Steel Blood - A Hermitcraft fanfiction

4: First Visitors

Let's see how easily this chapter goes...

'Come on, Tango. You promised Grian you were going to go first.'

'Promise is a... strong word...'

'Come on,  you promised. And Cub is still spying on us to make sure we fulfil it.' 

'Fine...' Team ZIT stood in front of NPG's home. Or, as Cub had hastily figured out after the meeting, Rusty. Tango stood in front of Impulse and Zedaph, regretting his choice of going first.

'I mean... can't we let Ren or Doc go first? They seemed quite interested.'

'Come on, you said you'd do this, mate.' Zedaph sighed. 

'Fine!' 

Tango approached the rustic house, clutching the ticket, and passed it through the hole in the wall. For a moment nothing happened. He frowned, but a moment later a voice emerged. 

'What do you want?'

A distorted metallic voice came from the house, and Tango looked back at his two friends. Impulse shrugged, signalling for him to talk.

'Uhh... what are the secrets of the universe?' He improvised. 

Another pause, as though Rusty was figuring out what to say, before...

'Rustic houses. They are the secret of the universe. Upon construction they will grand you all your deepest desires.'

'Rustic houses... well, I guess I know now! Hey, Impy, Zedaph, it's your turn!' Zedaph's head turned to Impulse as well. He sighed. 

'Fine...' Impulse approached warily, passing his paper through the hole. Rusty took it. 

'Is Boatem going to get more diamonds than Concorp?'

'Risky question with Cub in earshot.' Tango muttered back. 

'Rustic houses are the ultimate currency. Diamonds are worthless. In selling rustic houses your... Boatem... will instantly improve.'

'Good to know... Zedaph? Your go.'

Zed stepped forwards, almost eagerly, and entered his paper. 

'Am i the cleverest person here?'

'No. I am. I am the only one here who values the invaluable.'

'What's that? Rustic houses?'

No reply. Tango waited for his question to be answered. 

'You need to insert more paper.' Impulse suggested. 

'Another diamond?! You're kidding me!' Tango groaned, but bought another piece of paper from the box and entered it. 

'Is the invaluable rustic houses by any chance?'

'If there is an opportunity for Rustic houses, you should take it.'

'I guess we now know.' Impulse joked. 'Rustic houses are superior to all other things.' The trio headed off away from Rusty's home. 

'Still don't know how Cub did this...' Tango shook his head in amazement. 

'Why'd you think Cub did it?'

'Because Grian can't do redstone and Mumbo is Mumbo.' 

'That's fair.' Impulse laughed. 'Should we ask him?'

'C'mon. You know Cubby won't give us a straight answer.' 

'...Also True.' Zedaph accepted. 

They passed Ren and Doc, who were waiting (eagerly) in line to talk to Rusty. 

'He's all yours. Though you might want multiple tickets. He's very precise with the one-question-a-ticket rule.' Tango called over as he passed, before heading further off with his friends. 

Cub watched the exchange from the safety of just inside Grian's starter base, crouching through the hologram painting, making sure NPG didn't attack anyone. As he sat there, he didn't notice Grian's unintentionally stealthy approach. 

'Scared about NPG?' 

Almost jumping out of the window in shock, Cub turned back to Grian. 

'No?' He lied lamely. Grian crossed his arms. Cub sighed. 'Yeah... a bit. Ren and Doc are talking with him now, Team ZIT didn't have any trouble just before...'

'He shouldn't attack anyone from behind the walls.' 

'You sure?'

'Mostly. You know I'm worried too.'

'Yeah...' Cub looked back through the painting. Ren was currently talking with NPG about The Octagon, and the Hermatrix he and Doc claimed they were in. 'But at least the voice modifier is working. No one's guessed it's connected to you yet.' 

'Only three people have asked questions.' Grian pointed out. 'And if they did, then they would just assume we recorded my voice for whatever was supposed to be inside there.'

'True... I know there's nothing to worry about... but still...'

'How's your arm doing?' Cub looked over at where NPG had attacked him and shrugged. 

'Improving. Slightly worried at the fact that healing potions have done nothing so far, but... it'll probably heal up eventually.'

'Probably?' Grian sounds unsure. 'But he hasn't attacked anyone yet.' 

'No, not yet.' Cub glanced back over at where Pearl was chatting up NPG, a bunch of tickets in her hand. He sighed. 'We should definitely stop 'Rusty' from accepting only a question per ticket. It is profit, but...'

'Might put some of the hermits off.' Grian agreed. 'I can tell him about that. Don't worry.'

'Looks like there's a queue.' Cub noted. Grian joined him in the painting window. A line of hermits, stretching a decent way across Boatem, had formed, and Mumbo was trying his best to keep all of them entertained, and get some profits at the vol-carb-o and Harmless Harvests while they waited. Pearl headed off, seemingly satisfied with what the robot had given her, and Joe took over. Grian made a 'huh' sound, walking away again. Cub joined him, flying down. 

'I know this is hard for you, man.' He acknowledged. Grian stared at the ground.

'Yeah... but it's getting easier. I just keep seeing him as a threat. Seeing him for what he did... before...' 

'I'm here if you want someone to talk to.' Cub replied simply. Grian sighed again, walking away, wings half raised, showing his worry. 

'Cub... I... it's just hard to deal with it all right now. And you've been a great help. I didn't expect you to get involved as much as you did. Mumbo too.' 

'I'll always help a hermit in need, man.' 

'I know.' Grian smiled. Cub looked over at the door, before glancing back. 

'You alright to cover things here?'

'Where are you going?' 

'To continue work on The Canyon. And rest. There's been a lot going on.'

'Sure thing! See you around.' 

'See ya around, Grian.'

And, closing the door behind, Cub left.