Valor held his hand out from beneath the cover of the trees, feeling for the rain that had served as his cover for the attack the night before.

"The rain has stopped." He reported, turning to face the family sitting on the grass behind him. "Now is an opportune time to travel. If you feel up to it, that is."

"Y-yes, let's go. As soon as we can." Lady Aria replied, teeth chattering a bit from the chill in the air. The noblewoman sat huddled at the base of the oak tree they had spent the night beneath, which unfortunately had made for a poor shelter against the downpour. Her children, a boy and a girl, were tucked into her sides, and the three of them were wrapped in Valor's offered cloak.

The bodies of their captors had been disposed of already, deeper in the woods where they wouldn't run across them. Valor figured the children had been through enough. He wasn't sure if they had managed to sleep through the night, but hopefully they had at least enough energy to make it home.

Valor made his way over, offering the lady a hand to her feet.

"We should be there before nightfall," he told her as it was accepted. "If we walk for most of the day. If we do not make it, I will watch over you for another night."

"Thank you." Her eyes were warm and filled with gratitude. "I-I can walk, but my children…"

"I can carry them," He offered. Lady Aria reached down to pull her children to her feet, and the older girl stood up without much prompting, but the little boy simply curled up tighter in the grass.

"Emile," she pleaded, and Valor bent down to scoop the boy into his arms.

"I've got him," He assured her as the child cuddled into his chest. Aria pressed a hand to her collarbone in relief.

"Thank you."

Valor was quite impressed by the noblewoman's determination (and her stamina) as they traveled. Both she and her daughter, Meredith, were able to walk for almost two hours before needing a break, while the son, Emile, slept in Valor's arms for the first hour before waking and insisting on being allowed to walk. Whenever they stopped to rest, Valor passed out some of the rations that the kidnappers had been carrying. These three would need all the energy they could get.

It was during one of these breaks that Herobrine came forward and sat down beside him.

"You're doing a wonderful job." He told him. Valor's lips twitched into a smile. He usually tried not to acknowledge his father in front of others - talking to someone they couldn't see usually made them uncomfortable. "You are making good time." He continued. "You should reach their town by midafternoon."

"Good." Valor murmured, keeping his voice low to keep the family sitting behind him from hearing. "They need good food, and a change of clothes before they catch cold."

"And to be home." Herobrine agreed. "How do you feel?"

"I'm fine." Valor rubbed a thumb over the amulet that hung around his neck. "Thank you for your assistance during the battle." Herobrine nodded, looking to the pickaxe that laid beside him.

"I'm sure you would've been fine on your own."

"Probably," Valor agreed. "But I would prefer to avoid being run through."

Herobrine coughed. "…it is not pleasant." He cast a glance at the Lady and her children. "While it is noble of you to offer your cloak, I cannot help but feel uneasy at you showing your face."

"You never looked any of your rescues in the eye?" Val raised a brow at him. "I'm not concerned about it. I have no reason to think they would want to hurt me."

"Perhaps not, but you would not want word of your appearance to fall into the wrong hands."

"No," Valor agreed. "But my appearance is not so notable without my blank eyes."

"True."

"Sir Herobrine?" Lady Aria's voice made him jump, abruptly reminding him that he wasn't alone. "We're ready to go on."

"Good." Valor stood, turning to cross the distance between them and pack up their supplies. "Then let us be off."

As Herobrine has predicted, the traveling party reached the Lady's hometown just as the sun began to dip in the sky. As they neared the outer gate, Valor slowed, taking up a position behind the group instead of before.

"Go on," he urged Lady Aria, who had paused when he backed up. "I don't wish for them to think me an enemy." Understanding dawned on her face, and she nodded. While Valor had done much to mend Herobrine's reputation since he took over the role, there were still many who viewed him as a wildcard at best and a murderer at worst.

Fortunately for him, the shouts that came from the guards at their approach were of relief, not alarm, and several of them came forward to greet their Lady. Valor hung back, watching as the soldiers inquired after her safety and sent for her husband.

Just as he was going to slip away, however, she drew the guards' attention back to him. "Sir Herobrine!" He paused in his search for an escape route, looking back to her. "Please allow me to repay you somehow," she pleaded. "My family and I owe you a great debt." The corner of Valor's mouth quirked up into a smile.

"Knowing that you're safe, and that those men will never hurt again, is repayment enough," he told her. Lady Aria frowned.

"Then at least let me offer you a room for the night…?"

"No thank you." He shook his head. "I have a pressing engagement." With those final words, he focused on a distant tree and teleported out of sight.

"Valor! Jus' like you 'ta show up at the last possible minute." Lithian came up to him with a grin, arms outstretched. "C'mere, cousin."

"In law." Valor reminded him, slipping out of the intended hug. "And not for another hour, or have you forgotten you're not married yet?"

"Believe me, I remember." Lithian sighed, gaze lingering on the altar. "Where'd you run off'ta, anyway?"

"I was doing my job."

"'Job'." Steven scoffed lightly from where he was lighting candles to their right. "Can't call it a job if you're not making any money."

"Fortunately for me you make enough for both of us." Val responded cheerfully. Steven shot him a withering look.

"An' that's an excuse to not pull your own weight, how?"

"If it bothers you so much, you'll be pleased to know that I did make some money on this trip." Val held up a small sack of coins. Steven eyed it.

"Thought you didn't take payment."

"I don't," Val confirmed. "But I'm not against looting corpses." Lithian snorted.

"Aye, that sounds right."

"How is Grace?" Valor glanced towards the back of the church, where he knew that his cousin was getting ready.

"I wouldn't know." Lithian grumbled. "Can't see her 'till the ceremony. 'Bad luck' an' all that nonsense."

"She's doin' well," Steven cut in. "How that's possible with this clown for a fiancé, I don't know."

"Lay off, old man." Lithian had a grin on his face. "I'll be yer nephew soon."

"In law." Steven fired back. Valor just smirked at their antics.

Lithian had met Valor's cousin, Grace, not long after Null's defeat nearly a year ago now, and they had hit it off almost immediately. Lithian had proposed last month, and the wedding was taking place that day. Valor had almost missed it when he heard that a noblewoman in the neighboring town had been kidnapped, but thankfully he had made it back in time to be a part of the ceremony.

"You're not dressed." Steven looked him up and down. "Should get on that."

"Fine." Valor stuck his hands in his pockets, turning away. "I don't see why I need to dress up, it isn't as if I'm getting married."

"And you never will if ya don't make a good impression!" Lithian shot back. "No woman's gonna be 'ttracted to a scruffy rascal like you."

"You managed it, didn't you?"

"Hey!"

"Besides," Valor shrugged. "What would I even do with a wife? I'd be abandoning her every two days to run off and rescue another woman." Nearby, Herobrine snorted quietly.

"Aye, she probably wouldn' like that." Lithian allowed. "Perhaps it's best ye stay a scruffy rascal."

"Get yourself dressed anyway," Steven cut in. "Fer Grace's sake."

"I will, I will." Valor assured him. "I wouldn't want to embarrass her." He nudged Lithian. "She'll have to suffer enough of that." Lithian nudged him back.

"This better not become a habit."

"What, makin' fun of you?" Steven turned, resting a hand on his hip. "We've only just started."

"This is what you get for marrying into the family." Valor planted a hand on his hair, mussing it, and Lithian smacked his hand away.

"Get outta here before I demote you ta' flower boy." He threatened. A grin on his face, Valor turned away, leaving the church and heading back towards Steven's house.

"You'd better be careful how many women you rescue." Herobrine teased gently from where he floated beside him. "You're going to start collecting admirers." Valor groaned good-naturedly.

"You make a good point."

"Why do you think I pretended to be a madman?" Herobrine continued. "A tall, dark, handsome immortal who saves young women for a living is quite the catch. Unless he's a rampant murderer."

"I see your reasoning now." Valor sighed, still in high spirits. "Fortunately, I can just teleport away from any potential suitresses."

"So you can." Herobrine affirmed. "I suppose the majority of your problems lie in a woman being attracted to your civilian persona."

"Oh, Nether."

"Brooding as always, I see." A voice startled Valor from his thoughts, and he looked up to see Steven approaching the corner he had taken refuge in.

"I'm not brooding." He protested. "This is just… rather busy."

"Aye," Steven agreed, looking out over the festivities. The wedding had been a flurry of activity up until Grace had walked down the aisle, which had been a brief respite before the after-ceremony began. It was late now, the town square usually empty at this hour now lit and filled with dancers. Valor was getting tired just watching them.

"I thought you didn't drink." His uncle nodded towards the glass in his hand, and Valor shrugged.

"I don't, usually. It just seemed appropriate."

"Don't make a fool of yourself," Steven warned him.

"I'm only having a couple," Valor assured him before taking a sip. He needed it to tamp down his annoyance at being around so many people. Most of the town had been invited, and the rest had shown up anyway, most bringing a dish to share. Though he wasn't one for large gatherings, Valor did appreciate the feeling of community.

"Alright." Steven clapped him on the shoulder. "Be safe." With that, he headed off into the crowd again. As Valor watched, he singled out his sister and invited her over to the dance floor.

Valor didn't know his younger cousin all too well, having met her only a year before, and had spent only a few weeks in her presence since that time. His lack of familiarity didn't keep him from being happy for her, though. She looked lovely in her wedding dress, and she was beaming where she danced with her new husband in the middle of the town square. Though he teased him, Valor liked Lithian quite a bit, and he was sure that the two of them would be very happy together.

"What are you thinking about?" Herobrine asked, hovering beside the diamond pickaxe that rested on the barrel next to his son. Valor drained the rest of his drink.

"Making a fool out of myself." He responded. Herobrine arched a brow. "You weren't there," Valor went on. "You were with Steven at the time. While I was at the mines I drank too much, showed off my skills with a pickaxe, then passed out."

"Oh, I remember that." Herobrine smirked, his eyes half-lidded as he focused on the dancers. "You showed up at Steven's campsite, he made you eat something and go to sleep."

"Right." Valor stretched, ambling just close enough to the celebration to set his glass down on a table. "I think it's about time I go home."

"Perhaps that is for the best," Herobrine agreed. Valor nodded, and grabbed Herobrine's pickaxe, sliding it into the sheath on his back and slipping off down a side street in the direction of Steven's house.

This wasn't the first time he had wandered around Hadleigh at midnight. Valor's ability to tolerate being around people had increased significantly over the past year, but he still preferred to be alone- or, almost alone - for the majority of his days. Not only would most of the village ordinarily be asleep at this hour, but with his enhanced night vision Valor was able to get around with ease.

The alcohol in his system muddled his thoughts somewhat, but he knew he wasn't in any danger here. He could feel himself calming as soon as he left the gathering behind, and he exhaled, tilting his head back to look up at the stars. Despite his antisocial inclinations, Valor liked it very much here.

"You seem happy." His father spoke up quietly. Valor looked down, offering him a little smile.

"I am."

"I'm glad." Herobrine was quiet for a moment, "And yet, you seemed eager to leave."

"Leave?" Valor glanced over his shoulder, back towards the lights radiating from the town square. "I just don't like crowds. I enjoy being here with Steven and Lithian."

"I see." Neither spoke for a moment. "You know I am concerned about you living so… publicly."

"I do," Valor acknowledged. "And I understand your concerns, but I do not think I am in any danger."

"How can you know that?" His father countered. "It's not only your life that I'm concerned for. Living with Steven puts him in danger as well."

"Steven is just as competent a fighter as I am," Valor protested. "And the only people who live after seeing Herobrine are the ones I help, they who have no reason to harm me."

"I thought that as well." Herobrine's tone was grim. "But, as you are well aware, sometimes circumstances are not as they seem. As with Null, and with the men who killed me."

"Those men killed you because you left them alive. I haven't made that mistake, and I don't plan to."

"It's not as simple as that. Someone could seek revenge for a fallen family member, or could not have seemed a threat at the time."

"I'm not you, father." Valor snapped, stopping in his tracks to face him. "And I don't want to live in isolation anymore." Herobrine paused, looking taken aback.

"I'm not accusing you, Valor, there's no need to get a temper."

"You're telling me that it's selfish of me to want to stay with my uncle."

"I didn't say that."

"You implied it!"

"I'm merely stating facts. Living alone kept us safe."

"Only for a time," Valor said icily. "It didn't keep them from killing you." Herobrine held his gaze for a few moments longer before finally turning away.

"This is why you shouldn't drink," He muttered. Valor's eyes narrowed, and he turned away, heading back towards Steven's house. As if it was the alcohol's fault that Herobrine was suggesting he leave his loved ones behind on the night of his cousin's wedding.

The rest of their walk home was tense, silent, Herobrine drifting along behind him in the corner of Valor's vision. Valor could feel an inkling of guilt settling over him- he didn't like arguing with his father, but… his words were very uncalled for.

Unable to be bothered to unlock the door, Valor teleported into the front room of Steven's house, setting his father's pickaxe onto the kitchen table before vanishing into his own room. His anger giving way to exhaustion, Valor barely had time to kick off his boots and collapse into bed before he passed out.