moment. "You're right." He looked back down at the guard but only for a brief moment with his eyes searching the fog. "I don't owe Herobrine anything and he's practically my enemy, but no one deserves to be tortured like that. I've met some people in my years as a miner that deserved justice for their wrongs; but what happened in that dream I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. The whole thing felt so wrong and savage, those people were no better than Herobrine at that point.

I've never seen people with so much hate, I understood why the emotions were so intense; but they took it too far and I couldn't stand it. The punishment was too great, the guy couldn't even die to escape it all but apparently could scream. That's what they wanted out of him, but clinging onto hatred and getting revenge won't fix anything. My father and brother were assumed to be slain over such a cause, though it's not completely confirmed; that is what my mother believes with my father being a renowned miner and all. I'm not the type of guy who harbors the need of vengeance or getting even, I've seen what it does to people." Steve finally returned his gaze to his double. "That's why I defended him, not even 'he' deserves to be tortured like that."

"I see." Lionel frowned, his eyes were fixed on the grass at his feet. "You have my thanks for stepping in, even though you were the cause of the memory to begin with."

Steve narrowed his eyes a bit. "Hey, it's not like I was looking for that kind of trouble. Herobrine was the reason I was puled into that memory in the first place, I never asked to be stabbed and pelted with rocks in his place."

Lionel nodded. "Understood." He lifted his eyes to the miner. "It was still foolish on your part by intervening, however; I believe that you have created an opportunity for escape once again."

"That is what you pretty much said last time." The miner gestured in uncertainty.

The sentinel adjusted his green scarf. "Yes, it is. That was when I gave you the first warning, and it was a short while ago. However, it appears that he has become... reluctant to kill you at this time and this leniency may not last; especially entering the fortress and getting closer to the shrine."

"But why would the one and only 'Herobrine'; the one that has been trying to kill me since the beginning, spare me now when he had his own perfect opportunity to kill me off? He really- REALLY wants to."

The armored guard placed a hand on his chin in thought. "Hmmm. That is because you… confuse him."

Steve shrugged. "I'm not surprised by that answer actually, but I am surprised to still be alive now. He could of got me several times before and many of those times in my nightmares."

"Certainly, he really could have. I do not know why he hasn't eliminated you yet, but perhaps it has something to do with the occurrence back in the cave? With you making these unpredictable choices and trying to help him while also trying to stop him, that only confuses him more and the actions taken back in the memory is what really has him questioning things about you. He's asking himself why you are so different from other humans."

That confused the miner, Steve arched a brow. "Uh, how do you know that is what he's thinking?"

"I know him very well, trust me." Lionel said blankly before turning to move closer to the smaller double and placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's time to stop now and go Steve. Now maybe the last chance to turn back and leave this land for good, likely to be the last open opportunity ever for any human."

Steve ran a hand through his hair in doubt and moved his gaze away from Lionel to a few trees. He wanted to be far from that fortress and the white-eyed man that controlled it, but at the same time; he wanted to finish what he started and save the powerful guy's over-enraged spirit. He hoped to calm Herobrine through Notch, which may just stop the torment over his friends and their hometown, and without having to confront and battle the monster of a man; in which Steve was certain that he would probably die if they clash. But if he were successful it would be like shooting two chickens with one arrow, Nigel would be happy for Herobrine and the people in the cursed village would be happy. No more death, no more suffering, no more threatening encounters; Herobrine at peace. It's what he now wanted more than to give up and go back to the comforts of his village, no matter how much he wanted to sleep in a soft bed again without having to worry about being visited by that disturbing hero in his dreams.

"Take it." Lionel spoke out to break the silence. "Leave the blade here and get out. Otherwise, you will find nothing but pain and eventually death."

The thought of this being his one chance to turn and leave was tempting, but to get out completely unscathed? It didn't seem likely but considering that Nigel had witnessed Herobrine withhold his attacks must of meant that it wasn't impossible. Steve contemplated again on listening to Lionel 's warning and make a break for it. … But on the other hand; Herobrine would continue his waves of torture and resume killing and probably haunt the miner's dreams forever. Herobrine himself though- would continue to his never-ending life in solitude, still clinging to the hate of humans and clinging to the vivid memories of pain and misery they had created for him.

… His decision was now final.

"Sorry." He whispered as he looked back at his identical ancestral counterpart. "I can't, I've come too far and yet I'm so close. I just know it."

Lionel's face quickly darkened and he sneered in anger. "You're throwing away your life?! Foolish! And for what?! One little prayer that won't even be answered?! Do you not realize that tying to stop him will only make your life short and filled with suffering?!"

Steve shrunk back a bit in upsetting his possible distant relative, still uncertain of the man's full personality and if he had any hostile tendencies. "I know what I'm doing is risky but-."

"Risky?" The taller man now grabbed Steve by his other shoulder and brought him close, eye to eye with all seriousness painted into those deep blue orbs. "His judgment upon you will be absolute if you even get near there! You don't even realize how infuriating you are becoming to him with this quest! He'll take everything away and leave you to suffer at his mercy before the final stroke of his blade! You wouldn't even be able to fathom the pain and anguish you'll receive in your attempts!"

"But-"

"But nothing! Do you wish for death?! There will be no mercy from him if you reach that place!" He started to shake the miner in growing rage.

"How would you know any of this! How do you know how Herobrine feels or what he'll do?!" Steve barked back and pulled at the strong grip, yet unable to free himself after misjudging the sentinel's strength. "Friend or not, you're a human too so how can you tell? Can you read his mind or are you an apparition of my mind telling me things that I unconsciously imagine?!" He grabbed the tightening hands off his shoulders and pulled them away. "I have to do this."

Lionel gaped for a second before lightly shoving the miner away. "One, I'm not a figment of your mind. Two, you honestly don't think I don't know him or what he wants?" The guard said with a low tone. "My own best friend, my very brother at heart whom I've fought beside in battles for years? The one I've walked with and shared experiences everyday? The one… I had watched suffer greatly before… before… he-" Lionel's voice begun to crack and his lost focus and grabbed the side of his head.

Steve rubbed his tender shoulder and watched as the man struggled to finish his sentence, then he winced a bit; now his head was starting to hurt. "I don't even know what you are. Ghost from the past, a vision, a dream. I'm not even sure if you are just a part of my conscience or an vision made by Herobrine to get me to lower my guard, but I do know what I have to do and I'm willing to risk my life if that is what it takes. I have promises to friends- a promise to myself. A promise to stop all of this suffering." He said more calmly. "For everyone. ... Even 'him'. It would benefit all."

"He- he promised… but," Lionel seethed quietly to himself in frustration.

Though questioning of what the man was talking about, Steve chose to just ignore it and finish his piece. "I have to get to the shrine and I have to call upon mighty Notch to stop-"

"Enough!" Lionel finally sighed but kept his hand on his now aching head. "I only came to deliver the warning, nothing more. I don't have to waste my time listening to you ramble on about stopping m-… my-my friend. But I will tell you this before I go. If you even want a fair chance to go against …him, because you will when you proceed. But if you want even the slightest fairness in a fight, then take his blade and master it quick; overcome it's power and then maybe you'll survive the first encounter. And that is if you are lucky. That battle may be sooner then you want it to be, and he may not be so generous to give you time if you get too close to that temple. The sword though, is your only shot to last longer in the fight."

The miner glanced down at his thigh to see the blade hanging there, partially glowing from inside of the scabbard.

"But be wary though." The silver sentinel continued and removed his hand from his face. "That sword has enchantments that only beings of a deity status can bestow and it's more powerful with his transcendent blood infused within the very fabric of shards in the diamond. This makes the sword indestructible but still, the power is too great for mankind. It will make you feel invincible, but at the same time rob you of large amounts of energy and put a strain on your body. It could also put a large strain on the vitals of your body as well, as it had before. You saw what you could do when fighting off the mobs, but you also paid the price. Only those who posses even a trace of transcendent blood in their veins could wield it and negate the 'human's curse' that comes along with it. But as we know, it's not ever going to happen for you." He finished ith his eyes narrowing a bit.

"Then how can I master it if it just takes more than it gives to me?"

"Can't say. I'm as curious as you to see if it is even possible. No other man-made blade will compare in combat with him and you will fail terribly using any other weapon, so use that sword and let it give you the power you need. Besides, you seem so inclined to be 'risky', so why not? Maybe repeated uses may make your weak body become more tolerable to it's negative effect? We'll have to see."

"Why tell me this? Why give me an edge in battle against your friend?"

"Friend? Brother? It matters not. He's going to win regardless Steve, that I know for sure. However, you are still blind to see that encountering him will only bring your fate closer to being sealed. No matter if you somehow manage to master it; or how strong and evasive you become, you will still fall at his hand. He's pretty much a god and you a mere clump of dirt under his heel. It's blatantly obvious of how things will turn out from my perspective. I am willing though to give you the forewarning so that you may prepare yourself at once, should the battle drawl closer than you expect. That you deserve. What is a honorable battle without a ready opponent? You do earn the chance to get ready. If you would only heed my warning then you wouldn't have to worry no more."

The miner swayed his head in disagreement. "I can't Lionel. I will find a way to stop him, I have to. Even with my life on the line." Steve felt himself shiver at the thought of dying slowly and painfully at the entrance of some temple.

"Then this is farewell, for now." Lionel turned and kept his back to Steve as he started to walk into a dense cloud of fog, slowly fading into white. "I may see you again … but not even that is guaranteed anymore. Goodbye." And with that, he was gone.

Just like before Steve braced himself as the ground beneath his feet began to break and crumble, he turn tail and tried to outrun it but found himself again plummeting into the black atmosphere of nothingness.

…

"Steve?" He felt something nudging his shoulder.

"Steven?" The voice grew a little louder but the miner couldn't think of who the voice belonged to, he was so zoned out in the comfortable space but he quickly snapped out of it as a loud slam and waft of air suddenly exploded in his face.

"Ahhhhaaaa!" Steve jolted awake and swiftly leaned up to see Nigel sitting next to him with a book in hand and a devious smile plastered on his face.

"It's been a couple hours now friend. We can't waste time and it's already mid afternoon. I… apologize." He said in honesty, guilt now across his facial features. "I got so absorbed into my findings and notes that I had paid so little attention to the time and it flew by faster than I wanted it to." He then reached over to his side and placed a large stack of books right next to the miner. "But look at what I've found!" He pulled one book off of the top of the pile then opened it before casually flipping through pages and closing it again.

"What's it about?" He reached over and took the green-colored hardback and turned it to the side and then he saw a similar looking golden insignia on it's spine. "Hey this is-?" He paused then turned to his side to see that the book he pulled out earlier was now missing. "That first book I pulled out?"

"Indeed. I had barely found anything on the man until I came down here to see this solidified scripture slightly sticking out next to you. I hadn't recognized it before in my past searches and chose to glance at it in curiosity, lo and behold. A biography of sorts about Lionel, written perfectly with no line out of place! Written by I assume a relative of his, it says that the author is Lionel's brother; but nowhere else in my findings even stated that he even had a brother nor any living relatives at the time other than his wife, child, mother and grandmother. Interesting find right?"

"That whole book?" Steve leaned up and traced his fingers over it.

"The whole book. How amazing is that?! I didn't think I could find a biography or any sort of information on him, well one that put him in the good light unlike several others that only highlighted his traitorous actions."

"That is strange?" He gently placed it back on the book heap.

"Very strange. I've only read a little of it so far but it pulls up some interesting facts of the man that I never knew; like in one section it says how he first encountered Herobrine. Did you know that Lionel was on the verge of death before the powerful being found and saved him? It's wonderful, and I cannot wait to delve once again into this book's pages! It's everything I've ever wanted to find since finding you and learning more about him!"

"Speaking of Herobrine?" The miner said blankly.

Nigel quickly glanced away from the hardback manuscript to meet with Steve's serious eyes. "Oh! Oh of course! If we want to reach the shrine before nightfall then we must get moving at once! Time will surely drain if we come across more monsters. Apologies." The man stood up before gathering his belongings and placing the books into his bags. "Blast. I can't fit… all of … the books in my … blasted bag." He growled mild irritation. He sighed then quickly removed all of the books except the green one. "I guess the others will have to wait, this one is the one I must read." He placed it carefully in his bag.

Steve leaned forward and staggered as he rose up, he grabbed onto the bookshelf and propped himself up before taking the cloak and wrapping it up and shoving it into his chest pack. "I hope it won't take long to get there."

"Do not fret. I know exactly where to go. The shrine is just across from the thrown room down a few more lengthy corridors; at the very end. Just wait until you see the throne and all of the vast space around it, it's stupendous! The walls go so much higher and the arches are carved out perfectly!"

"I just want to get this done and over with, quick." He could still remember the warning given to him in the dream but it was a dream right? "We should get moving."

"This way." The elderly man pointed in excitement. "Just where would you be without an amazing navigator huh?" Nigel boasted as he marched through the library to the exit with his torch held high.

"Lost." Steve lightly laughed as he ambled behind with his hand coiled around the hilt of the diamond blade.

…

Herobrine sneered, grinding his teeth as he watched the two men exit the library. He stood atop of the balcony and squeezed the rails in anger, he snapped the wooden bar in half in seconds of his tight grip. He didn't truly consider how much of a threat the old man would come to be and now he was going to lead the miner right to the shrine and that infuriated him to no end. He knew he should of killed that old mortal years ago, the elderly man was an interesting one to observe but now he was an enemy like Steve. Herobrine removed his hand from the remains of the rail and walked into a room on the same floor, the second he left all of the torches died out instantly from a low gust of wind.

…

Steve kept his eyes focusing on the dark hallways they walked through, constantly surveying the corridor for any kind of movement. They had walked for several minutes now down these long hallways while passing several dark rooms but never once did he hear or see any sign or trace of a mob nearby. There wasn't even an Endermen lurking around in some places; it would be perfectly dark for them. Same went for zombies, skeletons, and creepers, yet there wasn't any to be seen which was awkward. "Hey, notice how quiet it is?" Steve broke the silence as he walked close behind the old adventurer.

Nigel didn't turn around but he nodded. "Yes, it's bizarre. The first time I ever took time to explore the fortress; I had to sneak and evade monsters left and right, at times I even had to use my invisibility potion and I usually only save those for encounters with Herobrine. It's getting closer to dusk anyways so I would of expected to see at least one spider or creeper."

…

They walked for a few more minutes in silence, keeping onto the hope that they were alone until they reached a grand room that was somehow lighted with torches and mysteriously empty.

"Whoa!" Steve couldn't help but shout as they entered the main entryway and the throne room connected to it. The main hall had walls and arches that went high into the air, higher then the corridors. And like the old man had said; the arches were all carved perfectly and were positioned evenly throughout the spacious interior. "Wow. Just wow. You could fit eight… no, twelve houses in here! This is so cool Nigel, you were right! It's amazing!"

"Yes, it is a fantastically sculpted work of art. Must be great huh?" He said flatly, like he suddenly didn't care.

This change in tone both confused and concerned Steve. "Nigel? I thought you were excited to show me this?" He asked.

"I was…" The words blankly rolled off of his tongue as he stood perfectly still.

"Then why do you sound so-." Steve felt his heart stop as he turned around to see the throne and the being that now sat in it, it was so far from him yet his eyes could make out the figure with dim glowing torch lights clinging to the walls that surrounded the throne. Now he understood why Nigel dropped the pleasant mood. "Herobrine?" He whispered and his hand clung to the blade's hilt again, ready to whip it out despite the risk.

"It would seem as though he had been expecting us. You have been waiting for us, haven't you?" Nigel asked the being without fear. "Am I right Hero?"

Herobrine didn't move in the chair or even shift his expression, he just sat there with his bright gaze illuminating the darkness that partially bounded him. He wasn't pleased.

"This isn't good." Nigel braced himself and clung tightly to the stone sword that Steve lent him. "Don't use the diamond blade boy, save it and use the iron one alright?"

"Okay." The miner nodded in return and pulled out the iron one. Just as he did ;a sudden waft of air blew around them and the atmosphere around them grew heavy, dust began to stir and Herobrine still has not moved from the throne.

Herobrine sat in the high seat overlooking the room, keeping his eyes locked onto the humans as his body relaxed; no more would he allow them to proceed, especially the elder. But stopping them would be easy and the first threat had to go, the second would come later.

"What are you up to?" Nigel finally removed his gaze to look back at Steve but he found himself gasping from finding white eyes behind the younger man. "Steven, behind you!" He shouted.

The miner quickly spun around to see Herobrine standing there with those eyes glowing fiercely. "But how?" He bravely moved his attention away from the immortal to the throne but his eyes only widened at the sight. Was he seeing double? Not again. "He's here and still at the throne?!" Steve felt his heart race and he instinctively wanted to run, but with Nigel remaining in place; running wasn't an option. He turned to look at the old man and saw another set of glowing orbs standing in front of the man. "No." He turned to look back at the one closet to him and now there were two.

"This definitely isn't good?" The old man pulled the sword closer and stumbled backwards until his back was up against Steve's. More stationary Herobrine doubles kept spawning out of nowhere and it wasn't long before the two were completely surrounded by many more and more still appearing out of thin air.

Everyone of the clones remained silent and observant, each giving off little waves of power that almost seemed to make the air the men breathe go stale.

Steve felt himself losing it. Why couldn't this of been one bad dream? Not only was he about to be forced to fight for his life and Nigel's but his chances of survival had started to dwindle down to practically zero and now the diamond blade was all he had to at least increase their chances. He carefully placed the iron sword back into the scabbard and daringly withdrew the enchanted blade with extreme caution, hoping that his action would not cause a sudden wave of immortal beings to come charging at him.

He took another glance back at the throne and the original Herobrine sat at an angle, partially slumped to one side of the chair with one arm resting on the armrest, his other pressed into the side of his cheek. His entire posture looked rather relaxed and patient. The white-eyed man tapped his fingers against the end of the armrest, he appeared to be thinking and Steve wasn't sure he was going to be happy with whatever Herobrine had in store.