Hero's Bane

Chapter 48: Why

Edited 4/27/2022

Herobrine screamed aloud as bolts of pain shot through his upper torso and into his arms, the sword felt like it weighed a ton from the force of his power rushing to his hands and into the gleaming diamond blade. The souls he had collected were fighting back the force that the hero used to channel them from the blade, then into wavelengths of energy that he could then transfer into the sands but they weren't going in without a fight. He could hear the wails of the mourning and frightened spirits in his head and it really annoyed him, it wasn't as much as the loud sounds that they made; but their eagerness to cling on to the very blade that killed them. He wasn't sure if they could see the place they were in now, or if the processing transfer into beams of power that probably hurt them; had them grasping to the weapon to avoid the pain on their fragile forms.

He hadn't collected as many souls as he should have, but it didn't matter the amount, the pain to move them was always the same. It was always excruciating to do this transfer but it was nothing he couldn't handle. Besides, he didn't mind the pain; not when humans were suffering more than him and they definitely had it worse. There should have been many more suffering at the moment but he cut his hunt short. That irritated him. He had went out and spent too long only to gain little to nothing in his gathering, there was just one frustrating …distraction. The iron golems were nothing but nuisances that he didn't waste too much time and effort in bringing them down, but the humans? It took him longer than it should have.

The mists started to thicken around his feet and it rose past his face, clouding his vision a little. The being felt beads of sweat on his forehead and he huffed as beams of white shot from the sword and struck the sand pit around his feet in bolts of lightning. It was hard to keep focus on his task at hand, his arms wobbled a little from his derail of focus. His mind kept going back over and over his recent kills, he had never had such a low count in his collection before. Hesitation was present as he killed some of those humans, especially the first he encountered. It was disgraceful, pathetic, and it was… unlike him. -I've never had so much trouble in killing mortals until today, why is that?! Had it been too long without claiming a life that caused this?- Herobrine asked himself before screaming again from the intense heat building up in his chest, the Nether's fuming temperature only intensified the burning sensation.

-No, it couldn't have been the time. Two weeks isn't that long! Then what was it? Why? Why did I hesitate?! Why was it difficult now when it never has been before? Why did I nearly lose control while making the first victim suffer, or why did I come close to losing it with a few others from the village? That shouldn't have happened, only memories of my dark past did that; not doing the one thing that I enjoyed doing the most.- Herobrine's eyes narrowed sharply. -That mortal. He had to of done something one way or another.- The hero hissed. He didn't know how 'that' miner distracted him, he shouldn't have any trouble at all with his executions, yet he saw that man's face on a young miner that didn't have any connections to him. That young man just reminded him of Steve, especially the way he plead for mercy.

-I should have went for more, if only I were in the mood.- The hero sighed and growled as another wave of his energy left his body, he was getting tired, almost regretting using too much of his power to read the miner's mind earlier. He was thankful that the island was still under his feet, the mass was small but with this little refill it should be enough to supply the next drawl from the pit; which meant that the beast should be satisfied. It 'should' be enough. He was going to have to harvest twice as much in his next hunt to keep up with the pace of the dwindling supply.

-Before that annoying miner showed up; I had massive islands and now I'm doing last minute pickings to keep up? Impossible.-

"Rahhhhhhhaaaaa!" Herobrine threw his head back and wailed once more from a more painful drawl on his drained body, expelling the last of the souls with a few more bolts of energy to guide the essences into the sands. He hated transferring the souls but at least his job would done for a little while. There was no telling when that beast would take it's collection. He just had to make sure that he had enough, that was part of the deal. He always had to have enough, the deal also favored his retribution against human beings so he never thought he'd ever have trouble in having a good amount, but the miner Steve had diverted him from his work and now he might not have the sufficient supply to satisfy the powerful creature.

A brightness erupted from the now empty threads of energy and partially blinded the being and as on cue; screams and wails of agony filled his ears. The explosion of power always made the souls very shifty; the ones on the surface took the brunt of the fierce wave and that is why these annoying cries were made. He positioned his sword's point downwards and channeled more energy before plunging the sharp end into the sand, making all of the screams silence at once. That was better.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Herobrine quickly searched in the direction of the shout and his eyes moved up the fortress where he spotted the miner with his hands wrapped around the bars in the large vertical window looking down at him with distress and horror lining his expression. The miner blinked before removing his hands and taking steps back until he was out of view.

The human was in his cell? That he didn't expect. Herobrine narrowed his eyes and wondered if the miner had been injured after escaping and running into the Nether mobs and then running back to the safety of his own cage. There wasn't any doubt in the being's mind that the mortal had escaped his prison and then attempted to leave the fortress after drinking the water to gain some hydration. Otherwise, the human wouldn't be alive now. There was just no way that the man had obeyed his word and kept that ridiculous promise, he was human after all.

…

…

Herobrine leisurely paced down the dark red corridor, passing multiple empty chambers. A light at the main end of the hallway soon came into view, it was the only cell that had a single lit torch on the outside wall to give the inhabitant of the confinement some light. He could see the miner up ahead with his back against the prison bars, he appeared coiled up and unresponsive to the being's heavy echoing footsteps. -He must be injured.- Herobrine thought to himself as he neared the miner's cage. Though upon glancing over the human's form; there were no indications of burns or wounds, at least not from the man's backside. So perhaps Steve had gotten a burn or cut on his leg or arm? His chest, stomach, or neck? He assumed.

As he approached the prison he felt himself lightly kicking something small and nearly weightless, only the barely audible clinking sounds and slight vibration earned his attention. He stopped and reached down and grabbed the small item that blended in with the Nertherbrick flooring. He raised a brow as he noticed it was the key to the jail cell. He held it in his palm for a short moment before shoving the tiny thing into his pocket. -Strange? Looks like he dropped it when running back to his cage.-

After storing away the key his eyes moved back up and that was when he noticed the capped bottle. It was still in it's place.

Right where he left it.

His eyes widened as he studied the glass sitting on the floor. The liquid was still filled to the top, only a small air pocket remained from some of the evaporating water. The thing that shocked him the most was the fact that the human didn't even touch it, there was no fingerprints whatsoever on the outside of the condensing container. None. The miner hadn't even as much as touched the only thing that could keep him alive. It meant that the human had fought thirst and stayed put, there would be no way that he could run around without water and not pass out or even die of thirst. Did that mean he hasn't even left the cell at all? -Unbelievable.- The hero suddenly scoffed, he just couldn't believe that the mortal had remained in the cell and ignored the water; but the proof was right there before him.

He continued his walk towards the caged miner and instantly a new odor filled his nostrils. It was repulsive. It smelt bitter and sort of putrid like vomit. He couldn't find no trace of the miner's spill but the lasting smell still hung in the air, it was actually quite strong. That wasn't a good sign. -He must be dehydrated for sure.-

"I see you are alive?" He spoke into the miner's head but the man remained perfectly still, almost as if he wasn't even paying attention. "I have to admit human, you surprised me beyond the expectations I had of you. You must be both foolish and daring to not drink, you are only hurting yourself by sitting there. What was that shout for anyway?"

Steve finally moved a bit, resting his chin on his knees. "Why?" He simply asked, there was no fear but sorrow in his tone.

"Why what mortal?" Herobrine finally reached the prison and stood behind the miner while gazing down at the man's back with a soft glare.

"Why did you do that?"

"Do what exactly?"

"Kill those people? … And do whatever you did to those souls?" The miner lightly trembled at the thought. "Why?" He asked again more softly.

The being raised his arms and folded them. So that was why the human was so quiet and disturbed? "That is no concern of yours miner. You should count yourself lucky to not be dead and in their place."

Steve froze in his spot and shivered at the dark thought before he shook his head back and forth. "Is that my fate then? Is that what will become of me when my time as your prisoner is up?"

The old hero narrowed his eyes but the human kept his back to him, these questions were annoying him. "That is for me to decide mortal, if you don't cooperate then it will be soon."

Steve honestly had no reply to that response, it was killing him on the inside to even imagine his soul being stripped from his dying body and then dumped into that nightmare-ish cold world. The agony he imagined started to hurt him, just thinking on the very notion of him being in that dark sea of sand was too much to tolerate but he kept those dark thoughts locked inside his head and hidden by his thoughts of home. He had no intention of sharing those imprinted images with Herobrine, so far; just about everything the being has said had only amplified his dreading mood and the more he talked the worse the miner felt. He knew he wasn't ever going to get out alive though he still wanted to change Herobrine, he just couldn't die without giving him his best shot; but so far nothing he did seemed to make an impact on the ancient hero. His hope was fading again, maybe for good.

"Do not fret mortal. Your time has yet to come, especially after proving to me that you are… somewhat… trustworthy. Your time has been extended for now, I suppose." The powerful being faced away from the miner, feeling uneasy with his words, he hasn't used such words in what felt like ages and the feeling he got for saying them was strange and yet reminiscent, but also annoying.

Steve finally turned his head around to see the man on the other side of the prison cell, he felt a little surprised from Herobrine's words.

"That is right mortal, you didn't leave your cell nor drink the water. I assumed you'd at least go for the water considering for two reasons being that one; you are human, and two; for trekking through this fortress in your 'alleged' escape. Without it either way; you would die. I thought you'd get out of the prison and run yourself ragged and probably to the verge of death from dehydration and exhaustion, but as I now see that I was wrong." He finished slowly with a huff, it wasn't easy to admit to being wrong.

"So what are you saying?" The miner asked in a little doubt of what he was exactly hearing. He feebly crawled onto his hands and knees and turned around, he grabbed a hold of the bars and usied them to aid him in standing up. He wanted Herobrine to say that he would trust him, but that being didn't make no promises and he had a gut feeling that Herobrine wouldn't trust him regardless of his fulfilled promise of staying in his locked chamber.

"It means that I can trust you, but just a little."

The miner silently gaped at his powerful double, he never expected that Herobrine would actually trust him. He was almost wondering if he was dreaming.

"No, you are not dreaming miner." Herobrine fully turned away from the human, the surprised look on Steve's face was making him feel unlike himself and he couldn't fully understand the feeling. It was actually making him feel quite uncomfortable to see that man's lightening reaction, he wasn't used to seeing his prey looking so hopeful. The reaction wasn't necessarily a happy one, but it was one of relief. The promise that the human made was kept so he had to honor that whether he wanted to or not. "You must have ruthlessly fought the urge to quench your thirst and escape, this place is not too kind to humans and they cannot live here without meeting their needs for survival. Without water you could die within the next few hours. I smelt raw vomit as soon as I got close so I know you are depriving yourself of the obtainable fluid, it's a foolish thing to do. It's just too hot here to go without. Unlike myself, you don't have the ability to adapt and survive without human needs being met, water is but an enjoyment to me; but it is necessary for your own survival. This goes the same with food as well. The desire to escape must have also been something you fought so hard against."

Steve dropped his surprised expression and slowly ambled away from the barred wall towards the Nertherbrick barrier on the opposite end of the cell, all while slightly swaying his head back and forth. "I wasn't going to try, I didn't want to." He said blankly. "Well- I did want to get out of this place and get food and water, but I never once wanted to break my promise. And so, I didn't. I fought it. I don't want to break any of my promises, especially to my friends."

-Can I really believe that? He did remain in his confinement and resist the glass so maybe his intentions were to keep that promise? But why? Why give up the chance to escape and live freely for suffering in this place? It doesn't make sense.- "Well, whether it was because you wanted to stay and gain my trust or just to prove me wrong; you still kept your word and so I shall honor mine." He reached his hand through one of the red bars and held it open.

A small fizzling sound filled Steve's ears and he turned around to see something forming in the being's hand, it was a light shade of warm brown and he immediately recognized that delicious fresh aroma that materialized with it. Steve stumbled back towards the other end as fast as he could and he staggered before tripping to the Netherrack flooring just before reaching the bars. He scrambled back onto his feet in a hustle; not minding the few new additional cuts on his flesh from the trip, he wanted what Herobrine had. He almost couldn't believe that Herobrine was going to give him food before his stomach ate through him, he never felt so thankful in his life. His mouth watered as the item fully developed in the being's hand, his smile fell as he noticed the dented loaf. It was-

"Yes mortal, this is the bread you offered me earlier today."

Steve's frown curved into a soft smile, Herobrine actually kept the bread after appearing to dispose of it and now he was going to offer it back to him? He kept it this entire time, he accepted his offer and was now returning it to him. That had to be an act of kindness in some way or another, it was sort of a step in the right direction. It was almost too good to be true. He moved his hand forward to grab it to feed his growling stomach, but the superhuman quickly jerked it through the bars in a selfish manner, leaving the miner to grab nothing but empty air where the loaf once was.

The miner froze in place. It was almost heartrending that the white-eyed man had just played an act so cruel after Steve was literally starving to death. Steve gaped in shock and his smile was replaced with a deep frown, his only source of food was just removed from him in such a cold way. He wanted to ask why but he couldn't even look at Herobrine nor muster a word for how he suddenly felt, he didn't even know what to say so he kept his gaze on the floor as his outstretched hand fell limply to his side. He began to turn around.

"Here."

Steve slightly turned his head to see not only the bread now sticking through the bars but also the glass bottle of water that had been taunting him for so long in the being's other hand. Steve blinked in confusion and reached for the bread first but more slowly this time, almost expecting Herobrine to just swipe it away again and make him feel even worse. Before he took either of the items he glanced up at the ancient immortal to see that he had turned his head turned away, seeming uncomfortable with the act. "Um… Thank-"

"Just take them." He quickly cut the miner off, now looking at him. "You kept your word and so I'll keep mine. It should be enough to keep you alive a little while longer."

"Okay." He nodded and grabbed onto the loaf and then used his other free hand to take the glass bottle. "Why didn't you keep it? The bread I mean?" He said as he slowly moved the warm toasted loaf up to his mouth and bit right into it, it was nice and hot from the heat of the Nether.

"I don't need it. Offering or not, I don't need nor want it. You however-?" He noticed how much the miner had changed in appearance over the couple of weeks he's been in this land, he's definitely missing that healthy glow he had when he first arrived. Steve was skinner than usual and his skin was a paler shade with a few new bruises on his arms and wrists, splotches of Netherrack dust covered his tattered shirt and partially on his cheek and right arm from possibly sleeping on the hard surface. He also looked rather pathetic, like a beggar or slave; he looked more and more like one as the miner quickly gnawed on the bread and swallowed it down in large bites.

Steve felt no shame as he quickly tore through chunks of bread and chewed quickly before swallowing the bits greedily in front of Herobrine, he was just too hungry to care especially since he was going to die eventually anyways. Though he took big chunks with each bite he noticed how savory and crisp the taste was and the heat of the place made it so warm and toasty, it almost tasted fresh and hot right out of the furnace. He wanted to slowly enjoy it but his body craved sustenance too badly and so he made quick work of it before pulling the cork out of the water bottle and tilting his head back as the fluid rushed down his throat. He felt his body relax as the lukewarm water relieved his dry and aching esophagus, it had a bit of a stale taste to it but he didn't mind; just as long as he drank something. The water was quickly downed in only a few large gulps and it was very contenting. He moved his chin down and looked at the now empty glass after a sigh in relief, he desperately wanted more but he knew he was fortunate enough to get that much so he wiped the trails that escaped his lips with the back of his hand before facing Herobrine. The white-eyed man had his arms folded and surprisingly a patient look on his face.

"Now that you are done it's time to start with some questions and you may want to take a seat because I have plenty." He said with annoyance present in the tone.

The miner silently nodded and walked over to the wall on his right and slowly lowered himself to the floor, he leaned his head back against the Nertherbrick wall and took a deep breath. He felt contented with the feeling of having food sitting in his stomach, and even better that his mouth and throat wasn't as dry anymore. What he was given wasn't much but it was something that he was thankful for. He sort of felt sleepy after having his stomach filled but he fought the drowsiness so that Herobrine wouldn't take the feeding notion as a bad thing and then allow him to starve more so that he'd stay awake from the pains. "Okay." He started, lightly tilting his head in the ex-hero's direction. "Ask away?"

"First off is the most obvious question. Why are you even here?"

Steve raised a brow from the blatant inquiry and shrugged. "Um… Because you brought m-?"

"No. I gave you the chance to leave… alive, and you didn't even take it. First; you go forfeit to me my sword back that holds more power than any weapon crafted by mankind, then you give me that offering only then to run away and come back? I even showed you the way out, every nitty gritty detail so that you couldn't possibly get lost. I could have taken your life right then and there at that lake if I wanted once you came running, you were lucky I didn't. So tell me why mortal, why?"

Steve took a deep breath and looked at the wall across from him, too nervous to look directly into Herobrine's eyes. He had many questions of his own but he at least needed to wait until Herobrine seemed more 'friendly' before he could even begin to ask his own, doing so now could just incur the being's wrath since he didn't sound so merciful. "The sword wasn't mine, it gave me the strength when I needed it and it even helped me in dragging you back to the small cabin. But regardless of how nice of a power-booster it is, it's still not mine. Anyone would wish for a blade so sharp and with power that exceeds their own tenfold; and I admit that I want a blade like it, but that one is yours and so I returned it to you because you are it's rightful owner. The bread was an attempt to-"

The ancient Hero coiled a fist. "I know what the bread was for! The sword however; you could have just threw away your own life once you placed it upon the ground, it was your only source of strength you could have with your weakening body and you even managed to wound me with my own weapon! So why relinquish it and throw your life into my mercy after nearly killing me with my own blade?! Didn't you think I would have wanted revenge?"

Steve crossed his arms and slanted his brows. "I already told you. It wasn't mine. The cut you got from me was purely by accident, I only defended myself out of natural reactions of self defense." He felt chills crawl down his spine when he daringly looked at the old hero's nasty sneer. Apparently; the being didn't understand common curiosity or perhaps has gone and forgotten about it over the years? Steve had just explained his reasoning and yet Herobrine refused to acknowledge the consideration of the act the miner just tried to show. It was bothering him, he needed to move the next question along or otherwise they wouldn't get anywhere. Steve just had to ask one of his own and hope he wouldn't upset the more powerful man. "Which brings up the question as to why you didn't heal when I accidentally grazed you with it?"

Herobrine's eyes widened before narrowing sharply. -I cannot believe that! The gall to question me.- "I ask the questions here miner, not you!" He suddenly shouted in the miner's head and caused the man to flinch from the loud echoing voice. "Accident? You think I believe that simple move was by misfortune alone?!" Herobrine wrapped a hand around one of the bars and sneered with a darkening expression. "It could not have been some act by chance, I was too fast and you knew that I was going to end your life right then and there so you made a swift maneuver with the razor edge and deflected my attack; you slashed it across my body in attempting to kill me!"

"No, that's not true!" Steve crawled forward and stood up again, he dared not to get close to the prison bars so he stood in place with a defensive stance and with a serious expression. "I actually thought that I was going to die there on the ground and so I just tried my best in defending myself, I swung as hard as I could because you were overpowering me even though we were almost matched in battle until you went berserk and overwhelmed me. It wasn't because I was planning it." He tried to sound convincing with his words teemed with honesty but he could tell from Herobrine's enraged face that the man wasn't believing in him.

"Lies." Herobrine darkly muttered.

"I'm not lying!" Steve stomped one foot down. "How would you know if I was planning anyways? You went mad and pretty much lost control because I actually matched up to your skills and-"

"Enough!" Herobrine shouted and growled as he backed away from the cell, he just couldn't believe. "I cannot believe you."

"But you have to! You say that you trusted me a little, so you must believe in what I say or at least some of it. That is what trust is!" Steve shouted in defense and actually moved closer to the bars, Herobrine only darkened his expression. "When you trust someone you take their word for the things they say and what they say they'll do, it's not about the idea of trusting; but trust as it is meant to be. Belief, faith, reliance, care, relying on, have confidence in, and depending on." Steve lowered his voice as Herobrine glared right through him, almost seeming like he was just going to suddenly rush up to him and slam him against a wall.

"Trust me when I say to-, no ask; you to believe in what is true to me. Then you must accept it. I am speaking out of pure honesty. Here, jump into my mind and see for yourself." He quickly tapped the side of his head and held his arms out. "Go through and search my memories if you can? I won't stop you and I won't resist. Besides, if I intended to hurt or even kill you on purpose back there, then why would I even use up my time to escape with the sword; instead to help patch you up and nearly get killed by some zombies after trying to drag you to safety?" He said more calmly and let his arms drop. "Think about it. I would have left you there or killed you."

Herobrine's deep scowl lightened. He really didn't take into account that time where he thought he was going to die and the miner just happened to chase him and even plead to help him, he really didn't even want to believe that. Just playing it off as a hallucination from blood loss, but he just couldn't deny the truth anymore. He could search through the miner's memories for conformation but he was tried enough from transferring the souls. He never wanted to trust in anyone ever again and he almost forgot what trust truly was, but he did say that he'd trust the mortal a little, he still had to honor that.

Plus, the miner's reasoning seemed more adequate now that he thought about it. The being did happen to awaken to the small house and found himself healing by the miner's hand; of course after having his wound cleaned and nearly killing the man in thinking back over a tormenting memory, so there was nothing left to deny about the human 'not' wanting to kill him. So why was he so mad about trusting Steve? Maybe he didn't want to realize the truth from his hurt pride? He was in a state of complete power and still fell from a weak human's strike, even though it was by 'accident' it happened and he was defeated. Mad or not he couldn't deny truth nor trust from the human. He calmed down and rubbed his aching temples.

"I- I don't know why that gash did not seal when it was made." He sounded less irate and more calm as he started. "I have been thinking and I have a theory as to why."

The miner released his tense posture and moved closer to the cell bars, quite relived that he somehow got to the being and made him realize that he was wrong. He would feel better if the being would just come out and admit it, but he knew that chance was very slim. "So, that would be?"

"I think is because of the sword itself and what lies inside of it." He held out his hand and the gleaming blade formed at his palm. Steve instantly turned around as the sword formed and reflected it's shine on the wall in front of him. Herobrine pulled it close to him and laid the flat end of the blade on his empty palm. "Before the swords you have seen were even swords at all; they were one and it was in the shape of a pickaxe that you humans use. In fact, long before your time; humans did not have properly made tools to mine stone, so almost all of their structures were made of wood. They could mine out some stone with their first version of the pickaxe but not efficiently, only when I came along and used mine did they see a real well-crafted tool that they could mimic and utilize. Back to the topic; my swords were but a single pick that I had found in my hand during my abrupt creation in this world. Only after meeting Lionel did I have any interest in using blades. He was skilled with them and he used many during his time, I changed my weapon into a sword because I admired his skills with such a weapon and I wished to forge my own abilities of the blade."

Steve only nodded, not wanting to stop the hero at all from his little story. Herobrine seemed much more calm and he could have sworn he saw the being smile as he spoke of Lionel. This was much better than arguing with him and the reason of his swords was very interesting. He moved back onto the floor and sat quietly as the immortal continued.

"So I turned my pick into a sword and wielded it until I perfected all of my moves, I became a skilled swords master and even bested Lionel quickly whom claimed to be a proficient blades-man himself since he had been wielding one at such an early age. I decided to keep it that way though, because it sort of honors him and his fighting style. I later split the sword into two to see if I could wield and master dual swords in combat and I did so with ease. Lionel then tried to use two but he couldn't, he wouldn't use both as one but instead use one sword more than the other. Using two blades as an extension of one another is-" Herobrine stopped and narrowed his eyes, he then quietly cursed to himself with a silent murmur. "Well, not jumping off topic and revisiting memory lane; I later enchanted one using my own blood, I broke the sword into tiny fragments and infused my blood with every fabric of the diamond as a test. As you are now aware my blood has a quick regenerating effect, I used this concept and infused my cursed blood to make the sword indestructible and it worked."

Steve's eyes widened, he couldn't imagine that Herobrine fused some of his blood into the blade but that pretty much explains why it doesn't have any scratches or chips in it whatsoever, even after those battles with the being. "Then why didn't you heal? Was it any of the enchantments?"

"I do not know. Probably not. I have enchanted it with greater power, speed, poison resistance, and endless sharpness. It's restoring effect must come from the blood."

"It would explain why I got energy from it and why I even healed a little when I used it."

"That is most likely why."

"Then how did that sword made a cut on you that healed but the other's didn't?"

"I only enchanted that first one a long time ago, the other wasn't infused with my liquid curse; but I later enchanted it using powers of my own after being convicted for that crime and then being released from my prison. The one I mostly wield is powered by rage and other various dark dispositions, it's the best choice when it comes to revenge. My power alone keeps it in a perfect condition and I store more power into it when I kill and take souls. It holds more power than the other but sometimes it becomes overbearing and absorbs energy instead of giving it. It's sort of a curse on it's own, however; most of the time it doesn't bother me."

The human shivered after remembering that wave of power that flooded his veins after trying to retrieve that one. It was filled with great negativity and he couldn't hold onto it without feeling sick, furious, and overpowering. It was too much too handle. Steve lightly chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. "I sort of know that feeling, you know? When I attempted to collect it, I was going to take you and the weapon back to the cabin. I couldn't handle it though, I actually almost wanted to kill you when I brought it back over to your body, there's just something so unnatural about it."

"Don't ever touch it again mortal!" Herobrine shouted loudly into the miner's mind, quite furious of what the man could have done to him while possessing the blade of wrath. "If it did by chance decide to absorb your energy instead of giving it; it would kill you in an instant, unlike the aftereffects of the other which takes just a little more time depending on how long you use it. If you are not fueled by enough rage when in possession then that sword will kill you, as it has almost done to me once. It takes a certain amount of fury to keep it's dark powers stable, and if I know you good enough by now; then I know you will not ever have the hate it takes to wield it and survive. The other is deadly because it's power is too great for humans too, but it works more differently. I found this out the hard way and it almost killed Him." Herobrine's hand tightened around the weapon's handle.

"Wait? So you let me use that diamond blade so that it would kill me?" Steve suddenly asked with a brow raised, almost seeming to be offended by his tone of voice.

"You took it from me mortal, you only got what you had coming… at least until you somehow mastered it."

That reaction wasn't surprising to the miner at all. "That makes some sense, but then how did I master it?"

The powerful man shook his head and lighlty shrugged. "I don't know. Lionel couldn't. He tried but never could, I didn't think any human could."

"What? You mean he had-"

"I gave the blood infused one to Lionel as a gift; on the week before his wedding. He was always breaking and repairing his old swords and he needed an extra boost of strength in battles, so I perfected the weapon and gave it to him and he used it. My blood was used to make it unbreakable so that he wouldn't ever have to waste his time repairing it ever, it was the best gift I could give him. However, it almost killed him on that same day I handed it to him."

He was speechless. Steve couldn't help but gape at that weapon lying in Herobrine's arms.

"At first he seemed to be doing very well with it, especially after going deep into the old caverns to put his new skills and powers to the test; he was great but only for a short time. Within only an hour of slaying some mobs; he sheathed it on our return to the surface and instantly collapsed, he had painful muscle spasms along with heart troubles. All the energy he had left receded into the blade the moment it left his fingers, the strain was too much on his body and he later passed out. I thought it killed him." Herobrine deeply frowned. "I don't know how you got past the effect, but for him it was power that he couldn't handle and he tried many times to wield it and get over the effects. He even came close to death a second time in his final attempts, so he quit and returned it to me. Unfortunately, he just couldn't wield it and so he told me to hold onto it until he was ready for it, but I knew he didn't want to use it ever again. He was only trying to seem selfless by saying that but I know it effected him deeply, he didn't want to go through that pain or possible death ever again. Especially not when he was about to marry lady Nori, he didn't want to risk leaving her, his people, his sovereign, his fortress, or me."

"Wow." Steve whispered with a bit of shock. "I used it because I really had no choice, I later had a heart attack too and it almost killed me."

"I know that. I was surprised to find that you could use it for so long and then master it quickly unlike Lionel who struggled to. I still wonder how. But why I didn't heal was probably because of my blood inside the blade. I believe that my body did not register the cut since my blood is tied into the weapon that made the wound. It's like cutting myself with a part of myself in a way. It just doesn't seem possible so my cursed life-fluid can't heal what it apparently can't detect. It's like my body knows it's not endanger since it's my own blood was cutting through me. That is what I think. I know it is hard to believe but it is the only explanation that I know of that makes any sense."

"It makes sense to me." Steve blankly agreed. "I mean? It's been sort of proved so yeah, that may be the reason why."

Herobrine silently grumbled to his self. His head was starting to hurt. "Well, I can say that your homemade concoction helped me since my cursed blood couldn't. The strange stuff must of spurred my body into healing and I am glad it did. I don't know if it's possible for me to die since I have faced fatal trauma of all kinds that normally kill humans, but I do know without the blood in my body I cannot heal. So without it I may just die, but I am not about to go and test that out."

"Well, now I'm glad I helped you. But I have another question?"

"Hold it mortal. I need to rest." Herobrine reached a hand and placed it onto the side of his head before turning around and slowly ambling down the corridor, his head ached and it seemed to hurt more and more as he mentally spoke with the miner. "I will be back later."

"Wait!" Steve rushed up to the bars and clung onto them as the old hero disappeared into the darkness. "Why did you save me?! You didn't have to, but why did you?!"

… … …

Steve anxiously awaited a reply but the being didn't respond and the sound of the powerful man's footsteps became soundless within seconds. It looks like he was going to have to wait, he moved away from the bars and sat down again and sighed in content that he could at least sleep now. He had no clock or watch to tell time so he didn't know what time of the day it was in the Overworld but he was tired himself and that was for certain. He leaned down against wall and rested his head on the bricks behind him. He only got one answer out of Herobrine, but that was a start. The being even seemed happy to talk though the first topic was a bit rough on trust, but at least the man would pay some attention to him now. Herobrine had seen that he was wrong and may even damaged his pride a little but at least realized his mistake and chose to answer Steve's question.

"Notch, help me." He said quietly as he yawned. Steve let his eyelids fall and allowed his mind to wonder.

…

Herobrine walked under the high deep red arches above; down a long stretch of the self-made brick towards his own throne at the main end. He quietly passed a few roaming zombiefied pigs that walked upright with golden swords, and even an annoying droning orb of fire hovering around one of the thick pillars with rods of flames keeping it suspended in air. Herobrine took a seat upon his raised chair of dark colored Nertherbrick and gold and rested his hand upon his cheek as he shifted to get comfortable. He didn't expect the miner to start thinking about him being saved by the one who came so close to killing him and ripping his soul from him. He sort of anticipated that that would be one of the man's next questions since the act only happened a few days ago, but the ex-hero did not feel the need to answer it immediately.

He certainly did not feel like he should have to answer any of the human's questions, yet he already allowed himself to answer one of Steve's because he believed he owed it to the miner after accusing the man for trying to kill him though none of the mortal's efforts after their fierce battle ever indicated malicious intentions. He also did not yet fully trust the man, he needed more answers first. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, immediately putting some relief on his aching head.

He oddly felt contented after leaving the man and he didn't even know why. Normally he would just feel mad or confused, but this time he felt satisfied over the conversation he had with the miner. It had been a very long time since he had ever held a lengthy talk with anyone, so maybe it was okay to feel contented like this?

Just this once.