Hero's Bane

Chapter 38: Give It All

"Oh my head. Where am I?" The old man rubbed his forehead and looked around in a daze, a low groan escaped his lips. He stopped his searching gaze as his dark brown eyes landed on the miner, he gave a squint in doubt before a look of surprise. "Steven? Is that- is that really you?" He asked curiously then pulled off his cracked glasses and rubbed his eyes and then replaced and readjusted his lenses to a more comfortable fit along his nose.

Steve really couldn't help but crack a small smile with softly furrowed brows. Here was the old man that he thought Herobrine had slain and dragged away, losing the old man a while back put a huge damper on his confidence but he didn't have to worry about that no more. "Yeah, it's me." He said quietly as he reached out and patted the elder on the back for reassurance.

Nigel's eyes lightly widened for a few seconds and he even seem to jump in place after noticing the miner's injured and roughed up condition, the stained fabric on the ends of his sleeve was generally concerning. "My word, you look absolutely awful! You're covered in scratches and bruises, your right jaw looks slightly swollen, and your arm? How did that get there?" He said with much worry as he carefully moved a hand over to the wound but not actually touching it. "What happened?"

Steve almost seemed to have completely forgot about his injuries now that he was so happy to see Nigel alive, he felt tenderness on his cheek as he grinned a little more. Herobrine had punched him pretty good in the cheek, though the enchanted blade limited some of the pain from his shoulder and other sore paces, he could still imagine them being bruised badly. He must of looked like he went through the Nether and back from the older man's point of view. "I'll be fine, I'll have to explain everything once we get into the house though, it's cold out here and mobs could be prowling around close by for all we know." He felt himself shiver a little now that his muscles had time to cool and the adrenaline of fighting Herobrine was fading away. "Now what do you say we get someplace warm?"

"Ah, yes. That little house there does look so cozy." Nigel admitted with a tone of fondness. "Old and worn, but warm too I hope with that fireplace and smoke coming out of the chimney."

"It is a lot warmer in there than it is out here, I promise you that. You probably wouldn't believe what I've been through since your disappearance and I've got a feeling you're going to be all over it, it's quite a long story so let's go and get caught up." Steve fully stood up and lent the elder a hand to stand with.

"Ow, still a little sore there." Nigel quickly placed his hand on his lower abdomen as he fully stood, he slowly hobbled towards the door with the miner now walking slowly by his side and helping in holding him up with one of the old man's arm looped over his shoulder.

"Your wound?!" Steve tried to search for the injury during their walk but it was well hidden by the man's arm, coat, and red stained clothing.

"It'll be fine, it is healing slowly but I'll be alright. Yours looks rather fresh, it needs to be tended to immediately!"

Steve shook his head. "With this sword I barely even feel it... for now." He raised the weapon up lightly and the elder nodded. "You are in a lot of pain I can tell, so we'll tend to you first." He suggested and opened the door before motioning them inside.

"I'd hate to disagree but you don't even realize how much blood you have lost and now loosing, look?" He pointed as the entered the small house, the lighted torches now revealed just how much blood had soaked through the sleeve and down the side of his shirt and ran down his arm.

The dried blood pealed back from his recent and abrupt movements to Nigel which caused the wound to begin to bleed again. Steve blinked with raised brows as he glanced at his arm. "Whoa, I guess I should be taking things a little easier. I didn't even realize how bad it was, it's a bit tender but with the blade's crazy enchantments and powers; I didn't really think anything of it until now."