[Chapter VII]

[Changes]

The following afternoon everyone had met up just as the Elder had instructed.

Steve on the other hand had remained locked away in the Elder's spare bedroom, telling the elderly man he wasn't feeling well and wished to skip out on the 'celebration'.

The Elder was well aware of Steve still not fully accepting the new turn his life has taken, and genially felt bad for the younger man.

As the sun began to set and the celebration came to an end, the Elder returned to his home, both surprised and not at finding Steve still in the room, however he took notice that the door had been left open.

Taking it as a possible positive sign, he carefully slipped into the darkened room, smiling sadly while walking up to the bed, Steve lying on it with his back towards him. "Steve. Everybody was worried about you. How are you feeling?"

"Like I don't know who I am anymore…" he responded quickly and in a monotone.

The Elder frowned for a moment before stepping closer, trying to encourage Steve enough to coax him into possibly at least eating something. "Do not be silly. You're still the same Steve that came to us all those months ago. The same Steve who is now a part of our family—"

But Steve narrowed his eyes and sat bolt upright, twisting himself around and glaring at the other. "No! I'm this 'Great Hero' now! I know what's going to happen! Everybody out there will start to treat me differently! For fucks sake they were all bowing to me last night! I don't want any of that!" he argued.

A little startled and taken aback by Steve's sudden aggression, a heavy sigh left the Elder at last as he managed to keep his smile in place, albeit weakly, soon taking a seat in the chair next to the bed. "I… had a feeling that is what truly has been troubling you." he began, grateful to see Steve relaxing and beginning to calm down. "If that kind of praise is not what you seek, then simply speak it to them. They wish you no harm and certainly do not want to upset you."

Steve remained silent while turning his head to look down at his hands as he folded them loosely in his lap. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do now."

"Time will reveal the answers to you, Steve. There is no need to trouble your mind any more than what you have already done. For now, you simply continue to live as you have been." The Elder simply replied with a kind smile. "This doesn't have to change things, Steve."

Surprisingly, Steve nodded his head, humming softly while settling back down against the mattress. "I'll… talk to everyone in the morning. I didn't get much sleep last night so I'm really tired."

"Would you like me to bring you something to eat? You have not eaten anything since before you three left for the mines yesterday morning." the Elder asked, worry evident in his tone.

However, Steve merely shook his head while rolling over onto his side, his back once again to the other. "No, thank you. I'm… not really hungry. I'll eat when I wake up. Good-night, Elder." He replied in a soft tone.

Sighing quietly to himself as his worry continued to mount, the Elder nodded despite the younger unable to see the motion while pushing himself up to his feet.

Excusing himself while wishing Steve a good-night, the Elder left him alone in the darkened room, silently shutting the door behind himself.

Steve sighed while tilting his head upwards and glancing out the window. "I hope everyone will listen to me…"

Morning came far too quickly for Steve's liking, not really ready to reveal himself before everyone just yet.

However, the moment he did, everyone bombarded him with questions if he were alright, nothing about him being the Great Hero. Melz had to push his way through the throng of villagers to reach Steve, asking if he were alright and that everyone has been worrying about him.

Taking the entire morning to speak with everyone, Steve was surprised as everybody respected his wishes of not being treated as if he were royalty. And as time went on, they proved to take his request to heart. Days turned to weeks since being revealed as the next chosen Hero. Nearly two months have passed now since the night he had killed the Enderman that was attacking Kelsa.

Everybody greeted him the same. And everybody spoke to him the same.

He was the same Steve in everyone's eyes as he was before that night.

Everyone save one particular group of young women…

Steve had taken notice of the lack of hostility towards him from this particular group. He knew from both observing and from Glorenda that Tamerin had stopped hanging out with the other four women ever since the day Telzaah so harshly shot him down.

He had then noticed that Leannzah was the next to break away from the group, finding it odd that she was slowly warming up to him and becoming more and more kind towards him. Even reaching the point of offering him something cold to drink whenever he was working on fixing a broken piece of equipment for her.

At first, he just associated this new kindness from her with him being the new 'Great Hero', but was surprised as later he came to find out via Tamerin that she had told Leannzah that he was the one her mother had gone to with what little currency she had to offer in exchange for him to take from the pile what he could use and make her a bracelet, knowing that her daughter had always wanted one.

Steve had gone into the mines alone in search for new and pure emeralds after receiving the dingy stones, the fleeting thought of possibly being able to simply use the ones she had given him leaving him the instant he saw the scratched up and faded condition the stones were in.

They still held a high tradable value... but would not make a very attractive bracelet.

It had taken him nearly six hours to find and mine out enough of the raw ores to fashion together a worthy bracelet.

Fighting his way back towards the surface, Steve ignored everyone's curious gazes and the stinging coming from his throbbing and slightly bloody left shoulder from the wound he received when fighting off a zombie, the Mob having managed to caught him off guard and shove him against a rather sharp piece of jagged stone.

Spending the rest of the evening smelting and shaping the stones, once completed he polished the finished bracelet and carefully tucked it, along with the emeralds she had given to him, into a small box. Once the morning came, he went to her house and gave her the gift, telling her the amount was just perfect and thanked her for her business, giving her a nod and quickly leaving before she could open it and see that he had in fact not taken any of her emeralds.

He had really never intended to take her money to begin with. She needed it more than he did. He didn't really know why he went through so much trouble and even ended up getting injured over it… he just did.

He wanted to do something special for her.

Even despite it wasn't for her, but for her daughter who was one of the people making it difficult for him to try and get close to Telzaah.

But now, he guessed he could thank her. Now he knew just what kind of person Telzaah was at heart…

Leannzah and Tamerin had begun growing closer in friendship the more the two of them spent time together, helping each other out in the gardens and preparing foods for everyone to enjoy.

Telzaah on the other hand…

She had suddenly become very friendly towards him. And this he knew for a fact was only because he was the 'Great Hero'. Hooking up with him would mean jumping quite a few steps in the celebrity ladder for her.

That thought alone made him feel sick to his stomach.

He wouldn't be too rude towards her. He would greet her and offer her that if anything needed to be repaired he would do it. But he remained very professional and quick to the point.

He could tell she was growing more and more frustrated at the fact that he was now the one brushing her aside.

And honestly? He didn't really care.

And after returning from the mines late in the evening this particular day, he was not in the mood to deal with her, muttering a quick 'Good-evening' to her as he walked on by, his body aching and demanding rest.

She had called out to him, but he quickly turned the corner and pretended like he was simply too tired and his name didn't register.

Sighing heavily while shutting the door and making sure it was locked after reaching his home, Steve began with his usual ritual for retiring for the night as of late: He skipped dinner, went into his washroom, stripped himself of his dirty clothing and cleaned up, put on a pair of dark blue wool sleep pants Glorenda had hand sewn for him (deciding it was too warm to sleep in a shirt), and slowly dragged himself over towards his bed.

Stretching while ignoring the low growl coming from his stomach, Steve sighed while pulling the blanket and sheet of his bed back before settling down against the mattress and lying his head down against his pillow.

He couldn't quite put his finger on it… but he couldn't seem to shake the feeling of not being alone ever since walking into his room. But seeing nothing out of the ordinary or disturbed in the slightest, he simply brushed it aside as merely being over tired and too stressed out.

Taking in a deep breath through his nose, he released a long tired sigh while relaxing more into his bed, violet eyes sliding shut as his exhaustion took its toll and dragged him into a dreamless sleep.

It was clearly only the middle of the night, the full moon's beams filtering in through the window above his bed.

Shifting slightly upon becoming aware of the presence of another nearby, his consciousness slowly began returning to him, managing to do so without alerting the intruder and managed to keep a facade that he was still sleeping. His heart rate then began to speed up upon feeling the weight of another climbing on top the bed with him, struggling to keep himself as still as possible.

Even though he had gone to sleep fully covered by both the sheet and blanket, he had clearly kicked both off and away from him while in his sleep, blaming the temperature of the night overheating his body to the point he had to uncover himself.

He was doing a rather impressive job pretending to still be sleeping… however, the instant the trespasser began climbing on top of him, feeling as they almost professionally positioned themselves directly over his crotch as they straddled his hips, placing their smooth palms against his exposed chest before slowly beginning to slide them across the expanse of skin, soon tracing the outlines of his abs had his adrenaline racing through his system.

And when he felt one of those hands beginning to slide a little too close towards his crotch, was when his body snapped into action automatically.

On instinct, Steve suddenly reached out and grabbed his spare sword while in the same motion took a firm hold of the intruder's shoulder, using his body weight to twist them around so he had them pinned on their back beneath him, the blade of his sword pressed firmly against their throat.

"S-Steve!? W-wait, it's me!" the familiar voice chocked out, fear evident in her tone.

Steve blinked before withdrawing his weapon and climbing away from the terrified woman, sitting back on his heels, "Telzaah? What the hell are you doing in my house? In my room to be more specific?!" he spat in pure disbelief.

As Telzaah was stumbling over excuse after excuse, Steve had put his weapon back and gotten out of the bed, lighting a candle so he could see if he had accidentally harmed her.

He deadpanned upon seeing what she was wearing.

Or rather… wasn't.

All she appeared to be wearing was a short black wool skirt, her top she had probably hidden so he wouldn't find it upon coming home, leaving her round, supple breasts fully exposed.

Feeling his face heating up as sharp surges of arousal began stinging him, Steve quickly turned away while grabbing one of his clean blue shirts from the top of the chest he was standing next to, tossing it over at her, "P-please, put this on…"

Catching the shirt, Telzaah quickly slipped it on over her head, taking in a quiet inhale and savoring his scent coming from it as it almost soothed her.

Turning to face her only after getting the okay that she was decent, Steve came up to her and examined her neck before ushering her out of his room, firmly shutting the door with a noticeable slam that caused her to jump.

Eyes narrowed at her while walking towards the front door, Steve only looked away from her to peer outside, sighing upon seeing far too many zombies just right outside his door.

"It's too dangerous to take you back to your place. Not with this many Mobs right outside my house. These fuckers have been appearing in far greater numbers ever since you people have started calling me this damned 'Great Hero' just so you know…" he muttered in a low tone while turning away from his door and walking towards the kitchen side of his main room.

Telzaah hadn't said anything, remaining silent as she took a seat at his table, only answering him when he offered her some tea to drink.

After about ten minutes of silence had passed between the two of them as they sat at the table, quietly taking small sips of their teas, Steve finally broke the silence. "I'll take you back to your house when the sun rises. I'll stay awake and keep watch while you sleep. I don't have much furniture so just sleep in my bed."

Tentatively, Telzaah lifted her head to meet eyes with Steve, her cheeks pink from a blush brought on by embarrassment. "Y-you don't have to stay up. I won't… try anything again."

However, he closed his eyes while responding nonchalantly before taking a sip from his tea. "I don't trust you."

Telzaah sighed while slumping her shoulders. "I don't blame you."

Setting his cup down, Steve finally asked her again; "Telzaah. What the hell was exactly going on in your mind? How many times do I have to make myself more or less clear that I'm not interested in you any longer? You made it very clear to me you had no interest in me before. I don't want to be with somebody who is only interested in the next top celebrity!"

"I just thought… you were playing hard to get? I thought you were doing it to get back at me!" she cried out, gripping her clay cup tightly. She wasn't used to being rejected and couldn't seem to understand how he still refused her even after coming onto him while practically nude! "I-I had thought if I had set the right mood… you would've taken me."

Steve wrinkled his nose while turning his head away in obvious disgust. "So you thought by breaking into my home and waiting for me to go to sleep before practically starting to molest me would've made me want to throw you down against my mattress and fuck you against it? Is that it?"

"I—?"

"Has that method worked for you before in the past?" he then spat, not allowing her to continue.

Telzaah remained silent, unable to think of anything to say in her defense as tears lined her eyes.

Despite the anger he was feeling towards her for her little stunt, seeing her beginning to cry still delivered a hard punch of guilt to Steve's stomach as he sighed while slouching back against his chair, lowering his gaze towards his cup instead.

"Look. I'm… sorry. For saying that. I was out of line…" he apologized quietly, unable to look up into her green eyes.

Telzaah hesitated before sighing herself, watching him for a moment before her gaze too fell upon her cup. "No. Steve… you have nothing to apologize for. Trust me. You don't know how correct you are." she added with a sad smile.

Finally lifting his gaze to look up at her, Steve watched her for a moment before asking, not really caring at the moment if he were stepping over the boundary. "Hey… why is it—? Why do you… do what it is you do? I mean…I know it's none of my business but... why disrespect your body?"

A forced chuckle left Telzaah before taking a rather big gulp of her tea, sighing once more while looking up to meet his gaze, "Well, I guess when you're raised the way I was, it's to be expected."

"What do you mean?"

"My mom died when I was only three, and my dad never really got over it. We traveled a lot once I turned seven. He was always with a different woman; almost every night having a different face in bed with him. He began telling me, that women were put here just for the benefits and pleasures of men. That… should a man fall in love with a woman, then Notch would steal her away… like he did my mother. So, he raised me saying I wasn't to allow a man to fall in love with me. He said Notch took his wife from him, he wouldn't take his daughter as well. This went on for years and years, even after I had begun to… sleep around.

"One time, I was actually starting to grow attached to a particular man. But my father was quick to notice he was seeing me more and more often. When he confronted us about it, he had told my father we were in love. So my father shouted at him and threatened him with a weapon, screaming he wouldn't allow it." She paused to take a deep breath, before chuckling quietly and adding, "In a sense… it was his weird way of protecting me I guess?"

Steve frowned, unsure of what to say exactly. After a few seconds passed, he cleared his throat while pushing himself to his feet. "I'm… I'm sorry that that's how you were raised."

"It's fine."

"Where is your father now?" Steve asked while also offering her a refill of tea.

Accepting the offer, she held her cup out for him to pour more of the green colored tea into it. "Thank you. I'm sure you're by now well aware of the horrible attack that took place here ten years ago. He died in that attack. I've been living home alone ever since then."

Steve listened to her in silence, beginning to feel pity for her now that he had a better understanding for her actions.

After a while, they began talking more casually as they began feeling more comfortable around each other. Telzaah had noticed a strange marking that ran across just above his left triceps, questioning where he had gotten the scar.

He then began telling her about the time he was mining before ever coming to Sanderlorum, how when had come across a cluster of diamonds and just as he began mining them out, he was suddenly ambushed by four zombies, two skeletons, and a Creeper.

Telzaah listened to every word he said, becoming more and more fascinated with his stories. Deep in the back of her mind, she was telling herself how Tamerin was actually right about Steve not being as boring as they had all thought.

They spoke for hours, until at last fatigue began weighing Telzaah down, yawning with a wide stretch that had Steve chuckling with a shake of his head. "Come on, let's get you to my bed so you can get some sleep."

She smiled with a nod while following him.

Opening the door and stepping to the side to allow her in, Steve waited for her to enter his room so he could quietly shut the door and leave her to sleep.

However, she paused right in front of him, turning to face him and breathed a quick and seductive thank you to him, before pressing herself flush against him and pushing him against his bedroom door, startling him as she pressed her lips against his.

Brain shutting down before kick starting back up again as he felt her hands beginning to undo the front of his pants, he reached up and grabbed her by the shoulders before roughly shoving her away, breaking the kiss off.

She stared at him with wide eyes, confusion flashing in the green orbs while his glared. "B-but I thought—?"

"What? You thought since we were reaching a mutual understanding and were actually beginning to get along that I would suddenly be willing to go to bed with you? I've told you before; I'm not interested in you like that anymore. I want to sleep with someone who loves me as equally as I love them." he retorted sternly, pushing her into his room before grabbing the doorknob once more. "Now good-night." He didn't bother glancing up at her as he shut the door rather loudly.

The night for him was far too long. By the time morning came around however, he had already awoken Telzaah the instant he heard the first zombie grunting in pain as the sun's rays set it ablaze.

Happy to have gotten her back to her own home, Steve stopped when Melz had called out to him. "Hey, Steve! How're you doing today? Say, what's up with Telzaah leaving your house so early…? Did she… stay the night with you?"

Steve chuckled with a loose shake of his head, "It's not what you think, Melz. Sure she broke into my house last night with the hopes of me being her next fling, but I think I made myself clear enough that I'm not interested in her anymore."

"I'm sorry again for what she did to you… Glorenda and I know just how much you really liked her." Melz frowned, hating seeing Steve looking so miserable.

However, the young miner brushed it off with a forced laugh while walking past him. "It's fine, really. You and Glorenda worry too much."

Melz remained silent as he watched him leaving. Suddenly, he gasped and called out to Steve once again as he remembered something he wanted to talk to the younger man about. "Oh hey, wait! Steve!" He jogged until he caught up with Steve as the other paused once again, looking over his shoulder at the Inn keeper. "I've been meaning to ask you if you've been getting any sort of strange feelings like… someone's watching you…?"

Steve cocked a brow in confusion, mentally wondering what Melz was talking about. "Aside from last night when Telzaah was hiding in my room, then no. I haven't. Why?"

"I've been getting a bad feeling lately… but I'm not quite sure what it could possibly be." He confessed, looking legitimately concerned over something.

Not really too sure what he could do to ease the older man's obvious nerves, Steve fully turned to face him, a small smile spreading across his face. "Well… why not go speak with the Elder? I'm sure he'll be much better help than I am." he offered, hoping his idea will actually be able to calm the other down.

Sighing with a slump of his shoulders, Melz soon nodded his head, "Maybe you're right. Maybe he can help explain this strange feeling. Thank you, Steve. And I'm sorry for stopping you." He in turn smiled.

Steve shook his head with a chuckle, "It's quite alright, Melz. I just hope he's able to help you. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to find me." he offered before waving him off while leaving.

"Thank you." Melz whispered, before frowning and quickly making his way towards his stand, making the decision to close his shop up early and speak with the Elder.

By the time late evening came around, Melz had already packed everything up and was sitting in the Elder's home, speaking with him.

In the beginning, nothing but small chit chat was passed between the two, the entire time Melz hesitating quite a few times mid conversation, unsure of if he should say what he truly wished to.

Picking up on the man's inner turmoil, the Elder chuckled while setting his cup of tea down, "Melz. I feel there is a purpose for your sudden visit to me this evening. What has your mind so trouble as of late?"

Jumping slightly upon being addressed, Melz cleared his throat while leaning closer to the older man. "Village Elder," he began, his voice a low whisper as if the room was filled with people. "The legend truly seems to be pointing at Steve to be the next chosen 'Great Hero' spoken of in the tale… and I have no doubt that he could be. But I— Glorenda and I care for him as if he were our own son. The child we were never able to have! We are both so worried of him being killed! Shouldn't we… shouldn't we warn Steve about… him?"

The Elder's kind smile fell, eyes narrowing in seriousness as he sighed while slowly pushing himself to his feet, knowing full well who Melz was referring to. "Melz. I believe Steve is much better off not knowing about him just yet. Though I feel a time will arrive when he must learn much about that demon… now is no such moment."

Panic began to arise within Melz, "But Elder! Lately I have been getting a very bad feeling that something ill is coming. That Steve is in grave danger! And I can't shake the sensation that it has something to do with him…"

"Enough, Melz! You and I and this entire land know full well he is still imprisoned deep within the Nether and is unable to walk on our soil! Things within this village are just now beginning to settle back down to the way things were before Steve was revealed as our newest Great Hero. The last thing we need is to upset the slowly returning balance within Sanderlorum and Steve's mind by bringing up any sort of mentioning of that man. We shall speak no more of it." the Elder warned, anger evident in his tone.

Melz wanted to press on. But the Elder made a good point.

Steve was slowly just beginning to return back to his normal, cheerful self. He didn't want to make things worse by adding on so much more to fret over. So, with a heavy sigh, Melz lowered his head, "I… understand."

"Steve is safe for the time being. The dragon is far too weak to be of any concern and Herobri—he is still sealed away. He has no way of reaching Steve, and harming him. For all we know, he could be unaware of the Great Hero being revealed." the Elder reassured, patting Melz on his shoulder, "Now please. Return to Glorenda and try to get some rest. You are so exhausted, Melz." he beckoned, his kind smile returning as all his previous annoyance and anger disintegrated.

Melz forced out a weak chuckle while nodding his head in agreement, turning towards the door and opening it, wishing the Elder a good-night before stepping out and quietly shutting the door behind himself.

Standing on the steps for a few longs seconds, Melz's hand fell from the knob with a tired sigh, his shoulders slumping in defeat just as his green eyes glanced up at the small window built into the door, seeing the light within darken as the Elder blew out the candle and was most likely heading off to bed.

"I pray to Notch that you are right… Elder…" he breathed to the darkening sky before hurrying off towards the Inn, already seeing the infamous Mobs appearing off in the horizon.

Fire roared as lava bubbled and flowed far deep beneath the crust of the earth, another realm hidden deeply beneath the bedrock that kept it separated from the rest of the Overworld.

The sounds of groaning and grunting were soft in comparison to the melancholy cries that filled the air all around the hellish world. Above all other noises, echoing throughout the entire large realm was a dark chuckle as a figure of a man stood proudly before an advanced enchantment table, the image of the Inn keeper of the small village of Sanderlorum fading away with a wave of the man's hand.

Turning his back towards the table, the man let out a much softer snicker as a wide tooth-bearing grin spread across his face;

"Sorry, old man. But I'm aware of everything."

To Be Continued…

*Again a huge special thanks to slingading for the fantastic cover art for this story! Thank you so much and much love to you!*