oh right, I was cross-posting this
Despite his initial hesitance, Valor was finding traveling with Null to be much less horrible than he'd expected.
The sorcerer was considerably less hostile than he had been when Valor had first met him. He was rude, of course, and annoying, but Val would expect nothing less. He made no attempt to escape, to attack, or even use his magic beyond tracking Val's amulet. Valor wondered if his time in prison had broken his spirit.
The worst he did was try to keep up a steady stream of conversation. Valor entertained his attempts for a bit, but quickly gave up and just tried to ignore him. Null had then turned his attention to their escort, acting as if every sound that the enderman made was a response. He would make some statement, usually nonsense, and when Qorin chirped or warbled Null would respond with 'I'm glad you agree' and launch into another statement. Valor just tried to block him out.
They walked for a couple hours into the night before Valor grew weary, and they set up camp. Null, despite claiming that he didn't need to eat, spent a good half hour trying to convince Qorin to give him some of his chorus fruit. Qorin refused. Val eventually got him to eat half a loaf of bread, having a low conversation with their escort while he did so.
"Are you tired?" He asked.
"Not particularly." Qorin responded. "One of us should stay up to watch him. Would you like to sleep first?"
"If you're willing to stay up." Valor set his pack on the ground, laying his head on it like a pillow. "Thank you."
"Going to bed so soon?" Null commented. "Surely I didn't wear you out that much."
"Go to bed, Null." The sorcerer fell quiet, and Valor shifted until he was comfortable, staring up at the starry sky. His pickaxe lay just beside him, and he wondered where his father was right now. On the other side of the fire, maybe? Val wondered what he thought about Qorin. Maybe he'd met him before…
"Wake me up when you're ready to rest," He told Qorin, then shut his glowing eyes.
"How have you been faring since I've been gone, Valor?" Valor scowled at Null's voice, firmly ignoring him. "Oh, come on, don't be like that."
"As if you care."
"Of course I do. You were the one that defeated me, I'm curious how that's worked out for you." Null tilted his head innocently, hands met behind his back. Valor gave him a dull look, then turned to face forward again.
"Other than losing my amulet that makes me immortal, I'm doing well."
"How did you lose it?"
"It was stolen."
"Yes, yes, you told me that." An edge of mocking was creeping into Null's voice. "How did the great son of Herobrine allow himself to be robbed?"
"I simply didn't expect to be in danger in my hometown." He would not be telling Null that he was drunk. "And, for all intents and purposes, I am Herobrine."
"I see." Null tapped his fingers together. "Shame about dear daddy." Valor snorted.
"It's been more than a year, I'm long over it."
"The fact that you felt the need to tell me that suggests otherwise." Valor shrugged, trying to block him out again. Null didn't need to know that Herobrine was much closer than he thought. "Is it hard being mortal again?" Null continued. "Are you afraid? Is that why you sought me out, putting your own safety above those who need your help?" Valor scowled. Just ignore him. "Letting them suffer while you follow-" Null cut off with a small cry. "Hey!" Valor stopped, turning at the sound to find Qorin standing over their prisoner with one hand raised as Null rubbed at his head.
"Quiet, or I'll do worse than smack you." He threatened.
"He says 'shut up'." Valor translated with a grin.
"I got the message." Null frowned, looking offended. Spirits slightly lifted, Valor turned around and started walking again. "So you're Herobrine, then." Null tried again, voice slightly quieter to avoid being hit. "Explain to me how that works."
"Herobrine was a vigilante who defended the innocent and stomped out murderers like you." Val didn't look at him. "Now that I've taken over that role, that makes me Herobrine, doesn't it?"
"So I did kill Herobrine a year ago." Null reasoned. Valor bristled, forced himself to relax.
"Then your grudge is fulfilled, is it not?" He snipped back. Null didn't appear to have an answer for that.
As they crested the next hill, a small town appeared before them.
"Is this it?" Valor turned to look at their guide. Null frowned, extending a hand towards the settlement.
"Yes. As far as I can tell, the amulet is in this town." He reported. Valor paused to search his face. "What?" Null turned an annoyed look on him. "Why would I lie? The sooner I get you your trinket back, the sooner I can leave." Val frowned, looking back to the town. He made a good point.
"Alright." Valor blinked, changing his eyes back to brown. "You two, stay outside. I'm going in to look around."
"You'll find it faster with me." Null protested.
"Yes, and the moment you step into town you raise the suspicion of every single inhabitant." Val gestured to him. "Or have you forgotten what you look like?"
"I will stay with him." Qorin stepped up behind the sorcerer. "I would likely frighten the locals as well."
"Aren't Endermen peaceful?"
"We are. Unless attacked first." Qorin grinned at him. "We don't interact with humans much, in general. Regardless, I would attract too much attention."
"Fair enough." Valor switched back to common before continuing. "I should be back by this evening."
"Godspeed." Null waved him away. Without answering, Valor set off down the hill towards the town.
"Excuse me." The bartender looked up as Valor approached him, casually resting a hand on the purse filled with coins at his waist. "My name is Daewolf, I'm new in town. I'm looking for certain… items, that one wouldn't be able to find in a marketplace." He paused, glancing down at the coins. "Who would I talk to about that?"
"Dirty goods?" The bartender questioned lowly, rubbing a tankard until it shone.. Valor nodded. "I might be able t' connect you with some'un."
"Wonderful." Valor slid a gold coin onto the counter, and the bartender set the tankard on top of it, sliding it towards him to drop it into his hand.
"What specifically are ye lookin' for?" The man asked, slipping the coin into a pocket.
"Something enchanted." Valor leaned against the bar, glancing around subtly. Given that it was barely midafternoon, the building was quiet, only a few stragglers eating a late lunch.
"Anythin' in particular?"
"No." Valor shook his head. "I just need something powerful."
"Right, well…" The bartender reached beneath the counter, grabbing a sheet of paper and scribbling on it with a stick of graphite. Valor kept a lookout while he wrote, and a moment later the paper was pressed into his hand. "Tonight, every week, they meet." The bartender tapped the paper. "Head t' that address and ask 'fer a man by the name of Arlow. That'll get ye in."
"Much obliged." Valor nodded to him, setting another coin on the counter - then, as an afterthought, another one. "And get me a hearty meal."
"Yes sir." The bartender swept the coins into his hand and walked away. Valor picked out a table on the side of the room, seating himself and making himself comfortable while he waited for his meal. Now that he was away from Null, he realized how uncomfortable being around the sorcerer really made him.
He had learned a long time ago how knowledgeable the keeper of the local inn or tavern would be, and how easy it was to get information from them with the right reward. He would oftentimes go to the first bar he found when trying to track down a villain. Even if the bartender couldn't help him, usually some of the patrons could.
He looked up as a barmaid approached, smiling at him as she set down a plate of food on his table.
"An' on th' house for you." She set down a tankard of ale next to it. He smiled, nodding to her, and she turned and walked away. Valor could all but feel his father's disapproving glare.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to drink it." He murmured as he picked up his fork. His pickaxe was safely wrapped in fabric, hiding the shining, diamond blade, and strapped to his back. Nobody would be stealing that from him.
As he ate, he looked over the note the bartender had written him. The slip of paper directed him to a building by the town square, within which would be the man who would grant him entry to the black market. Apparently 'Arlow' was the one who dealt in magical artifacts. Would he have his amulet…?
It was possible, still, that Null was lying, but, though Val didn't trust him, he certainly trusted his willingness to escape. So he was most likely telling the truth. Unless he was just trying to lure him away so that he could run…? He wouldn't fight Qorin, would he? Surely the enderman could overpower him, that was the entire reason that he was sent along with them. Val hoped that Null wasn't lying in wait for them to drop their guard.
The hours ticked slowly by. After finishing his meal, Valor left a tip (and his drink) and left the inn, milling around town aimlessly while he waited for the hour on the note to arise. He considered going back to check on Qorin and Null, but decided they were probably getting along fine. And, if not, Qorin was probably winning.
Sunset came, then dusk. As the first stars began to wink in the sky above him, Valor made his way to the address on the note. The building in question was what appeared to be a shop, filled with trinkets and children's toys. How ironic that it was being used as a hub for stolen goods.
Making his way inside, Valor quickly located the shop's only inhabitant- a young woman standing behind the counter.
"Hello." He greeted her, coming close. "I'm looking for a man by the name of Arlow. Is he here?" The girl's welcoming smile dropped at his words, and she simply nodded, reaching beneath the counter.
"Give me your hand," She instructed, lifting up a stamp and a pad of ink. Valor offered it, and she stamped a symbol on the back of his hand. "So they know to admit you." She explained as he examined it. "Now, come with me." She stepped out from behind the counter, and he followed her through a door in the back of the room. This room was nearly pitch-black, lit by a single candle, and Val watched as she tugged a rug aside to reveal a hidden hatch. "Down you go." She gestured. "You'll find Arlow down there." Valor thanked her, and pulled the hatch open, beginning to climb down the ladder within.
At the bottom, Valor found himself in a series of tunnels, filled with the echoes of quiet voices. It took him a good few minutes of wandering before he found the source - a larger room, filled nearly to the limit with people. He mentally thanked Steven for making him work in the marketplace with him. If not for that experience, this definitely would've resulted in major disorientation.
It didn't take long for Valor to find a corner to skulk in, gaze sweeping over the crowd. How many people in this room were exactly the kind of person he hunted down? And now he stood among them, bidding on the same items they vied for. Null's words came back to him, about being selfish, and his heart sunk a bit. He was being rather selfish.
He didn't have time to mope for too long, however, as a man stepped up on a raised platform at the front of the room.
"Gentlemen," he addressed the crowd, which quieted as he spoke. "The auction will be beginning shortly. If you wish to buy anything preceding the auction, you must finish up your transactions now." Before the auction? He had probably missed his chance to look for the amulet beforehand. The hubbub of the crowd gradually died down, and Valor emerged from his corner, making his way towards the middle of the crowd.
The auction began with some smaller trinkets - enchanted rings, a bracelet. The stock seemed to be kept in an adjoining room, which meant that he couldn't search for his amulet until it was brought out. The longer the auction went on, the more anxiety grew in the pit of his stomach. What if the amulet wasn't here? What if someone had already bought it, or it wasn't at the auction in the first place? He would be wasting his time and risking his life by being here.
His fears evaporated when his shimmering amulet was lifted up before the crowd.
"This piece is best used as a focus or component." The auctioneer gestured to the trinket as Valor tensed, preparing to teleport up and snatch it from his hand. "It does not grant great power on its own- the bidding will start at 250 pieces."
Before Valor could move, several black creatures appeared around the room in bursts of purple, one of them lunging for the auctioneer.
Immediately, the room was thrown into chaos. Valor was nearly knocked down as his fellow buyers made a mad dash for the exit, forced to activate his glowing eyes and teleport to the side of the room to avoid being trampled. Men with swords were attacking the endermen, but they could do almost nothing before the teeth and claws of the end-creatures. What was going on? Endermen weren't hostile to humans!
Valor spied the auctioneer fleeing the room, his amulet in hand, but he had no time to react before one of the endermen set his sights on him. The next thing he knew, the creature was in front of him, claws flashing down towards him, and Valor was forced to jerk back against the wall to avoid them. He ducked behind the creature, buying himself just enough time to free his pickaxe from the wraps before he was attacked again.
"What are you doing?!" He shouted as the enderman slashed at his clothes. "We are on the same side!" He was ignored. A second enderman attacked him, and he gasped, swinging recklessly with his pickaxe to drive them away. The blade pinged off a set of claws, and the enderman stamped down on it, jerking Valor's weapon from his hands and sending it clattering to the floor.
Immediately, every enderman's eyes were on the enchanted weapon. Valor barely hesitated for a moment before teleporting over it, snatching it off the floor, only to be overwhelmed by a barrage of attacks. A weight crashed against his back, sending him slamming against a table. He thought he heard a crack from his ribs as he collided. He ducked under the table, slashing at the leg of his attacker, only for his shelter to be overturned by one of the creatures a moment later. Claws flashed down at him again, and he cringed back, but the elongated fingers only closed around his pickaxe, wrenching the weapon from his hands.
Valor gasped as his father's pickaxe clattered to the ground, forcing his tired body upright, but there was no way he could get to it in time as the endermen went after it. The creatures all but ignored him as the weapon skidded against the wall, nearly tripping over one another in their haste to get to it.
Just as a clawed hand was closing around the handle, the pickaxe jerked out of their grip, thrown across the room to skid at Valor's feet. The young man snatched it up, casting a final look at his attackers before teleporting out of the room, out of the city and onto a grassy hill.
Valor's legs buckled, and he fell onto his side with a small thump. Panting, he looked up at the sky, noting the heavy, dark clouds that filled the sky. No sooner had he realized this that it began to rain, soft, small raindrops cascading over him. Val didn't really mind.
"What was that?" He croaked out. The pickaxe hummed in his hand. Valor shut his eyes. All he could do was pray that those endermen didn't find him while he rested.